Battery cells, batteries, and power consumption devices

Abstract

This application provides a battery cell, a battery, and a power consumption device belonging to the battery technology field. Here, the battery cell includes a housing, an electrode assembly, a check valve, and a shielding material. The housing has a wall portion, the electrode assembly is housed within the housing, the check valve is installed in the wall portion, and the check valve has an exhaust port for discharging gas from inside the housing. The shielding material is attached to the wall portion, and along the thickness direction of the wall portion, the shielding material is located on the side of the check valve away from the electrode assembly, and the shielding material covers the check valve, forming an exhaust passage between the shielding material and the wall portion, and the exhaust passage communicates the exhaust port with the outside of the housing. The shielding material can protect and shield the check valve, reduce the phenomenon of wear or damage to the check valve, reduce the risk of foreign matter from the external environment entering the check valve, improve the aesthetic appearance of the outer surface of the battery cell, and facilitate connection to other components such as a detection element corresponding to the side of the shielding material away from the check valve.

Description

Cross-reference of related applications

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 2023107269094, proposed on June 16, 2023, with the title "Battery Cell, Battery and Power Consumption Device," and all contents of that application are incorporated herein by reference. [Technical Field]

[0002] This application relates to the battery technology field, and more specifically to battery cells, batteries, and power consumption devices. [Background technology]

[0003] In recent years, new energy vehicles have developed dramatically, and in the field of electric vehicles, power batteries play an irreplaceable and crucial role as the power source for electric vehicles. With the rapid spread of new energy vehicles, the demand for power battery products is increasing day by day, and batteries, as core components of new energy vehicles, are required to have relatively high reliability and service life.

[0004] In battery technology, to ensure the safety of battery cells, a pressure relief mechanism is generally installed on the battery cell housing to release the pressure inside the battery cell. When the pressure or temperature inside the battery cell reaches a threshold, the pressure relief mechanism activates, releasing the pressure inside the battery cell. However, conventional battery cell pressure relief mechanisms may activate and release pressure prematurely during use, which can lead to relatively poor operational stability of the battery cell and is detrimental to improving the battery cell's lifespan and reliability. [Overview of the project]

[0005] The embodiments of this application provide a battery cell, a battery, and a power consumption device that can effectively improve the service life and reliability of the battery cell.

[0006] According to a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a battery cell comprising a housing, an electrode assembly, a check valve, and a shielding material, wherein the housing has a wall, the electrode assembly is housed within the housing, the check valve is installed in the wall, the check valve has an exhaust port for discharging gas from inside the housing, the shielding material is attached to the wall, and along the thickness direction of the wall, the shielding material is located on the side of the check valve away from the electrode assembly, and the shielding material covers the check valve, an exhaust passage is formed between the shielding material and the wall, and the exhaust passage communicates the exhaust port with the outside of the housing.

[0007] In the above proposed technology, a check valve is installed on the wall of the housing. The check valve opens in one direction, allowing gas inside the housing to be discharged to the outside. This mitigates the phenomenon where the internal pressure of the battery cell reaches a threshold prematurely due to the rise in internal pressure during normal use of the battery cell, thereby effectively improving the operational stability of the battery cell and enhancing its service life and reliability. Furthermore, by installing a shielding material on the side of the check valve away from the electrode assembly, and by having the shielding material cover the check valve, the shielding material can provide a certain level of protection and shielding to the check valve, reducing the phenomenon of wear or damage to the check valve in the external environment, and reducing the risk of foreign matter or particulate matter from the external environment entering the check valve, which is advantageous in improving the service life of the check valve. On the other hand, covering the check valve with the shielding material can improve the aesthetic appearance of the outer surface of the battery cell, and on the other hand, it facilitates connection to other components such as detection elements on the side of the shielding material away from the check valve, thereby reducing the influence of interference from the connection of other components such as detection elements in the area where the check valve is installed on the wall.

[0008] In some embodiments, along the thickness direction of the wall, the wall has a first surface that moves away from the electrode assembly, a mounting groove is provided on the first surface, a mounting hole is provided at the bottom of the mounting groove, at least a portion of the check valve is installed in the mounting hole, and at least a portion of the shielding material is housed in the mounting groove.

[0009] In the above proposed technology, a mounting groove is provided on a first surface that is separated from the electrode assembly of the wall, and at least a portion of the shielding material is housed within the mounting groove. This reduces the space occupied by the shielding material in the thickness direction of the wall, which is advantageous for optimizing the volume of the battery cell. At the same time, the mounting groove can provide a certain positioning and stopper function for the shielding material, which is advantageous for reducing the difficulty of assembly when connecting the shielding material to the wall.

[0010] In some embodiments, the exhaust passage includes a first exhaust gap, which is formed between the shielding material and the groove side of the mounting groove, and which is used to connect the exhaust port with the outside of the housing.

[0011] In the above proposed technology, a first exhaust gap communicating with the outside of the housing is formed between the shielding material and the groove side of the mounting groove. As a result, the gas discharged from the check valve can be discharged to the outside of the housing through the first exhaust gap. Battery cells employing such a structure do not require holes to be drilled in the shielding material, which is advantageous in reducing the difficulty of processing and improving the aesthetic appearance of the battery cell.

[0012] In some embodiments, the outer circumferential surface of the shielding material includes a first corner surface and at least two first side surfaces, the first corner surface being connected to two adjacent first side surfaces, and the groove side surface of the mounting groove includes a second corner surface and at least two second side surfaces, the second corner surface being connected to two adjacent second side surfaces, each of the second side surfaces being connected to one of the first side surfaces, forming the first exhaust gap between the second corner surface and the first corner surface.

[0013] In the above proposed technology, two adjacent first sides on the outer periphery of the shielding material are connected by a first corner surface, and two connected second sides on the groove side of the mounting groove are connected by a second corner surface, each first side is connected to one second side, and a first gap is formed between the first corner surface and the second corner surface, that is, a first exhaust gap is formed at the corner of the shielding material and the mounting groove, making it easy to form a first exhaust gap between the outer periphery of the shielding material and the groove side of the mounting groove, the structure is simple and easy to implement, and at the same time the first exhaust gap is formed between the outer periphery of the shielding material and the groove side of the mounting groove is advantageous in improving the connection area between the outer periphery of the shielding material and the groove side of the mounting groove, which is advantageous in improving the robustness of the shielding material when it is connected to the wall.

[0014] In some embodiments, both the first and second corner surfaces are arcuate surfaces, and the radius of the first corner surface is greater than the radius of the second corner surface.

[0015] In the above proposed technology, both the first and second corner surfaces are positioned on arcuate surfaces, and the radius of the first corner surface is made larger than the radius of the second corner surface, thereby achieving the formation of a first exhaust gap between the first and second corner surfaces. This results in a simple structure that is easy to manufacture and process.

[0016] In some embodiments, the first side is welded to the second side.

[0017] In the above technical solution, by installing it in a structure where the first side and the second side are welded to each other, it is beneficial to improve the connection firmness between the shielding material and the groove side surface of the mounting groove, and improve the structural stability of the shielding material assembled on the wall portion.

[0018] In some embodiments, the cross-section perpendicular to the thickness direction of the wall portion of the shielding material is rectangular, and the outer peripheral surface of the shielding material includes four of the first side surfaces and four of the first corner surfaces, and at least one of the first corner surfaces has the first exhaust gap formed therein.

[0019] In the above technical solution, by installing the shielding material in a rectangular plate-like structure, the four sides of the shielding material form four first side surfaces, and four first corner surfaces are formed at the four right angles of the shielding material, the structure is simple, and the manufacturing is easy.

[0020] In some embodiments, a concave groove is installed on the outer peripheral surface of the shielding material, and the first exhaust gap is formed between the groove bottom surface of the concave groove and the groove side surface of the mounting groove.

[0021] In the above technical solution, by installing a concave groove on the outer peripheral surface of the shielding material, a first exhaust gap for exhaust is formed between the groove bottom surface of the concave groove and the groove side surface of the mounting groove, the structure is simple, and the manufacturing is easy.

[0022] In some embodiments, the region on the outer peripheral surface of the shielding material where the concave groove is not installed is in welding communication with the groove side surface of the mounting groove.

[0023] In the above technical solution, by welding the region on the outer peripheral surface of the shielding material where the concave groove is not installed and the groove side surface of the mounting groove to each other, it is realized that the shielding material is connected to the groove side surface of the mounting groove. A battery cell adopting such a structure is beneficial to the connection firmness between the shielding material and the wall portion, and improves the structural stability of the shielding material assembled on the wall portion.

[0024] In some embodiments, a plurality of protrusions are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the shielding material, the plurality of protrusions are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction of the shielding material, the protrusions abut against the groove side surface of the mounting groove, and the first exhaust gap is formed between the area on the outer circumferential surface of the shielding material where the protrusions are not provided and the groove side surface of the mounting groove.

[0025] In the above proposed technology, multiple protrusions are provided on the outer surface of the shielding material, spaced apart along the circumferential direction of the shielding material, and these protrusions abut against the groove side surface of the mounting groove. This creates a first exhaust gap for exhaust between the area on the outer surface of the shielding material where no protrusions are provided and the groove side surface of the mounting groove. In other words, the first exhaust gap is located between two adjacent protrusions, resulting in a simple structure and easy assembly.

[0026] In some embodiments, the protrusion is fitted into the groove side of the mounting groove.

[0027] In the above proposed technology, the shielding material is fixed within the mounting groove by interlocking the protrusions on the outer surface of the shielding material with the groove sides of the mounting groove. A battery cell employing this structure forms a first exhaust gap between two adjacent protrusions, while simultaneously facilitating the mounting of the shielding material onto the wall and reducing the difficulty of assembling the shielding material.

[0028] In some embodiments, the exhaust passage further includes a second exhaust gap, the second exhaust gap being formed between the shielding material and the bottom surface of the mounting groove, and the second exhaust gap communicating with the first exhaust gap and the exhaust port.

[0029] In the above proposed technology, the exhaust passage further includes a second exhaust gap formed between the shielding material and the bottom surface of the mounting groove, and the second exhaust gap connects the first exhaust gap and the exhaust port, thereby mitigating the phenomenon in which exhaust is obstructed between the exhaust port and the first exhaust gap after the shielding material comes into contact with the bottom surface of the mounting groove, and thereby improving the smoothness of gas discharge from the exhaust port of the check valve to the first exhaust gap.

[0030] In some embodiments, the shielding material has a second surface facing the check valve along the thickness direction of the wall, the second surface overlapping the bottom surface of the mounting groove, a first groove being provided on the second surface, and the second exhaust gap being formed between the bottom surface of the first groove and the bottom surface of the mounting groove.

[0031] In the above proposed technology, by overlapping the second surface of the shielding material onto the bottom surface of the mounting groove, the shielding material comes into contact with the bottom surface of the mounting groove, improving the structural stability and reliability of the shielding material being installed within the mounting groove. Furthermore, by installing the first groove on the second surface, a second exhaust gap is formed between the bottom surface of the first groove and the bottom surface of the mounting groove. As a result, the gas discharged from the exhaust port of the check valve can enter the first exhaust gap through the first groove and then be discharged to the outside of the housing. This ensures that the shielding material comes into contact with the bottom surface of the mounting groove, while simultaneously enabling communication between the first exhaust gap and the exhaust port through the first groove.

[0032] In some embodiments, a plurality of the first exhaust gaps are formed between the shielding material and the groove side surface of the mounting groove, the plurality of the first exhaust gaps are spaced apart along the circumferential direction of the shielding material, and a plurality of the first grooves are provided on the second surface, with each of the first exhaust gaps communicating with one of the first grooves.

[0033] The above proposed technology is advantageous in further improving exhaust efficiency by forming multiple first exhaust gaps between the shielding material and the groove side surface of the mounting groove, and by having each first exhaust gap communicate with one first groove.

[0034] In some embodiments, a second groove is further provided on the second surface, and a plurality of the first grooves are provided around the second groove, each communicating with the second groove, and the second groove communicates with the exhaust port.

