Battery box

Abstract

To provide a battery box capable of uniformly transmitting a stress and power to a battery pack.SOLUTION: A battery box is constructed so as to house a battery pack 200, and contains: a housing 100; at least one pressing assembly 400; and a cylinder 700. The housing is constructed so as to house the battery pack. At least one pressing assembly contains a pressing plate and a pressed plate. The pressing plate is constructed so as to be overlapped on one side of the battery pack. The pressed plate is constructed so as to be overlapped on one side of the pressing plate positioned farthest away from the battery pack. The pressed plate contains: a frame part; and a plurality of rib parts. The plurality of rib parts are connected to the frame part, and are surrounded by the frame part. The cylinder is arranged into the housing, and is constructed so as to press the pressed plate.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a power storage device, and more particularly to a battery box.

Background Art

[0002] Some manufacturers are replacing lithium-ion batteries used as power sources for vehicles such as electric scooters and electric motorcycles with lithium metal batteries due to their large capacity characteristics. In order to enable the lithium metal battery to have good electrical characteristics, stress or force should be applied to the lithium metal battery when charging or discharging electricity, thereby enabling the lithium metal layer deposited on the surface of the anode to have a fine and smooth surface.

[0003] However, with conventional means of applying stress or force, the stress or force cannot be uniformly transmitted to the lithium metal battery, so a part of the lithium metal layer deposited on the surface of the anode does not have a fine and smooth surface. Thus, the lithium metal battery has poor electrical characteristics. Alternatively, in the housing for accommodating the lithium metal battery, conventional means for applying stress or force occupy a relatively large internal space with respect to the arrangement of the lithium metal battery, thereby limiting the number of lithium metal batteries.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a battery box capable of uniformly transmitting stress and force to a battery pack, or a battery box provided with more battery cells.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] One embodiment of the present disclosure provides a battery box configured to accommodate a battery pack, including a housing, at least one pressing assembly, and a cylinder. The housing is configured to accommodate the battery pack. The at least one pressing assembly includes a pressing plate and a pressed plate. The pressing plate is configured to be stacked on one side of the battery pack. The pressed plate is configured to be stacked on one side of the pressing plate that is farthest from the battery pack. The pressed plate includes a frame portion and a plurality of rib portions. The plurality of rib portions are connected to the frame portion and surrounded by the frame portion. The cylinder is disposed within the housing and configured to push the pressed plate in.

[0006] Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a battery box configured to accommodate a battery pack. The battery pack includes a plurality of battery cells stacked along a stacking direction. The battery box includes a housing, at least one cylinder, and at least one transmission assembly. The at least one cylinder includes a cylinder body and a movable rod. The cylinder body is disposed within the housing. The movable rod is disposed on the cylinder body so as to be movable along a moving direction. The at least one transmission assembly is configured to connect the movable rod of the at least one cylinder and the battery pack. The movable rod is configured to apply a driving force to the at least one transmission assembly to form a movable rod that pushes the battery pack through the at least one transmission assembly. The moving direction is non-parallel to the stacking direction.

[0007] According to the battery box according to the above embodiment, in the pressing assembly, for example, a rib portion having a square cross section is connected to the frame portion and surrounded by the frame portion. Thereby, the cylinder can uniformly transmit stress or force to the battery pack via the pressing assembly, and the electrical characteristics of the battery pack can be improved. Alternatively, since the moving direction of the movable rod is non-parallel to the stacking direction of the battery cells, the space occupied by the cylinder along the stacking direction is small. In this way, it becomes possible to arrange more battery cells in the housing.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008] The present disclosure will be better understood from the accompanying drawings, which are given for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to limit the present disclosure, together with the detailed description given hereinafter in this specification.

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] In the following detailed description, for a complete understanding of the disclosed embodiments, numerous detailed specific examples are set forth for the purpose of explanation. However, it will be apparent that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these detailed specific examples. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawings.

[0010] Refer to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a battery module 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the battery module 10 of FIG. 1.

[0011] In the present embodiment, the battery module 10 is, for example, a lithium metal battery module. The battery module 10 includes a housing 100, a battery pack 200, a circuit board assembly 300, two pressing assemblies 400, two connection plates 500 and 550, two mounting frames 600, two cylinders 700, and two transmission assemblies 800. The housing 100, the two pressing assemblies 400, the two connection plates 500 and 550, the two mounting frames 600, the two cylinders 700, and the two transmission assemblies 800 can together form a battery box. The battery box is configured to accommodate the battery pack 200 and, together with the battery pack 200, constitutes the battery module 10.

