Batteries and electrical devices

Abstract

This application relates to a battery and an electric device. The battery includes a case, a battery assembly, and a protective assembly. The battery assembly is installed in the case and includes a plurality of battery cells. A gap is formed between two adjacent battery cells. The gap extends in the height direction of the battery cells and includes two openings facing each other along the height direction. The protective assembly connects the two adjacent battery cells and covers at least one of the openings. The protective assembly can provide a certain barrier effect against external foreign objects, alleviating uneven stress on the battery cells caused by foreign objects and reducing the possibility of lithium precipitation in the battery cells. It can also improve the cycle performance of the battery cells and extend the service life of the battery.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from Chinese Patent Application No. 202320203130.X, entitled "Battery and Electrical Device," filed on February 14, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. [Technical Field]

[0002] This application relates to the field of battery technology, and more particularly to batteries and electrical devices. [Background technology]

[0003] Battery cells are widely used in electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, electric scooters, electric cars, electric airplanes, electric boats, electric toy cars, electric toy boats, electric toy airplanes, power tools, etc. Examples of battery cells include nickel-cadmium battery cells, nickel-metal hydride battery cells, lithium-ion battery cells, and alkaline zinc-manganese secondary battery cells.

[0004] In the development of battery technology, the cycle performance of battery cells directly affects the service life of the battery, so how to improve the cycle performance of battery cells and extend the service life of batteries is one of the technical challenges that needs to be urgently solved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present application provides a battery and an electric device that are designed to extend the life of the battery so as to improve the cycle performance of the battery cell.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application proposes a battery comprising a case, a battery assembly, and a protective assembly, the battery assembly being installed in the case and including a plurality of battery cells, with a gap between two adjacent battery cells, the gap extending in the height direction of the battery cells and including two openings facing each other along the height direction, and the protective assembly connecting with the two adjacent battery cells and covering at least one opening of the gap.

[0007] As a result, the battery according to the embodiment of the present application includes a protective assembly, which connects two adjacent battery cells and covers at least one opening of the gap. This allows the protective assembly to have a certain blocking effect against external foreign objects, relieve uneven stress on the battery cells caused by foreign objects, reduce the possibility of lithium precipitation in the battery cells, and further improve the cycle performance of the battery cells and extend the service life of the battery.

[0008] In some embodiments, the case comprises a first case portion having a storage cavity and a second case portion covering the first case portion, the first case portion and the second case portion being arranged continuously in the vertical direction, and the battery assembly being arranged in the storage cavity, wherein the protective assembly covers the opening of the gap separated from the second case portion.

[0009] This allows the protective assembly to act as a shield against the structural adhesive when bonding the battery assembly and the first case member with a structural adhesive, reducing the possibility of the structural adhesive spilling into gaps and alleviating uneven stress on the battery cells due to foreign matter. Furthermore, when the first case member is connected to the battery assembly in an inverted position, the risk of foreign matter, such as welding slag inside the first case member, falling into the gaps can be effectively reduced.

[0010] In some embodiments, the protective assembly covers two openings.

[0011] As a result, the protective assembly according to the embodiment of the present application has a stronger protective effect, enhances the blocking effect against foreign objects, relieves uneven stress on the battery cell caused by foreign objects, and reduces the possibility of lithium precipitation in the battery cell.

[0012] In some embodiments, the battery assembly includes a plurality of battery modules arranged consecutively along a first direction, each battery module including a plurality of battery cells arranged consecutively along a second direction; the gap includes a first gap located between two adjacent battery modules and including two first openings facing each other along a height direction, wherein the second direction, the first direction, and the height direction are perpendicular to each other; and the protection assembly includes a first protection part connecting the two adjacent battery modules and covering at least one first opening of the first gap.

[0013] As a result, the first protective portion of the embodiment of the present application acts as a barrier against foreign objects entering the first gap, reducing the impact of the foreign objects on the battery module and alleviating uneven stress on the battery cell caused by the foreign objects.

[0014] In some embodiments, the gap further includes a second gap, the second gap being located between two adjacent battery cells of the battery module and including two second openings facing each other along the height direction, and the protection assembly further includes a second protective portion, the second protective portion connecting to the two adjacent battery cells of the battery module and covering at least one second opening of the second gap.

[0015] As a result, the second protective portion of the embodiment of the present application acts as a barrier against foreign objects entering the second gap, further reducing the impact of the foreign objects on the battery module and further alleviating uneven stress on the battery cell caused by the foreign objects.

[0016] In some embodiments, the second protective portion extends along the first direction and covers second gaps of the plurality of battery modules.

[0017] As a result, the second protection part according to the embodiment of the present application has a larger structural dimension, which reduces the difficulty of installing and operating the second protection part and improves the blocking effect against foreign matter.

