Batteries and power consuming devices

Abstract

The present embodiment provides a battery and a power consumption device, the battery including a housing, a battery module and a stopper member. The battery module is installed in the housing, the battery module includes two or more battery cells arranged along a first direction, the battery cells include a first side wall and a second side wall connected to each other, the first side wall is the wall with the largest area among all the outer walls of the battery cells, and the second side walls of two adjacent battery cells are installed opposite to each other along the first direction. The stopper member is fixedly connected to the housing and abuts the first side wall of the battery cells, the stopper member is used to limit the deformation of the battery cells in a second direction, the second direction is perpendicular to the first side wall. The present embodiment can simplify the manufacturing process, reduce costs and realize a lightweight design while meeting the requirements of positional limiting, fixing and resisting expansion force.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery technology, and more particularly to batteries and power consuming devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Energy saving and emission reduction are key points in the sustainable development of the automotive industry, and electric vehicles have become an important part of the sustainable development of the automotive industry due to their advantages of energy saving and environmental friendliness. For electric vehicles, battery technology is a key factor in their development.

[0003] In conventional battery manufacturing processes, end plates are generally installed and battery cells are clamped via connecting members, and a reinforcing structure is further installed on the end plates to resist the expansion force of the battery cells. However, this installation method requires many parts, is complicated to manufacture, and increases the weight and manufacturing costs. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present application provides a battery and power consuming device that can simplify the manufacturing process, reduce costs and achieve a lightweight design while meeting the requirements of positional constraints, fixation and resistance to expansion forces.

[0005] According to a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a battery including a housing, a battery module, and a stopper member. The battery module is installed in the housing, the battery module includes two or more battery cells arranged along a first direction, the battery cells include a first side wall and a second side wall connected to each other, the first side wall is a wall having a largest area among all the outer walls of the battery cells, and the second side walls of two adjacent battery cells are installed opposite to each other along the first direction. The stopper member is fixedly connected to the housing and abuts the first side wall of the battery cells, the stopper member is used to limit deformation of the battery cells in the second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first side wall.

[0006] In the embodiment of the present application, the stopper member is installed, fixedly connected to the housing and abuts against the first side wall of the battery cell, thereby satisfying the requirements of position restriction and fixing action for the battery cell, and at the same time, the stopper member can restrict the deformation of the battery cell in the second direction, which is advantageous to buffer the expansion of the battery cell, and ensure the safety performance of the battery. In addition, this installation method eliminates the need for end plates and other connecting members, which is advantageous to improve the installation efficiency and installation accuracy, simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces the manufacturing cost and the weight of the entire battery, and realizes a lightweight design. In addition, since the first side wall is the wall with the largest area among all the outer walls of the battery cell, the stopper member can more effectively restrict and fix the position of the battery cell and resist the expansion deformation, and the installation of the stopper member can improve the effect on the structural strength of the entire battery, which better ensures the safety performance of the battery.

[0007] In some embodiments, when the height dimension of the stopper member in the height direction of the housing is H and the height dimension of the battery cell is h, 2 / 3≦H / h≦11 / 10.

[0008] If H / h is too large, the internal space of the battery will be wasted and the energy density will be too low. If H / h is too small, the structural strength requirements of the battery cannot be met, and the battery cell will expand, causing cracks in the housing, which may lead to safety accidents such as fire and explosion. By setting H / h between 2 / 3 and 11 / 10, including the two end points of 2 / 3 and 11 / 10, the structural strength requirements can be met and the expansion effect can be resisted, but it can also save space, improve space utilization, and improve the energy density of the battery.

[0009] In some embodiments, when the height dimension of the stopper member in the height direction of the housing is H and the height dimension of the battery cell is h, 0.9≦H / h≦1.

[0010] Setting H / h between 0.9 and 1 and including the two end points of 0.9 and 1 is favorable for better meeting the requirements for structural strength and resisting the swelling effect, improving safety reliability, and better improving the energy density of the battery.

[0011] In some embodiments, the stopper member includes a position limiting beam, the position limiting beam extends along a first direction, the position limiting beam is connected to the housing at both ends in the first direction, and the position limiting beam is pressed against and connected to a first side wall of the battery cell.

[0012] By installing in this manner, the stopper member is installed in the form of a position limiting beam, which is advantageous to saving installation space, so that the housing can accommodate more battery cells and improve the space utilization rate of the housing, and the position limiting beam is connected to the housing, which improves the structural strength of the entire housing and improves its ability to resist expansion of the battery cells, and ensures safety performance.

[0013] In some embodiments, the position limiting beam has a plurality of cavities extending therethrough along the first direction.

[0014] This arrangement is advantageous in that the space within the cavity is compressed in the second direction, so that the limiting beam can limit the deformation of the battery cell, and cushion and absorb the expansion force of the battery cell, ensuring the safety performance of the battery cell. In addition, the provision of the cavity can reduce the weight of the limiting beam, thus reducing costs and realizing a lightweight design, while at the same time improving the energy density of the entire battery.

[0015] In some embodiments, the number of the position limiting beams is two, the two position limiting beams are arranged at an interval in the second direction, and the battery module is sandwiched between the two position limiting beams.

[0016] By installing in this manner, the position limiting beam can better meet the requirements of position limiting, fixing and resisting expansion, and ensure the safety performance of the battery.

[0017] In some embodiments, the number of battery modules is two or more, the two or more battery modules are arranged along the second direction, a partition is installed between two adjacent battery modules, and the partition is connected to the first side walls of each battery cell in the two adjacent battery modules.

[0018] By installing in this manner, the partition can be used as a structural member of the housing, and by providing a partition between two adjacent battery modules and connecting the partition to the first side wall of each battery cell, the partition can better achieve at least one of improving structural strength and resistance to expansive forces.

[0019] In some embodiments, the divider is adhesively fixed to the first sidewalls of each battery cell in two adjacent battery modules.

[0020] This installation method is advantageous in improving the connection strength and connection stability between the partition and the battery cells, and ensures the safety and reliability of the battery. In addition, by using an adhesive method to connect the partition and each battery cell together, the partition and each battery cell of the battery module can be bonded together before being inserted into the housing, which is advantageous for assembling the battery module and further makes the installation of adjacent battery modules more compact, improving the space utilization efficiency of the housing.

[0021] In some embodiments, the divider is used to regulate the temperature of the battery cell and includes a media flow path within the divider.

[0022] By installing it as described above, the partition can not only manage the heat of the battery cells, but also improve the structural strength of the entire battery as a structural member of the housing, thereby eliminating the need for vertical and horizontal beams inside the housing, achieving high integration, cost reduction, improved space utilization rate of the housing, and a lightweight design.

[0023] In some embodiments, the battery further includes a communicating flow path, a supply pipe, and a discharge pipe, and along the second direction, the media flow paths of two adjacent partitions are communicated via a communicating flow path, and the supply pipe and the discharge pipe are communicated with the media flow path of the same partition.

[0024] By installing in this manner, each partition can meet the requirements for heat exchange medium through only one supply pipe and one discharge pipe, which reduces the space occupation rate and simplifies the structure of the supply pipe and discharge pipe, which is convenient for assembly and replacement, and can be adapted to supply heat exchange medium to different numbers of partitions, improving flexibility and versatility.

[0025] In some embodiments, the housing is provided with a through hole, and the supply pipe and the exhaust pipe extend out of the housing through the through hole.

[0026] By installing in this manner, the supply pipe and the discharge pipe can be extended outside the housing through the through-holes, i.e., the external heat exchange medium enters the housing through the supply pipe and flows out of the housing through the discharge pipe, which is convenient for obtaining and discharging the heat exchange medium, and at the same time, the risk of the heat exchange medium leaking inside the housing can be reduced, and the safety and reliability of the battery can be ensured.

[0027] In some embodiments, the housing includes a top cover, a bottom cover and a housing frame, the bottom cover and the top cover are installed at both ends of the housing frame opposite each other in the height direction of the housing, and the stopper members are respectively connected to the housing frame and at least one of the top cover and the bottom cover.

