Battery housing and battery pack

Abstract

A battery housing, characterized in that it comprises: a top cover (10); a housing body (20), wherein the housing body (20) and the top cover (10) enclose a receiving space designed to receive a battery module (40); a hold-down frame (30), wherein the hold-down frame (30) is connected to the housing body (20), wherein at least a part of the hold-down frame (30) bears against the top of the battery module (40) in order to press the battery module (40) towards the bottom of the housing body (20).

Description

This application claims priority to the Chinese Patent Application filed on Sep. 5, 2024 in the Chinese Patent Office under Application No. 2024221850575. The entire contents of the above application are incorporated herein by reference.Technical FieldThe present application relates to the field of battery technology, and more particularly, to a battery case and a battery pack.Prior ArtIn the relevant technologies, vertical retention of the battery is generally achieved by bonding the aluminum case at the bottom of the battery cell and the storage box by adhesive through the provided openings in the blue film at the bottom of the battery pack, or by directly bonding the blue film at the battery pack bottom to the storage box.Content of the Present ApplicationTECHNICAL PROBLEMThe above-mentioned methods have disadvantages: the film mounting process of the battery pack is more complicated and homogeneity of the adhesive layer thickness is insufficient, which requires additional measures for controlling the adhesive thickness and increases the manufacturing cost. The interface formed by "battery blue film glue deposition box" has low vertical retention capability and cannot meet the complex and demanding operating requirements.From the above, it is apparent that there is a problem in the relevant technologies of poor vertical retention effect of the battery pack.TECHNICAL SOLUTIONSIn the first aspect, the present application provides a battery case, comprising: an upper cover; a case body, the case body and the upper cover enclosing a storage space configured to store a battery module; a hold-down frame, the hold-down frame being connected to the case body, and at least a part of the hold-down frame abutting against the top surface of the battery module to press the battery module toward the bottom of the case body.In a second aspect, the present application provides a battery pack including a battery module and the above-mentioned battery case, the battery module being disposed in the battery case.TECHNICAL EFFECTSAdvantageous effects of the present application: in the technical solution of the present application, the battery case includes an upper cover, a case body, and a hold-down frame. The case body and the upper cover enclose a storage space for storing a battery module. The hold-down frame is connected to the case body. At least a part of the hold-down frame abuts the top surface of the battery module to push the battery module toward the bottom of the case body. By the arrangement of the hold-down frame abutting on the battery module, vertical retention of the battery pack in the vertical direction is achieved. As a result, a certain portion of the vertical voltage can be absorbed and an effective vertical retention of the battery pack in the battery housing can be achieved. Moreover, under the hold-down action of the hold-down frame, the thickness of the structural adhesive layer between the battery module and the case body can maintain a good consistency. This ensures a uniform temperature distribution within the battery pack and thus its proper operation. Thus, the problem of insufficient vertical retention effect of the battery pack is solved in relevant technologies.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGFIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a battery case in an embodiment of the present application; FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a battery pack in an embodiment of the present application; FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a hold-down frame in an embodiment of the present application; FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a battery case without the top cover from a viewpoint in an embodiment of the present application; FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a battery case without the top cover from another viewpoint in an embodiment of the present application; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along A-A in FIG. 5 ; FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along B-B in FIG. 5 ; FIG. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of an electric device in an embodiment of the present application.The above drawings contain the following reference numerals:10. Top cover; 20th case body; 30th hold-down frame; 31st edge connecting part; 32nd middle restricting part; 321. Edge frame; 322. First Print Bar; 323. Second pressure bar; 40th Module; 41th Batteriezellen cell group; 411. Battery cell; 4111. Pole connection; 50. structural adhesive layer; 100. Battery Pack; 1000. Electrical Device.