Outer frame of battery module, battery module and battery pack

Abstract

This application discloses an outer frame of a battery module, a battery module, and a battery pack. The outer frame of the battery module provided in this application includes a side plate and an end plate. The side plate extends along a first direction and includes a side plate body and a hanger. The side plate body and the hanger are integrally roll-formed. The end plate extends along a second direction and is laser welded to the side plate body. The first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery technology, and particularly to the outer frame of a battery module, the battery module, and the battery pack.

[0002] This application claims the priority of a Chinese patent application with the application number 202321659485.6 filed with the Chinese Patent Office on June 28, 2023, and all the contents of the said application are incorporated herein by reference.

Background Art

[0003] With the development of the power battery system and the improvement of energy density, the battery system is integrated towards large modules and the CTP (Cell to Pack) method to improve the cruising range of the complete vehicle and reduce costs. The outer frame of the battery module is generally composed of two left and right side plates and two front and rear end plates surrounded together. When manufacturing the side plates, usually, the side plate body and the hanger need to be punched out respectively by the side plate body press die and the hanger die, and then the hanger is welded to the side plate body. As a result, the manufacturing process for the side plates becomes complicated, and deformation is likely to occur between the side plate body and the hanger.

[0004] With the development of technology, in order to facilitate the processing of the side plates, usually, the side plate body is bent to form the hanger. However, this processing method cannot cope with the processing of complex hanger structures, and at the same time, the structural strength of the side plates also decreases.

[0005] Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, an outer frame of a battery module, a battery module, and a battery pack are needed.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] This application provides an outer frame of a battery module, a battery module, and a battery pack to solve the above technical problems.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In a first aspect, the present application provides an outer frame of a battery module, and the outer frame of the battery module includes: a side plate that extends along a first direction, the side plate including a side plate body and a hanger, and the side plate body and the hanger being integrally roll-formed side plates; an end plate that extends along a second direction, the end plate being laser-welded to the side plate body, and the first direction and the second direction being perpendicular to each other.

[0008] In a second aspect, the present application provides a battery module, the battery module including a module body and the outer frame of the battery module described above, and the module body being fixed within the outer frame of the battery module.

[0009] In a third aspect, the present application provides a battery pack, the battery pack including a housing and the battery module described above, and the battery module being provided within the housing.

Advantages of the Invention

[0010] The advantages of the invention of the present application are as follows.

[0011] The outer frame of the battery module provided by the present application includes a side plate and an end plate. The side plate extends along a first direction and includes a side plate body and a hanger, and the side plate body and the hanger are integrally roll-formed. The end plate extends along a second direction, and the end plate and the side plate body are laser-welded, and the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other. Since the side plate body and the hanger are integrally roll-formed, it is possible to handle the processing related to the complex hanger, improve the structural strength of the entire side plate, simplify the processing, reduce the manufacturing cost of the side plate, and eliminate the need for welding between the end plate and the side plate body by laser filling. It is ensured that they are connected by laser welding, thereby simplifying the welding process between the end plate and the side plate body and reducing the manufacturing cost of the entire outer frame of the battery module.

[0012] The battery module provided in this application simplifies the processing process related to the battery module and reduces the manufacturing cost of the battery module by applying the outer frame of the battery module described above.

[0013] The battery pack provided in this application simplifies the processing process related to the battery pack and reduces the manufacturing cost of the battery pack by applying the above battery module.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, this embodiment provides a battery pack, which can be applied to new energy vehicles, but is not limited thereto, and can also be applied to other electrical devices. Specifically, this battery pack includes a housing 300 and a plurality of battery modules 100, and the plurality of battery modules 100 are integrated in the housing 300 by the CTP method.