[0028] The housing for accommodating the battery cells is formed by being surrounded by the top cover, the bottom cover and the receiving frame, which ensures the requirements for sealing and is advantageous for processing, manufacturing and assembly. The stopper members are respectively connected to the receiving frame and at least one of the top cover and the bottom cover, which is advantageous for improving the structural strength, and the structure of the entire battery can be set according to different requirements, improving versatility.

[0029] In some embodiments, the housing further includes a connection base, the connection base protruding from the housing along the first direction, the connection base being used to attach the battery to the power consuming device.

[0030] The provision of a connection base helps to connect and fix the entire battery to the power consuming device in which it is used, and ensures the safe performance of the battery.

[0031] In some embodiments, the battery further includes a bus member and an output member base, the bus member being electrically connected to the battery cells, and the output member base being mounted to the stopper member and used to support the bus member.

[0032] By installing in this manner, the bus members are electrically connected to the battery cells, and the output member base forms an output interface for connecting with an external power consumption device, which is helpful for mounting and fixing the bus members, prevents the occurrence of contact short circuits, and ensures the safety performance of the battery.

[0033] In some embodiments, the stopper member is provided with a receiving groove, and the output member base extends at least partially into the receiving groove.

[0034] By installing it in this manner, the accommodating groove can act to restrict the position of the output member base, preventing displacement that could pose a safety hazard to the battery, and at the same time, it also plays a role in positioning, making it easier to attach the output member base and improving manufacturing efficiency.

[0035] In some embodiments, along the height direction of the housing, an electrode terminal is formed at one end of the battery cell close to the bottom cover, and a surface of the battery cell away from the electrode terminal is connected to the top cover.

[0036] By installing in this manner, the battery cells can be arranged in reverse when assembled into a power consumption device (such as a vehicle), with the electrode terminals of the battery cells facing downwards and the surface of the battery cells far from the electrode terminals being connected to the top cover, improving the utilization rate in the height direction of the housing and ensuring the physical safety of the driver, and because the electrode terminals of the battery cells are located away from the end where the top cover is installed, after the battery cells are clamped and connected together using a jig and inserted in the housing in reverse, the jig does not interfere with the electrode terminals, preventing the electrode terminals from breaking and being damaged, thereby ensuring the safety performance of the battery. Also, by installing the battery cells in reverse inside the housing, it is advantageous to improve the assembly efficiency and the operation is simple.

[0037] In some embodiments, the battery further includes a buffer member, which is disposed between the electrode terminal and the bottom cover along the height direction.

[0038] By providing a cushioning member, when the entire battery is shaken or vibrated, the cushioning member can provide cushioning for the electrode terminals of the battery cells, preventing damage to structures such as the pressure reduction mechanism due to the electrode terminals rubbing against the bottom, thereby ensuring the safety performance of the battery.

[0039] According to a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a power consuming device including the battery of any of the preceding embodiments, the battery providing electrical energy to enable the power consuming device to operate normally. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0040] In order to more clearly describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the following provides a brief description of the drawings required for the embodiments of the present application. It should be understood that the drawings shown below are only some embodiments of the present application, and those skilled in the art can further obtain other drawings based on the drawings without creative efforts.

[0041] [Figure 1] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present application. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is an exploded schematic view of a battery according to an embodiment of the present application. [Diagram 3] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery cell in a battery according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic view of a battery cell in a battery according to an embodiment of the present application. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a position limiting beam in a battery according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of a battery according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a partition in a battery according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 8] 8 is a cross-sectional view of the partition portion shown in FIG. 7 taken along a first direction.

[0042] In the drawings, the drawings are not drawn to scale. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1000 vehicles, 100 batteries, 200 controllers, 300 motors, 10 housing, 10a opening, 10b through hole, 11 bottom cover, 12 housing frame, 13 connection base, 20 battery module, 21 battery cell, 211 first side wall, 212 second side wall, 201 end cover assembly, 201a electrode terminal, 202 housing, 203 electrode assembly, 203a positive electrode tab, 203b negative electrode tab, 30 top cover, 40 stopper member, 41 position limiting beam, 40a cavity, 40b receiving groove, 50 partition portion 50a medium flow path, 51b ceiling wall, 51c bottom wall, 51d side wall, 511 support assembly, 5111 first support member, 5112 second support member, 61 communicating flow path, 62 supply pipe, 63 discharge pipe, 71 bus member, 72 output member base, X 1st direction, Y 2nd direction, Z height direction DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0044] The following describes in detail the embodiments of the technical solution of the present application with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are only used to more clearly explain the technical solution of the present application, and are merely examples, which do not limit the scope of protection of the present application.

[0045] It should be noted that unless otherwise explained, technical and scientific terms used in the examples of this application have the same meaning as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the examples of this application pertain.

[0046] In describing the embodiments of the present application, the orientations or positional relationships indicated by terms such as "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "up," "down," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," "circumferential," and the like, based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the drawings, are merely intended to facilitate and simplify the description of the embodiments of the present application, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the subject devices or elements have a particular orientation or are to be configured and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the embodiments of the present application.

[0047] Furthermore, technical terms such as "first", "second", etc. are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood to indicate or imply the relative importance or quantity of the technical features they indicate. In the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise clearly limited, "plurality" means two or more.

[0048] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, technical terms such as "attached", "connected", "connected", "fixed" and the like should be understood in a broad sense, for example, may be a fixed connection, a removable connection, or may be integral. They may be mechanically connected or electrically connected. They may be directly connected, indirectly connected via an intermediate medium, or may be an internal communication between two elements or an interactive relationship between two elements. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of the present application according to the specific circumstances.

[0049] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are in indirect contact via an intermediate medium. Furthermore, a first feature being "above," "above," and "on the upper surface" of a second feature may mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the horizontal height of the first feature is higher than that of the second feature. A first feature being "below," "below," and "on the lower surface" of a second feature may mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the horizontal height of the first feature is lower than that of the second feature.

[0050] At present, due to the development of the market situation, the application of power batteries is becoming more and more widespread. Power batteries are not only used in energy storage power systems such as hydroelectric, thermal, wind and solar power stations, but also widely used in electric vehicles such as electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, electric cars, and military equipment and aerospace. With the expansion of the application fields of power batteries, the demand for them in the market is also constantly increasing.

[0051] The applicant has noticed that the number of battery cells in a conventional battery is large, and generally, a battery module is first constructed and then assembled. A battery module includes a plurality of stacked battery cells, and generally, end plates are installed at both ends of the battery module, and the two end plates are connected via a connecting member to clamp the battery cells. In order to prevent the end plates from being damaged due to expansion generated during charging and discharging of the battery cells, many reinforcing structures are often provided to improve the structural strength of the end plates. However, this method requires many parts to be installed, is complicated to manufacture, and increases the weight and manufacturing cost, which increases the manufacturing cost of the battery.

[0052] In order to solve the problem of simplifying the manufacturing process, reducing costs and achieving a lightweight design while satisfying the requirements of positional constraints, fixing and resistance to expansion forces, the applicant has conducted research and found that the structure and arrangement of the battery can be improved.

[0053] Based on the above idea, in order to meet the requirements of position restriction, fixing and resistance to expansion force, while simplifying the manufacturing process, reducing costs and realizing a lightweight design, the applicant has made extensive research and designed a battery including a housing, a battery module and a stopper member. The battery module is installed in the housing, the battery module includes two or more battery cells arranged along a first direction, the battery cells include a first side wall and a second side wall connected to each other, the first side wall is the wall with the largest area among all the outer walls of the battery cells, and the second side walls of two adjacent battery cells are installed opposite to each other along the first direction. The stopper member is fixedly connected to the housing and abuts against the first side wall of the battery cell, the stopper member is used to restrict deformation of the battery cell in the second direction, the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction and the first side wall.

