Batteries and power consuming devices

Abstract

The embodiment of the present application provides a battery and a power consumption device. The battery includes a housing, a battery cell, a connection plate, and a connector, the housing has a top and a bottom opposite to each other along a first direction, an opening is provided at the bottom, the battery cell is provided in the housing, the connection plate is provided on one side of the housing to protrude along a second direction, and forms a receiving part in the first direction with the bottom, the first direction and the second direction intersect, the connector is provided in the receiving part, and is connected to the connection plate, and is electrically connected to the battery cell. According to the embodiment of the present application, the energy density and safety of the battery can be improved. [Representative diagram] Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] In recent years, the emergence of new energy vehicles has played a major role in promoting social development and environmental protection. Power batteries, as rechargeable batteries, are the power source of new energy vehicles and are widely used in the field of new energy vehicles.

[0003] In the development of battery technology, how to improve the safety and energy density of the battery is one of the important research directions in battery technology. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present application provides batteries and power consuming devices that can improve the energy density and safety of the batteries.

[0005] According to a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a battery including a housing, a connection plate, a battery cell, and a connector. The housing has a top and a bottom facing each other along a first direction, and an opening is provided at the bottom. The battery cell is disposed within the housing. The connection plate is disposed on one side of the housing so as to protrude along a second direction, and forms a receiving portion in the first direction with the bottom, and the first direction and the second direction intersect. The connector is disposed within the receiving portion and connected to the connection plate, and the connector is electrically connected to the battery cell.

[0006] In the above technical solution, the connection plate is installed on the outside of the housing and forms a receiving section, and the connector is installed in the receiving section, thereby playing a protective role for the connector and preventing the connector from being damaged by external impact when the battery is turned upside down, thereby improving the safety of the battery.

[0007] In some embodiments, the connector is located completely within the receptacle so that the connector does not extend beyond the bottom extension surface in the first direction, thereby providing better protection for the connector.

[0008] In some embodiments, the housing further includes side plates distributed around the periphery of the opening, the side plates being connected to each other to form a frame structure, and the connecting plates and the side plates being integrally molded.

[0009] In the above technical solution, the connecting plate and the side plate are integrally molded, which can increase the force-bearing strength of the connecting plate.

[0010] In some embodiments, the surface of the connecting plate facing the receiving portion is a first protective surface, the surface of the side plate facing the receiving portion is a second protective surface, and the connector is connected to the first protective surface and is spaced apart from the second protective surface.

[0011] In the above technical solution, the connector is spaced apart from the second protective surface, thereby reducing and mitigating the impact force along the second direction.

[0012] In some embodiments, in the first direction, the thickness D1 of the connecting plate, the extension height D2 of the connector, and the extension height D3 of the side plate satisfy D1+D2≦D3.

[0013] In the above technical solution, the connector is positioned completely within the receiving part, which reduces the possibility of damage during a collision and improves the safety of the battery.

[0014] In some embodiments, the housing further includes a lid disposed in the opening, the lid and the side panel being fixedly connected.

[0015] In some embodiments, the lid is removably connected to the side plate to facilitate assembly of the battery.

[0016] In some embodiments, the housing includes a support plate mounted on top, and the battery cells are connected to the support plate.

[0017] In the above technical solution, the rigidity of the top of the battery is increased by the support plate, thereby improving the reliability of the battery.

[0018] In some embodiments, the surface of the connecting plate facing away from the receiving portion is flush with the surface of the support plate facing away from the opening.

[0019] In the above technical solution, the surfaces of one side of the connecting plate and the supporting plate are located on the same horizontal plane, so that when the connecting plate and the supporting plate are assembled to an external device, they can be installed on the same surface of the external device, thereby reducing the difficulty of assembly.

[0020] In some embodiments, the support plate has passages embedded therein, the passages being used to contain a heat exchange medium for regulating the temperature of the battery cells.

[0021] In the above technical solution, the provision of the passage can regulate the temperature of the battery cells and improve the service life of the battery.

[0022] In some embodiments, in order to improve the service life of the battery, a thermal management component is further installed between the battery cell and the support plate to regulate the temperature of the battery cell.

[0023] In some embodiments, the electrode terminal of the battery cell is disposed facing the opening, and the end face of the battery cell facing away from the electrode terminal is fixed to the support plate.

[0024] In the above technical solution, the electrode terminals are disposed facing the openings, which can improve the energy density of the battery cell.

[0025] In some embodiments, both the pressure relief mechanism and the electrode terminal of the battery cell are disposed facing the opening.

[0026] In the above technical solution, the pressure relief mechanism is disposed facing the opening, so that in the event of thermal runaway, the pressure relief mechanism ejects toward the lid, thereby improving the safety of the battery.

[0027] In a second aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a power consuming device including a battery cell of any of the embodiments of the first aspect for providing electrical energy. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] In order to more clearly explain the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following will briefly describe the drawings that need to be used in the embodiments of the present application. It should be apparent that the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on the drawings without exerting creative efforts.

[0029] [Figure 1] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a vehicle according to some embodiments of the present application. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an assembled structure of a battery according to some embodiments of the present application. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is an exploded schematic diagram of a battery according to some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a part of a battery according to some embodiments of the present application. [Diagram 5] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a lid of a battery according to some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the battery shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a crash test device for crash testing a battery according to some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic view of a battery according to some further embodiments of the present application. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery loading assembly according to some other embodiments of the present application. [Figure 10] FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the battery shown in FIG. [Figure 11]FIG. 11 is an enlarged schematic view of the circular frame B in FIG. [Figure 12] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery cell of a battery according to some embodiments of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] In order to clarify the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly described below in conjunction with the drawings of the embodiments of the present application. It is clear that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, and are not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained based on the embodiments of the present application without the need for creative efforts by those skilled in the art are all within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0031] Unless otherwise defined, all scientific and technical terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art of this application. In this application, the terms used in the specification of the application are used only to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the application. The terms "comprise", "have" and any variations thereof in the specification and claims of this application and the above drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive "comprise". The terms "first", "second", etc. in the specification and claims of this application or the above drawings are intended to distinguish different objects and are not intended to describe a specific order or a main-subordinate relationship.