[0012] In this embodiment, the housing 100 can include a first housing portion 110 and a second housing portion 120. The first housing portion 110 is laminated on the side surface of the second housing portion 120, and an accommodation space 130 is formed between the first housing portion 110 and the second housing portion 120. The present disclosure is not limited to the configuration of the housing 100. In other embodiments, instead of including two housing portions stacked on each other, the housing may be formed as an integral body.

[0013] The battery pack 200 includes a plurality of battery cells 210. The battery cells 210 may be laminated along the lamination direction S and arranged in the accommodation space 130 of the housing 100. The circuit board assembly 300 is, for example, a BMS (Battery Management System). The circuit board assembly 300 is arranged in the accommodation space 130 of the housing 100 and electrically connected to the battery cells 210.

[0014] Refer to FIGS. 2 to 4. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the battery module 10 of FIG. 1 with the housing 100 and the circuit board assembly 300 omitted. FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the battery module 10 of FIG. 1 with the housing 100 and the circuit board assembly 300 omitted.

[0015] The two pressing assemblies 400 have similar structures. Thus, one of the two pressing assemblies 400 will be described in detail below. The pressing assembly 400 includes a pressing plate 410 and a pressed plate 420. The pressing plate 410 is stacked on one side of the battery pack 200. The pressed plate 420 is stacked on one side of the pressing plate 410 that is farthest from the battery pack 200. In this embodiment, the pressed plate 420 has a frame portion 421 and a plurality of rib portions 422. The rib portions 422 are connected to the frame portion 421 and surrounded by the frame portion 421. Each rib portion 422 can have a square cross-section. In this embodiment, for example, the pressed plate 420 is fixed to the pressing plate 410 by adhesion, but is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the pressed plate and the pressing plate may be integrally formed as a single component. Additionally, in other embodiments, the cross-section of each rib portion may be circular or any other shape so as to enable uniform transmission of stress or force from the pressed plate to the pressing plate.

[0016] Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the rib portion 422 has a plurality of first rib portions 423 and a plurality of second rib portions 424. The first rib portions 423 and the second rib portions 424 are connected to each other. Also, the first rib portion 423 is orthogonal to the second rib portion 424. That is, the extending direction of each first rib portion 423 is orthogonal to the extending direction of each second rib portion 424. The first rib portions 423 and the second rib portions 424 are connected to the frame portion 421 and surrounded by the frame portion 421. In other embodiments, the rib portion may include one first rib portion and one second rib portion such that the first rib portion and the second rib portion intersect.

[0017] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the two pressing plates 410 of the two pressing assemblies 400 are respectively stacked on two opposite sides of the battery pack 200. The two connection plates 500, 550 are respectively placed on the side surfaces of the two pressed plates 420 that are farthest from the pressing plates 410.

[0018] The two mounting frames 600 are arranged in the accommodation space 130 of the housing 100. The two mounting frames 600 are separated from each other and fixed to the housing 100. The connection plate 550 is placed on the two mounting frames 600.

[0019] The two cylinders 700 and the two transmission assemblies 800 are respectively arranged on the two mounting frames 600. Further, the two cylinders 700 are configured to respectively pull the two connection plates 500 and 550 through the two transmission assemblies 800. Therefore, the two connection plates 500 and 550 are configured such that the two pressing assemblies 400 respectively push the battery pack 200. Hereinafter, the detailed structures and connection relationships of a pair of corresponding cylinders 700 and transmission assemblies 800 will be mainly described briefly for simplicity.

[0020] The cylinder 700 is, for example, a pneumatic cylinder. The cylinder 700 includes a cylinder body 710 and a movable rod 720. The cylinder body 710 is fixed to the mounting frame 600 and arranged in the housing 100. The movable rod 720 is arranged on the cylinder body 710 so as to be movable along the moving direction M. In the present embodiment, the moving direction M is non-parallel to the stacking direction S of the battery cells 210. Further, the moving direction M is, for example, perpendicular to the stacking direction S of the battery cells 210. The present disclosure is not limited to the type of the cylinder 700. In other embodiments, the cylinder may be a hydraulic cylinder.

[0021] Since the moving direction M is non-parallel to the stacking direction S of the battery cells 210, the space occupied by the cylinder 700 along the stacking direction S is small. In this way, more battery cells 210 can be arranged in the accommodation space 130 of the housing 100, thereby increasing the total capacity of the battery module 10, or reducing the volume of the battery box without reducing the number of battery cells 210, thereby improving the adaptability of the use of the battery box.