[0018] In some embodiments, the battery cell has a bottom surface located on a side in the height direction, and the first protection part is installed on the side in the height direction of the battery cell and connected to at least a portion of the bottom surface.

[0019] As a result, the first protective part according to the embodiment of the present application has a separating function between the first gap and external foreign matter, thereby enhancing the blocking effect against foreign matter, alleviating uneven stress on the battery cell caused by foreign matter, and reducing the possibility of lithium precipitation in the battery cell.

[0020] In some embodiments, at least a portion of the first protective portion is located within the first gap.

[0021] As a result, the first protective part of the embodiment of the present application can fill the first gap, strengthen the blocking effect against foreign objects, relieve uneven stress on the battery cell caused by foreign objects, and strengthen the strength and stability of the connection between the protective assembly and the battery cell, thereby improving the structural stability of the battery.

[0022] In some embodiments, the battery cell has a bottom surface located on a side in the height direction, and the surface of the first protective portion is flush with the bottom surface along the height direction.

[0023] As a result, the first protective portion according to the embodiment of the present application not only provides an effective blocking effect against foreign matter, but also helps to improve the surface flatness between adjacent battery modules.

[0024] In some embodiments, the battery cell has a bottom surface located on a side in the height direction, the first protective part has a first part and a second part, the first part is located within the first gap and connects two adjacent battery modules, and the second part is located on the side in the height direction of the battery cell and is connected to at least a portion of the bottom surface.

[0025] As a result, the first protective part according to the embodiment of the present application is equivalent to having a multiple protection structure, which further enhances the protective effect of the first protective part, strengthens the blocking effect against foreign objects, and can alleviate uneven stress on the battery cell caused by foreign objects.

[0026] In some embodiments, the battery cell includes two first surfaces facing each other along a first direction and two second surfaces facing each other along a second direction, the second surfaces being located between the two first surfaces, the area of ​​the second surfaces being smaller than the area of ​​the first surfaces, and the first surfaces of two adjacent battery modules being installed facing each other.

[0027] As a result, the first protective portion according to the embodiment of the present application can prevent foreign objects from entering the first surface of the battery cell, minimize the impact of the foreign objects on the first surface, and alleviate uneven stress on the battery cell caused by the foreign objects.

[0028] In a second aspect, the present application proposes an electrical device comprising a battery used to supply electrical energy as in any embodiment of the first aspect of the present application. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] The features, advantages, and technical effects of exemplary embodiments of the present application are described below with reference to the drawings. [Figure 1] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a vehicle provided in accordance with some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 2] 1 is an exploded schematic view of a battery provided in accordance with some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 3] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery module provided by some embodiments of the present application; [Figure 4] 1 is an exploded schematic view of a battery cell provided in accordance with some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 5] 1 is a partial structural schematic diagram of a battery provided in accordance with some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 6] 1 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a battery provided in accordance with some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged view of a portion A in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 1 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a battery provided in accordance with some other embodiments of the present application. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a partial enlarged view of a portion B in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] 1 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a battery provided in accordance with some other embodiments of the present application. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a partial enlarged view of a portion C in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is another cross-sectional schematic view of a battery provided in accordance with some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 13] 13 is a partially enlarged view of area D in Fig. 12. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1, battery cell; 11, first surface; 12, second surface; 13, bottom surface; 10, electrode assembly; 20, outer case assembly; 21, casing; 210, storage section; 22, end cap assembly; 221, end cap; 222, electrode terminal; 2, battery module; 3, battery; 3a, case; 31, first case section; 32, second case section; 33, case space; 3b, battery assembly; 34, battery module; 341, first gap; 341a, first opening; 342, second gap; 342a, second opening; 35, protective assembly; 351, first protective section; 351a, first section; 351b, second section; 352, second protective section; 4, vehicle; 41, controller; 42, motor; X, first direction; Y, second direction; Z, height direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] In order to clarify the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application will be clearly described below in conjunction with the drawings of the embodiments of the present application, but it is obvious that the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present application, and do not represent all of the embodiments of the present application. All other embodiments that can be obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present application without any creative work also belong to the scope of the claims of the present application.

[0032] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art of this application, and the terms used in this specification are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the application, and the terms "comprise" and "have" and any variations thereof in this specification, claims, and description of the drawings are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. Terms such as "first," "second," etc. in this specification, claims, or description of the drawings are used to distinguish between different objects and are not used to describe a particular order or priority.

[0033] In this application, reference to an "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the application. The appearances of the phrase in various places in the specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor are they mutually exclusive, separate, or alternative embodiments of other embodiments.

[0034] In the description of this application, unless otherwise clearly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "coupled," "connected," and "attached" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, to mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, an integral connection, a direct connection, an indirect connection via an intermediate medium, or internal communication between two elements. Those skilled in the art may understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application depending on the specific circumstances.

