Battery pack, vehicle, and battery pack assembly method

Abstract

To provide a battery pack with improved mechanical performance. [Solution] The battery pack 100 comprises a battery tray 10, an exhaust structure 20, a potting adhesive 30, and a battery module 40. The battery module is mounted in a housing space 11, at least a portion of the exhaust structure is located within the housing space and absorbs gas within the housing space, discharging it to the outside of the battery pack. The potting adhesive is provided within the housing space and seals the battery module and at least a portion of the exhaust structure. Because the exhaust structure is provided within the housing space and a portion of the exhaust structure is covered by the potting adhesive, in the case of potting the potting adhesive, gas in the area where the potting adhesive is present within the housing space can be discharged through the exhaust structure, reducing air traps within the housing space and allowing a large amount of potting adhesive to be filled into the housing space. This increases the structural strength and rigidity of the battery pack and further enhances the overall mechanical performance of the battery pack.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of battery technology, and more particularly to battery packs, vehicles, and methods for assembling battery packs.

Background Art

[0002] A battery pack is a device for supplying energy to an electrical device (such as a vehicle), and is a central component of the electrical device. With the development of vehicles, the design requirements for the structural strength and performance of battery packs have increased, and better mechanical performance is required for battery packs. However, the mechanical performance of the battery packs provided by related technologies has deteriorated, and the requirements for the mechanical performance of battery packs cannot be well met.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a battery pack, a vehicle, and a method for assembling a battery pack in order to at least partially solve the problems existing in related technologies.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] To achieve the above object, as a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a battery pack including a battery tray, an exhaust structure, a potting adhesive, and a battery module. The battery tray has a housing space, the battery module is mounted in the housing space, the potting adhesive is provided in the housing space to seal the battery module, at least a part of the exhaust structure is located in the housing space, and at least a part of the exhaust structure is sealed by the potting adhesive so that the exhaust structure can discharge the gas in the region where the potting adhesive exists in the housing space.

[0005] Optionally, the exhaust structure may absorb the gas in the housing space and discharge the absorbed gas to the outside of the battery pack.

[0006] Selectively, the surface of the exhaust structure may be provided with vents, and the vents may be configured as gas passages to discharge the gas from the area in the containment space where the potting adhesive is present, or they may be configured to communicate with gas passages inside the exhaust structure.

[0007] Selectively, the exhaust structure may have at least one foam member, the foam member having a plurality of ventilation holes, the ventilation holes being configured as gas passages, and the foam member may be a porous foam member.

[0008] Selectively, the exhaust structure may have at least one tubular member, wherein a plurality of vent holes are provided in the wall of the tubular member, and the vent holes and the tubular member are configured to communicate with the hollow portion of the gas passage.

[0009] Selectively, the diameter of the ventilation holes may be 0.1 mm to 5 mm.

[0010] Selectively, the exhaust structure may collect the gas in the containment space above the battery module and discharge the collected gas to the outside of the battery pack.

[0011] Selectively, the battery pack further comprises a top cover that covers the upper end of the battery tray, and the exhaust structure discharges the collected gas from the top cover to the outside of the battery pack, and / or the exhaust structure discharges the collected gas to the outside of the battery pack through the gap between the top cover and the battery tray.

[0012] Selectively, the exhaust structure may have at least one first exhaust member, at least one of which is provided on the upper side of the battery module, and at least a portion of the first exhaust member may be sealed with the potting adhesive, thereby enabling the first exhaust member to discharge the gas from the area in the containment space where the potting adhesive is present.

[0013] Selectively, the number of the first exhaust members may be multiple, and the multiple first exhaust members may be arranged at equal intervals above the battery module.

[0014] Selectively, the exhaust structure further comprises at least one second exhaust member, wherein at least a portion of the second exhaust member is sealed with the potting adhesive, thereby enabling the second exhaust member to discharge the gas from the area in the containment space where the potting adhesive is present, and at least one of the second exhaust members is provided on the upper side of the battery module, and the exhaust passage of each second exhaust member may communicate with the exhaust passages of a plurality of first exhaust members.

[0015] Selectively, each of the first exhaust members extends along a first direction, and a plurality of the first exhaust members are arranged at uniform intervals along a second direction, the first direction intersects with the second direction, the second exhaust members extend along the second direction, there are two of the second exhaust members, and one of the second exhaust members may be connected to each end of the plurality of first exhaust members in the first direction.

[0016] Selectively, the exhaust structure further comprises a third exhaust member disposed within the containment space, wherein at least a portion of the third exhaust member is sealed with the potting adhesive, thereby enabling the third exhaust member to discharge the gas in the area of ​​the containment space where the potting adhesive is present, and the exhaust passage of the third exhaust member may be in communication with the exhaust passage of the first exhaust member and / or the exhaust passage of the second exhaust member.

[0017] The lower end of the third exhaust member may be selectively connected to the bottom plate of the battery tray.

[0018] Selectively, the lower end of the third exhaust member may communicate with the internal cavity of the bottom plate of the battery tray.

[0019] Selectively, at least a portion of the exhaust structure may be a compressible member, the compressible member being capable of absorbing the gas in the containment space and being capable of discharging the absorbed gas from itself by external pressure.

[0020] Selectively, both ends of the battery module in the first direction may have a gap with the inner wall of the battery tray, and there may be multiple third exhaust members, with at least one third exhaust member in each gap.