[0035] In the above proposed technology, a second groove is provided on the second surface of the shielding material facing the check valve, the second groove communicates with the exhaust port of the check valve, and a plurality of first grooves are provided around the second groove, all of which communicate with the second groove. As a result, the gas discharged from the exhaust port of the check valve enters the second groove and then passes through the plurality of first grooves and the corresponding first exhaust gaps to be discharged to the outside of the housing, which is advantageous for improving exhaust efficiency and can mitigate the phenomenon of gas accumulating between the shielding material and the check valve.

[0036] In some embodiments, along the thickness direction of the wall, the exhaust port is located at the end of the check valve away from the electrode assembly, the exhaust port is located facing the second groove, and the projection of the exhaust port is located within the second groove.

[0037] In the above proposed technology, the exhaust port of the check valve and the second groove are installed facing each other, and the projection of the wall portion of the exhaust port in the thickness direction is positioned within the second groove. As a result, the second groove covers the exhaust port in the thickness direction of the wall portion, allowing the gas discharged from the exhaust port of the check valve to enter the second groove directly, which is advantageous for improving exhaust smoothness and exhaust efficiency.

[0038] In some embodiments, the shielding material does not protrude beyond the first surface along the thickness direction of the wall.

[0039] In the above proposed technology, by installing the shielding material so that it does not protrude beyond the first surface that is separated from the electrode assembly in the wall in the thickness direction of the wall, the mounting groove provides a certain level of protection to the shielding material, further reducing the wear phenomenon of the shielding material.

[0040] In some embodiments, the shielding material has a third surface that is away from the check valve, and the third surface is flush with the first surface.

[0041] In the above proposed technology, by installing a structure in which the third surface of the shielding material that is away from the check valve and the first surface that is away from the electrode assembly of the wall portion are flush with each other, it is advantageous to further improve the aesthetic appearance of the outer surface of the battery cell, and it also facilitates the installation of an information code on the third surface of the shielding material or connection to other components such as a detection element.

[0042] In some embodiments, the check valve does not protrude beyond the bottom surface of the mounting groove along the thickness direction of the wall.

[0043] In the above proposed technology, the check valve is installed so as not to protrude beyond the bottom surface of the mounting groove in the thickness direction of the wall, that is, the check valve installed in the mounting hole does not extend into the mounting groove, thereby reducing interference between the check valve and the shielding material installed in the mounting groove, and facilitating the exhaust of the check valve.

[0044] In some embodiments, the shielding material is fixedly connected to the wall.

[0045] In the above proposed technology, by installing the shielding material in a structure that is fixedly connected to the wall, it is advantageous in reducing the risk of the shielding material detaching from the wall during use, and the robustness of the connection between the shielding material and the wall is improved, making it easier to install information codes on the shielding material or connect them to other components such as detection elements.

[0046] In some embodiments, the check valve includes a valve body, an elastic member, and a sealing member, wherein the valve body is mounted on the wall, a mounting cavity is formed inside the valve body, an intake port and an exhaust port are provided on the valve body, the intake port is used to communicate between the mounting cavity and the inside of the housing, the exhaust port is used to communicate between the mounting cavity and the exhaust passage, the elastic member is installed inside the mounting cavity, the sealing member is movably installed inside the mounting cavity, the sealing member is used to seal the intake port under the action of the elastic member and to open the intake port under the action of the gas inside the housing.

[0047] In the above proposed technology, the check valve is equipped with a valve body, an elastic member, and a sealing member. The valve body is mounted on the wall, and an intake port connecting the mounting cavity and the inside of the housing, and an exhaust port connecting the mounting cavity and the exhaust passage are provided on the valve body. By installing both the elastic member and the sealing member inside the mounting cavity, the elastic member can provide elastic force to the sealing member, thereby sealing the intake port and preventing gas from outside the housing from entering the housing. Furthermore, when the pressure inside the housing rises, the gas inside the housing acts on the sealing member, overcoming the elastic force of the elastic member, thereby allowing the sealing member to open the intake port. This allows the gas inside the housing to be discharged in one direction through the check valve, thereby realizing the one-way exhaust function of the check valve.

[0048] In some embodiments, the valve body includes a valve body and a valve cover, the valve body being mounted on the wall, the valve body having an intake port, the valve cover being mounted along the thickness direction of the wall at the end of the valve body away from the electrode assembly, the valve cover together with the valve body forming the mounting cavity, and the valve cover having an exhaust port.

[0049] In the above proposed technology, the valve body of the check valve includes a valve body and a valve cover. By connecting the valve cover to the end of the valve body wall away from the electrode assembly in the thickness direction, the valve cover and valve body together define a mounting cavity for housing the elastic member and the sealing member. A check valve employing such a structure facilitates the assembly of the elastic member and the sealing member within the mounting cavity by installing the valve body in two parts, which is advantageous in reducing the difficulty of assembling the check valve.

[0050] In some embodiments, the valve cover is installed at a distance from the sealing member along the thickness direction of the wall, both ends of the elastic member abut against the valve cover and the sealing member, respectively, and the intake port is installed on the bottom surface of the mounting cavity.

[0051] In the above proposed technology, by arranging the valve cover and sealing member with a gap along the thickness direction of the wall, both ends of the elastic member abut against the valve cover and sealing member, respectively, so that the sealing member can seal the intake port located on the bottom surface of the mounting cavity along the thickness direction of the wall under the action of the elastic member. In other words, the intake port is located at the end of the valve body facing the electrode assembly in the thickness direction of the wall, and the sealing member moves along the thickness direction of the wall under the action of the elastic member, sealing the intake port. A check valve employing such a structure makes it easy for the elastic member to apply elastic force to the sealing member, thereby enabling the sealing member to seal the intake port and reducing the difficulty of assembling the elastic member.

[0052] In some embodiments, along the thickness direction of the wall, the mounting cavity penetrates the end of the valve body away from the electrode assembly to form the exhaust port, and the shielding material is installed facing the exhaust port.

[0053] In the above proposed technology, the mounting cavity is installed so as to penetrate the end of the valve body away from the electrode assembly in the thickness direction of the wall, thereby forming an exhaust port at the end of the valve body away from the electrode assembly, and the exhaust port is covered with a shielding material. A check valve employing such a structure facilitates the assembly of the elastic member and the sealing member within the mounting cavity via the intake port, which is advantageous in reducing the difficulty of assembling the check valve.

[0054] In some embodiments, the shielding material is installed along the thickness direction of the wall portion at a distance from the sealing member, both ends of the elastic member abut against the shielding material and the sealing member, respectively, and the air intake is installed on the bottom surface of the mounting cavity.

[0055] In the above proposed technology, by installing the shielding material and sealing member with a gap along the thickness direction of the wall, both ends of the elastic member abut against the shielding material and sealing member, respectively, so that the sealing member can seal the intake port installed on the bottom surface of the mounting cavity along the thickness direction of the wall under the action of the elastic member. In other words, the intake port is installed at the end of the valve body facing the electrode assembly in the thickness direction of the wall, and the sealing member moves along the thickness direction of the wall under the action of the elastic member, sealing the intake port. A check valve employing such a structure makes it easy for the elastic member to apply elastic force to the sealing member, thereby allowing the sealing member to seal the intake port and reducing the difficulty of assembling the elastic member.

[0056] In some embodiments, the material of the shielding material is the same as the material of the wall.

[0057] In the above proposed technology, by installing the shielding material and the wall section in a structure made of the same material, it is easier to assemble the shielding material and the wall section made of the same material together, which is advantageous in reducing the difficulty of assembly when installing the shielding material on the wall section. At the same time, the appearance of the shielding material and the wall section can be made the same, which is advantageous in improving the aesthetic appearance of the battery cell.

[0058] In some embodiments, the housing includes a case and an end cap, wherein a housing cavity having an opening is formed inside the case, the housing cavity is used to house the electrode assembly, and the end cap seals the opening, wherein the end cap is the wall portion, or the case includes the wall portion.

[0059] In the above proposed technology, by installing the housing wall portion as an end cap to seal the opening of the housing case, battery cells employing such a structure facilitate the installation of check valves and shielding materials on the end caps, which is advantageous in reducing the difficulty of assembly in battery cells and improving the production efficiency of battery cells. Similarly, by installing the housing wall portion as one wall of the case, battery cells employing such a structure reduce the impact of stress generated when the end caps are connected to each other in the case on the check valves and shielding materials, which can mitigate phenomena such as damage to the check valves or connection failures of the shielding materials, and further improve the operational stability and service life of the battery cells.

[0060] According to a second aspect, embodiments of the present application further provide a battery which includes the above-described battery cell.

[0061] According to a third aspect, the embodiments of the present application further provide a power consumption device which includes the battery cell for providing electrical energy. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0062] To more clearly illustrate the technical concept of the embodiments of this application, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings that may be used in the embodiments. It should be understood that these drawings only illustrate a few embodiments of this application and should not be considered limiting to the scope. Those skilled in the art can, without any creative effort, obtain other relevant drawings based on these. [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a vehicle according to several embodiments of this application. [Figure 2] This is an exploded view of the structure of a battery according to several embodiments of this application. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery cell according to several embodiments of this application. [Figure 4] This is an exploded view of the structure of a battery cell according to several embodiments of this application. [Figure 5] This is a local cross-sectional view of a battery cell according to several embodiments of this application. [Figure 6] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a check valve according to several embodiments of this application. [Figure 7] This is a plan view of a battery cell according to some embodiments of this application. [Figure 8] Figure 7 is a localized magnified view of point A in the battery cell shown. [Figure 9] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a shielding material according to several embodiments of this application. [Figure 10] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a shielding material according to several other embodiments of this application. [Figure 11] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a shielding material according to some further embodiments of this application. [Figure 12] This is a bottom view of a shielding material according to several embodiments of this application. [Figure 13] This is an exploded view of the structure of a check valve according to several embodiments of this application. [Figure 14] This is a cross-sectional view of a check valve according to several embodiments of this application. [Figure 15] This is a local cross-sectional view of a battery cell according to several other embodiments of this application. [Figure 16] This is a local cross-sectional view of the wall portion of a battery cell housing according to several embodiments of this application. [Figure 17] This is a local cross-sectional view of an insulating member according to several embodiments of this application. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0063] To clarify the purpose, technical proposal, and advantages of the embodiments of this application, the following clearly describes the technical proposal in the embodiments of this application, linking it with the drawings of the embodiments. Clearly, the embodiments described are only some, not all, embodiments of this application. All other embodiments derived from the embodiments of this application without the creative effort of a person skilled in the art are all within the scope of protection of this application.

[0064] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as that commonly understood by those skilled in the art relating to this application. In this application, terms used in the specification are solely for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application. The terms “includes” and “have,” and any variations thereof, in the description of the specification, claims, and drawings of this application are intended to intentionally cover the non-exclusive “includes.” Terms such as “first,” “second,” etc., in the specification, claims, or drawings of this application are not intended to describe a particular order or hierarchical relationship, but to distinguish different subjects.

[0065] The “Examples” as used in this application mean that certain features, structures, or characteristics described in conjunction with the Examples may be included in at least one Example of this application. The occurrence of this phrase in each location in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same Example, nor does it mean that each Example is mutually exclusive or alternative to the others.

[0066] In the description of this application, unless otherwise specifically defined or limited, the terms “attachment,” “connection,” “connection,” and “installation” should be understood in a broad sense. For example, a fixed connection may be a detachable connection, an integral connection, a direct connection, an indirect connection via an intermediate medium, or internal communication between two elements. A person skilled in the art will be able to understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application depending on the specific circumstances.

[0067] In this application, the terms "and / or" merely describe the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships are possible. For example, A and / or B may represent three cases: A alone, a combination of A and B, and B alone. In this application, the character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and succeeding related objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0068] In the embodiments of this application, the same reference numerals represent the same components, and for the sake of brevity, detailed descriptions of the same components are omitted in different embodiments. It should be understood that the dimensions such as thickness, length, and width of various components in the embodiments of this application shown in the drawings, and the overall dimensions such as thickness, length, and width of the integrated device, are for illustrative purposes only and should not constitute any limitation to this application.

[0069] The term "multiple" as it appears in this application refers to two or more (including two).