[0035] The term "and / or" in this application is merely a relation that describes related objects and indicates that three types of relations can exist. For example, A and / or B can indicate three cases: the presence of only A, the simultaneous presence of A and B, and the presence of only B. In addition, the symbol " / " in this application generally indicates that the related objects before and after it are in an "or" relationship.

[0036] In the embodiments of the present application, the same drawing symbols represent the same components, and for the sake of brevity, detailed descriptions of the same components in different embodiments will be omitted. It should be understood that the dimensions such as thickness, length, and width of various components in the embodiments of the present application shown in the drawings, and the overall dimensions such as thickness, length, and width of the integrated device, are merely illustrative and do not constitute any limitations on the present application.

[0037] The term "plurality" as used herein refers to two or more (including two).

[0038] In this application, the battery cell may include a lithium ion secondary battery, a lithium ion primary battery, a lithium-sulfur battery, a sodium lithium ion battery, a sodium ion battery, or a magnesium ion battery, etc., and the embodiments of this application are not limited thereto. The battery cell referred to in this application is a prismatic battery cell, and its shape may be a flat body, a rectangular parallelepiped, or other shapes, and the embodiments of this application are not limited thereto.

[0039] The battery referred to in the embodiments of this application refers to a single physical module containing one or more battery cells to provide higher voltage and capacity. For example, the battery referred to in this application may include a battery module or a battery pack. The battery generally includes a case for enclosing one or more battery cells. The case can prevent liquids or other foreign objects from affecting the charging or discharging of the battery cells.

[0040] A battery cell includes an electrode assembly and an electrolyte, and the electrode assembly includes positive electrode pieces, negative electrode pieces, and a separator. The battery cell functions primarily by relying on the movement of metal ions between the positive electrode pieces and the negative electrode pieces. The positive electrode pieces include a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer. The positive electrode active material layer is coated on the surface of the positive electrode current collector. The positive electrode current collector includes a positive electrode current collector portion and a positive electrode protrusion protruding from the positive electrode current collector portion. The positive electrode current collector portion is coated with the positive electrode active material layer, and at least a portion of the positive electrode protrusion is not coated with the positive electrode active material layer, and the positive electrode protrusion functions as a positive electrode tab. For example, in a lithium-ion battery, the positive electrode current collector may be made of aluminum, and the positive electrode active material layer includes a positive electrode active material, which may be lithium cobalt oxide, lithium iron phosphate, ternary lithium, or lithium manganese oxide. The negative electrode piece includes a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer. The negative electrode active material layer is coated on the surface of the negative electrode current collector. The negative electrode current collector includes a negative electrode current collector portion and a negative electrode protrusion protruding from the negative electrode current collector portion. The negative electrode current collector portion is coated with the negative electrode active material layer, and at least a portion of the negative electrode protrusion is not coated with the negative electrode active material layer, and the negative electrode protrusion functions as a negative electrode tab. The negative electrode current collector may be made of copper, and the negative electrode active material layer includes a negative electrode active material, which may be carbon or silicon, for example. To ensure high current flow without fusing, the positive electrode tabs are stacked in multiple layers, and the negative electrode tabs are stacked in multiple layers. The separator may be made of polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE), for example. Furthermore, the electrode assembly may have a coil structure or a stacked structure, and the present application is not limited thereto.

[0041] The battery cell may further include an outer case assembly, which includes a casing having an accommodating cavity therein, the accommodating cavity being an enclosed space provided by the casing for the electrode assembly and the electrolyte.

[0042] In related art, when assembling multiple battery cells into a case, functional components are typically installed between adjacent battery cells. Common functional components, such as cushion pads, heat insulating pads, or cooling plates, often fail to adhere effectively to the surface of the battery cells due to design factors or process errors, resulting in gaps or unevenness between the two and spaces in which foreign objects can hide. For example, when the battery cells and the case are fixed with a structural adhesive, the structural adhesive that has not yet fully hardened is likely to seep into the gaps between the battery cells. If solidified portions of the structural adhesive remain on the surface of the battery cells, uneven stress is likely to occur on the surface of the battery cells, inducing stress concentration, which can easily cause localized lithium precipitation in the battery cells, reducing the cycle performance of the battery cells and shortening the battery's service life.

[0043] In view of the above-mentioned problems, an embodiment of the present application proposes a battery including a case, a battery assembly, and a protective assembly, the battery assembly being installed in the case and including a plurality of battery cells, with a gap between two adjacent battery cells, the gap extending in the height direction of the battery cells and including two openings facing each other along the height direction, and the protective assembly connecting the two adjacent battery cells and covering at least one opening of the gap, thereby providing a certain blocking effect against external foreign objects, alleviating uneven stress on the battery cells caused by foreign objects and reducing the possibility of localized lithium deposition in the battery cells, and further improving the cycle performance of the battery cell and extending the service life of the battery.