[0021] Selectively, the first exhaust member is a strip-shaped member and / or, The second exhaust member is a strip-shaped member and / or, The third exhaust member is configured as a block-shaped member.

[0022] Selectively, the volume of the third exhaust member may be greater than the volume of each of the first exhaust members, and / or the volume of the third exhaust member may be greater than the volume of each of the second exhaust members.

[0023] Selectively, the battery pack may further include a top cover that covers the battery tray and is bonded to the potting adhesive.

[0024] Selectively, the top cover may be provided with a plurality of exhaust holes, and at least some of the exhaust holes may be provided in correspondence with and in communication with the exhaust passage of the exhaust structure.

[0025] A second aspect of this disclosure provides a vehicle equipped with the above-mentioned battery pack.

[0026] As a third aspect of the present disclosure, there are provided steps of providing a battery tray having an accommodation space, an exhaust structure, a potting adhesive, and a battery module, attaching the battery module to the accommodation space, attaching the exhaust structure to the accommodation space, filling the potting adhesive into the accommodation space to seal the battery module with the potting adhesive, and enabling the exhaust structure to discharge gas in a region where the potting adhesive exists in the accommodation space by sealing at least a part of the exhaust structure with the potting adhesive. A method for assembling a battery pack is provided which includes these steps.

[0027] Optionally, discharging the gas in the accommodation space to the outside of the battery pack may include collecting the gas in the accommodation space above the battery module and discharging the collected gas to the outside of the battery pack.

[0028] Optionally, the method further includes providing an upper lid provided with an exhaust hole, covering the upper lid on the upper end of the battery tray and adhering it to the potting adhesive. After the upper lid is covered on the battery tray, the exhaust hole may communicate with an exhaust passage of the exhaust structure.

[0029] Optionally, after the potting adhesive is cured, the exhaust hole may be sealed.

Advantages of the Invention

[0030] According to the above proposed technology, the exhaust structure is installed within the containment space, and during the potting process of the potting adhesive, at least a portion of the exhaust structure is covered by the potting adhesive. As a result, the exhaust structure can expel gas from at least the area in the containment space where the potting adhesive is present, or in other words, it can expel gas from inside the potting adhesive. This reduces the possibility of an air trap forming inside the potting adhesive within the containment space, allows as much potting adhesive as possible to be filled into the containment space, and maximizes the space for containing the potting adhesive. This increases the structural strength and rigidity of the battery pack and further enhances the overall mechanical performance of the battery pack.

[0031] Other features and advantages of this disclosure are described in detail in the following embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0032] The drawings are for further understanding of this disclosure, constitute part of the specification, and illustrate this disclosure together with the following embodiments, but do not limit the invention. [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing the disassembled state of the components of a battery pack provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, where the top cover having an exhaust port is shown. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram of a battery pack provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, in which the top cover and potting adhesive are not shown. [Figure 3] This is a schematic plan view of the top cover of a battery pack provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram of a battery pack provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, in which the top cover does not cover the battery tray. [Figure 5] This is a schematic diagram showing the assembled state of each component of a battery pack provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, where the top cover without exhaust vents is shown. [Figure 6] This is a schematic diagram of an exhaust structure provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, in which the exhaust structure has a first exhaust member, a second exhaust member, and a third exhaust member. [Figure 7] This is a schematic diagram of an exhaust structure having a tubular member provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, where a portion of the tubular member is shown. [Figure 8] This is a schematic flowchart of a battery pack assembly method provided by one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0033] Specific embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are used solely to illustrate and interpret this disclosure, and not to limit it.

[0034] This disclosure should be understood, without rephrasing, that the directional or positional relationships indicated by directional terms such as "up," "down," "inside," and "outside" are defined based on the drawing direction shown in each drawing and do not indicate or imply a specific direction, or a specific directional structure and operation, but are merely used to simplify the explanation and facilitate the explanation of this disclosure. The terms "inside" and "outside" can refer to the inside and outside of the corresponding structural contour. "First direction" and "second direction" can refer to the first and second directions shown in Figures 1 and 4, respectively, and terms such as "first," "second," and "third" are used to distinguish one element from another and do not have any order or importance. In explanations that refer to drawings, the same reference numerals in different drawings represent the same element.

[0035] In the descriptions of this disclosure, the terms “configuration,” “connection,” “linking,” and “attachment” should be understood broadly unless otherwise specifically defined and limited, for example, a fixed connection, a removable connection, a joint connection, a direct connection, or an indirect connection via an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art will be able to understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this disclosure in accordance with the specific circumstances.

[0036] As described above, in the related technologies, the mechanical performance of the battery pack is reduced, and it is not possible to fully meet the operational requirements. Research has shown that one of the reasons for the reduced mechanical performance of the battery pack in the related technologies is that when potting the battery modules inside the battery pack using potting adhesive, air trap areas appear, and the potting adhesive cannot be filled into these air trap areas, reducing the structural strength and rigidity of the battery pack and thus reducing its mechanical performance.

[0037] As a first aspect of this disclosure, a battery pack 100 is provided, as shown in Figures 1 to 7, comprising a battery tray 10, an exhaust structure 20, a potting adhesive 30, and a battery module 40. In the battery pack 100, the battery tray 10 has a housing space 11, the battery module 40 is mounted in the housing space 11, at least a part of the exhaust structure 20 is located in the housing space 11, the potting adhesive 30 is provided in the housing space 11 and seals the battery module 40, and at least a part of the exhaust structure 20 is sealed by the potting adhesive 30, so that the exhaust structure 20 can discharge gas from the area in the housing space 11 where the potting adhesive 30 is present, thereby discharging gas from the housing space 11.