[0070] In the embodiments of this application, the battery cell may be a secondary battery, which is a battery cell that can continue to be used by activating the active material by charging after the battery cell has been discharged.

[0071] The battery cell may be a lithium-ion battery, sodium-ion battery, sodium-lithium-ion battery, lithium metal battery, sodium metal battery, lithium-sulfur battery, magnesium-ion battery, nickel-metal hydride battery, nickel-cadmium battery, lead-acid battery, etc., and the embodiments of this application are not limited to these.

[0072] A battery cell generally includes an electrode assembly. The electrode assembly includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator member. During charging and discharging of the battery cell, active ions (e.g., lithium ions) move back and forth between the positive and negative electrodes, undergoing intercalation and deintercalation. The separator member is placed between the positive and negative electrodes and can prevent short circuits between them while allowing active ions to pass through.

[0073] In some embodiments, the positive electrode may be a positive electrode plate, which may include a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material placed on at least one surface of the positive electrode current collector.

[0074] For example, a positive electrode current collector has two opposing surfaces in the direction of its own thickness, and the positive electrode active material is placed on one or both of the two opposing surfaces of the positive electrode current collector.

[0075] For example, the positive electrode current collector may be a metal foil sheet or a composite current collector. For example, as the metal foil sheet, aluminum with silver plating on the surface, stainless steel with silver plating on the surface, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, nickel, carbon electrodes, carbon, nickel, or titanium can be used. The composite current collector may include a polymer material base layer and a metal layer. The composite current collector may be formed by forming a metal material (such as aluminum, aluminum alloy, nickel, nickel alloy, titanium, titanium alloy, silver, and silver alloy) on a polymer material substrate (for example, a substrate such as polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polystyrene, or polyethylene).

[0076] As an example, the positive electrode active material may include at least one of materials such as lithium-containing phosphate, lithium transition metal oxide, and their respective modified compounds. However, this application is not limited to these materials, and conventional materials that can be used as other battery positive electrode active materials may also be used. These positive electrode active materials may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Here, examples of lithium-containing phosphate include lithium iron phosphate (e.g., LiFePO4 (which may also be abbreviated as LFP)), a composite material of lithium iron phosphate and carbon, lithium manganese phosphate (e.g., LiMnPO4), a composite material of lithium manganese phosphate and carbon, lithium manganese iron phosphate, and a composite material of lithium manganese iron phosphate and carbon, but are not limited thereto. Examples of lithium transition metal oxides include lithium cobalt oxide (e.g., LiCoO2), lithium nickel oxide (e.g., LiNiO2), lithium manganese oxide (e.g., LiMnO2, LiMn2O4), lithium nickel cobalt oxide, lithium manganese cobalt oxide, lithium nickel manganese oxide, lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide (e.g., LiNi 1 / 3 Co 1 / 3 Mn 1 / 3 O2 (which may also be abbreviated as NCM 333 ), LiNi 0.5 Co 0.2 Mn 0.3 O2 (which may also be abbreviated as NCM 523 ), LiNi 0.5 Co 0.25 Mn 0.25 O2 (which may also be abbreviated as NCM 211 ), LiNi 0.6 Co 0.2 Mn 0.2 O2 (which may also be abbreviated as NCM 622 ), LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O2 (which may also be abbreviated as NCM 811 ), lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (e.g., LiNi 0.85 Co 0.15 Al 0.05It may contain, but is not limited to, at least one of O2 and its modified compounds.

[0077] In some embodiments, the positive electrode can be made of foamed metal. The foamed metal may be foamed nickel, foamed copper, foamed aluminum, foamed alloy, or foamed carbon. When foamed metal is used as the positive electrode, the positive electrode active material may or may not be placed on the surface of the foamed metal. For example, the foamed metal may be filled with or / deposited lithium source material, potassium metal, or sodium metal, and the lithium source material may be lithium metal and / or lithium-rich material.

[0078] In some embodiments, the negative electrode may be a negative electrode plate, and the negative electrode plate may include a negative electrode current collector.

[0079] For example, the negative electrode current collector can be a metal foil sheet, foamed metal, or a composite current collector. For example, as the metal foil sheet, aluminum or stainless steel surface-treated with silver, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, nickel, carbon electrodes, carbon, nickel, or titanium can be used. The foamed metal may be foamed nickel, foamed copper, foamed aluminum, foamed alloy, or foamed carbon. The composite current collector may include a polymer material base layer and a metal layer. The composite current collector may be formed by forming a metal material (such as copper, copper alloys, nickel, nickel alloys, titanium, titanium alloys, silver, and silver alloys) on a polymer material substrate (for example, a substrate such as polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polystyrene, or polyethylene).

[0080] For example, the negative electrode plate may include a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material placed on at least one surface of the negative electrode current collector.

[0081] For example, the negative electrode current collector has two opposing surfaces in the thickness direction of itself, and the negative electrode active material is placed on one or both of the two opposing surfaces of the negative electrode current collector.

[0082] For example, the negative electrode active material can be a negative electrode active material known in the art for use in battery cells. For example, the negative electrode active material may include at least one of the following materials: artificial graphite, natural graphite, soft carbon, hard carbon, silicone-based materials, tin-based materials, and lithium titanate. The silicone-based material may be selected from at least one of elemental silicone, silicone oxide, silicone-carbon composite, silicone-nitrogen composite, and silicone alloy. The tin-based material may be selected from at least one of elemental tin, tin oxide, and tin alloy. However, this application is not limited to these materials, and other conventional materials that can be used as battery negative electrode active materials may also be used. These negative electrode active materials may be used individually or in combination of two or more.

[0083] In some embodiments, the material of the positive electrode current collector may be aluminum, and the material of the negative electrode current collector may be copper.

[0084] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly further includes a separator member placed between the positive and negative electrodes.

[0085] In some embodiments, the separator member is a separator. The type of separator may vary, and any known porous separator with good chemical and mechanical stability may be selected.

[0086] For example, the separator material may include at least one of glass fiber, nonwoven fabric, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyvinylidene fluoride. The separator may be a single-layer film or a multilayer composite film. If the separator is a multilayer composite film, the materials of each layer may be the same or different. The separator member may be a single member positioned between the positive and negative electrodes, or it may be attached to the surfaces of the positive and negative electrodes.

[0087] In some embodiments, the separator component is a solid electrolyte. The solid electrolyte is placed between the positive and negative electrodes and plays a role in ion transport and isolation of the positive and negative electrodes.

[0088] In some embodiments, the battery cell further includes an electrolyte that plays a role in conducting ions between the positive and negative electrodes. The electrolyte may be liquid, gel-like, or solid. Here, a liquid electrolyte comprises an electrolyte salt and a solvent.

[0089] In some embodiments, the electrolyte salt may include at least one of lithium hexafluorophosphate, lithium tetrafluoroborate, lithium perchlorate, lithium hexafluoroarsenate, lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide, lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate, lithium difluorophosphate, lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate, lithium bis(oxalato)borate, lithium difluorobis(oxalato)phosphate, and lithium tetrafluoro(oxalato)phosphate.

[0090] In some embodiments, the solvent may include at least one of the following: ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, ethyl methyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, dipropyl carbonate, methyl propyl carbonate, ethyl propyl carbonate, butylene carbonate, fluoroethylene carbonate, methyl formate, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, methyl propionate, ethyl propionate, propyl propionate, methyl butyrate, ethyl butyrate, 1,4-butyrolactone, sulfolane, dimethyl sulfone, ethyl methyl sulfone, and diethyl sulfone. The solvent may also be an ether-based solvent. The ether solvent may include one or more of the following: ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, ethylene glycol diethyl ether, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, triethylene glycol dimethyl ether, tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether, 1,3-dioxolane, tetrahydrofuran, methyltetrahydrofuran, diphenyl ether, and crown ether.

[0091] Here, the gel-like electrolyte contains a polymer-based skeletal network and is combined with an ionic liquid-lithium salt.

[0092] Here, the solid electrolyte includes polymer solid electrolytes, inorganic solid electrolytes, and composite solid electrolytes.

[0093] For example, the polymer solid electrolyte may be polyether (polyethylene oxide), polysiloxane, polycarbonate, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinylidene fluoride, polymethyl methacrylate, monoionic polymer, polyionic liquid lithium salt, cellulose, etc.

[0094] For example, inorganic solid electrolytes may include one or more of oxide solid electrolytes (crystalline perovskite, sodium superconducting ion conductor, garnet, amorphous LiPON film), sulfide solid electrolytes (crystalline lithium superionic conductor (lithium germanium phosphate sulfur, argyrodite), amorphous sulfide), halide solid electrolytes, nitride solid electrolytes, and hydride solid electrolytes.

[0095] For example, composite solid electrolytes are formed by adding inorganic solid electrolyte fillers to polymer solid electrolytes.

[0096] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly is a wound structure. The positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate are wound into the wound structure.

[0097] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly has a layered structure.

[0098] For example, multiple positive and negative electrodes may be installed, and these multiple positive and negative electrodes may be stacked alternately.

[0099] For example, multiple positive electrodes may be installed, and the negative electrodes may be folded and stacked to form multiple folded segments, with one positive electrode sandwiched between adjacent folded segments.

[0100] For example, both the positive and negative plates are folded and stacked to form multiple folded segments.

[0101] For example, multiple separator members may be installed, each placed between any adjacent positive or negative electrode plates.

[0102] For example, separator members can be installed continuously, folded or wound, between adjacent positive or negative plates.

[0103] In some embodiments, the shape of the electrode assembly may be cylindrical, flattened, or polygonal prism-shaped.

[0104] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly is provided with tabs from which current can be drawn from the electrode assembly. The tabs include a positive tab and a negative tab.

[0105] In some embodiments, the battery cell may include a housing. The housing is used to package components such as electrode assemblies and electrolytes. The housing may be a steel case, an aluminum case, a plastic case (e.g., polypropylene), a composite metal case (e.g., a copper-aluminum composite housing), or an aluminum film.

[0106] For example, a battery cell may be a cylindrical battery cell, a prismatic battery cell, a pouch battery cell, or a battery cell of another shape. A prismatic battery cell includes, but is not limited to, a prismatic housing battery cell, a blade-type battery cell, or a polygonal prism battery. A polygonal prism battery is, for example, a hexagonal battery.

[0107] The batteries referred to in the embodiments of this application refer to a single physical module comprising one or more battery cells to provide higher voltage and capacity.

[0108] In some embodiments, the battery may be a battery module, and if there are multiple battery cells, the multiple battery cells are fixed side by side to form a battery module.

[0109] In some embodiments, the battery may be a battery pack, which includes a housing and battery cells, and the battery cells or battery modules are housed in the housing.

[0110] In some embodiments, the housing can be part of the vehicle's chassis structure. For example, a portion of the housing may be at least part of the vehicle's floor, or a portion of the vehicle's cross members and side members.

[0111] In some embodiments, the battery may be an energy storage device. The energy storage device may include an energy storage container, an energy storage electrical cabinet, and the like.

[0112] Batteries possess outstanding advantages such as high energy density, low environmental pollution, high power density, long service life, wide application range, and low self-discharge coefficient, making them a crucial component in the development of new energy sources. The advancement of battery technology requires simultaneous consideration of a wide range of design factors, such as energy density, cycle life, discharge capacity, and charge / discharge ratio, as well as battery safety. With the rapid development and increasing demand for batteries, the demand for battery life and reliability is also rising accordingly.

[0113] In battery technology, to ensure the safety of a typical battery cell, a pressure release mechanism is generally installed on the battery cell housing. By releasing the internal pressure of the battery cell through this mechanism, the safety of the battery cell can be effectively improved. However, in related technologies, a certain amount of gas is generated during use, which can increase the air pressure inside the battery cell housing. This can cause the pressure release mechanism to activate prematurely during use, resulting in relatively poor battery cell stability and negatively impacting the battery cell's lifespan and reliability.