[0022] Also, in the present embodiment, the two cylinders 700 are, for example, offset from each other. Thereby, the space utilization of the accommodation space 130 of the housing 100 is improved.

[0023] In this embodiment, the transmission assembly 800 includes a first roller 810, a first transmission belt 820, a second transmission belt 830, and a second roller 840.

[0024] The first roller 810 is rotatably disposed on the mounting frame 600. The first transmission belt 820 connects the movable rod 720 and the first roller 810. Specifically, the first transmission belt 820 has a fixed portion 821, a pressed portion 822, and a sleeve portion 823. The pressed portion 822 connects the fixed portion 821 and the sleeve portion 823. The fixed portion 821 is fixed to the housing 100. The sleeve portion 823 is sleeved or wound around the first roller 810. The pressed portion 822 is connected to the movable rod 720 and is configured to be pushed by the movable rod 720. The axial direction A of the first roller 810 is non-parallel to the moving direction M and the stacking direction S. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the axial direction A, the stacking direction S, and the moving direction M are parallel to the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction, respectively. That is, the axial direction A is perpendicular to the moving direction M and the stacking direction S, for example. Thereby, the first roller 810 is configured to change the direction of the stress or force transmitted from the movable rod 720.

[0025] The second transmission belt 830 is separated from the first transmission belt 820 along the axial direction A of the first roller 810. The second transmission belt 830 has a first fixing portion 831, a second fixing portion 832, and a winding portion 833. The winding portion 833 connects the first fixing portion 831 and the second fixing portion 832. The first fixing portion 831 is fixed to the first roller 810. As shown in FIG. 3, the second fixing portion 832 is fixed to the connection plate 500. In FIG. 3, a part of the mounting frame 600 is omitted to clearly show the relationship between the second fixing portion 832 and the connection plate 500.

[0026] In this embodiment, the second transmission belt 830 further includes a pre-winding portion 834. The pre-winding portion 834 is connected to the end of the first fixing portion 831 that is farthest from the winding portion 833 and is wound around the first roller 810.

[0027] The second roller 840 is rotatably disposed on the mounting frame 600 and is separated from the first roller 810. The winding portion 833 is sleeved or wound around the second roller 840, and the winding portion 833 and the second roller 840 have a labor-saving structure similar to that of a movable pulley.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the two movable rods 720 of the two cylinders 700 are respectively connected to the two first transmission belts 820 of the two transmission assemblies 800. The two second fixing portions 832 of the two second transmission belts 830 are respectively fixed to two opposite sides of the connection plate 500. Thereby, the connection plate 500 can be uniformly pushed to push the plate 420 in.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the cylinder body 710 is configured to drive the movable rod 720 to extend from the cylinder body 710, whereby the movable rod 720 applies a driving force F to the pressed portion 822 of the first transmission belt 820. The pressed portion 822 rotates the first roller 810 in the sleeve portion 823. When the first roller 810 rotates, the first fixed portion 831 of the second transmission belt 830 moves, and thus the first fixed portion 831 pulls the connection plate 500 in the pressing direction P via the winding portion 833 to the second fixed portion 832. Thereby, the connection plate 500 pushes the battery pack 200 along the pressing direction P via the pushing assembly 400, applying stress or force to the battery pack 200. When the battery pack 200 expands and contracts along the stacking direction S during charging and discharging, by adjusting the force or stress applied to the movable rod 720 from the cylinder body 710 and thus adjusting the driving force F applied to the pressed portion 822 from the movable rod 720, a constant stress or force can be applied to the battery pack 200.

[0030] In the pushing assembly 400, for example, the rib portion 422 having a square cross-section is connected to the frame portion 421 and surrounded by the frame portion 421. Thereby, the cylinder 700 can uniformly transmit stress or force to the battery pack 200 via the pushing assembly 400, improving the electrical characteristics of the battery pack 200.

[0031] Also, the first fixed portion 831 moves the second fixed portion 832 via the winding portion 833 sleeved or wound on the second roller 840. Thereby, the winding portion 833 pulls the connection plate 500 along the pressing direction P by a labor-saving mechanism similar to a movable pulley. In this way, while providing a desired amount of stress or force applied to the battery pack 200, the number of cylinders 700 can be reduced, thereby reducing the space inside the housing 100 occupied by the cylinders 700 and reducing the overall weight of the battery module 10 or the battery box.