[0038] According to the above technical proposal, the exhaust structure 20 is installed inside the containment space 11, and during the potting process of the potting adhesive 30, at least a portion of the exhaust structure 20 is covered by the potting adhesive 30. Therefore, the exhaust structure 20 can discharge gas from at least the area in the containment space 11 where the potting adhesive 30 is present, that is, it can discharge gas from the area in the containment space 11 where the potting adhesive 30 is present, or in other words, it can discharge gas from inside the potting adhesive 30. This reduces the possibility of an air trap area forming inside the potting adhesive 30 in the containment space 11, and allows as much potting adhesive 30 as possible to be filled into the containment space 11, and maximizes the space initially reserved for containing the potting adhesive 30. This increases the structural strength and rigidity of the battery pack 100 and further enhances the overall mechanical performance of the battery pack 100. Here, "air trap" can refer to excess air remaining in the containment space 11 after the battery pack 100 has been assembled.

[0039] In this disclosure, when the potting adhesive 30 is filled into the containment space 11, because the potting adhesive 30 is filled at a high rate, if the gas in the containment space 11 cannot be immediately discharged, it may collect in one place and form an air trap. As a result, the potting adhesive 30 cannot fill the air trap area, and the air trap area forms a gap space inside the potting adhesive 30, causing a part of the potting adhesive 30 to become hollow. This reduces the structural strength and rigidity of the potting adhesive 30 and degrades the overall mechanical performance of the battery pack 100.

[0040] By providing the exhaust structure 20 within the containment space 11, a temporary retention space can be created for the gas flowing through the containment space 11. In other words, gas that could not be immediately discharged can be collected at the location of the exhaust structure 20 and discharged. This reduces the uncontrollability of the gas flow direction and retention location inside the containment space 11, reduces the occurrence of voids inside the potting adhesive 30, improves the rigidity of the potting adhesive 30, and further improves the structural strength and rigidity of the entire battery pack 100.

[0041] In some embodiments, the battery module 40 of the battery pack 100 may consist only of battery cells, or it may consist of multiple battery cells and associated electrical connection components, or it may consist of multiple electrochemical cells.

[0042] In this disclosure, the battery tray 10 may be made of tailor-made aluminum, die-cast aluminum, pressed sheet metal, injection-molded parts, etc., as a support structure, but is not limited to these.

[0043] In this disclosure, the exhaust structure 20 can discharge gas from the containment space 11 to the outside of the battery pack 100 by any suitable configuration of the battery pack 100, but is not limited thereto.

[0044] This disclosure does not limit the exhaust principle of the exhaust structure 20. Selectively, in some embodiments of this disclosure, the exhaust structure 20 is for absorbing gas in the containment space 11 and discharging the absorbed gas to the outside of the battery pack 100. By using the exhaust structure 20 to absorb gas that could not be immediately discharged from the containment space 11, the exhaust effect can be enhanced, the possibility of air trap areas being generated can be reduced, and this helps prevent hollowing during potting of the potting adhesive 30.

[0045] In this disclosure, the specific structure of the exhaust structure 20 is limited, and in some embodiments of this disclosure, as shown in Figures 1 and 6, vents 24 are provided on the surface of the exhaust structure 20, and the vents 24 are configured as gas passages or are configured to communicate with gas passages inside the exhaust structure 20. By providing the vents 24, after the exhaust structure 20 is installed in the containment space 11, the vents 24 and the containment space 11 are in communication, and while the containment space 11 is being filled with potting adhesive 30, the vents 24 can discharge gas from the area in the containment space 11 where the potting adhesive 30 is present.

[0046] In order to better discharge the gas from within the containment space 11, the number of ventilation holes 24 may be multiple.

[0047] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the exhaust structure 20 may have at least one foam member, the foam member may occupy less space, thereby allowing the potting adhesive 30 to occupy more space, and since the foam structure itself is provided with holes, i.e., the foam structure itself has a plurality of vents 24 that can be configured as gas passages, the processing of the vents 24 can be omitted.

[0048] Furthermore, since the foam material has multiple ventilation holes 24, it can perform both intake and exhaust functions, and by selecting a foam type with a reasonable pore diameter, the pores are less likely to become clogged. In addition, since the foam material is compressible and lightweight, it does not put any burden on the battery pack 100 when attached to it.

[0049] To enhance the exhaust effect, the foam material may be selectively made of porous foam, which has excellent exhaust properties and can better expel gas from within the containment space 11.

[0050] Here, at least one foam member may have one or more of the first exhaust member 21, second exhaust member 22, and third exhaust member 23 described below. Specifically, foam materials such as EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer), PU (Polyurethane), and foamed silicone rubber can be selected. The foam member is flexible and easily compressible, has a certain toughness, and is easy to attach to and assemble on the battery pack 100. The foam member is also easy to manufacture in terms of size and shape.

[0051] Regarding the specific structure of the exhaust structure 20, in other embodiments of this disclosure, as shown in Figure 7, the exhaust structure 20 has at least one tubular member, and a plurality of vent holes 24 are provided in the wall of the tubular member, and the vent holes 24 communicate with a hollow portion of the tubular member which is configured as a gas passage. With this design, the gas in the containment space 11 can be guided and discharged by the plurality of vent holes 24 communicating with the gas passage in the tubular member.