[0114] Considering the above, in order to solve the problem of the relatively short service life and relatively low reliability of battery cells, an embodiment of the present application provides a battery cell comprising a housing, an electrode assembly, a check valve, and a shielding material. The housing has a wall portion, the electrode assembly is housed within the housing, the check valve is installed in the wall portion, and the check valve has an exhaust port for discharging gas from inside the housing. The shielding material is attached to the wall portion, and along the thickness direction of the wall portion, the shielding material is located on the side away from the electrode assembly of the check valve, and the shielding material covers the check valve, and an exhaust passage is formed between the shielding material and the wall portion, the exhaust passage communicating the exhaust port with the outside of the housing.

[0115] In a battery cell with this structure, a check valve is installed on the wall of the housing. The check valve opens in one direction, allowing gas inside the housing to be discharged to the outside. This means that when gas is generated inside the housing during normal use of the battery cell, it is discharged to the outside through the check valve, mitigating the phenomenon of premature release of operating pressure in the battery cell caused by the internal pressure rising and reaching the threshold early. Furthermore, this effectively improves the operational stability of the battery cell, thereby improving its service life and reliability.

[0116] Furthermore, by installing a shielding material on the side of the check valve away from the electrode assembly, and by having the shielding material cover the check valve, the shielding material can provide a certain level of protection and shielding to the check valve, reducing the phenomenon of wear or damage to the check valve in the external environment, and reducing the risk of foreign matter or particulate matter from the external environment entering the check valve, which is advantageous in improving the service life of the check valve. On the other hand, covering the check valve with the shielding material can improve the aesthetic appearance of the outer surface of the battery cell, and on the other hand, it facilitates connection to other components such as detection elements on the side of the shielding material away from the check valve, thereby reducing the influence of interference from the connection of other components such as detection elements in the area where the check valve is installed on the wall.

[0117] The battery cells disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be used in power-consuming devices such as vehicles, ships, or aircraft, but are not limited to these, and may also be used in energy storage devices. The power supply system of such power-consuming devices can be configured using the battery cells, batteries, etc., disclosed in this application, which is advantageous in mitigating the phenomenon of battery cells opening prematurely and releasing pressure during use, thereby improving the service life and reliability of the battery cells.

[0118] Embodiments of this application provide a power consumption device that uses a battery as a power source, which may be, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, tablet, laptop computer, electric toy, power tool, battery car, electric vehicle, steamship, or aerospace aircraft. Here, electric toys may include stationary or mobile electric toys, such as game consoles, electric vehicle toys, electric steamship toys and electric airplane toys, and aerospace aircraft may include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles and spacecraft.

[0119] In the following embodiments, for the sake of explanation, we will use a vehicle as an example of the power consumption device in one embodiment of this application.

[0120] Referring to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of the structure of a vehicle 1000 according to some embodiments of the present application, the vehicle 1000 may be a fuel oil vehicle, a gas vehicle, or a new energy vehicle, and the new energy vehicle may be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a range extender vehicle. A battery 100 is installed inside the vehicle 1000, and the battery 100 may be installed at the bottom, head, or tail of the vehicle 1000. The battery 100 may be used to power the vehicle 1000, for example, the battery 100 can be the operating power source for the vehicle 1000. The vehicle 1000 may further include a controller 200 and a motor 300, the controller 200 is used to control the battery 100 to power the motor 300, for example, to meet the operating power consumption requirements for starting the vehicle 1000, navigation, and driving.

[0121] In some embodiments of this application, the battery 100 can provide driving power to the vehicle 1000 not only as an operating power source for the vehicle 1000, but also as a driving power source for the vehicle 1000, in place of or in place of fuel oil or natural gas.

[0122] Referring to Figure 2, Figure 2 is an exploded view of the structure of a battery 100 according to some embodiments of the present application. The battery 100 may include a housing 10 and battery cells 20 housed within the housing 10.

[0123] Here, the housing 10 is used to provide assembly space for the battery cell 20, and the housing 10 can employ various structures. In some embodiments, the housing 10 may include a first box body 11 and a second box body 12, the first box body 11 and the second box body 12 overlap each other, and the first box body 11 and the second box body 12 together define an assembly space for housing the battery cell 20. The second box body 12 may be a hollow structure with one end open, and the first box body 11 may be a plate-like structure, with the first box body 11 overlapping the open side of the second box body 12, thereby defining an assembly space for the first box body 11 and the second box body 12 together. In other embodiments, both the first box body 11 and the second box body 12 may be hollow structures with one end open, and the open side of the first box body 11 overlaps the open side of the second box body 12. Of course, the housing 10 formed by the first box body 11 and the second box body 12 may have various shapes, such as a cylinder or a rectangular parallelepiped. For example, in Figure 2, the shape of the housing 10 is a rectangular parallelepiped.

[0124] Selectively, in the battery 100, the battery cells 20 housed in the housing 10 may be one or multiple. When there are multiple battery cells 20 housed in the housing 10, the connections between the multiple battery cells 20 may be in series, parallel, or series-parallel, where series-parallel connection means that both series and parallel connections exist among the multiple battery cells 20. The multiple battery cells 20 may be directly connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel before the entire module composed of the multiple battery cells 20 is housed in the housing 10. Of course, in some embodiments, the battery 100 may consist of multiple battery cells 20 first connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel to form a battery module, and then the multiple battery modules may be connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel to form a single unit, which is then housed in the housing 10.

[0125] In some embodiments, the battery 100 may further include other structures, for example, the battery 100 may further include a busbar member, the busbar member being installed inside the housing 10 and connected to a plurality of battery cells 20 to provide electrical connections between the plurality of battery cells 20.

[0126] Here, each battery cell 20 may be a secondary battery or a primary battery, and may be, but is not limited to, a lithium-sulfur battery, a sodium-ion battery, or a magnesium-ion battery. The battery cell 20 may be cylindrical, flattened, rectangular, or have other shapes. Exemplarily, in Figure 2, the battery cell 20 has a rectangular parallelepiped structure.

[0127] Referring to several embodiments of this application, specifically Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6, Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery cell 20 according to several embodiments of this application, Figure 4 is an exploded view of the structure of a battery cell 20 according to several embodiments of this application, Figure 5 is a local cross-sectional view of a battery cell 20 according to several embodiments of this application, and Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a check valve 23 according to several embodiments of this application. This application provides a battery cell 20 comprising a housing 21, an electrode assembly 22, a check valve 23, and a shielding material 24. The housing 21 has a wall portion 211, and the electrode assembly 22 is housed within the housing 21. The check valve 23 is installed in the wall portion 211, and the check valve 23 has an exhaust port 231, which is used to discharge gas from inside the housing 21. The shielding material 24 is attached to the wall portion 211, and along the thickness direction X of the wall portion, the shielding material 24 is located on the side away from the electrode assembly 22 of the check valve 23, and the shielding material 24 covers the check valve 23, and an exhaust passage 25 is formed between the shielding material 24 and the wall portion 211, and the exhaust passage 25 communicates the exhaust port 231 with the outside of the housing 21.

[0128] Here, the housing 21 may also be used to house an electrolyte, such as an electrolyte solution. The housing 21 may take various structural forms, such as a cylinder or a rectangular parallelepiped. Similarly, the material of the housing 21 may vary, such as copper, iron, aluminum, steel, or an aluminum alloy.

[0129] In some embodiments, the housing 21 may include a case 212 and an end cap 213, the case 212 having a housing cavity formed inside, the housing cavity being used to house the electrode assembly 22, and the housing cavity having an opening 2121, that is, the case 212 is a hollow structure with an opening 2121 at one end, and the end cap 213 is fitted over the opening 2121 of the case 212 to form a seal connection and create a sealed space for housing the electrode assembly 22 and the electrolyte.

[0130] It should be explained that the wall portion 211 for mounting the check valve 23 may be the end cap 213 of the housing 21, or it may be one of the walls of the case 212 of the housing 21. For example, in Figure 3, the wall portion 211 is the end cap 213. Of course, the structure of the battery cell 20 is not limited to this, and in other embodiments, the wall portion 211 may be the bottom wall on which the case 212 and the end cap 213 are installed facing each other, or the wall portion 211 may be the side wall on which the case 212 is adjacent to and connected to the end cap 213.

[0131] When assembling the battery cell 20, the electrode assembly 22 may first be placed inside the case 212, the electrolyte may be filled into the case 212, and then the end cap 213 may be placed over the opening 2121 of the case 212 to complete the assembly of the battery cell 20.

[0132] The case 212 may have various shapes, such as a cylindrical, rectangular, or rectangular structure. The shape of the case 212 can be determined based on the specific shape of the electrode assembly 22. For example, if the electrode assembly 22 has a cylindrical structure, a cylindrical case 212 can be selected, and if the electrode assembly 22 has a rectangular structure, a rectangular case 212 can be selected. Of course, the structure of the end cap 213 may vary, for example, the end cap 213 may have a plate-like structure or a hollow structure with one end open. Exemplarily, in Figure 3, the case 212 has a rectangular structure.

[0133] Of course, as can be understood, the housing 21 is not limited to the above structure, and the housing 21 may have other structures, for example, the housing 21 may include a case 212 and two end caps 213, the case 212 being a hollow structure with opposing openings 2121 on both sides, one end cap 213 correspondingly fitting over one of the openings 2121 of the case 212 to form a seal connection and create a sealed space for housing the electrode assembly 22 and the electrolyte, that is, the case 212 has openings 2121 on both opposing sides, and the two end caps 213 each fit over the sides of the case 212 to seal the corresponding openings 2121.

[0134] It should be explained that the electrode assembly 22 is a component that undergoes an electrochemical reaction in the battery cell 20, and the structure of the electrode assembly 22 can vary. For example, the electrode assembly 22 may be a wound structure formed by winding a positive electrode plate, a separator member, and a negative electrode plate, or it may be a laminated structure formed by stacking the positive electrode plate, a separator member, and a negative electrode plate.

[0135] For example, the separator member is a separator, and the main material of the separator may be selected from at least one of glass fiber, nonwoven fabric, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyvinylidene fluoride.

[0136] Selectively, the electrode assembly 22 housed within the housing 21 may be one or multiple. Exemplarily, in Figure 3, two electrode assemblies 22 are installed in the housing 21 of the battery cell 20, and the two electrode assemblies 22 are stacked along their thickness direction, that is, the two electrode assemblies 22 are stacked along the thickness direction of the battery cell 20. Of course, in other embodiments, the electrode assembly 22 housed within the housing 21 may be one, three, four, five, six, seven, or eight, and so on.

[0137] It should be explained that the check valve 23 is installed on the wall portion 211 and is used to discharge gas from inside the housing 21, that is, the check valve 23 can be opened in one direction to exhaust gas, thereby allowing gas from inside the housing 21 to be discharged to the outside of the housing 21 via the check valve 23. The structure in which the check valve 23 is selectively installed on the wall portion 211 may vary, and the check valve 23 may be welded to the wall portion 211, the check valve 23 may be locked to the wall portion 211, or the check valve 23 may be bonded to the wall portion 211. Here, the outside of the housing 21 is the external environment of the battery cell 20.

[0138] For example, in Figure 5, a mounting hole 2111 is provided on the wall portion 211, the mounting hole 2111 connects the inside of the housing 21 to the outside of the housing 21, the portion of the check valve 23 is assembled within the mounting hole 2111, extends into the inside of the housing 21 along the thickness direction X of the wall portion, and is sealed between the check valve 23 and the wall surface of the mounting hole 2111.

[0139] The shielding material 24 is attached to the wall portion 211, and along the thickness direction X of the wall portion, the shielding material 24 is positioned away from the electrode assembly 22 of the check valve 23, that is, the shielding material 24 and the check valve 23 are arranged along the thickness direction X of the wall portion, and the shielding material 24 is further away from the electrode assembly 22 than the check valve 23. The structure by which the shielding material 24 is selectively attached to the wall portion 211 may vary, for example, the shielding material 24 can be attached to the wall portion 211 by welding, interlocking, bolting, locking or bonding.

[0140] The shielding material 24 covers the check valve 23, meaning that the projection of the wall portion of the check valve 23 in the thickness direction X lies within the shielding material 24.