[0044] The technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present application are applicable to batteries including battery cells and to electric devices using batteries.

[0045] The electric device may be a vehicle, a mobile phone, a portable device, a laptop computer, a ship, a spacecraft, an electric toy, a power tool, etc. The vehicle may be a fuel-powered vehicle, a natural gas vehicle, or a new energy vehicle, the new energy vehicle may be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, a range-extended vehicle, etc. The power tool may be an airplane, a rocket, a space shuttle, a spaceship, etc. The electric toy includes a game console, a toy electric car, a toy electric boat, a toy electric plane, or other stationary or mobile electric toy, and the power tool includes a power drill, an electric grinder, an electric wrench, an electric screwdriver, an electric hammer, an impact drill, a concrete vibrator, a power planer, or other metal cutting power tool, a grinding power tool, an assembly power tool, and a railroad power tool. Note that the embodiments of the present application are not limited to the above-mentioned electric devices.

[0046] For convenience of explanation, the following embodiment will be described by taking the case where the electrical device is a vehicle as an example.

[0047] FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a vehicle provided according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0048] 1 , a battery 3 is installed inside the vehicle 4, and the battery 3 may be installed at the bottom, head, or tail of the vehicle 4. The battery 3 is used to supply power to the vehicle 4, and for example, the battery 3 can function as an operating power source for the vehicle 4.

[0049] The vehicle 4 may further include a controller 41 and a motor 42, where the controller 41 controls the battery 3 to supply power to the motor 42, for example, to meet the operating power needs of the vehicle 4 for starting, navigation, and driving.

[0050] In some embodiments of the present application, the battery 3 is not only used as the operating power source for the vehicle 4, but can also supply driving power to the vehicle 4, completely or partially replacing fuel or natural gas as the driving power source for the vehicle 4.

[0051] FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic view of a battery provided according to some embodiments of the present application, and FIG. 3 is a structural schematic view of a battery module provided according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0052] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the battery 3 may include a case 3a for accommodating the battery cells 1, and the case 3a may have various structures. In some embodiments, the case 3a may include a first case portion 31 and a second case portion 32, which cover each other and jointly define a case space 33 for accommodating the battery cells. The first case portion 31 has a hollow structure with an open end, and the second case portion 32 has a plate-like structure. The second case portion 32 covers the open side of the first case portion 31 to form the case 3a with the case space 33. Alternatively, the first case portion 31 and the second case portion 32 both have a hollow structure with an open end, and the open side of the second case portion 32 covers the open side of the first case portion 31 to form the case 3a with the case space 33. Of course, the first case portion 31 and the second case portion 32 may have various shapes, such as a cylindrical body or a rectangular parallelepiped.

[0053] In order to improve the sealing performance when the first case part 31 and the second case part 32 are connected, a sealing member such as a sealant or a seal ring may be installed between the first case part 31 and the second case part 32.

[0054] Assuming that the second case part 32 covers the upper part of the first case part 31, the second case part 32 can also be referred to as the upper case cover, and the first case part 31 can also be referred to as the lower case.

[0055] In the battery 3, a plurality of battery cells 1 may be installed, and the plurality of battery cells 1 may be connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel connection. A series-parallel connection means that the plurality of battery cells 1 are connected both in series and in parallel. The plurality of battery cells 1 may be directly connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel, and the entire set of the plurality of battery cells 1 may be housed in the case 3a. Furthermore, a battery module 2 may be formed by connecting the plurality of battery cells 1 in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel, and one or more battery modules 2 may be housed in the case 3a. In the case of multiple battery modules 2, the plurality of battery modules 2 may be connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel, and integrated and housed in the case 3a.

[0056] For example, in FIG. 2, the plurality of battery cells 1 are housed as a whole in a case 3a.

[0057] FIG. 4 is an exploded schematic view of a battery cell provided in accordance with some embodiments of the present application.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 4, the battery cell 1 provided by the embodiment of the present application includes an electrode assembly 10 and an outer case assembly 20 , and the electrode assembly 10 is housed in the outer case assembly 20 .

[0059] In some embodiments, the outer casing assembly 20 may also be used to house an electrolyte, such as an electrolytic solution. The outer casing assembly 20 may take a variety of structural forms.

[0060] In some embodiments, the outer case assembly 20 may include a casing 21 and an end cap assembly 22, where the casing 21 is a hollow structure with an opening on one side, and the end cap assembly 22 covers the opening of the casing 21 and forms a sealed connection to form a container 210 that contains the electrode assembly 10 and the electrolyte.