[0032] The term "embodiment" as used herein means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the application. The appearances of the phrase in various locations in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are they mutually exclusive of other embodiments as separate or alternative embodiments.

[0033] In the description of this application, it should be explained that unless otherwise specified and limited, the terms "attached", "connected", "connected" and "attached" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, they may be fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally connected, may be directly connected, may be indirectly connected via an intermediate medium, or may communicate with the insides of two elements. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the present application according to the specific situation.

[0034] The term "and / or" in this application merely describes the relationship between related objects and indicates that three relationships may exist, for example, A and / or B may represent three cases: A alone, A and B in combination, and B alone. Also, the character " / " in this application generally indicates that the related objects before and after are in an "or" relationship.

[0035] In the embodiments of the present application, the same reference numerals represent the same components, and for the sake of brevity, detailed descriptions of the same components in different embodiments will be omitted. In addition, the dimensions such as thickness, length, width, etc. of each member in the embodiments of the present application shown in the drawings, and the overall dimensions such as thickness, length, width, etc. of the integrated device are merely illustrative and do not limit the present application.

[0036] In this application, "plurality" means two or more (including two).

[0037] The term "parallel" in this application includes not only absolutely parallel but also approximately parallel as generally accepted in engineering, while the term "perpendicular" includes not only absolutely perpendicular but also approximately perpendicular as generally accepted in engineering.

[0038] The battery cells may include lithium ion battery cells, lithium sulfur battery cells, sodium lithium ion battery cells, sodium ion battery cells, magnesium ion battery cells, etc., but are not limited thereto in the embodiments of the present application.

[0039] A battery refers to a single physical module that includes multiple battery cells to provide higher voltage and capacity. A battery may generally include a housing for packaging one or multiple battery cells. The housing can prevent liquids or other foreign objects from affecting the charging or discharging of the battery cells. In a battery, multiple battery cells may be connected in series, parallel, or series-parallel, and the series-parallel connection means that multiple battery cells can be connected in series or parallel. Multiple battery cells may be directly connected in series, parallel, or series-parallel, and then the entire battery cell configuration may be housed in a housing. Of course, a battery may be formed by connecting multiple battery cells in series, parallel, or series-parallel to form a battery, and further by connecting multiple batteries in series, parallel, or series-parallel to form a whole battery and housed in a housing.

[0040] At present, in view of the development of the market situation, the application of power batteries is expanding more and more. Power batteries are not only widely used in energy storage power systems such as hydroelectric, thermal, wind and solar power plants, but also in multiple fields such as electric transportation such as electric bicycles, electric motorcycles and electric cars, military equipment, aviation and space flight, etc. With the expansion of the application fields of power batteries, the market demand is also constantly expanding.

[0041] In some cases, the opening of the battery housing is usually vertically facing upwards, the battery cells are fixed to the bottom of the battery, the electrode terminals face a lid that covers the opening of the housing, and the battery connector extends horizontally from the housing on one side of the housing.

[0042] However, the inventors found that in the battery installed as above, when the battery is installed in the power consumption device, the bottom is glued to the power consumption device and the battery cells are fixed to the bottom of the battery, so that the rigidity of the top of the battery, which is more susceptible to collision, is reduced, so that the battery is easily damaged and the safety is reduced. Moreover, the connector extending from one side of the housing not only occupies space in the power consumption device in which the battery is placed, but is also easily damaged in the event of a collision, which may cause a safety accident.

[0043] In view of this, an embodiment of the present application provides a battery, in which the housing includes a top and a bottom facing each other in a first direction, and the battery cell is installed on the top, thereby increasing the rigidity of the top of the battery and also increasing the energy density of the battery. In addition, the pressure relief mechanism and the electrode terminal are both installed toward the opening, so that when thermal runaway of the battery occurs, the pressure relief mechanism can be ejected downward to improve the safety of the battery. In addition, the connection plate and the bottom form a receiving portion in the first direction, and the connector is installed in the receiving portion, which can play a protective role for the connector and reduce damage during collision of the connector.

[0044] The technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present application are applicable to batteries and power-consuming devices powered by the batteries.

[0045] The power consumption device may be a vehicle, a mobile phone, a portable device, a notebook computer, a steamship, a spacecraft, an electric toy, an electric tool, etc. The vehicle may be a fuel oil vehicle, a gas vehicle, or a new energy vehicle, the new energy vehicle may be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a range extender vehicle, etc., the spacecraft may include an airplane, a rocket, a space shuttle, a spaceship, etc., the electric toy may include a stationary or mobile electric toy, such as a game console, an electric car toy, an electric steamship toy, an electric airplane toy, etc., and the electric tool may include 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, a hammer drill, a concrete vibrator, an electric plane, etc. In the embodiment of the present application, the above-mentioned power consumption device is not particularly limited.

[0046] It should be understood that the technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present application are not only applicable to the power consumption devices described above, and for the sake of simplicity, the following embodiments will be described using vehicle 1000 as an example.

[0047] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a vehicle 1000 according to some embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 1000 can be a fuel oil vehicle, a gas vehicle or a new energy vehicle, and the new energy vehicle can be a secondary battery electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, an extended range electric vehicle, etc. A battery 100 is installed inside the vehicle 1000, and the battery 100 can be installed at the bottom, front or rear of the vehicle 1000.