[0141] An exhaust passage 25 is formed between the shielding material 24 and the wall portion 211, and the exhaust passage 25 connects the exhaust port 231 to the outside of the housing 21. In other words, the shielding material 24 and the wall portion 211 together define the exhaust passage 25 that connects the exhaust port 231 of the check valve 23 to the outside of the housing 21, so that the gas discharged from the check valve 23 into the housing 21 via the exhaust port 231 enters the exhaust passage 25 and is then discharged to the outside of the housing 21.

[0142] For example, the material of the shielding material 24 may be copper, iron, aluminum, steel, or an aluminum alloy.

[0143] In some embodiments, the battery cell 20 may further include electrode terminals 26 which are insulatedly mounted on the housing 21 and electrically connected to an electrode assembly 22 to output or input electrical energy of the battery cell 20.

[0144] It should be explained that the electrode terminal 26 is insulatedly mounted on the housing 21, meaning that no electrical connection is formed between the electrode terminal 26 and the housing 21.

[0145] In Figure 3, the battery cell 20 includes two electrode terminals 26, and correspondingly, each electrode assembly 22 has two tabs 221 with opposite polarity, and the two electrode terminals 26 are electrically connected to the two tabs 221 of the electrode assembly 22, respectively, to realize the positive and negative input or output of the battery cell 20. It should be explained that the tabs 221 of the electrode assembly 22 are members formed by stacking and connecting regions on the positive electrode plate where the positive electrode active material layer is not coated, or members formed by stacking and connecting regions on the negative electrode plate where the negative electrode active material layer is not coated. When the tabs 221 are used to output the positive electrode of the electrode assembly 22, the tabs 221 are members formed by stacking and connecting regions on the positive electrode plate where the positive electrode active material layer is not coated, and when the tabs 221 are used to output the negative electrode of the electrode assembly 22, the tabs 221 are members formed by stacking and connecting regions on the negative electrode plate where the negative electrode active material layer is not coated.

[0146] For example, the material of the electrode terminal 26 may vary; for instance, the electrode terminal 26 may be made of copper, iron, aluminum, steel, or an aluminum alloy.

[0147] The structure in which the electrode terminals 26 are mounted on the housing 21 can vary. For example, in Figure 3, both electrode terminals 26 are mounted on the end caps 213 of the housing 21. Of course, the structure of the battery cell 20 is not limited to this. In other embodiments, both electrode terminals 26 may be mounted on the case 212 of the housing 21. Similarly, one electrode terminal 26 may be mounted on the case 212 of the housing 21, and the other electrode terminal 26 may be mounted on the end cap 213 of the housing 21.

[0148] In some embodiments, the battery cell 20 may further include a pressure relief mechanism 27 mounted on the housing 21. Optionally, the pressure relief mechanism 27 may be mounted on the end cap 213 of the housing 21 or on the case 212 of the housing 21, and the pressure relief mechanism 27 is used to release pressure inside the battery cell 20 when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell 20 reaches a predetermined value.

[0149] For example, in Figure 3, the pressure relief mechanism 27 is installed on the end cap 213 of the housing 21, and the pressure relief mechanism 27 may be a pressure relief member such as an explosion-proof valve, explosion-proof plate, pressure relief valve, or safety valve.

[0150] By installing a check valve 23 on the wall portion 211 of the housing 21, the check valve 23 can open in one direction, allowing gas inside the housing 21 to be discharged to the outside of the housing 21. This allows gas to be discharged to the outside of the housing 21 via the check valve 23 when gas is generated inside the housing 21 during normal use of the battery cell 20, thereby mitigating the phenomenon of premature operation and pressure release of the battery cell 20 caused by the rise in internal pressure inside the battery cell 20 causing the internal pressure to reach a threshold prematurely. Furthermore, this effectively improves the operational stability of the battery cell 20, thereby improving its service life and operational reliability. Furthermore, by installing a shielding material 24 on the side of the check valve 23 away from the electrode assembly 22, and by having the shielding material 24 cover the check valve 23, the shielding material 24 can provide a certain level of protection and shielding to the check valve 23, thereby reducing the phenomenon of wear or damage to the check valve 23 in the external environment, and reducing the risk of foreign matter or particulate matter from the external environment entering the check valve 23, which is advantageous in improving the service life of the check valve 23. On the other hand, covering the check valve 23 with the shielding material 24 improves the aesthetic appearance of the outer surface of the battery cell 20, and on the other hand, it facilitates connection to other components such as detection elements on the side of the shielding material 24 away from the check valve 23, thereby reducing the influence of interference from the connection of other components such as detection elements in the area of ​​the wall portion 211 where the check valve 23 is installed.

[0151] According to some embodiments of this application, referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5, along the thickness direction X of the wall portion, the wall portion 211 has a first surface 2112 that is away from the electrode assembly 22, and a mounting groove 2113 is provided on the first surface 2112, and a mounting hole 2111 is provided on the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113, at least a portion of the check valve 23 is installed in the mounting hole 2111, and at least a portion of the shielding material 24 is housed in the mounting groove 2113.

[0152] Here, a mounting groove 2113 is provided on the first surface 2112, and a mounting hole 2111 is provided on the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113. That is, the mounting hole 2111 penetrates the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113, so that the mounting hole 2111 communicates with the outside of the housing 21 via the mounting groove 2113.

[0153] At least a portion of the shielding material 24 is housed within the mounting groove 2113; that is, the shielding material 24 may be located entirely within the mounting groove 2113, or only partially within the mounting groove 2113. For example, in Figure 5, the shielding material 24 is located entirely within the mounting groove 2113.

[0154] A mounting groove 2113 is provided on the first surface 2112 of the wall portion 211, which is separated from the electrode assembly 22, and at least a portion of the shielding material 24 is housed in the mounting groove 2113. This reduces the space occupied by the shielding material 24 and the wall portion 211 in the thickness direction X, which is advantageous for optimizing the volume of the battery cell 20. At the same time, the mounting groove 2113 can provide a fixed positioning and stopper role for the shielding material 24, which is advantageous for reducing the difficulty of assembly when connecting the shielding material 24 to the wall portion 211.

[0155] According to some embodiments of this application, referring to Figures 4 and 5, and further referring to Figures 7 and 8, Figure 7 is a plan view of a battery cell 20 according to some embodiments of this application, and Figure 8 is a local enlarged view of A of the battery cell 20 shown in Figure 7. The exhaust passage 25 may include a first exhaust gap 251, which is formed between the shielding material 24 and the groove side of the mounting groove 2113, and the first exhaust gap 251 is used to communicate the exhaust port 231 with the outside of the housing 21.

[0156] Here, the first exhaust gap 251 serves to connect the exhaust port 231 with the outside of the housing 21. The first exhaust gap 251 may communicate directly with the exhaust port 231. For example, at least a portion of the projection of the wall portion of the first exhaust gap 251 in the thickness direction X is located within the mounting hole 2111, so that the exhaust port 231 of the check valve 23 installed in the mounting hole 2111 is in direct communication with the first exhaust gap 251. Of course, the first exhaust gap 251 may also communicate indirectly with the exhaust port 231. For example, in Figure 5, the exhaust passage 25 may further include a second exhaust gap 252, which is formed between the shielding material 24 and the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113. The second exhaust gap 252 communicates with the first exhaust gap 251 and the exhaust port 231 of the check valve 23.

[0157] By forming a first exhaust gap 251 that communicates with the outside of the housing 21 between the shielding material 24 and the groove side of the mounting groove 2113, the gas discharged from the check valve 23 can be discharged to the outside of the housing 21 through the first exhaust gap 251. A battery cell 20 employing such a structure does not require drilling holes in the shielding material 24, which is advantageous in reducing the difficulty of processing and also improves the aesthetic appearance of the battery cell 20.

[0158] It should be explained that the structure of the first exhaust gap 251 formed between the shielding material 24 and the groove side surface of the mounting groove 2113 may vary, and according to some embodiments of this application, referring to Figures 7 and 8, and further referring to Figure 9, which is a schematic diagram of the structure of the shielding material 24 according to some embodiments of this application. The outer circumferential surface of the shielding material 24 includes a first corner surface 241 and at least two first side surfaces 242, the first corner surface 241 being connected to two adjacent first side surfaces 242. The groove side surface of the mounting groove 2113 includes a second corner surface 2113a and at least two second side surfaces 2113b, the second corner surface 2113a being connected to two adjacent second side surfaces 2113b, each second side surface 2113b being connected to one first side surface 242, forming a first exhaust gap 251 between the second corner surface 2113a and the first corner surface 241.

[0159] Here, the first corner surface 241 is connected to two adjacent first side surfaces 242, that is, in the circumferential direction of the shielding material 24, the first corner surface 241 is located between the two first side surfaces 242 and is connected to the two first side surfaces 242, in other words, the first corner surface 241 is the surface at the corner of the outer circumferential surface of the shielding material 24.

[0160] The second corner surface 2113a is connected to two adjacent second side surfaces 2113b, that is, in the circumferential direction of the mounting groove 2113, the second corner surface 2113a is located between the two second side surfaces 2113b and is connected to the two second side surfaces 2113b, in other words, the second corner surface 2113a is the surface at the corner of the groove side surface of the mounting groove 2113.

[0161] Each first side surface 242 of the shielding material 24 abuts against and connects with the corresponding second side surface 2113b on the groove side of the mounting groove 2113, so that the first corner surface 241 of the shielding material 24 and the second corner surface 2113a on the groove side of the mounting groove 2113 are positioned facing each other, thereby forming a first exhaust gap 251 between the first corner surface 241 and the second corner surface 2113a.

[0162] Selectively, the connection structure between the first side 242 and the second side 2113b may be of various types, such as welding, bonding, or interlocking.

[0163] For example, in Figures 7 and 8, both the shielding material 24 and the mounting groove 2113 have a rectangular structure, so that four first corner surfaces 241 are formed corresponding to the four corner locations of the shielding material 24, and correspondingly, four second corner surfaces 2113a are formed corresponding to the four corner locations of the groove side surface of the mounting groove 2113, thereby forming four first exhaust gaps 251 between the shielding material 24 and the groove side surface of the mounting groove 2113.

[0164] Two adjacent first sides 242 on the outer circumferential surface of the shielding material 24 are connected by a first corner surface 241, and two connected second sides 2113b on the groove side of the mounting groove 2113 are connected by a second corner surface 2113a, each first side 242 is connected to one second side 2113b, and a first gap is formed between the first corner surface 241 and the second corner surface 2113a, that is, a first exhaust gap is formed at the corner of the shielding material 24 and the mounting groove 2113. By forming a gap 251, it is made easier to form a first exhaust gap 251 between the outer surface of the shielding material 24 and the groove side of the mounting groove 2113, resulting in a simple structure and easy implementation. At the same time, it is advantageous to improve the connection area between the outer surface of the shielding material 24 and the groove side of the mounting groove 2113, which is advantageous to improve the robustness of the connection of the shielding material 24 to the wall portion 211.

[0165] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 7, 8, and 9, both the first corner surface 241 and the second corner surface 2113a are arcuate surfaces, and the radius of the first corner surface 241 is greater than the radius of the second corner surface 2113a.

[0166] Here, both the first corner surface 241 and the second corner surface 2113a are arc surfaces; that is, the first corner surface 241 is a surface formed by the rounded corner of the outer circumferential surface of the shielding material 24, and similarly, the second corner surface 2113a is a surface formed by the rounded corner of the groove side surface of the mounting groove 2113. Of course, in other embodiments, the first corner surface 241 may be a surface formed by the chamfer of the outer circumferential surface of the shielding material 24, and the second corner surface 2113a may be a surface formed by the chamfer of the groove side surface of the mounting groove 2113.

[0167] The radius of the first corner surface 241 is greater than the radius of the second corner surface 2113a, that is, the diameter of the circular corner on the outer surface of the shielding material 24 is greater than the diameter of the circular corner on the groove side of the mounting groove 2113.

[0168] By setting both the first corner surface 241 and the second corner surface 2113a on arcuates and making the radius of the first corner surface 241 larger than the radius of the second corner surface 2113a, a first exhaust gap 251 is formed between the first corner surface 241 and the second corner surface 2113a, resulting in a simple structure that is easy to manufacture and process.