[0061] The casing 21 may have various structures, such as a rectangular parallelepiped structure or other polygonal structures, and the shape of the casing 21 may be determined based on the specific shape of the electrode assembly 10. For example, if the electrode assembly 10 has a rectangular parallelepiped structure, a rectangular parallelepiped casing may be used.

[0062] In some embodiments, the end cap assembly 22 includes an end cap 221, which covers an opening in the casing 21. The end cap 221 may have various structures, such as a plate-like structure, a hollow structure with an opening at one end, etc. For example, in FIG. 4 , the casing 21 has a rectangular parallelepiped structure, the end cap 221 has a plate-like structure, and the end cap 221 covers an opening at the top of the casing 21.

[0063] The end cap 221 may be made of an insulating material (e.g., plastic) or a conductive material (e.g., metal). If the end cap 221 is made of a metal material, the end cap assembly 22 may further include an insulating member located on the side of the end cap 221 facing the electrode assembly 10 to insulate the electrode assembly 10 from the end cap 221.

[0064] In some embodiments, the end cap assembly 22 may also include electrode terminals 222, which are attached to the end cap 221. There are two electrode terminals 222, which are defined as a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal, respectively, and both the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal are electrically connected to the electrode assembly 10 and output the electrical energy generated by the electrode assembly 10.

[0065] In other embodiments, the outer case assembly 20 may have other structures, for example, it may include a casing 21 and two end cap assemblies 22, the casing 21 being a hollow structure with openings facing each other on both sides, one of the end cap assemblies 22 covering one of the openings of the casing 21 to form a storage section 210 for storing the electrode assembly 10 and the electrolyte, forming a sealed connection. In this structure, one end cap assembly 22 may be provided with two electrode terminals 222 and the other end cap assembly 22 may not be provided with any electrode terminals 222, or each of the two end cap assemblies 22 may be provided with one electrode terminal 222.

[0066] In the battery cell 1, there may be one or more electrode assemblies 10 housed in the outer case assembly 20. For example, in FIG.

[0067] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of a battery provided according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 5, the battery comprises a case, a battery assembly 3b, and a protective assembly 35. The battery assembly 3b is installed in the case and includes a plurality of battery cells 1, with a gap between two adjacent battery cells 1. The gap extends in the height direction Z of the battery cells 1 and includes two openings facing each other along the height direction Z. The protective assembly 35 connects the two adjacent battery cells 1 and covers at least one opening of the gap.

[0069] The battery assembly 3b is installed in the case, and various methods for connecting the battery assembly 3b to the case may be used. For example, the battery assembly 3b may be bonded to the case using a structural adhesive or may be connected by screws. The battery assembly 3b includes multiple battery cells 1, with a gap between two adjacent battery cells 1. A cushion pad, a heat insulating pad, or a cooling plate may be installed in the gap. For example, in FIG. 5, a cooling plate may be installed between two adjacent battery cells 1 along a first direction X. The first direction X may be considered to be perpendicular to the height direction Z, and may be either the length direction or the width direction of the battery cells 1. Of course, a cushion pad, a heat insulating pad, or a cooling plate may not be installed between two adjacent battery cells 1. During charging and discharging of the battery cells 1, the battery cells 1 expand and contract, which may result in a gap between the two adjacent battery cells 1.

[0070] The protection assembly 35 is connected to two adjacent battery cells 1, and the protection assembly 35 may be directly or indirectly connected to the battery cells 1. The protection assembly 35 can be connected to the battery cells 1 by various methods, such as adhesive bonding, which is highly reliable and has a simple operation procedure. The protection assembly 35 can be connected to multiple locations on the battery cells 1; for example, the protection assembly 35 may be connected to a surface of the battery cell 1 parallel to the height direction Z, or may be connected to a surface of the battery cell 1 perpendicular to the height direction Z; this application is not limited to this.

[0071] The protection assembly 35 covers at least one opening of the gap, i.e., the protection assembly 35 may cover an opening on one side of the gap or may cover openings on both sides of the gap. The protection assembly 35 covering the opening may be installed outside the gap, may be installed inside the gap, or may be partially installed outside the gap and partially installed inside the gap, and various other situations are possible, and the present application is not limited thereto.

[0072] The battery according to the embodiment of the present application includes a protective assembly 35, which connects two adjacent battery cells 1 and covers at least one opening of the gap. The protective assembly 35 can have a certain blocking effect against external foreign objects, relieve uneven stress on the battery cells 1 caused by foreign objects, reduce the possibility of localized lithium deposition in the battery cells 1, and further improve the cycle performance of the battery cells 1 and extend the service life of the battery.