[0048] The battery 100 can be used to power the vehicle 1000, for example, the battery 100 can be 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 for controlling the battery 100 to power the motor 300 for use in, for example, starting, navigating, and running the vehicle 1000. In some embodiments of the present application, the battery 100 can be used not only as an operating power source for the vehicle 1000, but also as a driving power source for the vehicle 1000, providing driving power to the vehicle 1000 instead of, or in place of, fuel oil or natural gas.

[0049] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an assembled structure of a battery 100 according to some embodiments of the present application. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an exploded view of a battery 100 according to some embodiments of the present application. In FIG. 3, the connection plate 3 and the connector 4 of the battery 100 are omitted. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, according to some embodiments of the present application, the battery 100 includes a housing 1, a battery cell 2, a connection plate 3, and a connector 4. The housing 1 has a top 101 and a bottom 102 facing each other along a first direction X, and an opening 103 is provided in the bottom 102. The battery cell 2 is installed in the housing 1. The connection plate 3 is installed to protrude along a second direction Y on one side of the housing 1, and forms a receiving portion 31 in the first direction X with the bottom 102. The connector 4 is installed to connect to the connection plate 3 in the receiving portion 31, and is electrically connected to the battery cell 2.

[0050] The connecting plate 3 is a boss extending from one side of the housing 1 along the second direction Y, and it has a thickness difference between the bottom 102 and the first direction X, so that the receiving section 31 is a space for installing the connector 4 therein, that is, a space formed by the connecting surface between the connecting plate 3 and the housing 1, which is generated by the thickness difference. The connector 4 is installed in the receiving section 31, which can provide a protection for the connector 4 and reduce damage to the connector 4 during a collision.

[0051] Since the battery 100 is electrically connected to an external device through the connector 4, the connector 4 needs to be electrically connected to the battery cell 2, which means that the connector 4 is electrically connected to the battery cell 2 by a current path installed inside the connection plate 3, which is convenient for obtaining the electrical energy of the battery cell 2 inside the housing 1 and supplying it to an external power consumption device.

[0052] The intersection of the first direction X and the second direction Y indicates that the connecting plate 3 may not be parallel to the housing 1, but may have some included angles with the extension direction of the housing 1, which facilitates the installation of the connector 4 in the receiving portion 31 between the connecting plate 3 and the housing 1. In the embodiment of the present application, for convenience of description, the first direction X is a vertical direction, the second direction Y is a horizontal direction, and the first direction X and the second direction Y are perpendicular to each other. Optionally, the first direction X and the second direction Y may be other directions and may not be perpendicular to each other.

[0053] In some embodiments of the present application, the connector 4 does not extend beyond the extension plane of the bottom 102 in the first direction X.

[0054] The connector 4 does not extend beyond the extension surface of the bottom 102 in the first direction X, thereby ensuring that the connector 4 is positioned completely within the accommodating portion 31 and avoiding contact with external devices in the circumferential direction of the battery 100, thereby reducing the influence that the connector 4 receives during the process of electrically connecting the battery cell 2 with the external device.

[0055] In some embodiments of the present application, the housing 1 further includes side plates 12 distributed around the periphery of the opening 103, the side plates 12 are connected to each other to form a frame structure, and the connecting plate 3 is integrally formed with the side plates 12.

[0056] In the housing 1, the side plates 12 are installed in order from top to bottom together with the support plate 11 along the first direction X. The side plates 12 are plates extending in the first direction X and are installed surrounding the support plate 11, but by forming openings 103 in the bottom 102, there is a space inside the housing 1 that can accommodate the battery cells 2. The connection plate 3 extends from one side of the side plate 12 and is molded integrally with the side plate 12, which can increase the force-bearing strength of the connection plate 3.

[0057] Optionally, the connecting plate 3 may not be integrally formed with the side plate 12, and may be fixedly connected with the side plate 12 by at least one of welding, adhesive, fasteners, or hot melt self-tapping process. Similarly, the connecting plate 3 and the support plate 11, and the side plate 12 and the support plate 11 may be integrally formed and fixedly connected by the above manner, but the embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto.

[0058] In some embodiments of the present application, the surface of the connecting plate 3 facing the accommodating portion 31 is a first protective surface 311, the surface of the side plate 12 facing the accommodating portion 31 is a second protective surface 312, and the connector 4 is connected to the first protective surface 311 and is positioned at a distance from the connector 4 on the second protective surface 312.

[0059] That is, the first protective surface 311 is the surface of the connecting plate 3 away from the top 101, and the second protective surface 312 is the surface of the side plate 12 of the housing 1 closer to the connecting plate 3, and the first protective surface 311 and the second protective surface 312 are connected to form the receiving portion 31. The connector 4 extends from the first protective surface 311 along the first direction X, thereby overhanging the receiving portion 31 and not contacting the second protective surface 312, reducing the impact that the connecting plate 3 may receive during a collision.

[0060] Optionally, the first protective surface 311 and the second protective surface 312 may be connected perpendicularly to each other, i.e., the first protective surface 311 extends in the second direction Y and the second protective surface 312 extends in the first direction X, so that the first protective surface 311 and the second protective surface 312 are perpendicular to each other, increasing the mounting space of the connector 4 and maximizing the holding portion 31.

[0061] 4 is a structural schematic diagram of a part of the battery 100 in some embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 4, in the first direction X, the thickness of the connection plate 3 is a first dimension D1, the extension height of the connector 4 is a second dimension D2, and the extension height of the side plate 12 is a third dimension D3. Here, the sum of the first dimension D1 and the second dimension D2 is not greater than the third dimension D3, i.e., D1+D2≦D3, so as to ensure that the connector 4 is completely located in the receiving portion 31 and play a role in protecting the connector 4.