[0052] Here, the number of tubular members may be multiple. For example, one or more of the first exhaust member 21, second exhaust member 22, and third exhaust member 23 in Figure 1 may be included. In other words, the first exhaust member 21, second exhaust member 22, and third exhaust member 23, which are configured as foam members in Figure 6, can be replaced with porous tubular members.

[0053] In this disclosure, the cross-sectional shape of the tubular member is not limited and may be any suitable shape, such as a circle or rectangle as shown in Figure 7.

[0054] In this disclosure, the diameter of the ventilation holes 24 is not limited and can be any appropriate diameter. In order to ensure an exhaust effect and prevent blockage by potting adhesive, the diameter of the ventilation holes 24 may be 0.1 mm to 5 mm, preferably 0.2 mm to 2 mm. That is, the diameter of the ventilation holes 24 of the foam member shown in Figure 6 and the ventilation holes 24 of the tubular member shown in Figure 7 may both be 0.1 mm to 5 mm, preferably 0.2 mm to 2 mm.

[0055] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the exhaust structure 20 can selectively collect the gas in the containment space 11 above the battery module 40 and discharge the collected gas (the gas collected above the battery module 40, i.e., the gas collected in the upper space of the containment space 11) to the outside of the battery pack 100. Since the potting adhesive 30 is filled from the bottom to the top of the containment space 11, collecting the gas inside the containment space 11 above the battery module 40 and then discharging it facilitates the filling of the potting adhesive 30 and avoids the occurrence of an "air trap" problem in the potting adhesive in the lower space of the containment space 11.

[0056] In this disclosure, the battery pack 100 further comprises a top cover 50 provided on the upper end of the battery tray 10, and the exhaust structure 20 can discharge the collected gas to the outside of the battery pack 100 from the top cover 50 (for example, an exhaust hole 51 of the top cover 50 described later), and / or the exhaust structure 20 can discharge the collected gas to the outside of the battery pack 100 from the gap between the top cover 50 and the battery tray 10 (for example, a gap for attaching fasteners). This ensures that gas is discharged from the battery pack 100.

[0057] In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the exhaust structure 20 can collect the gas in the containment space 11 above the battery module 40 and discharge the collected gas from the battery tray 10, for example from the upper part of the side wall of the battery tray 10.

[0058] In this disclosure, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the exhaust structure 20 may have at least one first exhaust member 21 provided on the upper side of the battery module 40. For example, when the battery pack 100 is used in a vehicle, the first exhaust member 21 is provided on the side closer to the vehicle body, and at least a portion of the first exhaust member 21 is sealed with potting adhesive 30, so that the first exhaust member 21 can discharge gas from the area in the housing space 11 where the potting adhesive 30 is present. The gas discharged from the first exhaust member 21 can be discharged from the housing space 11 to the outside of the battery pack during the filling or foaming of the potting adhesive 30, for example, from the exhaust hole 51 of the top cover 50 described later, or from the connection point between the top cover 50 of the battery pack 100 and the battery tray 10. By providing the first exhaust member 21 on the upper side of the battery module 40, at least one first exhaust member 21 is secured on the upper side of the large area of ​​the battery module 40 to exhaust air from the entire upper area of ​​the battery module 40 and reduce air trapping in that area.

[0059] The reason the potting adhesive 30 is placed on the upper side of the battery module 40 is that there is a large space on the upper side of the battery module 40 for filling with potting adhesive 30. If the potting adhesive 30 has a large area of ​​hollow space in this space, the connection between the entire battery pack 100 and the upper part (for example, the top cover or the bottom plate of the electrical equipment, etc.) becomes unstable, and the mechanical performance of the entire battery pack 100 deteriorates.

[0060] In this disclosure, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, there may be multiple first exhaust members 21, and the multiple first exhaust members 21 may be arranged at equal intervals on the upper side of the battery module 40. This allows for uniform discharge of gas and uniform filling of the potting adhesive 30. Furthermore, by providing multiple first exhaust members 21, the discharge capacity of the exhaust structure 20 can be increased.

[0061] In this disclosure, a gap is formed between adjacent first exhaust members 21, and since the potting adhesive 30 is fluid before curing, the potting adhesive 30 can flow into the gap. When the first exhaust members 21 are arranged at equal intervals, the cured potting adhesive 30 can form a relatively regular structure, which is advantageous for uniformly applying force to the potting adhesive 30 and increasing the rigidity of the potting adhesive 30.

[0062] In this disclosure, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the exhaust structure 20 may further have at least one second exhaust member 22, and at least a portion of the second exhaust member 22 is sealed with potting adhesive 30 so that the second exhaust member 22 can discharge gas from the area in the housing space 11 where the potting adhesive 30 is present, and at least one second exhaust member 22 is provided on the upper side of the battery module 40, and the exhaust passage of each second exhaust member 22 is in communication with the exhaust passages of a plurality of first exhaust members 21. By the second exhaust member 22 communicating with the first exhaust member 21, a connected exhaust passage can be formed to guide the gas, and the gas from the exhaust structure 20 can be easily discharged to the outside of the battery pack 100. Since a second exhaust member 22 is also provided, the reliability of absorbing gas and discharging it to the outside of the battery pack 100 is further ensured by providing a plurality of exhaust members, and the reliability of the discharge function of the exhaust structure 20 is further ensured.