[0054] In such a battery, in order to meet the requirements for sealing, the battery module is installed in a housing. The battery module includes two or more battery cells arranged along a first direction, the second side walls of two adjacent battery cells are installed opposite to each other, and a stopper member is fixedly connected to the housing and abuts against the first side wall of the battery cell, thereby limiting the deformation of the battery cell in the second direction and favorably cushioning the expansion of the battery cell, ensuring the safety performance of the battery, and at the same time providing a pressing force for the battery module to realize the function of position limiting and fixing, ensuring good quality of the battery. In addition, the stopper member is fixedly connected to the housing and installed to abut against the battery cell, which is favorable for reducing the number of connecting members, improving the installation efficiency and installation accuracy, simplifying the manufacturing process, reducing the manufacturing cost and the weight of the entire battery, and realizing a lightweight design. Also, by installing in this manner, the stopper member can be a structural member of the housing, thereby meeting the requirements for structural strength and having a high degree of integration.

[0055] The technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present application are applied to power-consuming devices that use batteries.

[0056] The power consumption device may be a vehicle, a mobile phone, a mobile device, a notebook computer, a ship, a spacecraft, an electric toy, an electric tool, etc. The vehicle may be a gasoline vehicle, a natural gas vehicle, or a new energy vehicle, and the new energy vehicle may be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a range extender vehicle, etc. The spacecraft includes an aircraft, a rocket, a space shuttle, a space ship, etc. The electric toy includes a game console, an electric car toy, an electric ship toy, an electric aircraft toy, and other stationary or mobile electric toys. The electric tool includes a metal cutting electric tool, a polishing electric tool, an assembly electric tool, and a railway electric tool, such as an electric drill, an electric grinder, an electric wrench, an electric screwdriver, an electric hammer, an electric impact driver, a concrete vibrator, and an electric planer. The embodiment of the present application is not particularly limited to the above power consumption device.

[0057] It should be noted that the technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present application are not only applicable to the above-mentioned power consumption devices, but also to all power consumption devices that use batteries. For the sake of simplicity, however, the following embodiments are all described using electric vehicles as examples.

[0058] Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a structural schematic diagram of a vehicle 1000 according to some embodiments of the present application. The vehicle 1000 may be a gasoline vehicle, a natural gas vehicle or a new energy vehicle, and the new energy vehicle may be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle or a range extender vehicle, etc. A battery 100 is installed inside the vehicle 1000, and the battery 100 may be installed at the bottom, front or rear of the vehicle 1000. The battery 100 can be used to supply power to the vehicle 1000, for example, as an operating power source for the vehicle 1000. The vehicle 1000 may further include a controller 200 and a motor 300, and the controller 200 is used to control the battery 100 to supply power to the motor 300, for example, to meet the operating power needs during starting, navigation and running of the vehicle 1000.

[0059] In some embodiments of the present application, the battery 100 can provide not only the operating power source for the vehicle 1000, but also the propulsion power source for the vehicle 1000, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide propulsion power to the vehicle 1000.

[0060] 2 to 4, an embodiment of the present application provides a battery 100 including a housing 10, a battery module 20, and a stopper member 40. The battery module 20 is installed in the housing 10, and the battery module 20 includes two or more battery cells 21 arranged along a first direction X, and the battery cells 21 include a first side wall 211 and a second side wall 212 connected to each other, the first side wall 211 being the wall with the largest area among all the outer walls of the battery cells 21, and the second side walls 212 of two adjacent battery cells 21 being installed opposite each other along the first direction X. The stopper member 40 is fixedly connected to the housing 10 and abuts against the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21, and is used to limit deformation of the battery cell 21 in a second direction Y, and the second direction Y is perpendicular to the first side wall 211.

[0061] The housing 10 may be a simple three-dimensional structure such as an independent rectangular parallelepiped or cylinder, or a complex three-dimensional structure formed by combining simple three-dimensional structures such as rectangular parallelepipeds or cylinders, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. The material of the housing 10 may be an alloy material such as an aluminum alloy or an iron alloy, a polymer material such as polycarbonate or polyisocyanurate foam, or a composite material such as glass fiber with epoxy resin, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0062] The housing 10 is used to house the battery cells 21, and the housing 10 may have various structures as long as it can guarantee the requirements of hermeticity.

[0063] In the battery 100, the battery cell 21 may be one or more. If there are more than one battery cell 21, the battery cells 21 may be connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel, and a series-parallel connection means that the battery cells 21 are connected in parallel as well as in series. The battery cells 21 may be directly connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel, and then the entire battery cell 21 may be housed in the housing 10. Of course, the battery cells 21 may first be connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel to form a battery module 20, and the battery modules 20 may be further connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel to be integrally formed and housed in the housing 10.

[0064] In the present application, the battery cell 21 may include a lithium ion battery cell 21, a sodium ion battery cell 21, a magnesium ion battery cell 21, or the like, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. The battery cell 21 may be a flat body, a rectangular parallelepiped, or other shape, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. The battery cell 21 is generally divided into three types, namely, a cylindrical battery cell 21, a prismatic battery cell 21, and a soft-pack battery cell 21, depending on the packaging method, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. However, for the sake of simplicity, the following embodiments will be described taking the prismatic battery cell 21 as an example.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 4 , the battery cell 21 refers to the smallest unit constituting the battery 100 , and the battery cell 21 includes an end cover assembly 201 , a housing 202 , and an electrode assembly 203 .

[0066] The end cover assembly 201 is a member that covers the opening of the housing 202 to isolate the internal environment of the battery cell 21 from the external environment. The shape of the end cover assembly 201 can be adapted to the shape of the housing 202 to be fitted to the housing 202, but is not limited thereto. Optionally, the end cover assembly 201 can be made of a material (e.g., aluminum alloy) having a certain hardness and strength, so that the end cover assembly 201 is not easily deformed even when pressed or hit, the battery cell 21 can have higher structural strength, and safety performance can be improved. Functional members such as electrode terminals 201a may be provided on the end cover assembly 201. The electrode terminals 201a can be used to electrically connect with the electrode assembly 203, and are used to output or input electrical energy of the battery cell 21. In some embodiments, the end cover assembly 201 can further be provided with a pressure reducing mechanism that is used to release the internal pressure of the battery cell 21 when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell 21 reaches a threshold value. The end cover assembly 201 may be made of any material, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, plastic, etc., and the embodiments of the present application are not particularly limited thereto. In some embodiments, an insulating material may be further installed inside the end cover assembly 201, and the insulating material may be used to isolate the electrical connection members in the housing 202 from the end cover assembly 201, thereby reducing the risk of short circuit. Exemplarily, the insulator may be plastic, rubber, etc.

[0067] The housing 202 is an assembly for forming an internal environment of the battery cell 21 by fitting with the end cover assembly 201, and the formed internal environment may be used to accommodate the electrode assembly 203, an electrolyte (not shown), and other components. The housing 202 and the end cover assembly 201 may be separate components, or an opening may be provided in the housing 202, and the end cover assembly 201 may cover the opening to form the internal environment of the cell 21. The end cover assembly 201 and the housing 202 may be integrated, specifically, the end cover assembly 201 and the housing 202 may form a common connection surface before other components are inserted into the housing, and when it is necessary to seal the inside of the housing 202, the end cover assembly 201 is placed over the housing 202, but is not limited thereto. The housing 202 may have various shapes and sizes, such as a rectangular parallelepiped. Specifically, the shape of the housing 202 is determined by the specific shape and size of the electrode assembly 203. The housing 202 may be made of any of a number of materials, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, plastic, etc., and the embodiments of the present application are not particularly limited thereto.

[0068] The electrode assembly 203 is a member that generates an electrochemical reaction in the battery cell 21. One or more electrode assemblies 203 may be included in the housing 202. The electrode assembly 203 is mainly formed by winding or stacking a positive electrode sheet and a negative electrode sheet, and a separator is generally provided between the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet. The parts of the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet that contain active materials constitute the main body of the electrode assembly 203, and the parts of the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet that do not contain active materials constitute the tabs. The positive electrode tab 203a and the negative electrode tab 203b may be located together at one end of the main body, or may be located at both ends of the main body. During the charging and discharging process of the battery cell 100, the positive electrode active material and the negative electrode active material react with the electrolyte, and the tabs are connected to the electrode terminal 201a to form a current circuit.