[0062] In some optional embodiments, the connector 4 may extend in the first direction X toward the extending surface where the bottom 102 is located. This structure can facilitate electrical connection between the connector 4 and an external device, and can provide the connector 4 with better force-bearing performance than if the connector 4 were installed horizontally.

[0063] 5 is a structural schematic diagram of the cover 13 of the battery 100 according to some embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 5, in some embodiments of the present application, the housing 1 further includes a cover 13 installed in the opening 103, and the cover 13 is connected to the side plate 12. The cover 13 covers the opening 103, so that the housing 1 has a relatively sealed structure.

[0064] The cover 13 includes a main body 131 and a fitting portion 132, and the fitting portion 132 is disposed in the circumferential direction of the main body 131 and is matched to the side plate 12. That is, the main body 131 covers the opening 103 formed by the side plate 12, and the fitting portion 132 is fixed to the side plate 12 to connect the cover 13 and the side plate 12.

[0065] In the first direction X, the main body 131 protrudes from the extending surface of the bottom 102 toward the fitting portion 132. In order to allow busbar components or other components between the electrode terminals 211 of the battery cells 2 to escape, a relatively long distance is provided between the battery cells 2 and the cover 13 installed inside the housing 1, thereby avoiding the housing 13 and the electrode terminals 211 of the battery cells 2 from being too close to each other. It should be understood that the distance by which the main body 131 protrudes toward the fitting portion 132 should be selected based on the energy density of the battery 100, and should not be too large, which would result in an increase in the volume of the battery 100 and thereby reduce the energy density of the battery 100.

[0066] In some embodiments of the present application, the cover 13 is removably connected to the side panel 12 .

[0067] The cover 13 is removably connected to the side plate 12, which facilitates assembly of the battery 100. For example, in the embodiment of the present application, the cover 13 and the side plate 12 are removably connected by bolts 133, but the cover 13 and the side plate 12 may be fixedly connected using other methods, but the embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto.

[0068] In some embodiments of the present application, the housing 1 includes a support plate 11 mounted on the top 101 , and the battery cells 2 are connected to the support plate 11 .

[0069] The support plate 11 is a plate extending in the second direction Y at the top 101 of the housing 1. The support plate 11 can increase the rigidity of the top of the battery 100 and reduce the possibility of the battery 100 being damaged during a collision. The battery cells 2 are connected to the support plate 11, i.e., the battery cells 2 are installed on the top 101 of the battery 100, thereby improving the rigidity of the top 101 of the battery 100 and reducing the possibility of the battery 100 being damaged during a collision, thereby improving the safety of the battery 100.

[0070] Optionally, the battery cells 2 may be directly adhesively fixed to the support plate 11, or may be fixed to the support plate 11 in other ways, such as by bolt connection, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0071] In some embodiments of the present application, the surface of the connecting plate 3 facing away from the receiving portion 31 is flush with the surface of the support plate 11 facing away from the opening 103 .

[0072] That is, the connection plate 3 and one surface of the support plate 11 at the top 101 of the housing 11 are located on the same horizontal plane, and when the battery 100 is fixed to an external device, the connection plate 3 and the support plate 11 can be fixed to the same surface of the external device. In addition, the fact that the connection plate 3 and one surface of the support plate 11 are located on the same horizontal plane increases the force-bearing strength of both, and the battery 100 can have better durability.

[0073] Here, the connecting plate 3 protrudes to the extending surface of the bottom 102 along the first direction X, that is, the connecting plate 3 has a certain thickness in the first direction X. During a collision, the surface of the connecting plate 3 away from the housing 1 may receive a certain impact force, so that the connecting plate 3 having a certain thickness can improve the rigidity of the connecting plate 3 and play a role of better protecting the connector 4.

[0074] In some embodiments of the present application, the support plate 11 has passages embedded therein (not shown), which are used to accommodate a heat exchange medium for regulating the temperature of the battery cells.

[0075] The battery cells 2 are installed on the support plate 11, and the bottom of the battery cells 2 contacts the support plate 11. Taking the performance of the battery 100 into consideration, a passage through which gas or liquid flows is embedded inside the support plate 11, which can provide a temperature regulating effect to the battery 100 when the battery 100 is in operation, thereby improving the service life and usability of the battery 100.

[0076] In some other embodiments of the present application, the passage may be installed between the battery cell 2 and the support plate 11 as a thermal management member, or may be any other member formed to perform the function of regulating the temperature of the battery cell 2, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0077] In some embodiments of the present application, the electrode terminal 211 of the battery cell 2 is disposed facing the opening 103 , and the end face of the battery cell 2 facing away from the electrode terminal 211 is fixed to the support plate 11 .

[0078] In the first direction X, the electrode terminal 211 of the battery cell 2 faces the opening 103 of the bottom 102 of the housing 1, that is, the structure of the battery 100 is turned upside down in the vertical direction. By adopting this structure, in practical application, the battery 100 is fixed to an external device, for example, the inside of a vehicle 1000, through the top 101 of the housing 1. The battery cell 2 installed on the top 101 of the battery 100 can improve the rigidity of the top 101 of the battery 100, reduce the possibility of the battery 100 being damaged during a collision, and improve the safety of the battery 100. In addition, since the electrode terminal 211 of the battery cell 2 faces the opening 103 and the surface of the battery cell 2 facing the electrode terminal 211 is fixedly connected to the top 101 of the housing 1, the battery 100 leaves less space for placing the battery cell 2, which can increase the energy density of the battery 100 and the battery cell 2 can be better combined with the housing 1.

[0079] In some embodiments of the present application, the pressure relief mechanism 212 and the electrode terminal 211 of the battery cell 2 are both disposed facing the opening 103 .