[0169] In some embodiments, the first side surface 242 is welded to the second side surface 2113b.

[0170] By installing the first side surface 242 and the second side surface 2113b in a structure that welds them together, it is advantageous to improve the robustness of the connection between the shielding material 24 and the groove side surface of the mounting groove 2113, and improve the structural stability of the shielding material 24 assembled on the wall portion 211.

[0171] In some embodiments, continuing to refer to Figures 7, 8 and 9, the cross-section of the wall portion of the shielding material 24 perpendicular to the thickness direction X is rectangular, and the outer surface of the shielding material 24 includes four first side surfaces 242 and four first corner surfaces 241, with at least one first corner surface 241 having a first exhaust gap 251.

[0172] Here, the cross-section of the shielding material 24 perpendicular to the thickness direction X of the wall portion is rectangular, meaning the shielding material 24 has a rectangular structure. Correspondingly, the shape of the mounting groove 2113 matches that of the shielding material 24, and the mounting groove 2113 also has a rectangular structure.

[0173] A first exhaust gap 251 is formed in at least one first corner surface 241, meaning that the first exhaust gap 251 may be formed only at the location of one of the four first corner surfaces 241 of the shielding material 24, or it may be formed at the locations of two, three, or four first corner surfaces 241.

[0174] It should be noted that in other embodiments, the cross-section of the wall portion of the shielding material 24 perpendicular to the thickness direction X may be a triangle, pentagon, hexagon, or trapezoid.

[0175] By installing the shielding material 24 in a rectangular plate-like structure, the four sides of the shielding material 24 form four first side surfaces 242, and four first corner surfaces 241 are formed at the four right angles of the shielding material 24, resulting in a simple structure and easy manufacturing.

[0176] According to some embodiments of this application, the first exhaust gap 251 formed between the shielding material 24 and the groove side of the mounting groove 2113 may have other structures. For example, referring to Figure 10, Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the shielding material 24 according to yet another embodiment of this application. A recessed groove 243 is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the shielding material 24, and the first exhaust gap 251 is formed between the groove bottom surface of the recessed groove 243 and the groove side of the mounting groove 2113.

[0177] Here, the outer surface of the shielding material 24 is connected to the groove side of the mounting groove 2113, and is used to ensure that the shielding material 24 is mounted inside the mounting groove 2113. By installing a recessed groove 243 on the outer surface of the shielding material 24, a notch is formed in the shielding material 24 at the position where the recessed groove 243 is installed, and thereby the shielding material 24 defines a first exhaust gap 251 together with the groove side of the mounting groove 2113 at the position where the recessed groove 243 is installed.

[0178] Selectively, the connection structure between the outer surface of the shielding material 24 and the groove side of the mounting groove 2113 may vary, for example, by welding or bonding.

[0179] The number of grooves 243 selectively installed on the outer surface of the shielding material 24 may be one or multiple. When multiple grooves 243 are installed on the outer surface of the shielding material 24, the multiple grooves 243 are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction of the shielding material 24.

[0180] For example, in Figure 10, the shielding material 24 has a rectangular structure, and grooves 243 are provided on two of the four right sides of the shielding material 24. Of course, in other embodiments, the number of grooves 243 provided on the outer surface of the shielding material 24 may be three, four, or five, and similarly, the shape of the shielding material 24 may be triangular, trapezoidal, or circular.

[0181] By installing grooves 243 on the outer surface of the shielding material 24, a first exhaust gap 251 for exhaust is formed between the bottom surface of the grooves 243 and the side surface of the mounting grooves 2113, resulting in a simple structure and easy manufacturing.

[0182] In some embodiments, areas on the outer surface of the shielding material 24 where the groove 243 is not installed are welded to the groove side of the mounting groove 2113.

[0183] By welding the area on the outer surface of the shielding material 24 where the groove 243 is not installed to the groove side of the mounting groove 2113, the shielding material 24 is connected to the groove side of the mounting groove 2113. A battery cell 20 employing such a structure is advantageous in terms of the robustness of the connection between the shielding material 24 and the wall portion 211, and improves the structural stability of the shielding material 24 assembled on the wall portion 211.

[0184] According to some embodiments of this application, the first exhaust gap 251 formed between the shielding material 24 and the groove side surface of the mounting groove 2113 may have other structures. For example, referring to Figure 11, Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the shielding material 24 according to some further embodiments of this application. A plurality of protrusions 244 are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the shielding material 24, and the plurality of protrusions 244 are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction of the shielding material 24. The protrusions 244 abut against the groove side surface of the mounting groove 2113, forming the first exhaust gap 251 between the area on the outer circumferential surface of the shielding material 24 where the protrusions 244 are not installed and the groove side surface of the mounting groove 2113.

[0185] Here, the protrusions 244 abut against the groove side of the mounting groove 2113, thereby forming an empty cavity between two adjacent protrusions 244, so that the outer surface of the shielding material 24, the groove side of the mounting groove 2113, and the space between the two adjacent protrusions 244 together define the first exhaust gap 251.

[0186] In such embodiments, the structure by which the shielding material 24 is assembled within the mounting groove 2113 may vary. For example, the shielding material 24 may be fitted into the groove side of the mounting groove 2113 by contact portions and assembled within the mounting groove 2113 by welding or adhesive.

[0187] Multiple protrusions 244 are provided on the outer surface of the shielding material 24, spaced apart along the circumferential direction of the shielding material 24, and the protrusions 244 abut against the groove side surface of the mounting groove 2113. This forms a first exhaust gap 251 for exhaust between the area on the outer surface of the shielding material 24 where no protrusions 244 are installed and the groove side surface of the mounting groove 2113. In other words, the first exhaust gap 251 is located between two adjacent protrusions 244, resulting in a simple structure and easy assembly.

[0188] In some embodiments, the protrusion 244 is tightly fitted into the groove side of the mounting groove 2113.

[0189] By interlocking the protrusions 244 on the outer surface of the shielding material 24 with the groove sides of the mounting groove 2113, the shielding material 24 is fixed within the mounting groove 2113. A battery cell 20 employing such a structure forms a first exhaust gap 251 between two adjacent protrusions 244, while simultaneously facilitating the mounting of the shielding material 24 onto the wall portion 211 and reducing the difficulty of assembling the shielding material 24.

[0190] It should be noted that in some embodiments, the first exhaust gap 251 may have other structures. For example, a ventilation groove may be installed on the side surface of the mounting groove 2113, thereby forming the first exhaust gap 251 between the bottom surface of the ventilation groove and the outer surface of the shielding material 24.

[0191] Referring to some embodiments of this application, specifically with reference to Figure 5 and further with reference to Figure 12, Figure 12 is a bottom view of a shielding material 24 according to some embodiments of this application. The exhaust passage 25 may further include a second exhaust gap 252, which is formed between the shielding material 24 and the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113, and the second exhaust gap 252 connects the first exhaust gap 251 and the exhaust port 231.

[0192] Here, the second exhaust gap 252 is formed between the shielding material 24 and the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113. The shielding material 24 and the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113 may be arranged with a gap between them along the thickness direction X of the wall, thereby forming the second exhaust gap 252 between the surface of the shielding material 24 facing the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113 and the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113. Alternatively, the first groove 2451 may be installed on the surface of the shielding material 24 facing the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113, thereby forming the second exhaust gap 252 between the bottom surface of the first groove 2451 and the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113.

[0193] It should be explained that in other embodiments, a second exhaust gap 252 may be formed between the bottom surface of the first groove 2451 and the surface of the shielding material 24 that faces the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113 by installing a first groove 2451 on the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113.

[0194] The exhaust passage 25 further includes a second exhaust gap 252 formed between the shielding material 24 and the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113, and the second exhaust gap 252 connects the first exhaust gap 251 and the exhaust port 231, thereby mitigating the phenomenon in which exhaust is obstructed between the exhaust port 231 and the first exhaust gap 251 after the shielding material 24 comes into contact with the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113, and thereby improving the smoothness of gas discharge from the exhaust port 231 of the check valve 23 to the first exhaust gap 251.

[0195] In some embodiments, continuing to refer to Figures 5 and 12, along the thickness direction X of the wall, the shielding material 24 has a second surface 245 facing the check valve 23, the second surface 245 overlaps the groove bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113, the second surface 245 has a first groove 2451 installed in it, and a second exhaust gap 252 is formed between the groove bottom surface of the first groove 2451 and the groove bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113.

[0196] Here, the second surface 245 overlaps with the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113, that is, the portion of the second surface 245 abuts against the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113, in other words, along the thickness direction X of the wall portion, the shielding material 24 abuts against the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113.

[0197] A second exhaust gap 252 is formed between the bottom surface of the first groove 2451 and the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113, that is, the bottom surface of the first groove 2451, the side surface of the first groove 2451, and the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113 all define the second exhaust gap 252.

[0198] By overlapping the second surface 245 of the shielding material 24 onto the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113, the shielding material 24 comes into contact with the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113, improving the structural stability and reliability of the shielding material 24 being installed in the mounting groove 2113. Furthermore, by installing the first groove 2451 on the second surface 245, a second exhaust gap 252 is formed between the bottom surface of the first groove 2451 and the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113. As a result, the gas discharged from the exhaust port 231 of the check valve 23 can enter the first exhaust gap 251 via the first groove 2451 and then be discharged to the outside of the housing 21. This ensures that the shielding material 24 comes into contact with the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113, while simultaneously enabling communication between the first exhaust gap 251 and the exhaust port 231 via the first groove 2451.

[0199] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 5, 7, 8 and 12, a plurality of first exhaust gaps 251 are formed between the shielding material 24 and the groove side of the mounting groove 2113, the plurality of first exhaust gaps 251 are spaced apart along the circumferential direction of the shielding material 24, and a plurality of first grooves 2451 are installed on the second surface 245, each first exhaust gap 251 communicating with one first groove 2451.

[0200] In an embodiment in which the first exhaust gap 251 is formed between the first corner surface 241 and the second corner surface 2113a, referring to Figure 12, the first groove 2451 extends along the radial direction of the shielding material 24, and the first groove 2451 penetrates the first corner surface 241, so that the second exhaust gap 252 formed between the groove bottom surface of the first groove 2451 and the groove bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113 can communicate with the first exhaust gap 251 formed between the first corner surface 241 and the second corner surface 2113a. Of course, in an embodiment in which the first exhaust gap 251 is formed between the bottom surface of the groove 243 of the shielding material 24 and the side surface of the mounting groove 2113, the first groove 2451 penetrates the bottom surface of the groove 243. Similarly, in an embodiment in which the first exhaust gap 251 is formed between the area on the outer circumferential surface of the shielding material 24 where no protrusions 244 are installed and the side surface of the mounting groove 2113, the first groove 2451 penetrates the area on the outer circumferential surface of the shielding material 24 where no protrusions 244 are installed.

[0201] For example, in Figure 12, the shielding material 24 has four first corner surfaces 241, and each of the first corner surfaces 241 has a first exhaust gap 251 formed therein. Correspondingly, four first grooves 2451 are provided on the second surface 245 of the shielding material 24, and each first groove 2451 penetrates one of the first corner surfaces 241.

[0202] Multiple first exhaust gaps 251 are formed between the shielding material 24 and the groove side of the mounting groove 2113, and each first exhaust gap 251 communicates with one first groove 2451, which is advantageous for further improving exhaust efficiency.

[0203] According to some embodiments of this application, referring to Figures 5 and 12, a second groove 2452 is further provided on the second surface 245, and a plurality of first grooves 2451 are provided around the second groove 2452, all of which communicate with the second groove 2452, and the second groove 2452 communicates with the exhaust port 231.

[0204] For example, four first grooves 2451 are provided on the second surface 245 of the shielding material 24, and the four first grooves 2451 are spaced apart along the circumferential direction of the second groove 2452, and the first grooves 2451 extend along the radial direction of the shielding material 24 and penetrate the groove side surface of the second groove 2452, so that the first grooves 2451 can communicate with the exhaust port 231 via the second groove 2452, thereby allowing the second exhaust gap 252 to communicate with the exhaust port 231 via the second groove 2452.