[0069] 2 to 4, the battery module 20 provided by the embodiment of the present application includes two or more battery cells 21 arranged along a first direction X, and the battery cells 21 include a first side wall 211 and a second side wall 212 connected to each other, the first side wall 211 being the wall with the largest area among all the outer walls of the battery cell 21, and the second side walls 212 of two adjacent battery cells 21 being installed opposite each other along the first direction X. The stopper member 40 is fixedly connected to the housing 10 and abuts against the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21, and is used to limit deformation of the battery cell 21 in the second direction Y.

[0070] In the present embodiment, the second direction Y is perpendicular to the first side wall 211, and as can be understood, the second direction Y is also perpendicular to the first direction X. Alternatively, the first direction X may be the length direction of the housing 10, and correspondingly, the second direction Y is the width direction of the housing 10. Of course, the first direction X may be the width direction of the housing 10, and correspondingly, the second direction Y is the length direction of the housing 10.

[0071] Alternatively, the number of the stopper members 40 may be one or two, and of course, a plurality of stopper members 40 may be provided.

[0072] The stopper member 40 is fixedly connected to the housing 10 and abuts against the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21, thereby limiting deformation of the battery cell 21 in the second direction Y. When the battery cell 21 expands during charging or discharging, the stopper member 40 can provide a cushioning effect for the battery cell 21 and even a force opposite in direction to the expansion force, which is beneficial to improving the operational safety of the battery cell 21 and ensuring the safety and reliability of the battery 100. At the same time, the stopper member 40 can provide a pressing force for the battery module 20 to achieve position limiting and fixing effects, thereby ensuring good quality of the battery 100.

[0073] Furthermore, by installing in this manner, the number of end plates and connecting parts, etc. can be reduced, which is advantageous for improving installation efficiency and installation accuracy, simplifying the manufacturing process, reducing the manufacturing cost and the overall weight of the battery 100, and achieving a lightweight design.

[0074] In addition, the stopper member 40 can be used as a structural member of the housing 10, thereby satisfying the requirements for structural strength, achieving a high degree of integration, and bringing the stopper member 40 and the battery cells 21 into closer contact with each other, which is advantageous for making the housing 10 more compact and improving the space utilization rate of the housing 10.

[0075] The first side wall 211 is set as the wall with the largest area among all the outer walls of the battery cell 21, thereby enabling the stopper member 40 to more effectively restrict and fix the position of the battery cell 21, resist expansion and deformation, and improve structural strength, thereby better ensuring the safety performance of the battery 100.

[0076] For example, two stopper members 40 may be installed, and the two stopper members 40 are respectively fixedly connected between the housing 10 and the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21, and abut against the first side wall 211, not only realizing the functions of restricting the position of the battery cell 21, fixing it, and resisting expansion force, but also preventing the battery cell 21 from coming into contact with the housing 10, thereby preventing electrical connection or thermal runaway from occurring; at the same time, the stopper members 40 provide support and protection for the battery cell 21, and improve structural strength.

[0077] Alternatively, the stopper member 40 and the housing 10 may have an integral structure and be formed through processes such as bending, pressing, etc. Of course, the stopper member 40 and the housing 10 may be provided separately and then fixed and connected together through methods such as welding, adhesive, etc.

[0078] The battery 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application has a stopper member 40 that is fixedly connected to the housing 10 and abuts against the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21, thereby satisfying the requirements of the role of limiting the position of the battery cell 21 and fixing it. At the same time, the stopper member 40 can limit the deformation of the battery cell 21 in the second direction Y, thereby satisfying the requirement of resisting the expansion of the battery cell 21. In addition, by installing in this manner, there is no need to provide a connecting member for connecting the end plate and the battery cell 21, which is advantageous to improving the installation efficiency and installation accuracy, simplifying the manufacturing process, reducing the manufacturing cost and the weight of the entire battery 100, and realizing a lightweight design. In addition, the stopper member 40 can be a structural member of the housing 10, which is advantageous to support the battery cell 21 and improve the structural strength. In addition, since the first side wall 211 is the wall with the largest area among all the outer walls of the battery cell 21, the stopper member 40 can more effectively limit the position of the battery cell 21 and fix it, and can play the role of resisting the expansion deformation and improving the structural strength, thereby better ensuring the safety performance of the battery 100.

[0079] The battery 100 provided by the embodiment of the present application uses the above-mentioned structure, and during molding, the second side walls 212 of each battery cell 21 in the same battery module 20 are first arranged opposite to each other, thereby forming a battery module 20 including two or more battery cells 21 arranged along the first direction X. Then, the battery module 20 is clamped using a tool and inserted between the stopper members 40 arranged at intervals along the second direction Y in the housing 10, and when the tool is removed, each battery cell 21 in the battery module 20 rebounds and presses the stopper member 40, so that the stopper member 40 abuts against the first side walls 211 of the battery cells 21, sealing the housing 10 and completing the manufacture of the battery 100. This molding method can improve the space utilization rate of the housing 10, realize a lightweight design, and is easy to manufacture, favorable to molding, and reduces costs while satisfying the requirements of positional restriction, fixing, and resistance to expansion deformation.

[0080] 2 to 5, in some embodiments, in the height direction Z of the housing 10, if the height dimension of the stopper member 40 is H and the height dimension of the battery cell 21 is h, then 2 / 3≦H / h≦11 / 10.

[0081] Alternatively, the ratio of the height dimension H of the stopper member 40 to the height dimension h of the battery cell 21 may be any value between 2 / 3 and 11 / 10, including the two end points of 2 / 3 and 11 / 10.

[0082] Please refer to the table below, which shows the test results when H / h is in the range of values ​​from 2 / 3 to 11 / 10.

[0083] [Table 1] For example, as can be seen from the second to fifth test data in the table, when the height dimension H of the stopper member 40 and the height dimension h of the battery cell 21 are set within the range of 2 / 3≦H / h≦11 / 10, the test results show that none of the stopper members 40 are damaged and no safety issues occur in the battery cells 21. In addition, the contact area between the stopper member 40 and the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21 can be increased, so that the stopper member 40 can more effectively restrict deformation of the battery cell 21 in the second direction Y, improving the position restriction, supporting effect and expansive deformation resistance effect for the battery cell 21, and improving the safety and reliability of the battery 100.

[0084] For example, as can be seen from the fourth and fifth test results in the table, when the height dimension H of the stopper member 40 was set to be equal to or greater than the height dimension h of the battery cell 21, i.e., 1≦H / h≦11 / 10, the test results showed that the stopper member 40 was not damaged and no safety issues occurred for the battery cell 21. Furthermore, installing in this manner not only improves the effects of limiting the position of the battery cell 21, supporting it, and resisting expansion and deformation, but also protects the battery cell 21 through the stopper member 40, preventing external forces due to impact, vibration, or other operating conditions from directly acting on the battery cell 21, and mutually reinforcing the structural strength of the battery cell 21 and the stopper member 40, thereby improving the structural strength of the battery 100.

[0085] If H / h is set to be greater than 11 / 10, the space inside the housing 10 will be wasted, and the energy density of the battery 100 will decrease.

[0086] As can be seen from the first test data in the table, when H / h is set to less than 2 / 3, the test results show that cracks occur in the stopper member 40, causing a safety issue for the battery cell 21; that is, when installed in this manner, the contact area between the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21 and the stopper member 40 becomes too small, making it impossible to satisfy the structural strength requirement, and the stopper member 40 cannot effectively resist the expansion of the battery cell 21, which may result in safety accidents such as fires and explosions.

[0087] Therefore, based on the simulation calculation, by setting H / h between 2 / 3 and 11 / 10, including the two end points of 2 / 3 and 11 / 10, it is not only possible to meet the requirements on the structure strength and resist the expansion effect, but also to save space and improve the space utilization rate.

[0088] In some embodiments, in the height direction Z of the housing 10, when the height dimension of the stopper member 40 is H and the height dimension of the battery cell 21 is h, 0.9≦H / h≦1.

[0089] From the test results in the above table, it can be seen that setting H / h between 0.9 and 1 is advantageous for better meeting the requirements for structural strength and resisting the expansion effect, improving safety reliability, and better improving the energy density of the battery 100.

[0090] In some embodiments, the stopper member 40 includes a position limiting beam 41, which extends along a first direction X, the position limiting beam 41 is connected to the housing 10 at both ends in the first direction X, and the position limiting beam 41 is pressed against and connected to the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21.