[0080] The pressure relief mechanism 212 is an element or member that operates to release the internal pressure when the internal pressure of the battery cell 2 reaches a predetermined threshold. That is, when the internal pressure of the battery cell 2 reaches a predetermined threshold, the pressure relief mechanism 212 operates or is activated to a certain state to release the internal pressure of the battery cell 2. The operation of the pressure relief mechanism 212 may include, but is not limited to, at least a part of the pressure relief mechanism 212 bursting, crushing, breaking, or opening. This can form an opening 103 or a passage for releasing the internal pressure. At this time, the high-temperature and high-pressure material inside the battery cell 2 is discharged from the operating part as an exhaust. In this manner, if the pressure is controllable, the pressure of the battery cell 2 can be released, thereby avoiding the occurrence of a potentially more serious accident. The pressure relief mechanism 212 may use a form such as a pressure relief mechanism, an air valve, a pressure relief valve, or a safety valve, and specifically may use a pressure-sensitive element or structure.

[0081] If the pressure relief mechanism 212 faces the opening 103, then in the event of thermal runaway of the battery cell 2, the pressure relief mechanism 212 will jet out towards the lid 13, and at this time, the structure of the main body 131 protruding from the extension surface of the bottom 102 relative to the fitting portion 132 can provide a larger jetting space for the pressure relief mechanism 212. In addition, the pressure relief mechanism 212 jets out towards the bottom 102, i.e., the jetting direction is towards the ground, which can increase the safety of the battery 100.

[0082] In the embodiment of the present application, the electrode terminals 211 are disposed on both sides of the pressure relief mechanism 212, and optionally, the pressure relief mechanism 212 may have a different positional relationship with the electrode terminals 211.

[0083] Fig. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the battery shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 6, there is a first distance H1 between the surface of the battery cell 2 facing the bottom 102 and the lid 13.

[0084] When the body 131 of the cover 13 protrudes from the extending surface of the bottom 102 relative to the fitting portion 132, the first distance H1 indicates the distance in the first direction X between the body 131 and the surface having the electrode terminal 211 and the pressure relief mechanism 212 of the battery cell 2. The first distance H1 is 2 mm

[0085] The ratio H1 / M of the first distance H1 to the weight M of a single battery cell 2 can indicate the energy density and structural strength of the battery 100. If the ratio of the first distance H1 to the weight M of a single battery cell 2 is too large, the energy density of the battery 100 will be too low. If the ratio of the first distance H1 to the weight M of a single battery cell 2 is too small, the structural strength of the battery 100 will be insufficient, and a safety accident will occur during a collision. Therefore, H1 / M is 0.2mm / Kg

[0086] FIG. 7 is a structural schematic diagram of a crash test apparatus A for crash testing a battery 100 according to some embodiments of the present application. In order to verify that the battery 100 has good performance when the ratio H1 / M between the first distance H1 and the weight M of a single battery cell 2 is within an appropriate range, the battery 100 is crash tested by the crash test apparatus A as an example. As shown in FIG. 7, the crash test apparatus A includes an impact head A1, a launcher A2 and a rack A3. In the course of the test, the battery 100 is placed on the rack A3, and the impact head A1 is driven by the launcher A2 to impact the battery 100 at a certain speed. Here, the test conditions may be selected such that the impact direction is the first direction X, the impact position is the weak point of the battery 100, and the impact energy is 90J.

[0087] ​​Since the battery 100 is applied to a power consuming device such as a vehicle 1000, the top part 101 is attached to the vehicle 1000, and the battery 100 can be impacted in a first direction X against the bottom part 102 of the battery 100 to simulate the scene after the battery 100 is attached to the vehicle 1000. The weak point of the battery 100 refers to the position of the battery 100 that is easily broken, and this point is usually within an area with a radius of 240 mm from the geometric center of the battery 100. By impacting the weak point of the battery 100, the state of the battery 100 can be simulated after the structurally weak position of the battery 100 is impacted. The impact energy of 90 J is equivalent to the impact head A1 hitting the battery 100 at a speed of 4.2 m / s. As can be understood, the battery 100 can also be impacted with other impact energies, for example, 120 J (impact speed is 4.9 m / s) or 150 J (impact speed is 5.5 m / s). In actual testing, the battery 100 can be impacted multiple times with one impact energy, or the battery 100 can be impacted multiple times with multiple impact energies.

[0088] After the battery 100 is impacted by the impact test device A, it is observed at ambient temperature for 2 hours to detect whether the battery 100 has ignition or explosion phenomena. Optionally, after the battery 100 is impact tested by the impact test device A, tests such as case protection level may be performed on the battery 100, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0089] Table 1 shows the test results of the impact test of the battery 100 according to the above method when the first distance H1, the weight M of the single battery cell 2, and the value of H1 / M are different.

[0090] [Table 1]

[0091] As shown in Table 1, the first distance H1 is 2 mm

[0092] Fig. 8 is an exploded schematic view of a battery 100 according to some other embodiments of the present application. The structures of the connection plate 3 and the connector 4 are omitted in Fig. 8. As shown in Fig. 8, in some other optional embodiments, the battery 100 further includes a loading assembly 5. The loading assembly 5 is installed between the battery cells 2 and the cover 13 to support and load the battery cells 2.

[0093] Here, the battery cells 2 are fixedly connected to the support plate 11 of the housing 1, and the loading assembly 5 is fixedly connected to the battery cells 2, thereby serving to fix the structure of the battery 100 in multiple directions, thereby improving the stability of the battery 100.