[0063] Here, the exhaust passage refers to a passage through which gas can pass within the exhaust structure 20. For example, if the exhaust structure 20 is configured as the foam member described above, the exhaust passage may be a passage formed by a plurality of interconnected ventilation holes 24 inside the foam member.

[0064] The gas discharged from the second exhaust member 22 can be discharged not only through the first exhaust member 21, but also from the containment space 11 to the battery pack during the filling or foaming of the potting adhesive 30. For example, it can be discharged to the outside of the battery pack 100 from the exhaust hole 51 of the top cover 50 (described later) or from the connection point between the top cover 50 of the battery pack 100 and the battery tray 10.

[0065] Here, the second exhaust member 22 is capable of absorbing the gas in the containment space 11 and is provided to discharge the absorbed gas from itself by external pressure (for example, the pressure from the potting adhesive 30 or the pressure from covering with the top lid 50). For example, the second exhaust member 22 may be the foam material described above.

[0066] In this disclosure, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, each first exhaust member 21 extends along a first direction, and multiple first exhaust members 21 are arranged at intervals (e.g., equally spaced) along a second direction, where the first direction intersects with the second direction, and the second exhaust members 22 extend along the second direction, with two second exhaust members 22 being connected to each end of the multiple first exhaust members 21 in the first direction. As a result, the exhaust range of the first exhaust members 21 and the second exhaust members 22 can cover as much of the entire upper side of the battery module 40 as possible, and air trapping on the upper side of the battery module 40 can be effectively prevented.

[0067] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, gaps capable of accommodating potting adhesive 30 are formed between two adjacent first exhaust members 21 and between the first exhaust member 21 and the second exhaust member 22. When the potting adhesive 30 fills the gaps, it moves the gas in the gaps to the exhaust structure 20, preventing the potting adhesive 30 in the gaps from becoming hollow. Furthermore, if the first exhaust member 21 and the second exhaust member 22 are configured as foam members as described later, the potting adhesive 30 can compress the volume of the first exhaust member 21 and the second exhaust member 22, increasing the filling volume of the potting adhesive 30 and improving the performance of the potting adhesive 30.

[0068] In some embodiments, the first direction may be the direction in which the battery cells are stacked, or the first direction may be perpendicular to the direction in which the battery cells are stacked (as shown in Figure 1), and the second direction may be perpendicular to the first direction, and is not limited to this disclosure, as long as the first direction and the second direction intersect and the first exhaust member 21 and the second exhaust member 22 are in communication.

[0069] In this disclosure, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the exhaust structure 20 may further include a third exhaust member 23 disposed within the containment space 11, wherein at least a portion of the third exhaust member 23 is sealed with potting adhesive 30, so that the third exhaust member 23 can discharge gas from the area in the containment space 11 where the potting adhesive 30 is present, that is, the height of the lower end of the third exhaust member 23 may be lower than that of the first exhaust member 21 and / or the second exhaust member 22, and the exhaust passage of the third exhaust member 23 communicates with the exhaust passage of the first exhaust member 21 and / or the exhaust passage of the second exhaust member 22, thereby enabling exhaust from inside the containment space 11.

[0070] Here, selectively, the lower end of the third exhaust member 23 is connected to the bottom plate 12 of the battery tray 10. This allows exhaust to be made from the storage space 11 near the bottom of the battery tray 10 (i.e., the lower part of the storage space 11), and by providing the third exhaust member 23, gas can be collected in the area near the bottom of the storage space 11, preventing the gas from flowing to other parts and affecting the filling of the potting adhesive 30.

[0071] Since the third exhaust member 23 is provided, the reliability of absorbing gas and discharging it to the outside of the battery pack 100 is further ensured by providing multiple exhaust members, and the reliability of the exhaust function of the exhaust structure 20 is further ensured.

[0072] Since the third exhaust member 23 is in communication with the exhaust passage of the first exhaust member 21 and / or the exhaust passage of the second exhaust member 22, if the gas in the third exhaust member 23 is not discharged promptly, the gas can be discharged through the first exhaust member 21 and the second exhaust member 22, which is advantageous in preventing the formation of an air trap due to the inability to discharge the gas because of the depth of the containment space 11.

[0073] If the storage space 11 is deep, and the exhaust structure 20 is configured as the foam member described above, the foam member may be configured to have moderately sparse internal holes to prevent the exhaust structure 20 from being insufficient due to the depth of the storage space 11.

[0074] The gas discharged from the third exhaust member 23 is not only discharged through the first exhaust member 21 and the second exhaust member 22, but can also be discharged from the containment space 11 to the outside of the battery pack during the filling or foaming of the potting adhesive 30. For example, it can be discharged to the outside of the battery pack 100 from the exhaust hole 51 of the top cover 50 (described later) or from the connection point between the top cover 50 of the battery pack 100 and the battery tray 10.

[0075] Selectively, the lower end of the third exhaust member 23 communicates with the internal cavity of the bottom plate 12 of the battery tray 10. This allows the gas in the containment space 11 to be discharged into the internal cavity of the bottom plate 12 via the third exhaust member 23, and, in some cases, the gas in the internal cavity of the bottom plate 12 to be discharged to the outside of the battery pack. For example, an exhaust passage and an exhaust valve may be provided, with the exhaust valve communicating with the internal cavity via the exhaust passage to discharge the gas in the internal cavity.