[0073] Furthermore, the case comprises a first case part having a storage cavity and a second case part covering the first case part, the first case part and the second case part being installed continuously in the height direction Z, the battery assembly 3b being installed in the storage cavity, and the protective assembly 35 covering the opening of the gap separated from the second case part.

[0074] In this application, the first case part can be considered as the lower case, and the second case part can be considered as the upper case cover. The first case part is the main structure of the case, and the battery assembly 3b is installed in the receiving cavity of the first case part and connected to the first case part.

[0075] The protective assembly 35 covering the opening of the gap separated from the second case part can be considered to be the protective assembly 35 covering the lower opening of the gap, and when the battery assembly 3b is connected to the first case part by bonding, the protective assembly 35 acts as a shield against the structural adhesive, reducing the possibility of the structural adhesive leaking into the gap, alleviating uneven stress on the battery cells 1 due to foreign matter, and reducing the possibility of lithium precipitation in the battery cells 1. Furthermore, when the first case part is connected to the battery assembly 3b in an inverted state, the risk of foreign matter such as welding slag or metal chips inside the first case part falling into the gap can be effectively reduced.

[0076] In some embodiments, protective assembly 35 covers the openings of the two gaps, thereby providing a barrier to the structural adhesive and reducing the possibility of other foreign objects entering the gaps during battery assembly, such as preventing metal chips, welding slag, etc. from falling into the gaps.

[0077] In the embodiment of the present application, by installing the protective assembly 35 so as to cover the two openings of the gap, the protective effect of the protective assembly 35 can be strengthened, and uneven stress on the battery cell 1 caused by foreign matter can be alleviated, thereby reducing the possibility of lithium precipitation in the battery cell 1.

[0078] FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a battery provided according to some embodiments of the present application, FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged view of area A in FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a battery provided according to some other embodiments of the present application, FIG. 9 is a partial enlarged view of area B in FIG. 8, FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a battery provided according to some other embodiments of the present application, and FIG. 11 is a partial enlarged view of area C in FIG. 10.

[0079] 5 to 11 , in some embodiments, a battery assembly 3b includes a plurality of battery modules 34 arranged consecutively along a first direction X, each battery module 34 including a plurality of battery cells 1 arranged consecutively along a second direction Y. The gap includes a first gap 341, which is located between two adjacent battery modules 34 and includes two first openings 341a facing each other along a height direction Z. The protection assembly 35 includes a first protection portion 351, which connects the two adjacent battery modules 34 and covers at least one first opening 341a of the first gap 341, and the second direction Y, the first direction X, and the height direction Z are perpendicular to each other. In the embodiments of the present application, the first direction X can be regarded as the width direction of the battery cells 1, and the second direction Y can be regarded as the length direction of the battery cells 1.

[0080] The battery assembly 3b includes a plurality of battery modules 34 arranged in series along the first direction X, and a cooling plate or cushion pad may be installed between adjacent battery modules 34. For example, in FIG. 5, a cooling plate may be installed between two adjacent battery modules 34.

[0081] The first protection unit 351 connects two adjacent battery modules 34, and there may be various connection relationships between the first protection unit 351 and the battery modules 34.

[0082] In some examples, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the battery cell 1 includes a bottom surface 13 located on a side in the height direction Z, and the first protective part 351 is located on the side in the height direction Z of the battery cell 1 and is connected to at least a portion of the bottom surface 13.

[0083] The first protective part 351 is connected to at least a portion of the bottom surface 13, i.e., the first protective part 351 may be connected to a portion of the bottom surface 13 or to the entire bottom surface 13. The first protective part 351 may be connected to the bottom surface 13 directly or indirectly in various ways. The first protective part 351 may be connected to the bottom surface 13 by an adhesive method, which is highly reliable, has a simple connection procedure, and is easy to operate. The first protective part 351 may have various structural forms, such as a film, tape, or adhesive strip.

[0084] In the embodiment of the present application, the first protective portion 351 is installed on the height direction Z side of the battery cell 1, so that the first protective portion 351 can isolate the first gap 341 from external foreign objects, strengthen the blocking role against foreign objects, relieve uneven stress on the battery cell 1 caused by foreign objects, and reduce the possibility of lithium precipitation in the battery cell 1.

[0085] In another example, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, at least a portion of the first protective portion 351 is located within the first gap 341.

[0086] At least a portion of the first protective portion 351 is located within the first gap 341, i.e., the first protective portion 351 can fill the first gap 341. The first protective portion 351 may have various structural forms. For example, the first protective portion 351 may be a sealant. By uniformly filling the first gap 341 with the sealant, the solid sealant can act as a barrier against external foreign matter once the sealant hardens. The uniformly filled sealant can effectively block external foreign matter from entering the first gap 341, and can alleviate uneven stress on the battery cell 1, provided that the impact on the battery cell 1 is sufficiently reduced. Furthermore, the placement of the first protective portion 351 within the first gap 341 can somewhat increase the connection strength and connection stability between the first protective portion 351 and the battery cell 1, thereby improving the structural stability of the battery.