[0094] FIG. 9 is a structural schematic diagram of a loading assembly 5 of a battery 100 according to some other embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 9, the loading assembly 5 includes a main plate 51 and a loading strip 52, the loading strip 52 protrudes from the main plate 51 to the battery cells 2 along a first direction X, and the loading strips 52 are fixedly connected between adjacent battery cells 2. That is, one battery cell 2 may be installed in the housing 1, or multiple battery cells 2 may be installed. When multiple battery cells 2 are installed in the housing 1, the loading strip 52 needs to be fixed to the connection points of the adjacent battery cells 2 and avoid contact with the electrode terminals 211 when the multiple battery cells 2 are placed in the housing 1, and thus can play a role in supporting the battery cells 2. In the embodiment of the present application, the loading strip 52 is formed into bumps spaced apart in the second direction Y and protrudes upward from the main plate 51 along the first direction X. The electrode terminals 211 of the battery cells 2 are disposed on both sides of the pressure relief mechanism 212 , so that the loading strips 52 are fixedly connected between the electrode terminals 211 of the adjacent battery cells 2 .

[0095] ​In some optional embodiments, the battery cell 2 includes a busbar component 24, and electrical connection is realized between the multiple battery cells 2 via the busbar component 24. In the embodiments of the present application, the busbar component 24 is bridge-connected between adjacent electrode terminals 211, and since the loading strip 52 installed between the adjacent electrode terminals 211 needs to retract the busbar component 24, the loading strip 52 includes a notch 521 for retracting the busbar component 24. In the embodiments of the present application, the notch 521 is installed at one end of the loading strip 52, and the notch 521 may have another installation position, which is determined by the arrangement of the busbar component 24, but the embodiments of the present application do not particularly limit the above power consumption device.

[0096] Optionally, in order to avoid affecting the electrical connection between the battery cells 2, the loading assembly 5 is an insulating member, and as can be understood, the loading assembly 5 may be an insulating material as a whole, or may be an object whose surface is covered with an insulating material and exhibits insulating properties as a whole. When the loading assembly 5 is an object whose surface is covered with an insulating material, the core material may be a metal material, an insulating material, a composite material, etc., and the outer surface of the core material is covered with an insulating material. At the same time, the loading assembly 5 should have a certain hardness and elasticity, so as to realize the supporting effect on the battery cells 2 and to generate a certain amount of deformation upon collision, thereby playing a protective role for the battery cells 2.

[0097] Optionally, the loading strip 52 and the main body plate 51 may be integrally formed or removably connected to each other, although the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0098] Optionally, the main plate 51 may be fixedly connected to the body portion 131 or abut against the body portion 131, but the embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto.

[0099] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the cell shown in Figure 8. Figure 11 is an enlarged schematic view of the circular box B in Figure 10. As shown in Figures 10 and 11, in the first direction X, the thickness of the loading strip 52 is a fifth dimension D5.

[0100] The main body 131 of the lid 13 protrudes from the extending surface of the bottom 102 relative to the fitting portion 132, and the distance between the main body 131 and the fitting portion 132 in the first direction X is defined as a fourth dimension D4. The loading assembly 5 is installed between the battery cells 2 and the lid 13, and the main plate 51 may have a shape matching the main body 131, and the dimension of the main plate 51 in the first direction X is defined as a sixth dimension D6.

[0101] In order to ensure that the battery 100 has an appropriate energy density and structural strength, the sum of the fifth dimension D5 and the sixth dimension D6 should be equal to or greater than the fourth dimension D4, i.e., D5+D6≧D4 is satisfied. That is, in the first direction X, the dimension of the entire loading assembly 5 should be greater than the difference in distance between the main body 131 and the fitting portion 132. In this way, when the loading assembly 5 is fixed to the battery cells 2, a distance is provided between the battery cells 2 and the main body 131 of the lid 13, and the pressure relief mechanism 212 and the electrode terminal 211 are both directed toward the lid 13, leaving a sufficient ejection space for the pressure relief mechanism 212.

[0102] Here, the fifth dimension D5 satisfies 0.5mm≦D5≦30mm, and the ratio D5 / M of the fifth dimension D5 to the weight M of a single battery cell 2 can indicate the energy density and structural strength of the battery 100. If the ratio of the fifth dimension D5 to the weight M of a single battery cell 2 is too large, the energy density of the battery 100 will be too low, and if the ratio of the fifth dimension D5 to the weight M of a single battery cell 2 is too small, the structural strength of the battery 100 will be insufficient, resulting in a safety accident during a collision. Therefore, the ratio D5 / M of the fifth dimension D5 to the weight M of a single battery cell 2 satisfies 0.05mm / Kg≦D5 / M≦50mm / Kg, and by keeping the value within this range, the battery 100 has good energy density and appropriate structural strength.

[0103] The structural strength of the battery 100 can be tested to verify that the battery 100 has good performance when the ratio D5 / M of the fifth dimension D5 to the weight M of a single battery cell 2 is within an appropriate range. In the process of testing the structural strength of the battery 100, the structural strength of the battery 100 can be determined by a number of tests, such as a shear strength test, a compressive strength test, and the like, for example.

[0104] In the shear strength test, exemplarily, the battery 100 is fixed between the clamps of a shear tester, and the inspection head of the shear tester is used to drive the side plate 12 of the battery 100 to move in the second direction Y at a speed of 5 mm / min, and the tensile force F applied by the inspection head is recorded when the side plate 12 is separated from the support plate 11 and the lid 13. The projected area of ​​the battery 100 in the first direction X is area A, and the value of F / A is the shear strength that the battery 100 can withstand.

[0105] In the compressive strength test, for example, a pressing head was used to apply pressure to the battery 100 in the first direction X and the second direction Y, and was propelled toward the battery 100 at a speed of 2 m / s. When the pressing force reached 50 KN or the deformation amount of the battery 100 reached 30%, the pressing head was stopped and maintained for 10 minutes. After the compressive strength test, the battery 100 was left to stand at ambient temperature and observed for 2 hours.