[0076] The internal cavity may be defined, for example, by the heat exchange plate and bottom protective plate of the bottom plate 12.

[0077] In this disclosure, at least a portion of the exhaust structure 20 is a compressible material such as foam. The compressible material is capable of absorbing gas in the containment space 11 and is designed to discharge the absorbed gas from itself by external pressure (e.g., pressure from the potting adhesive 30). In this embodiment, when the compressible material is in an uncompressed state, it can absorb gas in the containment space 11. When the containment space 11 is filled with potting adhesive 30 or when the battery tray 10 is covered with the top cover 50, the gas absorbed by the compressible material can be discharged from the compressible material by external pressure, and the discharged gas can be discharged to the outside of the battery pack, for example, through the exhaust holes 51 in the top cover 50 or other exhaust passages.

[0078] In this embodiment, where the exhaust structure 20 has the above-described first exhaust member 21, the first exhaust member 21 is configured as a compressible member, which may be, for example, the foam member described above. The first exhaust member 21 may be capable of absorbing the gas in the containment space 11 and may be provided to discharge the absorbed gas from itself by external pressure (for example, the pressure of the potting adhesive 30 or the pressure of covering with the top lid 50). For example, the first exhaust member 21 may be the foam member described above.

[0079] In embodiments in which the exhaust structure 20 has the above-described second exhaust member 22, the second exhaust member 22 is configured as a compressible member, which may be, for example, the foam member described above. The second exhaust member 22 may be capable of absorbing the gas in the containment space 11 and may be provided to discharge the absorbed gas from itself by external pressure (for example, the pressure of the potting adhesive 30 or the pressure of covering with the top lid 50).

[0080] In embodiments in which the exhaust structure 20 has the above-described third exhaust member 23, the third exhaust member 23 is configured as a compressible member, which may be, for example, the foam member described above, and the third exhaust member 23 may be configured to absorb the gas in the containment space 11 and to discharge the absorbed gas from itself by external pressure (for example, the pressure of the potting adhesive 30).

[0081] In this disclosure, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, both ends of the battery module 40 in the first direction have a gap with the inner wall of the battery tray 10, and there may be multiple third exhaust members 23, with at least one third exhaust member 23 in each gap. This ensures that gas in the containment space 11 is reliably discharged nearby, further reducing the risk of air trapping in the containment space 11.

[0082] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, in one selectable configuration in which the battery module 40 is located within the battery tray, the battery module 40 is mounted near the center of the housing space 11, with spaces at both ends of the battery module 40 (or around the battery module 40). When filling with potting adhesive 30, the fluidity of the potting adhesive 30 necessitates exhausting air from some of these spaces simultaneously. Therefore, by increasing the number of third exhaust members 23 and providing one third exhaust member 23 in each of the gaps, at least one third exhaust member 23 can be located in the largest possible space, thereby ensuring exhaust within the housing space 11.

[0083] By providing two third exhaust members 23, as shown in Figure 2, the two third exhaust members 23 can be provided at both ends of the battery module 40 in one direction, and at both ends in the second direction, ensuring the symmetry of the potting adhesive 30 and resulting in uniform stress on the potting adhesive 30 after curing.

[0084] In this disclosure, as shown in Figure 2, the first exhaust member 21 may be a strip-shaped member, for example, a strip-shaped member extending along a first direction, and / or the second exhaust member 22 is a strip-shaped member, for example, a strip-shaped member extending along a second direction, and / or the third exhaust member 23 is configured as a block-shaped member. This facilitates the arrangement of the three components and simplifies the manufacturing process of the first exhaust member 21 and the second exhaust member 22.

[0085] Since the first exhaust member 21 and the second exhaust member 22 are provided on the upper side of the battery module 40, their thickness can be reduced. However, the third exhaust member 23 is connected to the bottom of the battery tray 10 and needs to fill the depth of the storage space 11. Therefore, in order to meet the depth requirement, it is configured as a block-shaped member, and its block-like shape makes it prone to gas accumulation.

[0086] In some embodiments, the first exhaust member 21 and the second exhaust member 22 may be arranged in a circular stripe shape. This reduces the contact surface between the first exhaust member 21 and the second exhaust member 22 and the upper surface of the battery module 40, allowing for a larger contact space between the potting adhesive 30 and the upper surface of the battery pack 100. As a result, the larger volume of the circular exhaust passage allows for better exhaust performance.

[0087] In some embodiments, the first exhaust member 21 and the second exhaust member 22 may be provided in the shape of a rectangular strip, which allows the first exhaust member 21 and the second exhaust member 22 to make planar contact with the upper surface of the battery module 40, making it easier to attach them to the upper side of the battery module 40.

[0088] This disclosure does not limit the volume relationships of the first exhaust member 21, the second exhaust member 22, and the third exhaust member 23. Selectively, the volume of the third exhaust member 23 may be larger than the volume of each first exhaust member 21, and / or the volume of the third exhaust member 23 may be larger than the volume of each second exhaust member 22. This allows for a larger space to be secured in the third exhaust member 23 for storing gas.

[0089] In this disclosure, of the multiple first exhaust members 21 arranged at intervals in the second direction, the first exhaust member 21 located on the farthest side is considered to be located on the side wall of the battery tray 10 in the second direction, and the gas in the containment space 11 can be discharged from the portion close to the side wall of the battery tray 10.