[0091] The stopper member 40 is installed in the form of a position limiting beam 41, which is advantageous in reducing the arrangement space of the position limiting beam 41, thereby allowing the housing 10 to accommodate more battery cells 21 and improving the space utilization rate inside the housing 10.

[0092] In addition, the position limiting beam 41 is connected to the housing 10, which can improve the structural strength of the entire housing 10 and improve the ability to resist the expansion of the battery cells 21, thereby ensuring safety performance.

[0093] The connection between the position limiting beam 41 and the first side wall 211 may be a connection in which the position limiting beam 41 and the first side wall 211 are directly bonded together, or the position limiting beam 41 may be connected to the first side wall 211 by means of adhesives, fasteners (such as bolts), welding, etc., or further, there may be another member (such as partition 50 described below) between the position limiting beam 41 and the first side wall 211, and the position limiting beam 41 may be abutted against the first side wall 211 via the other member and indirectly connected to the first side wall 211.

[0094] For example, the cross-sectional areas of the portions of the position limiting beam 41 in the first direction X are all the same, which facilitates production and saves the internal space of the housing 10. In addition, it is advantageous for each portion of the position limiting beam 41 to be closely attached to the first side wall 211 of each battery cell 21, which improves the supporting and protecting effect and improves the space utilization rate inside the housing 10.

[0095] In some embodiments, a plurality of cavities 40a are provided in the position limiting beam 41, the cavities 40a penetrating along the first direction X.

[0096] Alternatively, the cavities 40a may be arranged to be spaced apart in the second direction Y, and may of course also be arranged to be spaced apart in the height direction Z.

[0097] Optionally, in the height direction Z, the cavities 40a may be arranged in one row, or, of course, in multiple rows.

[0098] For example, the multiple cavities 40a are set to be spaced apart in the height direction Z and are arranged in a row, thereby shortening the extension length of the position limiting beam 41 in the second direction Y and creating more space within the housing 10 to accommodate more battery cells 21, which is advantageous in improving the energy density of the battery 100.

[0099] A plurality of cavities 40a penetrating along the first direction X are provided in the position limiting beam 41, which advantageously allows the space within the cavities 40a to be compressed along the second direction Y when the battery cells 21 expand due to charging / discharging, thereby allowing the position limiting beam 41 to limit the deformation of the battery cells 21 and cushion and absorb the expansion force of the battery cells 21, thereby ensuring the safety performance of the battery cells 21.

[0100] In addition, the provision of the cavity 40a reduces the weight of the position limiting beam 41, thereby reducing costs and achieving a lightweight design, while at the same time improving the energy density of the entire battery 100.

[0101] In some embodiments, the number of the position limiting beams 41 is two, the two position limiting beams 41 are arranged at an interval in the second direction Y, and the battery module 20 is sandwiched between the two position limiting beams 41.

[0102] For example, if the number of position limiting beams 41 is set to two and they are arranged at a distance in the second direction Y, the battery module 20 is sandwiched between the two position limiting beams 41, i.e., the position limiting beams 41 are located between the battery module 20 and the inner wall of the housing 10, and the position limiting beams 41 are connected to the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21 and installed abutting the first side wall 211, the two position limiting beams 41 can be respectively used to limit the deformation of the battery cell 21 in the second direction Y of the housing 10, and the requirements of position limiting, fixing, and resisting expansion can be more effectively met, and the safety performance of the battery 100 can be better guaranteed.

[0103] Continuing to refer to Figures 2 to 5, in some embodiments, the number of battery modules 20 is two or more, the two or more battery modules 20 are arranged along the second direction Y, a partition 50 is installed between two adjacent battery modules 20, and the partition 50 is connected to the first side wall 211 of each battery cell 21 in the two adjacent battery modules 20.

[0104] Optionally, the number of battery modules 20 is two, but of course, a plurality of battery modules may be installed.

[0105] Similarly, the number of the partition sections 50 may be set to one, and when the number of the battery modules 20 is set to two, one partition section 50 is sandwiched between the two battery modules 20. Of course, a plurality of the partition sections 50 may be installed, and when the number of the battery modules 20 is set to two, one partition section 50 is sandwiched between each of two adjacent battery modules 20.

[0106] Alternatively, two or more battery modules 20 are arranged along the second direction Y, and each battery module 20 includes two or more battery cells 21 arranged along the first direction X of the housing 10, and the partition portion 50 can prevent the battery cells 21 of two adjacent battery modules 20 from coming into direct contact with each other in the second direction Y, thereby avoiding problems such as short circuits.

[0107] Optionally, the partition 50 can be connected to the first sidewall 211 of each battery cell 21 in two adjacent battery modules 20 to support the battery cell 21 as a structural member of the housing 10, thereby improving the structural strength.

[0108] Optionally, the divider 50 can further be used to resist the expansion force of the battery cell 21 to which it is connected, thereby ensuring the safety performance of the battery 100.

[0109] Optionally, the divider 50 can further be used for thermal management of the battery cell 21 to which it is connected, ensuring that the battery cell 21 is within a proper temperature range, thereby ensuring safe performance of the battery 100.

[0110] By sandwiching the partition 50 between two adjacent battery modules 20, the partition 50 can better achieve at least one of improving the structural strength and providing resistance to expansion forces.

[0111] Alternatively, the ratio of the height dimension of the partition 50 in the height direction Z to the height dimension h of the battery cell 21 may be set between 2 / 3 and 11 / 10, including the two end points of 2 / 3 and 11 / 10, which not only meets the requirements for structural strength and resists the expansion effect, but also saves space and improves space utilization.

[0112] In some embodiments, the dividers 50 are adhesively fixed to the first side walls 211 of each battery cell 21 in two adjacent battery modules 20 .

[0113] Installation in this manner makes the connection between the partitions 50 and each battery cell 21 stronger and more stable, ensuring the safety and reliability of the battery 100. In addition, by using an adhesive method to connect the partitions 50 and each battery cell 21 together, the partitions 50 and each battery cell 21 of the battery module 20 can be bonded together before the whole is placed into the casing 10, which is advantageous for assembling the battery 100 module and also makes the installation of adjacent battery modules 20 more compact, improving the space utilization efficiency of the casing 10.

[0114] In addition, the use of an adhesive method is advantageous in reducing consumables and the overall weight, and is useful for designing a lightweight battery 100. Furthermore, the manufacturing process is simplified, and production and assembly efficiency are improved.

[0115] Optionally, a connecting adhesive layer may be provided between the partition 50 and the first side wall 211 to adhesively fix the partition 50 and each battery cell 21 together.

[0116] Optionally, the connection adhesive layer may include a thermally conductive structural adhesive, which not only has a high adhesive effect but also has properties such as heat conduction function, deterioration resistance, fatigue resistance, and corrosion resistance, and can improve the connection strength between the battery cells 21 and the partitions 50 and make the heat transfer between the battery cells 21 and the partitions 50 more rapid. Of course, the connection adhesive layer may further include a double-sided tape, etc.

[0117] In some embodiments, the divider 50 is used to regulate the temperature of the battery cell 21, and a media flow path 50a is provided within the divider 50.

[0118] Alternatively, the partition 50 may be installed as a heat exchange plate, which is sandwiched between two adjacent battery modules 20 and connected to the first side wall 211. Such an installation adjusts the temperature of the battery cells 21 it contacts and realizes the requirements for thermal management of the battery cells 21. Furthermore, since the first side wall 211 has the largest area among all the outer walls of the battery cells 21, the contact area between the heat exchange plate and the battery cells 21 can be increased, which is advantageous for improving the efficiency of thermal management for the battery cells 21.

[0119] Each battery cell 21 may have two first side walls 211, i.e., the two first side walls 211 of each battery cell 21 are respectively connected to the partition 50, thereby more effectively improving the thermal management efficiency and ensuring the temperature stability of the battery cell 21.