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTSAs shown in FIGS. 1 to 2, 4, and 6 to 7, the battery case includes an upper cover 10, a case body 20, and a hold-down frame 30. the case body 20 and the upper cover 10 form a storage space for storing the battery module 40. the hold-down frame 30 is connected to the case body 20, and at least a part of the hold-down frame 30 abuts against the upper surface of the battery module 40 to press the battery module 40 toward the bottom of the case body.By forming the battery cases with an upper cover 10, a case body 20, and a hold-down frame 30, the case body 20 and the upper cover 10 enclose a storage space for storing a battery module 40. At least a part of the hold-down frame 30 abuts on the upper surface of the battery module 40 to push the battery module 40 toward the bottom of the case body 20. By attaching the hold-down frame 30 to the battery module 40, vertical retention of the battery pack in the vertical direction is achieved. As a result, a certain portion of the vertical voltage can be absorbed and an effective vertical retention of the battery pack in the battery housing can be achieved. Moreover, under the hold-down action of the hold-down frame 30, the thickness of the structural adhesive layer 50 between the battery module 40 and the case body 20 can maintain a good consistency. This ensures a uniform temperature distribution within the battery pack and thus its proper operation.As shown in FIG. 3, the hold-down frame 30 includes a skirt connecting part 31 and a middle limiting part 32. The middle restricting part 32 has a releasing recess for releasing the battery module 40, and the middle restricting part 32 abuts on the upper surface of the battery module 40. It is understood that each battery cell 411 of the battery module 40 has a pole connection 4111 on its upper side. This pole terminal 4111 must be electrically connected to the terminal to supply power to external devices. Therefore, the hold-down frame 30 needs to release the pole terminal 4111 while abutting on the battery module 40 and pressing it downward.As shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, the central restricting part 32 includes a peripheral frame 321. The rim 321 forms a releasing recess and abuts on the upper surface of the battery module 40.In this embodiment, the rim frame 321 protrudes from the rim connecting part 31 and forms a receiving groove. The receiving groove communicates with the releasing recess, and at least a part of the battery module 40 is received in the receiving groove. That is, in this embodiment, the hold-down frame 30 abuts on the battery module 40, so that the hold-down frame 30 can more closely abut on the battery module 40 and hold down the battery module 40. The rim frame 321 protrudes from the rim connection part 31 and forms four side walls that are opposed to each other and surround the upper part of the battery module 40. Moreover, the upper surface of the rim frame 321 has a limiting peripheral edge extending inward along the circumferential direction, and the limiting peripheral edge abuts on the upper surface of the battery module 40. The limiting peripheral edge ensures that the peripheral frame 321 is in contact with the battery module 40 in the circumferential direction, so that the battery module 40 can be uniformly pressed downward in the vertical direction. This ensures uniform transmission of the vertical forces and at the same time prevents the compressive force from being distributed non-uniformly. Thus, good uniformity of the thickness of the structural adhesive layer 50 between the battery module 40 and the case body 20 can be ensured, which in turn contributes to uniform temperature distribution within the battery pack.It is understood that the limiting peripheral edge forms a release recess, and the area of the release recess is smaller than the upper surface of the battery module 40.In this embodiment, the edge connecting part 31 is formed as a rectangular frame having a central opening. The bottom of the rim frame 321 is connected to the inner periphery of the rim connecting part 31. Accordingly, the upper opening of the case body 20 has a connecting edge also formed as a rectangular central opening frame to be connected to the edge connecting part 31. In particular, the connection between the edge connection part 31 and the housing body 20 is effected by welding or adhesive bonding. Of course, other connection and fastening methods can also be used between the edge connection part 31 and the housing body 20, which can be selected according to the actual requirements.In this embodiment, the rim frame 321 is joined to the rim connecting part 31 by welding. Moreover, the rim frame 321 and the rim connecting part 31 may be formed as an integral member to improve the structural strength.As shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, the central restricting part 32 further includes a first pressing bar 322. The first pressing bar 322 extends along a first direction, and both ends thereof are connected to the opposite edge frame 321, respectively. The first direction corresponds to the arrangement direction of the battery cells 411 in the battery cell group 41 of the battery module 40. that is, the extending direction of the first pressing bar 322 is the same as the arrangement direction of the battery cells 411 in the battery cell group 41. at least one first pressing bar 322 is formed, each pressing bar 322 being positioned between two adjacent battery cell groups 41 of the battery module 40. Each first pressure strip 322 is assigned to the pole connections 4111 of in each case two adjacent battery cell groups 41 of the battery module 40 in the horizontal direction. The arrangement of the first pressure strip(s) 322 ensures that the central delimiting part 32 can abut at the inner position on the upper side of the battery module 40, as a result of which the battery module 40 is pressed downwards more uniformly and completely. This ensures uniform transmission of the vertical forces and at the same time prevents the compressive force from being distributed non-uniformly. Thus, good uniformity of the thickness of the structural adhesive layer 50 can be ensured, which in turn contributes to uniform temperature distribution within the battery pack.Further, when a plurality of first pressing blades 322 are formed, these plurality of first pressing blades 322 are spaced apart from each other in the second direction, thereby further improving the uniformity of the pressing force acting downward.Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the battery module 40 in this embodiment includes three battery cell groups 41. accordingly, two first pressing bars 322 are formed, each of which is located between the first battery cell group and the second battery cell group, and between the second battery cell group and the third battery cell group. The limiting peripheral edge includes four portions located on the long opposite sides and the short opposite sides of the edge frame 321, and the two first pressing strips 322 are connected to the limiting peripheral edges on the long opposite sides of the edge frame 321, respectively. In fact, however, the delimiting peripheral edge on the short, opposite sides of the edge frame 321 also performs the same function as the first pressure strip 322 and could therefore also be considered as first pressure strips 322.In this exemplary embodiment, the width of the first pressure strip 322 is greater than the distance between two adjacent battery cell groups 41 of the battery module 40, with the result that each first pressure strip 322 in each case bears against the opposite end sides of two adjacent battery cell groups 41 of the battery module 40, as shown in FIG. 7. Furthermore, the areas with which each first pressure strip 322 abuts the end regions of two adjacent battery cell groups 41 are of the same size. That is, each first pressing bar 322 is located just centrally between two adjacent battery cell groups 41 of the battery module 40 By this arrangement, all the battery cell groups 41 and their battery cells 411 can be uniformly pressed downward by the hold-down frame 30. This ensures uniform transmission of the vertical forces and at the same time prevents the compressive force from being distributed non-uniformly. Thus, good uniformity of the thickness of the structural adhesive layer 50 can be ensured, which in turn contributes to uniform temperature distribution within the battery pack.In this embodiment, as shown in Figs. 3 to 7, the central restricting part 32 further comprises a second printing bar 323. The second printing strip 323 extends along the second direction and is connected at its ends to the edge frame 321 and a first printing strip 322 or to two adjacent first printing strips 322, respectively. A plurality of second pressure bars 323 are provided, each of which is positioned between two adjacent battery cells 411 of each battery cell group 41. Each second pressure strip 323 is assigned to the pole connections 4111 of two adjacent battery cells 411 of each battery cell group 41 in the horizontal direction.In addition, the first pressure strips 322 and the second pressure strips 323 are each located lower in the vertical direction than the upper end face of the pole connections 4111 in order to ensure that no disruptive influences on the electrical connection of the pole connections 4111 arise.In this exemplary embodiment, the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the X direction corresponds to the first direction and the Y direction corresponds to the second direction.In this embodiment, the battery module 40 includes three battery cell groups 41. three groups of second pressure strip 323 are arranged corresponding to the three battery cell groups 41. Moreover, each battery cell group 41 in the present embodiment includes ten battery cells 411 and each second pressure bar group 323 includes nine second pressure bars 323, and each second pressure bar 323 is located between two adjacent battery cells 411 of each battery cell group 41. actually, the limiting peripheral edge on the long opposite sides of the rim frame 321 also performs the same function as the second pressure bars 323, and thus can also be regarded as second pressure bars 323.In this embodiment, the width of the second pressure strip 323 is greater than the distance between two adjacent battery cells 411 of the battery cell group 41 so that each second pressure strip 323 abuts the opposite side edges of two adjacent battery cells 411 of the battery cell group 41 as shown in FIG. 6. Furthermore, the areas with which each second pressure strip 323 abuts two adjacent battery cell groups 41 are of the same size. That is, each second pressing bar 323 is located just centrally between two adjacent battery cells 411 of each battery cell group 41 By this arrangement, each battery cell group 41 and its battery cell 411 can be pressed downward by the hold-down frame 30. This ensures uniform transmission of the vertical forces and at the same time prevents the compressive force from being distributed non-uniformly. Thus, good uniformity of the thickness of the structural adhesive layer 50 can be ensured, which in turn contributes to uniform temperature distribution within the battery pack.It is understood that the first pressing bar 322 and the second pressing bars 323 according to this embodiment are arranged crosswise, thereby forming a grid-like structure, each grid corresponding