[0090] In this disclosure, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, the battery pack 100 may further include a top cover 50 that covers the battery tray 10 and is bonded to the potting adhesive 30.

[0091] In this disclosure, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, the top cover 50 is provided with a plurality of exhaust holes 51 to facilitate exhaust from the exhaust structure 20, and at least some of the exhaust holes 51 are provided in conjunction with the exhaust passage of the exhaust structure 20. As a result, after gas has accumulated in the exhaust structure 20, the exhaust holes 51 can discharge the gas from within the exhaust structure 20, increasing the discharge speed of the exhaust structure 20 and facilitating the discharge of gas from the containment space 11.

[0092] In this disclosure, the specific shape of the exhaust port 51 is not limited and may be a round or square hole that penetrates the top cover 50. Here, if the exhaust port 51 is a round hole, the diameter of the exhaust port 51 can be 1 mm to 5 mm. The smaller the diameter of the exhaust port 51, the more the number of corresponding exhaust ports 51 can be appropriately increased in order to ensure the exhaust efficiency of the exhaust structure 20.

[0093] In some embodiments, the exhaust holes 51 can be evenly distributed on the top cover 50 along the first direction and can be provided in correspondence with the exhaust structure 20. By providing the exhaust holes 51 in correspondence with an intermediate position between the first exhaust member 21 and the second exhaust member 22, the exhaust holes 51 can be connected to the exhaust structure 20 to the maximum extent possible, thereby ensuring exhaust efficiency. This avoids the impact on exhaust effectiveness due to non-connection between the exhaust holes 51 and the exhaust structure 20 caused by assembly variations.

[0094] A second aspect of this disclosure provides a vehicle equipped with a battery pack 100.

[0095] As a third aspect of this disclosure, a method for assembling a battery pack 100 is provided, as shown in Figure 6. The method is, S100: Provides a battery tray 10 having a storage space 11, an exhaust structure 20, a potting adhesive 30, and a battery module 40, and includes the step of installing the battery module 40 in the storage space 11, S200: Steps include installing the exhaust structure 20 into the storage space 11, S300: The steps include filling the containment space 11 with potting adhesive 30, sealing the battery module 40 with the potting adhesive 30, and ensuring that at least a portion of the exhaust structure 20 is sealed by the potting adhesive 30, thereby enabling the exhaust structure 20 to discharge gas from the area in the containment space 11 where the potting adhesive 30 is present.

[0096] As explained above, according to the above technical proposal, the exhaust structure 20 is installed inside the containment space 11, and when potting the potting adhesive 30, gas from the containment space 11 can be discharged through the exhaust structure 20, reducing air traps inside the containment space 11, allowing as much potting adhesive 30 as possible to be filled into the containment space 11, and maximizing the space initially reserved for containing the potting adhesive 30. This increases the structural strength and rigidity of the battery pack 100 and further enhances the overall mechanical performance of the battery pack 100. In addition, the potting adhesive 30 allows for the integral connection of the internal structural members of the battery pack 100 (such as the exhaust structure 20 and the battery module 40) with high-strength structures such as the battery tray 10 and the top cover 50, further increasing the structural strength and rigidity of the battery pack 100.

[0097] In this disclosure, discharging the gas in the containment space 11 to the outside of the battery pack 100 may include collecting the gas in the containment space 11 above the battery module 40 and discharging the collected gas to the outside of the battery pack 100. In this way, the collected gas (i.e., the gas collected above the battery module 40, i.e., the gas collected in the upper space of the containment space 11) can be discharged to the outside of the battery pack 100. Since the potting adhesive 30 is filled from the bottom to the top of the containment space 11, collecting the gas inside the containment space 11 above the battery module 40 and then discharging it makes it easier to fill the potting adhesive 30 and avoids the occurrence of an "air trap" problem in the potting adhesive in the lower space of the containment space 11.

[0098] In this disclosure, the above-described battery pack assembly method further provides an upper cover 50, which is placed over the upper end of the battery tray 10 and bonded to the potting adhesive 30. Herein, the upper cover 50 is provided with an exhaust hole 51, and after the upper cover 50 is placed over the battery tray 10, the exhaust hole 51 communicates with the exhaust passage of the exhaust structure 20. As a result, after gas has accumulated in the exhaust structure 20, the exhaust hole 51 can discharge the gas from within the exhaust structure 20, increasing the discharge speed of the exhaust structure 20, facilitating the discharge of gas from the containment space 11, and preventing gas from accumulating in the containment space 11.

[0099] In some embodiments, the top cover 50 may be made of sheet metal, a liquid-cooled plate, or a composite material, but is not limited to this disclosure.

[0100] In this disclosure, after the potting adhesive 30 has cured, the exhaust vent 51 is sealed to ensure airtightness of the entire battery pack 100. For example, a sealant may be applied to the exhaust vent 51, or sealing tape may be attached.

[0101] While preferred embodiments of this disclosure have been described in detail above with reference to the attached drawings, this disclosure is not limited to the specific contents of the embodiments described above. Within the scope of the technical idea of ​​this disclosure, various simple modifications are possible, and these simple modifications fall within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0102] Furthermore, each specific technical feature described in the above-mentioned specific embodiments can be combined in any appropriate manner without contradiction, and in order to avoid unnecessary duplication, various possible combinations will not be described separately in this disclosure.