[0120] Thermal management is understood to mean that heat is transferred between the partition and the battery cell 21. For example, the partition 50 directly contacts the battery cell 21 to realize contact-type heat exchange, or a heat-conducting structure (such as a thermally conductive adhesive) is provided between the partition 50 and the battery cell 21 to perform heat exchange. Specifically, the partition dissipates heat by cooling or heating the battery cell 21, controls the temperature of the battery cell 21 within an appropriate range, and improves the service life and safety performance of the battery cell 21. In addition, when a certain battery cell 21 experiences thermal runaway, the heat generated from the thermally runaway battery cell 21 is absorbed by the partition in contact with it, lowering the temperature of the thermally runaway battery cell 21, thereby avoiding the problem of adjacent battery cells 21 also experiencing thermal runaway, and ensuring the safety performance of the battery cell 21.

[0121] Optionally, a partition 50 is sandwiched between each two adjacent battery modules 20, so that it can be understood that one partition 50 can act on and exchange heat with two battery modules 20, and one battery module 20 can exchange heat with two partitions 50, which is beneficial for improving thermal management efficiency and improving the safety and reliability of the battery cells 21.

[0122] A medium flow path 50a is provided within the partition 50, and a heat exchange medium (water, air, phase change material, etc.) can flow through the medium flow path 50a to perform heat exchange for the battery cells 21, thereby completing thermal management for the battery cells 21.

[0123] By installing as described above, the partition 50 can improve the structural strength of the entire battery 100 as a structural member of the housing 10, thereby eliminating the need for vertical and horizontal beams inside the housing 10, achieving high integration, cost reduction, improved space utilization rate of the housing 10, and lightweight design. In addition, since the area of ​​the first side wall 211 is larger than the area of ​​the second side wall 212, the partition 50 can more effectively exchange heat with the battery cells 21, improving thermal management efficiency. In addition, by sandwiching the partition 50 between two adjacent battery modules 20, it is possible to prevent the partition 50 from being damaged and even causing leakage under operating conditions such as collision and vibration, thereby improving the service life, safety, and reliability of the partition 50, and improving the thermal management efficiency of the battery cells 21, thereby further ensuring the safety performance of the battery 100.

[0124] 2 to 6, in some embodiments, the battery 100 further includes a communicating flow path 61, a supply pipe 62 and a discharge pipe 63, and along the second direction Y, the media flow paths 50a of two adjacent partitions 50 are connected via the communicating flow path 61, and the supply pipe 62 and the discharge pipe 63 are connected to the media flow path 50a of the same partition 50.

[0125] Alternatively, the communicating flow path 61, the supply pipe 62 and the discharge pipe 63 may be installed on the same side extending along the first direction X of the partition portion 50, or of course, they may be installed on both sides extending along the first direction X of the partition portion 50.

[0126] Alternatively, the extending direction of the supply pipe 62 and the extending direction of the discharge pipe 63 may be the same or different.

[0127] Alternatively, a communicating flow passage 61 may be provided on both sides of one partition 50 extending along the first direction X, and the communicating flow passages 61 on both sides of each partition 50 may be connected in sequence and respectively connected to a supply pipe 62 and a discharge pipe 63, which makes it easy to assemble and replace, and has higher versatility.

[0128] In addition, the communication flow passages 61, the supply pipes 62, and the discharge pipes 63 can be arbitrarily combined, which is advantageous in that it can be applied to various numbers of partitions 50, thereby improving versatility and versatility.

[0129] Optionally, a connecting member may be provided on both sides of the partition 50 extending in the first direction X, thereby connecting to the communication channel 61 and improving the connection strength.

[0130] By installing in this manner, the medium flow path 50a of each partition 50 can meet the requirements for heat exchange medium only through one supply pipe 62 and one discharge pipe 63, thereby reducing the space occupation rate and simplifying the structure of the supply pipe 62 and the discharge pipe 63, which is convenient for assembly and replacement, and can be adapted to supply heat exchange medium to different numbers of partitions 50, thereby improving flexibility and versatility.

[0131] In some embodiments, the housing 10 is provided with a through hole 10b, and the supply pipe 62 and the discharge pipe 63 each extend from the housing 10 through the through hole 10b.

[0132] By installing in this manner, one end of the supply pipe 62 and the discharge pipe 63 extend outside the casing 10, the supply pipe 62 can be connected to an external device for supplying heat exchange medium, which is advantageous for obtaining and sending the heat exchange medium to the partition 50, and the discharge pipe 63 can be connected to an external device for storing heat exchange medium, thereby discharging the heat exchange medium that has exchanged heat with the battery cells 21, which is advantageous for obtaining and discharging the heat exchange medium, and at the same time, it can reduce the risk of the heat exchange medium leaking inside the casing 10, and ensure the safety and reliability of the battery 100.

[0133] Alternatively, the device for supplying the external heat exchange medium and the device for storing the heat exchange medium may be installed as the same device, or, of course, may be two separate devices.

[0134] 6 to 8, in some embodiments, the partition 50 has a ceiling wall 51b, a bottom wall 51c, and a side wall 51d connected to the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c, which are disposed opposite each other along the second direction Y. A medium flow path 50a is formed surrounded by the ceiling wall 51b, the bottom wall 51c, and the side wall 51d, and the medium flow path 50a is disposed in communication with a supply pipe 62 and a discharge pipe 63. Under a predetermined pressure, at least a portion of the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c can move toward each other along the second direction Y, thereby absorbing the expansion force of the battery cells 21.

[0135] A medium flow path 50a is formed, surrounded by a ceiling wall 51b, a bottom wall 51c, and a side wall 51d, and the medium flow path 50a is installed in communication with a supply pipe 62 and a discharge pipe 63, so that the heat exchange medium can enter the medium flow path 50a via the supply pipe 62 and exchange heat with the battery cells 21. After heat exchange, the heat exchange medium is further transmitted from the medium flow path 50a to the discharge pipe 63 and flows out, completing thermal management for the battery cells 21.

[0136] Under a certain pressure, at least a portion of the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c can move toward each other along the second direction Y, and it can be understood that when the battery cell 21 expands during operation and the force acting on the partition 50 exceeds a certain pressure, the partition 50 can deform to absorb the expansion force of the battery cell 21, i.e., the cross-sectional area of ​​the partition 50 in the second direction Y is reduced, improving the safety performance of the battery 100. At the same time, the partition 50 can always keep the connection with the battery cell 21 compact, improving the connection strength.

[0137] In some embodiments, the partition 50 includes a support assembly 511, which is installed in the media flow path 50a, and along the height direction Z of the housing 10, the support assembly 511 includes a plurality of first support members 5111 arranged at intervals, each of which is connected to the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c, and the first support members 5111 are installed at an incline and form an angle with one of the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c that is less than 90°.

[0138] The first support members 5111 are disposed at intervals along the height direction Z, and selectively, the interval dimension between two adjacent first support members 5111 may be the same or different.

[0139] Optionally, the number of first support members 5111 included in the support assembly 511 may be set according to the size of the partition 50. The support assembly 511 is installed in the media flow passage 510a and is used to support the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c, thereby ensuring the support requirements for the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c.

[0140] The first support members 5111 are respectively connected to the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c, and as can be understood, when the partition portion 50 deforms to absorb the expansion force of the battery cell 21, the first support members 5111 can deform accordingly so that at least a portion of the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c can move toward each other along the second direction Y.

[0141] By installing the first support member 5111 at an incline and setting the included angle with either the ceiling wall 51b or the bottom wall 51c to be less than 90°, the flexibility of the first support member 5111 can be improved, it can deform better, and the requirement for the partition portion 50 to absorb expansion force can be met. Furthermore, the flat shape reduces the deformation space, thereby avoiding the risk of it breaking and becoming prone to failure.

[0142] For example, the included angle between the first support member 5111 and either the ceiling wall 51b or the bottom wall 51c is set within a range of 30° to 60°, which is advantageous in better meeting the support requirements and at the same time in preventing deformation and breakage.

[0143] Optionally, the inclination directions of two adjacent first support members 5111 may be the same, or of course, may be different.

[0144] Optionally, the material of the first support member 5111 may be formed with a reinforcing rib structure, which ensures the supporting function and at the same time realizes a lightweight design of the divider 50 and the entire battery 100.

[0145] Optionally, the first support member 5111 is connected to the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c and extends along the first direction X, thereby increasing the connection area between the first support member 5111 and the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c, and improving the supporting strength.