[0032] When the battery pack 200 expands along the stacking direction S, the pre-wound portion 834 comes off the first roller 810, and the second transmission belt 830 moves as the battery pack 200 expands.

[0033] The battery module 10 according to the present invention is not limited to a lithium metal battery module. In other embodiments, the battery module may be any type of battery module in which its battery pack needs to be pressurized or pushed in. Additionally, in other embodiments, the battery module can include one push assembly, one cylinder, and one transmission assembly.

[0034] Other embodiments are described below for the purpose of explanation. In the following embodiments, the same or similar elements as those in the above embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the same technical content is omitted. For the description of the omitted parts, reference can be made to the above embodiments, and detailed description is omitted in the following embodiments.

[0035] The present invention is not limited to the relationship between the moving direction of the movable rod and the stacking direction of the battery cells. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a battery module 10a according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the battery module 10a of FIG. 5. The main difference between the battery module 10a of the present embodiment and the battery module 10 of the first embodiment is the moving direction Ma of the movable rod 720a of the cylinder 700a. In this embodiment, the battery module 10a includes a housing 100, a battery pack 200, a circuit board assembly 300, two push assemblies 400, two mounting frames 600, and four cylinders 700a. The housing 100, the two push assemblies 400, the two mounting frames 600, and the four cylinders 700a can together form a battery box. The battery box is configured to accommodate the battery pack 200 and, together with the battery pack 200, constitutes the battery module 10a.

[0036] Refer to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the battery module 10a of FIG. 5, with the housing 100 and the circuit board assembly 300 omitted. In this embodiment, the moving direction Ma of the movable rod 720a of each cylinder 700a is parallel to the stacking direction S of the battery cells 210. Therefore, in this embodiment, the movable rod 720a of each cylinder 700a is designed to directly contact the pushed plate 420 of the pushing assembly 400. Therefore, compared with the first embodiment, the battery module 10a does not need to include the connection plates 500, 550 and the transmission assembly 800, whereby the structure of the battery module 10a is simplified and the manufacturing cost of the battery module 10a is reduced.

[0037] The present disclosure is not limited to the structure of the pressing plate. Refer to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a battery module 10b according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module 10b of FIG. 8 with the housing 100 and the circuit board assembly 300 omitted. The main difference between the battery module 10b of the present embodiment and the battery module 10 of the first embodiment is the structure of the pressed plate 420b of each pressing assembly 400b. In the present embodiment, the pressed plate 420b has a frame portion 421b, a plurality of rib portions 422b, and a plurality of peripheral rib portions 425b. The rib portions 422b and the peripheral rib portions 425b can have a square cross section. The rib portions 422b connect the peripheral rib portions 425b and the frame portion 421b. The frame portion 421b surrounds the rib portions 422b and the peripheral rib portions 425b. The peripheral rib portions 425b are spaced apart from each other. Also, in the present embodiment, the pressed plate 420b has two fixing protrusions 426b on both sides of the pressed plate 420b, respectively. The two second fixing portions 832 of the two second transmission belts 830 are respectively fixed to the two fixing protrusions 426b. That is, in the present embodiment, the connection plate 500 of the first embodiment used as a structure for fixing the second fixed portion 832 is replaced by the fixing protrusion 426b. The housing 100, the two pressing assemblies 400b, the two mounting frames 600, the two cylinders 700, and the two transmission assemblies 800 can together constitute a battery box. The battery box is configured to accommodate the battery pack 200 and constitutes a battery module 10b together with the battery pack 200.

[0038] The present disclosure is not limited to a method in which a cylinder generates force or stress. Referring to FIG. 10, FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of a battery module 10c according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The main difference between the battery module 10c of this embodiment and the battery module 10 of the first embodiment is that the cylinder body 710c of the cylinder 700c of this embodiment is in fluid communication with the external container 20c via the tube 900c. Thus, since the configuration of the external container 20c (for example, the volume of the external container 20c, etc.) is not limited to the housing 100, the external container 20c can provide the working fluid to the cylinder body 710c in a more flexible and stable manner. Thereby, the cylinder 700c can generate a more flexible and stable force or stress. In addition, the battery module 10c includes a housing 100, a battery pack 200, a circuit board assembly 300, two pressing assemblies 400, two connection plates 500, 550, two mounting frames 600, two cylinders 700c, and two transmission assemblies 800. The housing 100, the two pressing assemblies 400, the two connection plates 500 and 550, the two mounting frames 600, the two cylinders 700c, and the two transmission assemblies 800 can together form a battery box. The battery box is configured to accommodate the battery pack 200 and constitutes the battery module 10c together with the battery pack 200.