[0016] To ensure the normal operation of the battery module 100, the battery pack disclosed in this embodiment further includes a liquid cooling plate 200, which is provided at the bottom of the housing 300, and the bottom of the battery module 100 is provided on the liquid cooling plate 200. The liquid cooling plate 200 dissipates heat and cools down the battery module 100 by means of liquid cooling to ensure the normal operation of the battery module 100.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the battery module 100 includes a module main body 20 and an outer frame 10 of the battery module. The module main body 20 is fixed within the outer frame 10 of the battery module. In this embodiment, the module main body 20 includes a plurality of cells arranged at intervals. Two module main bodies 20 are arranged at intervals along the left-right direction within the outer frame 10 of each battery module, and the battery module 100 has a two-row structure. In other embodiments, more than two module main bodies 20 may be mounted within the outer frame 10 of each battery module.

[0018] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the outer frame 10 of the battery module includes a side plate 1 and an end plate 2. Here, the side plate 1 extends along a first direction (the front-rear direction in the figure), the end plate 2 extends along a second direction (the left-right direction in the figure), and the end plate 2 is connected to the side plate 1. Preferably, in this embodiment, two side plates 1 are provided at intervals along the left-right direction, two end plates 2 are provided at intervals along the front-rear direction, and the two side plates 1 and the two end plates 2 together enclose to form a mounting frame, and the plurality of module main bodies 20 are fixed within the mounting frame.

[0019] In related technologies, when manufacturing the side plate, usually, a side plate body press die and a hanger die are used to punch out the side plate body and the hanger respectively, and then the hanger needs to be welded to the side plate body. As a result, the manufacturing process for the side plate becomes complicated, and deformation is likely to occur between the side plate body and the hanger. To facilitate the processing of the side plate, usually, the side plate body is bent to form the hanger, but this processing method cannot cope with the processing of a complicated hanger structure, and at the same time, the structural strength of the side plate also decreases.

[0020] To solve the above problems, as shown in FIG. 2, the side plate 1 provided in this embodiment includes a side plate body 11 and a hanger 12. The side plate body 11 and the hanger 12 are integrally roll-formed, and the end plate 2 and the side plate body 11 are laser welded. Since the side plate body 11 and the hanger 12 are integrally roll-formed, it is possible to handle the processing related to the complex hanger 12, improve the structural strength of the entire side plate 1, facilitate the processing, reduce the manufacturing cost of the side plate 1, and at the same time, it is not necessary for the space between the end plate 2 and the side plate body 11 to be welded by laser filling. It is ensured that they are connected by laser welding, thereby simplifying the welding process between the end plate 2 and the side plate body 11 and reducing the manufacturing cost of the entire battery module outer frame 10.

[0021] In addition, in this embodiment, the side plate 1 is made of a 5-series aluminum alloy material, and the end plate 2 is made of a 6-series aluminum alloy material, thereby ensuring that the side plate body 11 and the end plate 2 are connected only by laser welding. Also, the 5-series aluminum alloy has the advantage of weight reduction.

[0022] Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the outer frame 10 of the battery module further includes a middle plate 4. The middle plate 4 extends along the front-rear direction, and the middle plate 4 is sandwiched and provided between two adjacent module bodies 20. The middle plate 4 and the end plate 2 are laser welded. Since the middle plate 4 and the end plate 2 are also laser welded, the welding method of the entire outer frame 10 of the battery module is unified, and the processing and manufacturing of the entire outer frame 10 of the battery module become easier.

[0023] Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the outer frame 10 of the battery module further includes a heat press insulating film 3. The heat press insulating film 3 is thermally bonded to the side plate body 11 to ensure the firmness of the heat press insulating film 3 thermally bonded to the side plate body 11 and ensure the reliability of the heat press insulating film 3 for insulation.

[0024] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the outer frame 10 of the battery module further includes an upper cover 5. The upper cover 5 is snap-fitted to the mounting frame so as to be located at the top of the module body 20 in order to better protect the module body 20.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the battery module 100 provided in this embodiment further includes a heat conduction structure adhesive 30. The bottom of the module body 20 being adhered to the liquid cooling plate 200 by the heat conduction structure adhesive 30 not only ensures the heat dissipation and cooling effect of the module body 20 by the liquid cooling plate 200, but also ensures the connection stability and reliability between the module body 20 and the liquid cooling plate 200.