[0146] In some embodiments, the first support member 5111 exhibits a plate-like structure.

[0147] By providing the first support member 5111 as a flat plate-shaped structure, deformation occurs more effectively, thereby satisfying the requirement that the partition section 50 absorb the expansion force of the battery cells 21.

[0148] Moreover, it is advantageous for production and processing, and improves manufacturing efficiency.

[0149] In some embodiments, the support assembly 511 further includes a plurality of second support members 5112 arranged at intervals along the height direction Z of the housing 10, the extension dimension of the second support members 5112 in the second direction Y being smaller than the distance between the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c, and the second support members 5112 being connected to at least one of the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c.

[0150] Alternatively, the second support member 5112 may be installed on the ceiling wall 51b and may also be installed on the bottom wall 51c. For example, the second support member 5112 is installed on both the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c.

[0151] For example, in the height direction Z, a second support member 5112 is installed between each two adjacent first support members 5111. Optionally, one of the two adjacent second support members 5112 is installed on the ceiling wall 51b and the other is installed on the bottom wall 51c, thereby ensuring that the forces received by the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c are uniform and that the weights placed on them are not too heavy.

[0152] The second support member 5112 is installed and its extension dimension in the second direction Y is set to be smaller than the distance between the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c, so that it not only works in cooperation with the first support member 5111 to provide a better supporting effect, but also controls the deformation range of the partition portion 50. When one of the second support members 5112 of the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c comes into contact with the other, the deformation of the partition portion 50 can be further limited, preventing the media flow path 50a from becoming clogged and ensuring the effectiveness of the media flow path 50a, thereby ensuring the effectiveness of the partition portion 50.

[0153] In some embodiments, the second support member 5112 has a polygonal prism shape.

[0154] Because the second support member 5112 is installed in a polygonal column shape, the second support member 5112 has a sufficient cross-sectional area, and even when the partition 50 absorbs the expansion force of the battery cells 21 and the second support member 5112 installed on the ceiling wall 51b or the bottom wall 51c deforms to the point of contacting the other wall, the second support member 5112 can have a sufficient contact area, thereby better improving the support capacity and preventing the second support member 5112 from being damaged or even losing its effectiveness, resulting in contact with the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c, and ensuring the effectiveness of the partition 50.

[0155] Optionally, the second support member 5112 is installed perpendicular to the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c to better ensure the supporting effect on the partition 50 and to ensure that the media flow passage 50a does not become clogged.

[0156] In some embodiments, second support members 5112 are installed on both the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c, and the first support members 5111 and the second support members 5112 are alternately arranged along the height direction Z of the housing 10.

[0157] The first support members 5111 and the second support members 5112 are arranged alternately, and optionally, two adjacent second support members 5112 may be installed alternately on the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c, and naturally, the positions of the second support members 5112 may be set according to certain arrangement rules.

[0158] For example, in the height direction Z, one of two adjacent second support members 5112 is installed on the ceiling wall 51b and the other is installed on the bottom wall 51c, thereby ensuring that the forces received by the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c are uniform and at the same time preventing the weight from being too heavy.

[0159] By installing in this manner, not only can the uniformity of the supporting action on the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c of the partition section 50 be guaranteed, but also no clogging phenomenon occurs in any part of the media flow path along the first direction X, thereby further ensuring the effectiveness of the media flow path 50a.

[0160] 2 to 6, in some embodiments, the housing 10 includes a top cover 30, a bottom cover 11 and a storage frame 12, the bottom cover 11 and the top cover 30 are installed at both ends of the storage frame 12 facing each other in the height direction Z of the housing 10, and the stopper member 40 is connected to at least one of the storage frame 12, the top cover 30 and the bottom cover 11, respectively.

[0161] The top cover 30, the bottom cover 11 and the housing frame 12 form a housing for housing the battery cells 21, thereby ensuring the required sealing performance.

[0162] Optionally, the accommodating frame 12 may have an opening 10a, or alternatively, the accommodating frame 12 may have an opening 10a on one side, that is, the accommodating frame 12 and one of the top cover 30 and the bottom cover 11 are integrally molded, and the other seals the opening 10a and is connected to the accommodating frame 12 to form a housing 10 surrounding the battery module 20 for sealing and protecting it. Of course, the accommodating frame 12 may have openings 10a on both sides, and the top cover 30 and the bottom cover 11 are used to seal two openings 10a, respectively, and are connected to the accommodating frame 12 to form a housing 10 surrounding the battery module 20 for sealing and protecting it.

[0163] In order to improve the sealing performance after the housing frame 12 is connected to the top cover 30 and the bottom cover 11, a sealing member such as a sealant or a seal ring may be installed between the housing 10 and the top cover 30 or the bottom cover 11.

[0164] Alternatively, the top cover 30, the bottom cover 11 and the housing 10 may be connected by bolts, flow drill screws (FDS), adhesives, welding, etc., and the present application is not limited thereto.

[0165] Alternatively, the top cover 30 or the bottom cover 11 may be made of a material (such as an aluminum alloy) having a certain degree of high hardness and strength, making it difficult to deform, providing higher structural strength, and improving safety performance.

[0166] Alternatively, the bottom cover 11 and the receiving frame 12 may be formed as an integral structure, or of course, the bottom cover 11 and the receiving frame 12 may be provided separately and then connected together by welding, adhesive or other methods.

[0167] For example, the bottom cover 11 and the receiving frame 12 may be removably connected, which can reduce costs and make it easy to replace the bottom cover 11 or the receiving frame 12 when problems such as damage occur.

[0168] Alternatively, the bottom cover 11 and the receiving frame 12 may be made of the same material, or of course, they may be made of different materials.

[0169] Optionally, the stopper member 40 and the bottom cover 11 or the top cover 30 are installed with a gap therebetween, and optionally, at least a portion of the bottom cover 11 or the top cover 30 can be recessed away from the battery cell 21 in the height direction Z to form a recess, and when a gap exists between the recess and the stopper member 40 and other operating conditions such as collision, vibration, etc. occur, the gap can provide a buffering effect, which is advantageous for better supporting and protecting the stopper member 40 and the battery cell 21, and improves safety and reliability.

[0170] Alternatively, the stopper member 40 may be connected to the accommodating frame 12 and either the top cover 30 or the bottom cover 11, and during assembly molding, the battery cell 21 and the stopper member 40 may be first connected to the accommodating frame 12, and then the top cover 30 or the bottom cover 11 may be covered to form the housing 10 with a sealed space.

[0171] In some embodiments, the housing 10 further includes a connection base 13, which protrudes from the receiving frame 12 along the first direction X.

[0172] The provision of the connection base 13 helps to connect and fix the entire battery 100 to the device in which it is used, such as to the chassis of the vehicle 1000, thereby improving the stability of the connection and making the connection more robust, while at the same time avoiding safety risk issues for the battery 100 due to poor connection, thereby ensuring the safety and reliability of the battery 100.

[0173] Alternatively, the connection base 13 may be provided protruding on one side of the accommodating frame 12 along the first direction X, and naturally, a protruding connection base 13 may be provided on either side of the accommodating frame 12 along the first direction X.

[0174] In some embodiments, the battery cell 21 further includes a bus member 71 for electrically connecting two adjacent battery cells 21.

[0175] Alternatively, the number of bus members 71 may be one, two, or, of course, a plurality of bus members may be provided.

[0176] Two adjacent battery cells 21 can be electrically connected via a bus member 71, and optionally, the bus member 71 may be connected to the electrode terminal 201a of the adjacent battery cell 21, thereby realizing a series connection, a parallel connection, or a series-parallel connection of multiple battery cells 21 within the same battery module 20 or within two adjacent battery modules 20.

[0177] Optionally, two electrode terminals 201a serving as output ends are provided in the battery module 20 located outermost in the first direction X, and the bus member 71 electrically connected to the two output ends is also referred to as an output member.

[0178] In some embodiments, the battery 100 further includes an output member base 72, which is mounted on the stopper member 40 and is used to support the bus member 71 as the output member. Optionally, the output member base 72 includes an insulating material.