to a battery cell 411. For each battery cell 411, its both end sides are respectively pressed and held downward by the first pressing bar 322 or the limiting peripheral edge of the short opposite sides of the rim frame 321, and its both side sides are respectively pressed and held downward by the second pressing bars 323 or the limiting peripheral edge of the long opposite sides of the rim frame 321. In other words, the upper periphery of each battery cell 411 is pressed and held down by the hold-down frame 30. This arrangement can ensure uniform transmission of the vertical forces and at the same time prevent the compressive force from being distributed unevenly. Thus, good uniformity of the thickness of the structural adhesive layer 50 can be ensured, which in turn contributes to uniform temperature distribution within the battery pack.In this embodiment, the first pressing strip 322 and the second pressing strip 323 are joined to each other and to the peripheral frame 321 by welding. Moreover, the first pressing bar 322 and the second pressing bar 323 may also be formed integrally with the peripheral frame 321, i.e., the entire central restricting part 32 is an integrally formed member, thereby enhancing the structural strength. In the above-mentioned integrally formed member, the mesh structure corresponding to the individual battery cell 411 can be directly formed by machining, which is convenient and time-saving.In this embodiment, the ratio of the height of the hold-down frame 30 to the height of the battery module 40 is less than or equal to 90%. It is understood that the height of the battery module 40 matches the overall height of the hold-down frame 30 and the case body 20. Accordingly, when the hold-down frame 30 has a relatively larger height, the height of the case body 20 can be reduced. It goes without saying that the hold-down frame 30 cannot replace the housing body 20 completely. In order to ensure a firm connection between the hold-down frame 30 and the housing body 20 and to ensure overall structure strength, the height of the housing body 20 must not be too low, i.e. the height of the hold-down frame 30 must not become too high. Therefore, the ratio between the height of the hold-down frame 30 and the height of the battery module 40 should be less than or equal to 90%.In an optional embodiment, the rim frame 321 and the rim connecting part 31 form an integral plate. That is, in this embodiment, the rim frame 321 does not protrude above the rim connecting part 31, that is, the hold-down frame 30 is formed as a flat plate structure. Release recesses or grid structures may be provided directly in the middle of the hold-down frame 30, such that the hold-down frame 30 is placed flat on the battery module 40 and abuts directly on the top side of the battery module 40. The hold-down frame 30 of this embodiment has a simple structure, reduces material consumption, and saves manufacturing cost.As shown in FIG. 2, the present application also provides a battery pack including a battery module 40 and the above-mentioned battery case, the battery module 40 being disposed in the battery case.As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7 to FIG. 7, the battery pack further includes a structural adhesive layer 50 that is disposed between the battery module 40 and the inner bottom surface of the case body 20 and serves to fix the battery module 40 by adhesion. By using the battery case according to this embodiment and disposing the hold-down frame 30, under its downward pressing action, better uniformity of thickness of the structural adhesive layer 50 between the battery module 40 and the case body 20 can be obtained. This ensures a uniform temperature distribution within the battery pack and thus its proper operation.As shown in FIG. 8, the present application also provides an electric device 1000 including the above-described battery pack 100. The battery pack 100 described in the embodiment of the present application is suitable for a wide variety of electric apparatuses 1000 using the battery pack 100. In particular, the electrical device 1000 may be, for example, a mobile phone, a portable device, a notebook, a vehicle, a ship, a spacecraft, an electrical toy or power tool, and the like. The present application is not particularly limited with respect to the above electric device 1000.From the above description, it is understood that the above-mentioned embodiments of the present application achieve the following technical effects: by providing a battery case including an upper cover 10, a case body 20, and a hold-down frame 30, the case body 20 forming, together with the upper cover 10, a storage space for storing the battery module 40, and the hold-down frame 30 being connected to the case body 20, at least a part of the hold-down frame 30 abutting against the upper surface of the battery module 40 to press the battery module 40 toward the bottom of the case body 20, a power transmission path for vertically fixing the battery pack is provided by the contact of the hold-down frame 30 with the battery module 40. As a result, the hold-down frame 30 can absorb some of the vertical stresses and ensure effective vertical fixing of the battery module within the battery housing. Moreover, the downward pushing action of the hold-down frame 30 ensures that the thickness of the structural adhesive layer 50 between the battery module 40 and the case body 20 maintains a good consistency. This ensures a uniform temperature distribution within the battery pack and thus its proper operation.