[0106] Optionally, the structural strength of the battery 100 can be tested by other structural strength tests, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0107] Table 2 shows the results of structural strength testing of the battery 100 by the above method when the fifth dimension D5, the weight M of a single battery cell 2, and the value of D5 / M are different.

[0108] [Table 2]

[0109] As shown in Table 2, if D5 satisfies 0.5 mm≦D5≦30 mm and D5 / M satisfies 0.05 mm / Kg≦D5 / M≦50 mm / Kg, the structural strength test shows that the battery 100 has good structural strength.

[0110] In some other optional embodiments, the battery 100 further includes a loading assembly 5, where the loading assembly 5 abuts the battery cells 2. As in the above embodiments, the loading assembly 5 includes a main body plate 51 and a loading strip 52, and the thickness of the loading strip 52 is a fifth dimension D5.

[0111] At this time, the fifth dimension D5 satisfies 5 mm≦D5≦30 mm. The ratio D5 / M of the fifth dimension D5 to the weight M of a single battery cell 2 satisfies 0.5 mm / Kg≦D5 / M≦50 mm / Kg, and preferably, D5 / M satisfies 1 mm / Kg≦D5 / M≦30 mm / Kg. With the value within this range, the battery 100 has good energy density and suitable structural strength.

[0112] Table 3 shows the test results of the collision test of the battery 100 using the above collision test method when the loading assembly 5 is abutted against the battery cell 2, the fifth dimension D5, the weight M of a single battery cell 2, and the value of D5 / M each have different values.

[0113] [Table 3]

[0114] As shown in Table 3, when D5 satisfies 5mm≦D5≦30mm and D5 / M satisfies 0.5mm / Kg≦D5 / M≦50mm / Kg, the battery 100 will not ignite or explode in a crash test of a certain strength, and has good safety.

[0115] It should be understood that the above description of several embodiments of battery 100 is merely exemplary, and that battery 100 may have other configurations.

[0116] In some optional embodiments, the housing 1 may be a simple three-dimensional structure such as a rectangular parallelepiped or a cylindrical body, or a complex three-dimensional structure that combines simple three-dimensional structures such as a rectangular parallelepiped or a cylindrical body. The material of the housing 1 may be, for example, an alloy material such as an aluminum alloy or an iron alloy, a polymer material such as polycarbonate or a polyisocyanurate foam, or a composite material of glass fiber and epoxy resin. In order to improve the sealing property of the housing 1, a sealing member such as a sealant or a seal ring may be installed between the cover 13 and the side plate 12. The present application does not limit the above possible configurations.

[0117] In some optional embodiments, the battery 100 may have a plurality of battery cells 2, and the plurality of battery cells 2 may be connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel, where series-parallel connection refers to both series and parallel connections among the plurality of battery cells 2. The plurality of battery cells 2 may be directly connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel, and then the entirety of the plurality of battery cells 2 may be housed in the housing 1; of course, the battery 100 may have a form in which the plurality of battery cells 2 are connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel to form a battery module, and the plurality of battery modules are connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel to be integrated and housed in the housing 1.

[0118] Here, each battery cell 2 may be a secondary battery or a primary battery, and may be, but is not limited to, a lithium-sulfur battery, a sodium ion battery, or a magnesium ion battery. The battery cell 2 may have a cylindrical shape, a flat shape, a rectangular parallelepiped shape, or other shapes.

[0119] 12 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery cell 2 according to some embodiments of the present application. The battery cell 2 refers to the smallest unit constituting a battery 100. As shown in FIG. 12, the battery cell 2 further includes an end cover 21, a case 22, an electrode assembly 23 and other functional components.

[0120] The end cover 21 refers to a member that covers the opening of the case 22 to isolate the internal environment of the battery cell 2 from the external environment. The shape of the end cover 21 may be adapted to the shape of the case 22 so as to fit the case 22, but is not limited thereto. Optionally, the end cover 21 may be made of a material (e.g., an aluminum alloy) having a certain hardness and strength. This makes the end cover 21 less likely to deform when pressed or hit, and can further increase the structural strength of the battery cell 2 and improve safety performance. Functional components such as an electrode terminal 211 and a pressure relief mechanism 212 are installed on the end cover 21. The electrode terminal 211 may be used for electrical connection with the electrode assembly 23 to input and output electrical energy of the battery cell 2. In some embodiments, the end cover 21 may be provided with a pressure relief mechanism for releasing the internal pressure when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell 2 reaches a threshold value. The material of the end cover 21 may be various, for example, copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, plastic, etc., and is not particularly limited in the embodiments of the present application. In some embodiments, an insulating member may be provided on the inside of the end cover 21, and the insulating member may be used to isolate the electrical connection plate in the case 22 from the end cover 21 to reduce the risk of short circuit. Exemplarily, the insulating member may be plastic, rubber, etc.

[0121] The case 22 is an assembly that fits the end cover 21 to form an internal environment of the battery cell 2, and the formed internal environment can be used to accommodate the electrode assembly, an electrolyte (not shown), and other components. The case 22 and the end cover 21 may be independent members, or an opening may be provided in the case 22, and the end cover 21 may cover the opening at the opening to form the internal environment of the battery cell 2. The end cover 21 and the case 22 may be integrated, but are not limited to this. Specifically, the end cover 21 and the case 22 form a common connection surface before other components enter the case, and when it is necessary to package the inside of the case 22, the end cover 21 may cover the case 22. The case 22 may have various shapes and sizes, such as a rectangular parallelepiped shape, a cylindrical shape, a hexagonal prism shape, etc. Specifically, the shape of the case 22 may be determined based on the specific shape and size of the electrode assembly 23. The case 22 may be made of various materials, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, plastic, etc., and the embodiment of the present application is not particularly limited thereto.