[0087] In some specific examples, the battery cell 1 includes a bottom surface 13 located on its side in the height direction Z, and the surface of the first protective portion 351 is flush with the bottom surface 13 along the height direction Z. In these examples, the fact that the surface of the first protective portion 351 is flush with the bottom surface 13 can improve the height consistency between the first protective portion 351 and the bottom surface 13, which is beneficial for improving the surface flatness between each battery module 34. Of course, in some other specific examples, the surface of the first protective portion 351 may also protrude or be recessed relative to the bottom surface 13, and the present application is not limited thereto.

[0088] As another specific example, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, the battery cell 1 has a bottom surface 13 located on the side in the height direction Z, and the first protective part 351 has a first part 351a and a second part 351b, the first part 351a is located within the first gap 341 and is connected to two adjacent battery modules 34, and the second part 351b is located on the side in the height direction Z of the battery cell 1 and is connected to at least a portion of the bottom surface 13.

[0089] The first portion 351a is located within the first gap 341 and may be a sealing material. The second portion 351b is located on the side of the battery cell 1 in the height direction Z and is connected to at least a portion of the bottom surface 13. The second portion 351b may be, for example, an adhesive tape or a film.

[0090] In these examples, the first protective part 351 is equivalent to having a double protective structure, which further enhances the protective effect of the first protective part 351, strengthens the blocking effect against foreign objects, and further alleviates uneven stress on the battery cell 1 caused by foreign objects.

[0091] FIG. 12 is another cross-sectional schematic view of a battery provided according to some embodiments of the present application, and FIG. 13 is a partially enlarged view of the area D in FIG.

[0092] As shown in Figures 5 to 13, the gap further includes a second gap 342, which is located between two adjacent battery cells 1 of the battery module 34 and includes two second openings 342a facing each other along the height direction Z, and the protection assembly 35 further includes a second protection portion 352, which connects the two adjacent battery cells 1 of the battery module and covers at least one second opening 342a of the second gap 342.

[0093] The second gap 342 may be provided with a cushion pad, a heat insulating pad, a cooling plate, or the like, and for example, in the embodiment of the present application, the second gap 342 may be provided with a cushion pad or a heat insulating pad. The second gap 342 includes two second openings 342a facing each other along the height direction Z, and the two second openings 342a are located at both ends of the second gap 342 along the height direction Z.

[0094] The second protective assembly 352 covers at least one second opening 342a of the second gap 342, i.e., the second protective part 352 may cover the second opening 342a on one side of the second gap 342, or may cover the second openings 342a on both sides of the second gap 342. The second protective part 352 covers the second opening 342a, and the second protective part 352 may be located outside the second gap 342, or may be located inside the second gap 342, or a part of the second protective part 352 may be located outside the second gap 342 and a part of the second protective part 352 may be located inside the second gap 342; however, the present application is not limited thereto.

[0095] In the embodiment of the present application, the protective assembly 35 includes a second protective part 352, and the second protective part 352 covers at least one second opening 342a of the second gap 342. This further enhances the protective effect of the protective assembly 35, reduces the possibility of foreign matter entering the second gap 342, relieves uneven stress on the battery cell 1 caused by the foreign matter, reduces the possibility of lithium precipitation in the battery cell 1, and further improves the cycle performance of the battery cell 1 and extends the service life of the battery.

[0096] Furthermore, the second protective portion 352 extends along the first direction X and covers the second gaps 342 of the plurality of battery modules 34 .

[0097] This allows the second protective part 352 to have a relatively large structural dimension, which reduces the difficulty of attaching and operating the second protective part 352, improves installation convenience, and enhances the blocking effect against foreign objects, thereby alleviating uneven stress on the battery cells 1 caused by foreign objects. Optionally, the second protective part 352 may be a continuous structure extending along the first direction X.

[0098] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 13 , in some embodiments, the battery cell 1 includes two first surfaces 11 facing each other along a first direction X and two second surfaces 12 facing each other along a second direction Y, the first surfaces 11 are located between the two second surfaces 12, and the area of ​​the second surfaces 12 is smaller than the area of ​​the first surfaces 11, and the first surfaces 11 of two adjacent battery modules 34 are installed facing each other.

[0099] In the present application, the first surface 11 can be considered the major surface of the battery cell 1, and the second surface 12 can be considered the side surface of the battery cell 1. Because the surface is larger than the side surface, the area to which stress is applied is larger, increasing the risk of uneven stress occurring. Therefore, the first protective part 351 is installed between two adjacent battery modules 34, and the first protective part 351 can effectively block foreign matter that may enter between the two first surfaces 11 of the two adjacent battery cells 1. This minimizes the impact of foreign matter on the battery cells 1, alleviates uneven stress on the first surfaces 11 of the battery cells 1 due to foreign matter, and reduces the possibility of lithium precipitation in the battery cells 1.