[0179] Alternatively, the number of output members may be two, and the two output members are electrically connected to the two output ends respectively and installed on the same side in the second direction Y, thereby forming a power supply path together with the other bus members 71. Installing in this manner can avoid using a large-sized output member spanning the battery module 20, and is advantageous in making the battery cells 21 more compact and improving the energy density.

[0180] Alternatively, the shape of the output member may be a folded plate shape or other shapes, and the present application is not limited thereto.

[0181] In some embodiments, the two output terminals are provided to two battery cells 21 located at the ends of the outermost battery module 20 in the first direction X, respectively.

[0182] Installing in this manner is advantageous in ensuring that the two output members are arranged on the same side of the second direction Y, and the two output members and the two output ends form an output interface to be connected to an external power consumption device.

[0183] Optionally, the output member base 72 is installed on the stopper member 40 and is used to support the bus member 71 as the output member, which makes it easy to install and fix the bus member 71 and can also prevent the occurrence of contact short circuit, thereby ensuring the safety performance of the battery 100.

[0184] In some embodiments, the stopper member 40 is provided with a receiving groove 40b, and the output member base 72 extends at least partially into the receiving groove 40b.

[0185] Optionally, the number of the receiving grooves 40b may be one or two, and of course, multiple receiving grooves 40b may be provided. Optionally, the shape of the receiving groove 40b may be provided to match the shape of the output member base 72, and the receiving groove 40b may receive the output member base 72 exactly, limiting its position to prevent displacement.

[0186] The accommodating groove 40b can act to restrict the position of the output member base 72, preventing displacement that could pose a safety hazard to the battery 100, and at the same time, it also plays a role in positioning, making it easier to attach the output member base 72 and improving manufacturing efficiency.

[0187] Alternatively, the numbers of the accommodating grooves 40b and the output member bases 72 may correspond one-to-one, or may be multiple-to-one, i.e., multiple output member bases 72 may be installed in the same accommodating groove 40b.

[0188] For example, the stopper member 40 is provided with two or more receiving grooves 40b, and the two or more receiving grooves 40b are spaced apart from each other.

[0189] Alternatively, the accommodating groove 40b may be formed by press molding, that is, the accommodating groove 40b can be quickly formed in the stopper member 40, the process is simple, and at the same time, material can be saved, which is advantageous for realizing a lightweight design.

[0190] 2 to 4, in some embodiments, an electrode terminal 201a is formed at one end of the battery cell 21 close to the bottom cover 11 along the height direction Z of the housing 10, and the surface of the battery cell away from the electrode terminal 201a is connected to the top cover 30.

[0191] As can be understood, by installing in this manner, the battery cell 21 is arranged inverted inside the housing 10, and when the battery cell 21 is assembled into a power consumption device (such as the vehicle 1000), it can be arranged inverted, with the electrode terminal 201a of the battery cell 21 facing downward and the surface of the battery cell 21 away from the electrode terminal 201a being connected to the top cover 30, thereby improving the utilization rate in the height direction of the housing 10 and ensuring the physical safety of the driver.

[0192] Furthermore, due to the above installation, in the process of inserting the battery cells 21 clamped and connected together using the jig into the opening 10a of the housing 10, the end cover assembly 201 of the battery cells 21 is located away from the end where the opening 10a is installed, which prevents the jig from interfering with the end cover assembly 201 and prevents the end cover assembly 201 from malfunctioning or being damaged, thereby ensuring the safety performance of the battery 100. Furthermore, arranging the battery cells 21 in the housing 10 in an upside-down position is advantageous for improving assembly efficiency and simplifies the operation.

[0193] In some embodiments, the battery 100 further includes a buffer member, which is disposed between the electrode terminal 201a and the bottom cover 11 along the height direction Z.

[0194] By providing a cushioning member, when the entire battery 100 is shaken or vibrated, the cushioning member can provide a cushion for the electrode terminal 201a of the battery cell 21, preventing the electrode terminal 201a from rubbing against the bottom cover 11 and damaging structures such as the pressure reduction mechanism, thereby ensuring the safety performance of the battery 100.

[0195] According to a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a power consuming device including the battery 100 of any of the above embodiments, the battery 100 providing electrical energy to enable the power consuming device to operate normally.

[0196] In addition, the power consumption device provided by the examples of the present application has the beneficial effects of the battery 100 in any of the above embodiments. For specific details, please refer to the description of the beneficial effects of the battery 100, and the examples of the present application will be omitted.

[0197] In addition, the embodiments and features of the embodiments in the present application can be combined with each other as long as they are not contradictory.

[0198] The final point to be explained is as follows: The above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical solutions of the present application, and are not intended to limit the same. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand the following: Those skilled in the art may still modify the technical solutions described in the above embodiments, or substitute some of the technical features therein for equivalents, but these modifications or substitutions will not cause the substance of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. The battery pack includes a housing, a battery module installed in the housing, and a stopper member; the battery module includes two or more battery cells arranged along a first direction, the battery cells include a first side wall and a second side wall connected to each other, the first side wall is a wall having a largest area among all outer walls of the battery cells, and the second side walls of the two adjacent battery cells are installed to face each other along the first direction, A battery, wherein the stopper member is fixedly connected to the housing and abuts the first side wall of the battery cell, the stopper member being used to limit deformation of the battery cell in a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first side wall.

2. 2. The battery according to claim 1, wherein, in a height direction of the casing, a height dimension of the stopper member is H and a height dimension of the battery cell is h, where 2 / 3≦H / h≦11 / 10.

3. 3. The battery according to claim 1, wherein, in a height direction of the casing, a height dimension of the stopper member is H and a height dimension of the battery cell is h, where H / h is 0.9≦H≦1.

4. 4. The battery of claim 3, wherein the stopper member includes a positioning beam extending along the first direction, the positioning beam connected to the housing at both ends in the first direction, and the positioning beam pressed against the first side wall of the battery cell and connected to the first side wall.

5. The battery of claim 4 , wherein the position limiting beam has a plurality of cavities extending therethrough along the first direction.

6. The battery of claim 4 , wherein the number of the positioning beams is two, the two positioning beams are arranged at a distance from each other in the second direction, and the battery module is sandwiched between the two positioning beams.

7. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the number of the battery modules is two or more, the two or more battery modules are arranged along the second direction, a partition is installed between two adjacent battery modules, and the partition is connected to the first side walls of each of the battery cells in the two adjacent battery modules.

8. The battery according to claim 7 , wherein the partition is adhesively fixed to the first side walls of each of the battery cells in two adjacent battery modules.

9. The battery according to claim 7 , wherein the partition is used to adjust the temperature of the battery cell, and a media flow path is provided within the partition.

10. 10. The battery of claim 9, further comprising a communicating flow path, a supply pipe, and a discharge pipe, wherein along the second direction, the media flow paths of two adjacent partitions are communicated via the communicating flow path, and the supply pipe and the discharge pipe are communicated with the media flow path of the same partition.

11. The battery according to claim 10 , wherein the housing has a through hole, and the supply pipe and the discharge pipe extend from the housing through the through hole.

12. The battery described in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the housing includes a top cover, a bottom cover, and a housing frame, the bottom cover and the top cover are installed at both ends of the housing frame facing each other in the height direction of the housing, and the stopper members are each connected to the housing frame and at least one of the top cover and the bottom cover.

13. The battery of claim 12 , wherein the housing further includes a connection base, the connection base protruding from the housing frame along the first direction, and the connection base is used to attach the battery to a power consuming device.

14. The battery of any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising a bus member and an output member base, the bus member being electrically connected to the battery cells, and the output member base being provided on the stopper member and used to support the bus member.

15. The battery according to claim 14 , wherein the stopper member is provided with an accommodation groove, and the output member base extends at least partially into the accommodation groove.

16. The battery according to claim 12 , wherein an electrode terminal is formed at one end of the battery cell close to the bottom cover along the height direction of the housing, and a surface of the battery cell away from the electrode terminal is connected to the top cover.

17. The battery according to claim 16 , further comprising a buffer member, the buffer member being provided between the electrode terminal and the bottom cover along the height direction.

18. 18. A power consuming device comprising a battery according to any one of claims 1 to 17 used to supply electrical energy.

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