[0122] The electrode assembly 23 is a component where an electrochemical reaction occurs in the battery cell 100. One or more electrode assemblies 23 may be included in the case 22. The electrode assembly 23 is mainly formed by winding or stacking a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate, and a separator is generally provided between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate. The parts of the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate having active material constitute the main body of the electrode assembly, and the parts of the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate not having active material constitute tabs, respectively. The positive electrode tab and the negative electrode tab may both be located 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, the positive electrode active material and the negative electrode active material react with the electrolyte, and the tabs are connected to electrode terminals to form a current circuit.

[0123] In some optional embodiments of the present application, a battery 100 includes a housing 1, a battery cell 2, a connection plate 3, and a connector 4, the housing 1 having a top 101 and a bottom 102 facing each other in a first direction X, and an opening 103 is provided in the bottom 102. The battery cell 2 is provided in the housing 1. The connection plate 3 is provided on one side of the housing 1 to protrude along a second direction Y, and forms a receiving portion 31 in the first direction X with the bottom 102. The connector 4 is provided in the receiving portion 31 and connected to the connection plate 3, and the connector 4 is electrically connected to the battery cell 2, where the first direction X and the second direction Y intersect. Referring to FIG. 4, the connector 4 does not exceed the extension surface of the bottom 102 in the first direction X. Referring to FIG. 3, the housing 1 includes a support plate 11 provided on the top 101, the battery cell 2 is connected to the support plate 11, and the electrode terminal 211 is provided toward the opening 103.

[0124] In some cases, in the battery 100 according to the embodiment of the present application, the battery cells 2 are installed at the top 101 of the housing 1, and the electrode terminals 211 face the openings 103, thereby increasing the rigidity of the top 101 of the housing 1 and increasing the energy density of the battery 100. In addition, the connection plate 3 and the bottom 102 of the housing 1 form a receiving portion 31 in the first direction X, and the connector 4 is installed in the receiving portion 31, which can provide a protection for the connector 4 and reduce the probability of damage to the connector 4 during a collision.

[0125] It should be explained that, where not inconsistent, the embodiments and features in the embodiments in the present application can be combined with each other.

[0126] Finally, it should be explained that the above embodiments are only used to explain the technical solutions of the present application, and are not limited thereto. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art can still understand that the technical solutions described in the above embodiments can be modified or some of the technical features can be replaced with equivalents, and such modifications and replacements do 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.

[0127] [Explanation of symbols]

[0128] 1000, vehicle; 100, battery; 200, controller; 300, motor; 1, housing; 101, top; 102, bottom; 103, opening; 11, support plate; 12, side plate; 13, cover; 131, main body; 132, fitting portion; 133, bolt; 2, battery cell; 21, end cover; 211, electrode terminal; 212, pressure relief mechanism; 22, case; 23, electrode assembly; 24, busbar member; 3, connection plate; 31, storage portion; 311, first protective surface; 312, second protective surface; 4, connector; 5, loading assembly; 51, main body plate; 52, loading strip; 521, cutout A, impact test device; A1, impact head; A2, launcher; A3, rack; X, first direction; Y, second direction

Claims

1. A battery, A housing (1) having a top (101) and a bottom (102) facing each other along a first direction, the bottom (102) having an opening (103); A battery cell (2) installed in the housing (1); a connecting plate (3) that is installed on one side of the housing (1) so as to protrude along a second direction and forms a receiving portion (31) in a first direction together with the bottom portion (102), and the first direction and the second direction intersect; A battery comprising: a connector (4) disposed within the housing (31) and connected to the connection plate (3), the connector (4) being electrically connected to the battery cell (2).

2. 2. The battery of claim 1, wherein the connector (4) does not exceed the extension surface of the bottom (102) in the first direction.

3. The battery of claim 2, wherein the housing (1) further includes side plates (12) distributed around the periphery of the opening (103), the side plates (12) are connected to each other to form a frame structure, and the connecting plate (3) and the side plates (12) are integrally formed.

4. 4. The battery according to claim 3, wherein a surface of the connection plate (3) facing the storage portion (31) is a first protective surface (311), a surface of the side plate (12) facing the storage portion (31) is a second protective surface (312), and the connector (4) is connected to the first protective surface (311) and is spaced apart from the second protective surface (312).

5. 4. The battery according to claim 3, wherein in the first direction, a thickness D1 of the connection plate (3), an extension height D2 of the connector (4), and an extension height D3 of the side plate (12) satisfy D1 + D2 ≦ D3.

6. The battery according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the housing (1) further includes a cover body (13) installed in the opening (103), and the cover body (13) and the side plate (12) are fixedly connected.

7. The battery according to claim 6, wherein the cover (13) is removably connected to the side plate (12).

8. The battery of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the housing (1) includes a support plate (11) installed on the top (101), and the battery cells (2) are connected to the support plate (11).

9. 9. The battery according to claim 8, wherein a surface of the connecting plate (3) facing away from the receiving portion (31) is in the same horizontal plane as a surface of the support plate (11) facing away from the opening (103).

10. 9. The battery according to claim 8, wherein the support plate (11) is provided with passages, the passages being used to accommodate a heat exchange medium for regulating the temperature of the battery cells.

11. The battery according to claim 8, further comprising a thermal management component disposed between the battery cell (2) and the support plate (11) for regulating a temperature of the battery cell.

13. The battery according to claim 12, wherein the explosion-proof valve (212) and the electrode terminal (211) of the battery cell (2) are both installed facing the opening (103).

14. 7. The battery of claim 6, further comprising a loading assembly (5), the loading assembly (5) being disposed between the battery cells (2) and the lid (13) for supporting and loading the battery cells (2).

15. A power consuming device comprising a battery according to any one of claims 1 to 14, said battery being for providing electrical energy.

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