[0100] As a specific example of the present application, as shown in Figures 5 to 11, the battery comprises a case, a battery assembly 3b, and a protective assembly 35, the case comprises a first case part having an accommodating cavity and a second case part covering the first case part, the first case part and the second case part being installed continuously in the height direction Z, the battery assembly 3b is installed within the accommodating cavity and includes a plurality of battery cells 1, with a gap between two adjacent battery cells 1, the gap extending along the height direction Z of the battery cells 1 and including two openings facing each other along the height direction Z, and the protective assembly 35 connects the two adjacent battery cells 1 and covers the opening of the gap separated from the second case part.

[0101] The battery according to the embodiment of the present application is provided with a protective assembly 35, which connects two adjacent battery cells 1 and covers the opening of the gap separated from the second case portion. This allows the protective assembly 35 to act as a barrier against external foreign objects, relieve uneven stress on the battery cells 1 caused by foreign objects, reduce the possibility of lithium precipitation in the battery cells 1, and further improve the cycle performance of the battery cells 1, thereby extending the service life of the battery.

[0102] Furthermore, when the battery assembly 3b is connected to the first case part by bonding, the protective assembly 35 acts as a shield against the structural adhesive, reducing the possibility of the structural adhesive leaking into the gaps, alleviating uneven stress on the battery cells 1 due to foreign matter, and reducing the possibility of lithium precipitation in the battery cells 1. Furthermore, when the first case part is connected to the battery assembly 3b in an inverted state, it is possible to further effectively reduce the risk of foreign matter such as welding slag or metal chips inside the first case part falling into the gaps.

[0103] Although the present application has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present application, and equivalents may be substituted for components therein, and each technical feature mentioned in each embodiment may be combined in any manner unless there is a particular structural conflict. The present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions included within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. Case and a battery assembly installed in the case and including a plurality of battery cells, the battery assembly having a gap between two adjacent battery cells, the gap extending in a height direction of the battery cells and including two openings facing each other along the height direction; a protection assembly that connects to two adjacent battery cells and covers at least one of the openings of the gap; battery.

2. the case includes a first case portion having a storage cavity and a second case portion covering the first case portion, the first case portion and the second case portion being disposed continuously in the height direction, and the battery assembly being disposed in the storage cavity; The protection assembly covers the opening of the gap separated from the second case portion. The battery of claim 1 .

3. The protective assembly covers two of the openings. The battery according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the battery assembly includes a plurality of battery modules arranged consecutively along a first direction, each of the battery modules including a plurality of the battery cells arranged consecutively along a second direction; the gap includes a first gap, the first gap is located between two adjacent battery modules, the first gap includes two first openings facing each other along the height direction, wherein the second direction, the first direction, and the height direction are perpendicular to each other; the protection assembly includes a first protection part, the first protection part connecting two adjacent battery modules and covering at least one first opening of the first gap; The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. the gap further includes a second gap, the second gap being located between two adjacent battery cells of the battery module, and the second gap including two second openings facing each other along the height direction; The protection assembly further includes a second protection part, the second protection part being connected to two adjacent battery cells of the battery module and covering at least one second opening of the second gap. The battery of claim 4.

6. the second protection portion extends along the first direction and covers the second gaps between the plurality of battery modules. The battery of claim 5.

7. the battery cell has a bottom surface located on a side in the height direction, and the first protection part is installed on the side of the battery cell in the height direction and connected to at least a part of the bottom surface. The battery according to any one of claims 4 to 6.

8. At least a portion of the first protective portion is located within the first gap. The battery according to any one of claims 4 to 7.

9. the battery cell has a bottom surface located on a side in the height direction, and a surface of the first protection portion is flush with the bottom surface along the height direction; The battery of claim 8.

10. The battery cell has a bottom surface located on a side in the height direction, and the first protection portion is a first portion located within the first gap and connecting two adjacent battery modules; a second portion located on a side of the battery cell in the height direction and connected to at least a portion of the bottom surface, The battery according to claim 8 or 9.

11. The battery cell is two first surfaces facing each other along the first direction; two second surfaces facing each other along the second direction, the second surfaces being located between the two first surfaces, and the area of ​​the second surfaces being smaller than the area of ​​the first surfaces; The first surfaces of two adjacent battery modules are disposed opposite to each other. The battery according to any one of claims 4 to 10.

12. A battery according to any one of claims 1 to 11, used to supply electrical energy. Electrical equipment.

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