[0026] Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the battery module 100 further includes a connection structure adhesive 50. The side part of the hanger 12 being adhered to the horizontal frame 310 of the housing 300 by the connection structure adhesive 50 improves the connection rigidity between the hanger 12 and the horizontal frame 310, reduces mechanical connections, improves the specific energy of the entire battery pack, and reduces costs.

[0027] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the battery module 100 further includes a position limiting member 40. The position limiting member 40 is provided at the bottom of the side plate 1 and is for limiting the thickness of the heat conduction structure adhesive 30 so that the thickness of the heat conduction structure adhesive 30 falls within a desired range to ensure the heat conductivity of the heat conduction structure adhesive 30.

[0028] Specifically, the position limiting member 40 is a foam. The foam is adhered to the bottom of the side plate 1, and the bottom of the foam abuts against the liquid cooling plate 200, thereby limiting the thickness of the heat conduction structure adhesive 30 by the thickness of the foam. Also, the foam serves as a buffer and protection for the side plate 1.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0029] 100: Battery module 200: Liquid cooling plate 300: Housing 310: Horizontal frame 10: Outer frame of the battery module 1: Side plate 11: Side plate body 12: Hanger 2: End plate 3: Insulating film for hot pressing 4: Middle plate 5: Upper cover 20: Module body 30: Thermal conduction structure adhesive 40: Position limiting member 50: Connection structure adhesive

Claims

1. A side plate (1), wherein the side plate (1) extends along a first direction and includes a side plate body (11) and a hanger (12), and the side plate body (11) and the hanger (12) are integrally roll-formed side plate (1); An end plate (2), wherein the end plate (2) extends along a second direction and is laser welded to the side plate body (11), and the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other, including the end plate (2); The outer frame of the battery module.

2. Further comprising a heat press insulating film (3) thermally bonded to the side plate body (11), The outer frame of the battery module according to Claim 1.

3. Two of the side plates (1) are provided at intervals along the second direction, two of the end plates (2) are provided at intervals along the first direction, and the two side plates (1) and the two end plates (2) together enclose and form a mounting frame, and a plurality of module bodies (20) are fixed within the mounting frame, The outer frame of the battery module according to Claim 1.

4. Further comprising an intermediate plate (4) that extends along the first direction and is sandwiched between two adjacent module bodies (20) and is laser welded to the end plate (2), The outer frame of the battery module according to Claim 3.

5. The side plate (1) is made of a 5-series aluminum alloy material, and the end plate (2) is made of a 6-series aluminum alloy material, The outer frame of the battery module according to any one of Claims 1 to 4.

6. Including a module body (20) and the outer frame of the battery module according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, and the module body (20) is fixed within the outer frame of the battery module, Battery module.

7. Further comprising a heat conduction structure adhesive (30), wherein the bottom of the module body (20) is adhered to a liquid cooling plate (200) by the heat conduction structure adhesive (30), The battery module according to Claim 6.

8. Further comprising a position limiting member (40) provided at the bottom of the side plate (1) and configured to limit the thickness of the heat conduction structure adhesive (30), The battery module according to Claim 7.

9. The position limiting member (40) is a foam, the foam is adhered to the bottom of the side plate (1), and the bottom of the foam abuts against the liquid cooling plate (200). The battery module according to claim 8.

10. A connection structure adhesive (50), wherein a side portion of the hanger (12) is further included with the connection structure adhesive (50) adhered to a lateral frame (310) of a housing (300) by the connection structure adhesive (50). The battery module according to claim 6.

11. A housing (300) and the battery module according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the battery module is provided within the housing (300). Battery pack.

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