[0103] Furthermore, various different embodiments of this disclosure may be combined as they see fit, as long as they do not contradict the spirit of this disclosure, and should be treated in the same manner as the content of this disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0104] 10 Battery tray 11 Containment space 12 Bottom plate 20 Exhaust Structure 21 First exhaust member 22 Second exhaust member 23 Third exhaust member 24 ventilation holes 30 potting adhesives 40 Battery Modules 50 Top lid 51 Exhaust port 100 Battery Pack

Claims

1. It is a battery pack, It comprises a battery tray, an exhaust structure, potting adhesive, and a battery module. The battery tray has a storage space, and the battery module is mounted within the storage space. The potting adhesive is provided within the housing space and seals the battery module. At least a portion of the exhaust structure is located within the containment space, and at least a portion of the exhaust structure is sealed with the potting adhesive, thereby enabling the exhaust structure to discharge gas from the area within the containment space where the potting adhesive is present. A battery pack characterized by the following features.

2. The exhaust structure absorbs the gas in the containment space and discharges the absorbed gas to the outside of the battery pack. The battery pack according to feature 1.

3. Ventilation holes are provided on the surface of the exhaust structure. The ventilation hole is configured as a gas passage to discharge the gas from the area in the containment space where the potting adhesive is present, or is configured to communicate with the gas passage inside the exhaust structure. The battery pack according to feature 1.

4. The exhaust structure has at least one foam member, The foam member is provided with a plurality of ventilation holes, the ventilation holes are configured as gas passages, and the foam member is a porous foam member. The battery pack according to feature 3.

5. The exhaust structure has at least one tubular member, Multiple ventilation holes are provided in the wall of the tubular member. The ventilation hole and the tubular member are configured to communicate with the hollow portion of the gas passage. The battery pack according to feature 3.

6. The exhaust structure collects the gas in the containment space above the battery module and discharges the collected gas to the outside of the battery pack. The battery pack according to feature 1.

7. The battery pack further comprises an upper cover that covers the upper end of the battery tray, The exhaust structure discharges the collected gas from the top cover to the outside of the battery pack, and / or The exhaust structure discharges the collected gas to the outside of the battery pack through the gap between the top cover and the battery tray. The battery pack according to feature 6.

8. The exhaust structure has at least one first exhaust member, At least one of the first exhaust members is provided on the upper side of the battery module, By sealing at least a portion of the first exhaust member with the potting adhesive, the first exhaust member becomes capable of discharging the gas from the area in the containment space where the potting adhesive is present. The number of the first exhaust members is multiple, and the multiple first exhaust members are arranged at equal intervals on the upper side of the battery module. The battery pack according to feature 1.

9. The exhaust structure further comprises at least one second exhaust member, At least a portion of the second exhaust member is sealed with the potting adhesive, thereby enabling the second exhaust member to discharge the gas from the area in the containment space where the potting adhesive is present, and at least one of the second exhaust members is provided on the upper side of the battery module, with the exhaust passage of each second exhaust member communicating with the exhaust passages of the plurality of first exhaust members. The battery pack according to feature 8.

10. Each of the first exhaust members extends along a first direction, and a plurality of the first exhaust members are arranged at intervals along a second direction, and the first direction intersects with the second direction. The second exhaust member extends along the second direction, there are two second exhaust members, and one second exhaust member is connected to each of the multiple first exhaust members in the first direction. The battery pack according to feature 9.

11. The exhaust structure further comprises a third exhaust member disposed within the containment space. By sealing at least a portion of the third exhaust member with the potting adhesive, the third exhaust member becomes capable of discharging the gas from the area in the containment space where the potting adhesive is present. The exhaust passage of the third exhaust member is in communication with the exhaust passage of the first exhaust member and / or the exhaust passage of the second exhaust member. The battery pack according to feature 9.

12. The lower end of the third exhaust member is connected to the bottom plate of the battery tray. The lower end of the third exhaust member is in communication with the internal cavity of the bottom plate of the battery tray. The battery pack according to feature 11.

13. At least a part of the exhaust structure is a compressible member, The compressible member is capable of absorbing the gas in the containment space and is provided to discharge the absorbed gas from itself by external pressure. The battery pack according to feature 1.

14. Both ends of the battery module in the first direction have a gap between them and the inner wall of the battery tray. The number of the third exhaust members is multiple, and each gap has at least one of the third exhaust members. The battery pack according to feature 11.

15. The volume of the third exhaust member is greater than the volume of each of the first exhaust members, and / or The volume of the third exhaust member is greater than the volume of each of the second exhaust members. The battery pack according to feature 11.

16. The battery pack further comprises a top cover that covers the battery tray and is bonded to the potting adhesive, The top cover is provided with a plurality of exhaust holes, and at least some of the exhaust holes are provided in correspondence with and in communication with the exhaust passage of the exhaust structure. The battery pack according to feature 1.

17. A battery pack comprising the battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 16, A vehicle characterized by the following features.

18. The steps include providing a battery tray having a storage space, an exhaust structure, potting adhesive, and a battery module. The steps include installing the battery module into the housing space, The steps include: installing the exhaust structure into the accommodation space, The steps include filling the containment space with the potting adhesive, sealing the battery module with the potting adhesive, and enabling the exhaust structure to discharge gas from the area in the containment space where the potting adhesive is present, by sealing at least a portion of the exhaust structure with the potting adhesive. A battery pack assembly method characterized by the following features.

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