[0039] According to the battery box according to the above embodiment, in the pressing assembly, for example, a rib portion having a square cross section is connected to the frame portion and surrounded by the frame portion. Thereby, the cylinder can uniformly transmit stress or force to the battery pack through the pressing assembly, and the electrical characteristics of the battery pack can be improved. Alternatively, since the moving direction of the movable rod is non-parallel to the stacking direction of the battery cells, the space occupied by the cylinder along the stacking direction is small. In this way, it becomes possible to arrange more battery cells in the housing.

[0040] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed embodiments. This specification and the examples are to be regarded as illustrative only, and it is intended that the true scope of the disclosure be indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A battery box configured to house a battery pack, comprising: a housing configured to receive the battery pack; At least one push assembly including a push plate and a push plate, the push plate being configured to be stacked on one side of the battery pack, the push plate being configured to be stacked on one side of the push plate located furthest from the battery pack, the push plate including a frame portion and a plurality of rib portions, the plurality of rib portions being connected to the frame portion and surrounded by the frame portion; a cylinder disposed within the housing and configured to push the pushing plate.

2. The plurality of rib portions of the pushing plate include a plurality of first rib portions and a plurality of second rib portions, The first rib portions are connected perpendicularly to the second rib portions, 2. The battery box according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of first rib portions and the plurality of second rib portions are connected to the frame portion and surrounded by the frame portion.

3. The push plate further comprises a plurality of peripheral ribs; The peripheral ribs are spaced apart from one another, the plurality of rib portions connect the plurality of peripheral rib portions and the frame portion, The battery box according to claim 1 , wherein the frame portion surrounds the plurality of peripheral rib portions and the plurality of rib portions.

4. A battery box configured to house a battery pack, comprising: The battery pack includes a plurality of battery cells stacked along a stacking direction, The battery box includes: Housing and At least one cylinder having a cylinder body and a movable rod; at least one transmission assembly; The cylinder body is disposed within the housing, The movable rod is disposed in the cylinder body so as to be movable along a moving direction, the at least one transmission assembly is configured to connect the movable rod of the at least one cylinder and the battery pack; the movable rod is configured to apply a driving force to the at least one transmission assembly to form the movable rod pushing the battery pack through the at least one transmission assembly; The battery box, wherein the moving direction is non-parallel to the stacking direction.

5. Further comprising a push assembly; the pushing assembly is configured to be stacked on one side of the battery pack; the at least one transmission assembly includes a first roller, a first transmission belt, and a second transmission belt; the first roller is rotatably disposed on the housing; the first transmission belt connects the movable rod and the first roller; an axial direction of the first roller is non-parallel to the moving direction and the stacking direction; 5. The battery box according to claim 4, wherein the second power transmission belt connects the first roller and the pushing assembly and is spaced apart from the first power transmission belt along the axial direction of the first roller.

6. the at least one transmission assembly further comprises a second roller; the second roller is rotatably disposed on the housing and spaced apart from the first roller; the second power transmission belt includes a first fixed portion, a second fixed portion, and a winding portion, the winding portion connects the first fixed portion and the second fixed portion, the first stationary portion and the second stationary portion are connected to the first roller and the pushing assembly, respectively; The battery box according to claim 5 , wherein the winding portion is wound on a second roller.

7. The second power transmission belt further includes a pre-wound portion, 7. The battery box according to claim 6, wherein the pre-wound portion is connected to an end of the first fixed portion located farthest from the winding portion and is wound around the first roller.

8. Further comprising a connecting plate, the connecting plate is mounted on one side of the pushing assembly located farthest from the battery pack; The battery box according to claim 6 , wherein the second fixing portion is fixed to the connecting plate.

9. the at least one cylinder comprises two cylinders; the at least one transmission assembly comprises two transmission assemblies; the movable rods of the two cylinders are connected to the two transmission assemblies, respectively; the second fixed portions of the second power transmission belts of the two transmission assemblies are fixed to two opposite sides of the connecting plate, respectively; 9. The battery box according to claim 8, wherein the two cylinders are offset from each other.

10. The pushing assembly includes a pushing plate and a pushed plate, The push plate is laminated on one side of the battery pack, the pushing plate is placed on one side of the pushing plate located farthest from the battery pack, The pressing plate has a fixing protrusion, The battery box according to claim 6 , wherein the second fixing portion is fixed to the fixing protrusion.

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