[0205] A second groove 2452 is provided on the second surface 245 of the shielding material 24 facing the check valve 23, and the second groove 2452 communicates with the exhaust port 231 of the check valve 23. In addition, a plurality of first grooves 2451 are provided around the second groove 2452, all of which communicate with the second groove 2452. As a result, the gas discharged from the exhaust port 231 of the check valve 23 enters the second groove 2452 and then passes through the plurality of first grooves 2451 to the corresponding first exhaust gaps 251 to be discharged to the outside of the housing 21. This is advantageous for improving exhaust efficiency and can mitigate the phenomenon of gas accumulating between the shielding material 24 and the check valve 23.

[0206] In some embodiments, referring to Figure 5, along the thickness direction X of the wall, the exhaust port 231 is located at the end away from the electrode assembly 22 of the check valve 23, the exhaust port 231 is located facing the second groove 2452, and the projection of the exhaust port 231 is located within the second groove 2452.

[0207] For example, the entire projection of the wall portion of the check valve 23 in the thickness direction X is located within the second groove 2452.

[0208] The exhaust port 231 and the second groove 2452 of the check valve 23 are installed facing each other, and the projection of the wall portion of the exhaust port 231 in the thickness direction X is positioned within the second groove 2452. As a result, the second groove 2452 has a structure that covers the exhaust port 231 in the thickness direction X of the wall portion, and the gas discharged from the exhaust port 231 of the check valve 23 can enter the second groove 2452 directly, which is advantageous for improving exhaust smoothness and exhaust efficiency.

[0209] According to some embodiments of this application, referring to Figure 5, the shielding material 24 does not protrude beyond the first surface 2112 along the thickness direction X of the wall.

[0210] Here, the shielding material 24 does not protrude beyond the first surface 2112, that is, the shielding material 24 does not extend from the mounting groove 2113 in the thickness direction X of the wall, and so the entirety of the shielding material 24 is located within the mounting groove 2113.

[0211] By installing the shielding material 24 so as not to protrude beyond the first surface 2112 that is separated from the electrode assembly 22 of the wall portion 211 in the thickness direction X of the wall portion, the mounting groove 2113 provides a certain level of protection to the shielding material 24, further reducing the wear phenomenon of the shielding material 24.

[0212] In some embodiments, continuing to refer to Figure 5, the shielding material 24 has a third surface 246 that is away from the check valve 23, and the third surface 246 is flush with the first surface 2112.

[0213] By installing the shielding material 24 in a structure where the third surface 246, which is separated from the check valve 23, and the first surface 2112, which is separated from the electrode assembly 22 of the wall portion 211, are flush with each other, it is advantageous to further improve the aesthetic appearance of the outer surface of the battery cell 20, and it also facilitates the installation of an information code on the third surface 246 of the shielding material 24, or the connection to other components such as a detection element.

[0214] It should be explained that the information code may be a QR code (registered trademark), a barcode, numbers, or letters, and information of the battery cell 20 is acquired by scanning or manually entering the information code. The detection element may include a circuit board and a sampling terminal electrically connected to the circuit board, and the sampling terminal may include a metal piece (e.g., a nickel piece), a temperature sensor, etc.

[0215] According to some embodiments of this application, referring to Figure 5, the check valve 23 does not protrude from the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113 along the thickness direction X of the wall.

[0216] Here, the check valve 23 does not protrude from the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113; in other words, the check valve 23 is installed within the mounting hole 2111 and does not extend into the mounting groove 2113 in the thickness direction X of the wall.

[0217] For example, in Figure 5, the end face of the end of the check valve 23 that is separated from the electrode assembly 22 in the thickness direction X of the wall portion is flush with the groove bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113, and the projection of the wall portion of the check valve 23 in the thickness direction X is located within the second groove 2452, so that the check valve 23 and the groove bottom surface of the second groove 2452 are spaced apart along the thickness direction X of the wall portion, and the end of the check valve 23 that faces the electrode assembly 22 in the thickness direction X of the wall portion protrudes from the surface of the wall portion 211 that faces the electrode assembly 22, so that the portion of the check valve 23 extends into the housing 21.

[0218] The check valve 23 is installed so that it does not protrude from the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113 in the thickness direction X of the wall, that is, the check valve 23 installed in the mounting hole 2111 does not extend into the mounting groove 2113, thereby reducing interference between the check valve 23 and the shielding material 24 installed in the mounting groove 2113, and facilitating the exhaust of the check valve 23.

[0219] According to some embodiments of this application, the shielding material 24 is fixedly connected to the wall portion 211.

[0220] The structure by which the shielding material 24 is selectively and permanently connected to the wall portion 211 may vary. For example, the shielding material 24 may be connected to the wall portion 211 by welding, bonding, or interlocking.

[0221] By installing the shielding material 24 in a structure that is fixedly connected to the wall portion 211, it is advantageous to reduce the risk of the shielding material 24 detaching from the wall portion 211 during use, and the robustness of the connection between the shielding material 24 and the wall portion 211 is improved, making it easier to install information codes on the shielding material 24 or connect them to other components such as detection elements.

[0222] Referring to some embodiments of this application, specifically with reference to Figures 5 and 6, and further with Figures 13 and 14, Figure 13 is an exploded view of the structure of a check valve 23 according to some embodiments of this application, and Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of a check valve 23 according to some embodiments of this application. The check valve 23 may include a valve body 232, an elastic member 233, and a sealing member 234. The valve body 232 is installed in the wall portion 211, and a mounting cavity 2321 is formed inside the valve body 232, with an intake port 2322 and an exhaust port 231 installed on the valve body 232, the intake port 2322 being used to communicate between the mounting cavity 2321 and the inside of the housing 21, and the exhaust port 231 being used to communicate between the mounting cavity 2321 and the exhaust passage 25. The elastic member 233 is installed inside the mounting cavity 2321. The sealing member 234 is movably installed within the mounting cavity 2321 and is used to seal the intake port 2322 under the action of the elastic member 233 and to open the intake port 2322 under the action of the gas inside the housing 21.

[0223] Here, the intake port 2322 is used to communicate the mounting cavity 2321 with the inside of the housing 21, that is, gas inside the housing 21 can enter the mounting cavity 2321 through the intake port 2322. Similarly, the exhaust port 231 is used to communicate the mounting cavity 2321 with the exhaust passage 25, that is, gas that enters the mounting cavity 2321 inside the housing 21 can enter the exhaust passage 25 through the exhaust port 231 and be discharged to the outside of the housing 21 through the exhaust passage 25.

[0224] The sealing member 234 is movably installed within the mounting cavity 2321, that is, the sealing member 234 is movable within the mounting cavity 2321, so that when the sealing member 234 moves closer to the intake port 2322, it can seal the intake port 2322, and conversely, when the sealing member 234 moves away from the intake port 2322, it can open the intake port 2322.

[0225] The sealing member 234 is used to seal the intake port 2322 under the action of the elastic member 233, and to open the intake port 2322 under the action of the gas inside the housing 21. In other words, the elastic member 233 can provide an elastic force to the sealing member 234, thereby allowing the sealing member 234 to abut against the bottom surface of the mounting cavity 2321 and seal the intake port 2322. Conversely, if the force acting on the sealing member 234 by the gas inside the housing 21 is greater than the elastic force of the elastic member 233, the gas inside the housing 21 can overcome the elastic force of the elastic member 233, separating the sealing member 234 from the bottom surface of the mounting cavity 2321, thereby allowing the sealing member 234 to open the intake port 2322. This allows the gas inside the housing 21 to enter the mounting cavity 2321 through the intake port 2322 and then be discharged through the exhaust port 231.

[0226] Selectively, the elastic member 233 is an elastic member, and its structure may vary, for example, an elastic sheet, a spring, or elastic rubber. Exemplarily, in Figures 13 and 14, the elastic member 233 is a spring. Of course, in other embodiments, the elastic member 233 and the sealing member 234 as a whole may be an elastic member, for example, elastic rubber.

[0227] It should be explained that the projection of the wall portion of the exhaust port 231 in the thickness direction X may be located inside the spring or outside the spring. If there are multiple exhaust ports 231, the projections of the walls of the multiple exhaust ports 231 in the thickness direction X may all be located inside the spring or surrounded by the outside of the spring. Of course, in some embodiments, they may be partially located inside the spring or partially located outside the spring.

[0228] The check valve 23 is equipped with a valve body 232, an elastic member 233, and a sealing member 234. The valve body 232 is installed on the wall portion 211, and on the valve body 232 is an intake port 2322 that connects the mounting cavity 2321 to the inside of the housing 21 and an exhaust port 231 that connects the mounting cavity 2321 to the exhaust passage 25. By installing both the elastic member 233 and the sealing member 234 inside the mounting cavity 2321, the elastic member 233 can provide elastic force to the sealing member 234, thereby preventing the sealing member 234 from being sealed. The sealing member 234 can seal the intake port 2322, preventing gas from outside the housing 21 from entering the housing 21. Furthermore, when the pressure inside the housing 21 rises, the gas inside the housing 21 acts on the sealing member 234, overcoming the elastic force of the elastic member 233. This allows the sealing member 234 to open the intake port 2322, thereby allowing the gas inside the housing 21 to be discharged after being opened in one direction via the check valve 23, thus realizing the one-way exhaust function of the check valve 23.

[0229] According to some embodiments of this application, with reference to Figures 5, 6, 13, and 14, the valve body 232 may include a valve body 2323 and a valve cover 2324. The valve body 2323 is mounted on the wall 211, and an intake port 2322 is provided on the valve body 2323. Along the thickness direction X of the wall, the valve cover 2324 is mounted on the end of the valve body 2323 away from the electrode assembly 22, and the valve cover 2324 and the valve body 2323 together form a mounting cavity 2321, and an exhaust port 231 is provided on the valve cover 2324.

[0230] Here, a mounting hole 2111 is provided on the wall portion 211, the valve body 2323 is mounted within the mounting hole 2111, and the valve body 2323 extends into the housing 21 along the thickness direction X of the wall portion, that is, the valve body 2323 protrudes from the surface of the wall portion 211 facing the electrode assembly 22 along the thickness direction X of the wall portion.

[0231] The structure in which the valve body 2323 is mounted on the wall portion 211 can vary. For example, the valve body 2323 may be welded to the wall surface of the mounting hole 2111, or it may be bonded to the wall surface of the mounting hole 2111 with a sealant.

[0232] Exemplary, the intake port 2322 is located at the end of the wall of the valve body 2323 closest to the electrode assembly 22 in the thickness direction X, i.e., the intake port 2322 penetrates the bottom surface of the mounting cavity 2321, and accordingly, the sealing member 234 is movably installed within the mounting cavity 2321 along the thickness direction X of the wall, so that the sealing member 234 can seal the intake port 2322 when it contacts the bottom surface of the mounting cavity 2321. Of course, in other embodiments, the intake port 2322 may be located on one side of the valve body 2323 in the radial direction, and accordingly, the sealing member 234 is movably installed within the mounting cavity 2321 along the radial direction of the valve body 2323.

[0233] Exemplary, the exhaust port 231 is a first through-hole installed on the valve cover 2324, the first through-hole penetrates both sides of the valve cover 2324 along the thickness direction X of the wall, and in Figure 13, three exhaust ports 231 are installed on the valve cover 2324, and the three exhaust ports 231 are installed around the central axis of the mounting hole 2111. Of course, in other embodiments, the number of exhaust ports 231 installed on the valve cover 2324 may be one, two, four, or five, etc.

[0234] For example, there are multiple exhaust ports 231 installed on the valve cover 2324, and these multiple exhaust ports 231 are arranged at equal intervals.

[0235] For example, multiple exhaust ports 231 are arranged at equal intervals around the center of the valve cover 2324, thus allowing for smoother gas flow.