Claims

A battery case, characterized by comprising: an upper cover (10); a case body (20), wherein the case body (20) and the upper cover (10) enclose a storage space configured to store a battery module (40); a hold-down frame (30), wherein the hold-down frame (30) is connected to the case body (20), wherein at least a part of the hold-down frame (30) abuts the top surface of the battery module (40) to press the battery module (40) toward the bottom of the case body (20).The battery case according to claim 1, wherein the hold-down frame (30) comprises: a rim connection part (31), the rim connection part (31) being connected to the case body (20); a middle limiting part (32), the middle limiting part (32) having a releasing recess for releasing the battery module (40), and the middle limiting part (32) abutting on the top surface of the battery module (40).The battery case according to claim 2, wherein the central limiting part (32) comprises an edge frame (321) and a first pressing strip (322), wherein the edge frame (321) encloses the release recess and abuts against the top side of the battery module (40), wherein the first pressing strip (322) extends along a first direction and its two ends are respectively connected to the opposite edge frame (321), wherein the first direction corresponds to the arrangement direction of the battery cells (411) in the battery cell group (41) of the battery module (40), wherein at least one first pressing strip (322) is formed and each first pressing strip (322) is positioned between two adjacent battery cell groups (41) of the battery module (40).Battery housing according to Claim 3, wherein the width of the first pressure strip (322) is greater than the distance between two adjacent battery cell groups (41) of the battery module (40), such that each of the first pressure strips (322) bears in each case against the opposite end faces of two adjacent battery cell groups (41) of the battery module (40).The battery case according to claim 3, wherein the middle boundary part (32) further comprises a second push bar (323), wherein the second push bar (323) extends along a second direction and is connected at its ends to the edge frame (321) and the first push bar (322), respectively, or to two adjacent first push bars (322), wherein a plurality of second push bars (323) are provided, each positioned between two adjacent battery cells (411) of each battery cell group (41), and wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.The battery case according to claim 5, wherein the width of the second pressing bar (323) is larger than the distance between two adjacent battery cells (411) of the battery cell group (41), so that each of the second pressing bars (323) abuts against the opposite side edges of two adjacent battery cells (411) of the battery cell group (41).The battery case according to claim 3, wherein the rim frame (321) protrudes from the rim connection part (31) and forms a receiving groove, the receiving groove communicates with the releasing recess, at least a part of the battery module (40) is received in the receiving groove, and the top surface of the rim frame (321) has a limiting peripheral edge extending inward along the circumferential direction, and the limiting peripheral edge abuts the top surface of the battery module (40).The battery case according to claim 7, wherein the ratio between the height of the hold-down frame (30) and the height of the battery module (40) is less than or equal to 90%.The battery case according to claim 3, wherein the rim frame (321) and the rim connection part (31) is an integral plate.A battery pack (100) characterized in that the battery pack comprises a battery module (40) and a battery case according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the battery module (40) is disposed in the battery case.

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