[0236] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 13 and 14, the valve cover 2324 is connected to the valve body 2323, and a recessed groove 2323a is provided at the end of the valve body 2323 away from the electrode assembly 22, and at least a portion of the valve cover 2324 is housed within the recessed groove 2323a. By providing a recessed groove 2323a on the end of the valve body 2323 away from the electrode assembly 22, and by housing at least a portion of the valve cover 2324 within the recessed groove 2323a, a check valve 23 employing such a structure can save the space occupied in the thickness direction X of the wall portion of the valve body 232, while improving the structural stability of the valve cover 2324 assembled on the valve body 2323, and providing a certain level of protection to the valve cover 2324, thereby reducing the phenomenon of wear or damage to the valve cover 2324.

[0237] Here, the mounting cavity 2321 penetrates the bottom surface of the recessed groove 2323a, and the valve cover 2324 is assembled within the recessed groove 2323a and abuts against the bottom surface of the recessed groove 2323a, thereby enclosing the valve cover 2324 and the valve body 2323 to form the mounting cavity 2321.

[0238] At least a portion of the valve cover 2324 is housed within the recessed groove 2323a, meaning the valve cover 2324 may be located entirely within the recessed groove 2323a or partially within it; in other words, in the thickness direction X of the wall portion, the valve cover 2324 may or may not extend from the recessed groove 2323a; exemplary, in Figure 14, the entire valve cover 2324 is located within the recessed groove 2323a.

[0239] For example, the material of the valve body 2323 may be a metal, such as copper, iron, aluminum, steel, or an aluminum alloy. Similarly, the material of the valve cover 2324 may be a metal, such as copper, iron, aluminum, steel, or an aluminum alloy. Here, the valve body 2323 and the valve cover 2324 may be made of the same material or different materials.

[0240] The valve body 232 of the check valve 23 includes a valve body 2323 and a valve cover 2324. By connecting the valve cover 2324 to the end of the wall portion of the valve body 2323 away from the electrode assembly 22 in the thickness direction X, the valve cover 2324 and the valve body 2323 together define a mounting cavity 2321 for housing the elastic member 233 and the sealing member 234. A check valve 23 employing such a structure facilitates the assembly of the elastic member 233 and the sealing member 234 within the mounting cavity 2321 by arranging the valve body 232 in two parts, which is advantageous in reducing the difficulty of assembling the check valve 23.

[0241] According to some embodiments of this application, referring to Figures 5, 13, and 14, the valve cover 2324 and the sealing member 234 are spaced apart along the thickness direction X of the wall, both ends of the elastic member 233 abut against the valve cover 2324 and the sealing member 234, respectively, and the intake port 2322 is installed on the bottom surface of the mounting cavity 2321.

[0242] Here, the valve cover 2324 and the bottom surface of the mounting cavity 2321 are installed facing each other, and both ends of the wall portion of the elastic member 233 in the thickness direction X abut against the valve cover 2324 and the sealing member 234, respectively. As a result, the elastic member 233 is compressed between the valve cover 2324 and the sealing member 234, thereby providing an elastic force to the sealing member 234. This allows the sealing member 234 to seal the intake port 2322 installed on the bottom surface of the mounting cavity 2321 under the action of the elastic force of the elastic member 233.

[0243] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 13 and 14, a first guide post 2324a is provided on the side of the valve cover 2324 facing the sealing member 234, and a portion of the elastic member 233 is fitted onto the outside of the first guide post 2324a. In a check valve 23 employing such a structure, the first guide post 2324a is provided on the side of the valve cover 2324 facing the sealing member 234, and the portion of the elastic member 233 is fitted onto the outside of the first guide post 2324a. This allows the first guide post 2324a to provide a certain positioning role to the elastic member 233, facilitating the assembly of the elastic member 233 and reducing the difficulty of assembly. Furthermore, the first guide post 2324a acts as a guide when the elastic member 233 is compressed along the thickness direction X of the wall, reducing the phenomenon of radial deformation of the elastic member 233 during the compression process. This ensures that the elastic member 233 is compressed stably along the thickness direction X of the wall, improving the reliability of the elastic member 233 and reducing the risk of the sealing member 234 accidentally opening the air intake port 2322.

[0244] Here, the elastic member 233 is a spring, the portion of which is fitted onto the outside of the first guide post 2324a, and the end of the spring away from the sealing member 234 abuts against the surface of the valve cover 2324 on which the first guide post 2324a is protruding, that is, the first guide post 2324a is inserted into the spring.

[0245] For example, the central axis of the first guide post 2324a coincides with the central axis of the mounting hole 2111, and the central axis of the elastic member 233 coincides with the central axis of the first guide post 2324a.

[0246] It should be explained that in embodiments where multiple exhaust ports 231 are installed on the valve cover 2324, the multiple exhaust ports 231 surround the outside of the first guide post 2324a. Of course, in other embodiments, the exhaust ports 231 may have a structure that penetrates the first guide post 2324a along the thickness direction X of the wall.

[0247] By arranging the valve cover 2324 and the sealing member 234 at intervals along the thickness direction X of the wall portion, both ends of the elastic member 233 respectively abut against the valve cover 2324 and the sealing member 234, and it can be realized that the sealing member 234 can seal the air inlet 2322 installed on the cavity bottom surface of the mounting cavity 2321 along the thickness direction X of the wall portion under the action of the elastic member 233. That is, the air inlet 2322 is installed at the end facing the electrode assembly 22 in the thickness direction X of the wall portion of the valve body 2323, and the sealing member 234 can move along the thickness direction X of the wall portion under the action of the elastic member 233 to seal the air inlet 2322. For the check valve 23 adopting such a structure, by facilitating the elastic member 233 to apply an elastic force to the sealing member 234, the sealing member 234 can seal the air inlet 2322, and the assembly difficulty of the elastic member 233 can be reduced.

[0248] According to some embodiments of the present application, referring to FIG. 14, the diameter of the first guide post 2324a is D1, the inner diameter of the elastic member 233 is D2, and 0 mm < D2 - D1 ≤ 5 mm is satisfied.

[0249] Here, the elastic member 233 is a spring, and the inner diameter D2 of the elastic member 233 is the diameter of the hollow cavity formed inside the spring.

[0250] 0 mm < D2 - D1 ≤ 5 mm, that is, when the first guide post 2324a and the elastic member 233 are coaxially installed, the size of the gap between the first guide post 2324a and the elastic member 233 is greater than 0 mm and less than or equal to 5 mm.

[0251] Exemplarily, the difference value between the inner diameter of the elastic member 233 and the diameter of the first guide post 2324a may be 0 mm, 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.8 mm, 1 mm, 1.2 mm, 1.5 mm, 2 mm, 2.5 mm, 3 mm, 3.5 mm, 4 mm, 4.5 mm or 5 mm, etc.

[0252] By setting the difference between the inner diameter of the elastic member 233 and the diameter of the first guide post 2324a to be greater than 0 mm and less than or equal to 5 mm, the phenomenon in which the elastic member 233 is difficult to assemble on the first guide post 2324a because the difference between the inner diameter of the elastic member 233 and the diameter of the first guide post 2324a is 0 or less can be mitigated, and the phenomenon in which the elastic member 233 rubs during the process of being fitted onto the first guide post 2324a can be reduced. On the other hand, the phenomenon in which the gap between the elastic member 233 and the first guide post 2324a is too large due to the difference between the inner diameter of the elastic member 233 and the diameter of the first guide post 2324a can be mitigated, and the case in which the elastic member 233 rattles or deforms radially can be reduced, thereby improving the balance of the elastic force that the elastic member 233 acts on the sealing member 234 and reducing the risk that the sealing member 234 may accidentally open the air intake port 2322.

[0253] In some embodiments, a first stopper groove may be further provided on the side of the valve cover 2324 facing the sealing member 234, and the end of the elastic member 233 away from the sealing member 234 is inserted into the first stopper groove.

[0254] In this embodiment, a first stopper groove is provided on the side of the valve cover 2324 facing the sealing member 234, that is, the valve cover 2324 has a first stopper groove provided on the surface facing the sealing member 234 in the thickness direction X of the wall portion, and in the embodiment in which a first guide post 2324a is provided on the side of the valve cover 2324 facing the sealing member 234, a first stopper groove is provided on the surface of the valve cover 2324 on which the first guide post 2324a is provided.

[0255] The end of the elastic member 233 that is away from the sealing member 234 is inserted into the first stopper groove, that is, the end of the elastic member 233 that is away from the sealing member 234 abuts against the bottom surface of the first stopper groove.

[0256] Exemplary, in an embodiment where the elastic member 233 is a spring, and correspondingly the first stopper groove is an annular groove structure, and the first guide post 2324a is convex on the side of the valve cover 2324 facing the sealing member 234, the first stopper groove is installed surrounding the outside of the first guide post 2324a.

[0257] A first stopper groove into which the elastic member 233 is inserted is further provided on the side of the valve cover 2324 facing the sealing member 234. This groove acts as a stopper for the end of the elastic member 233 that presses against the valve cover 2324, thereby reducing the phenomenon of relative radial sliding between the elastic member 233 and the valve cover 2324. Furthermore, it improves the balance of the elastic force that the elastic member 233 acts on the sealing member 234, which is advantageous in improving the reliability of the elastic member 233.

[0258] In some embodiments, the end of the elastic member 233 that is away from the sealing member 234 is fixedly connected to the valve cover 2324.

[0259] Here, the structure by which the elastic member 233 is fixedly connected to the valve cover 2324 can vary, for example, by welding or bonding.

[0260] It should be explained that in an embodiment in which a first stopper groove is installed on the side of the valve cover 2324 facing the sealing member 234, and the end of the elastic member 233 away from the sealing member 234 is inserted into the first stopper groove, the end of the elastic member 233 away from the sealing member 234 is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the first stopper groove. In an embodiment in which a first stopper groove is not installed on the side of the valve cover 2324 facing the sealing member 234, the end of the elastic member 233 away from the sealing member 234 is fixedly connected to the surfaces of the valve cover 2324 that are in contact with each other.

[0261] By permanently connecting the end of the elastic member 233 away from the sealing member 234 to the valve cover 2324, the end of the elastic member 233 that presses against the valve cover 2324 and the valve cover 2324 are permanently connected to each other. This improves the stability of the elastic member 233 pressing against the valve cover 2324, reduces the phenomenon of relative slippage between the elastic member 233 and the valve cover 2324, and further improves the balance of the elastic force that the elastic member 233 acts on the sealing member 234.

[0262] It should be noted that the structure of the check valve 23 is not limited to this, and in some embodiments, the check valve 23 may have other structures. For example, referring to Figure 15, which is a local cross-sectional view of a battery cell 20 according to yet another embodiment of the present application. Along the thickness direction X of the wall, the mounting cavity 2321 penetrates the end of the valve body 232 away from the electrode assembly 22, forming an exhaust port 231, and the shielding material 24 is installed facing the exhaust port 231.

[0263] Here, the mounting cavity 2321 penetrates the end of the valve body 232 away from the electrode assembly 22, forming an exhaust port 231. In this embodiment, the valve body 232 includes a valve body 2323 and a valve cover 2324, but the valve cover 2324 is not installed on the valve body 232, the mounting cavity 2321 is formed inside the valve body 2323, and the mounting cavity 2321 penetrates the end of the valve body 2323 away from the electrode assembly 22 along the thickness direction X of the wall, forming an exhaust port 231.

[0264] By installing the mounting cavity 2321 so as to penetrate the end of the valve body 232 away from the electrode assembly 22 in the thickness direction X of the wall, an exhaust port 231 is formed at the end of the valve body 232 away from the electrode assembly 22, and the exhaust port 231 is covered with a shielding material 24. A check valve 23 employing such a structure facilitates the assembly of the elastic member 233 and the sealing member 234 within the mounting cavity 2321 via the intake port 2322, which is advantageous in reducing the difficulty of assembling the check valve 23.

[0265] It should be explained that in embodiments where a valve cover 2324 is not installed on the valve body 232, the intake port 2322 may be installed on the side surface of the mounting cavity 2321, i.e., the sealing member 234 and the elastic member 233 are arranged along the radial direction of the mounting cavity 2321, thereby allowing the sealing member 234 to seal the intake port 2322. Of course, the intake port 2322 may also be installed on the bottom surface of the mounting cavity 2321, i.e., the sealing member 234 and the elastic member 233 are arranged along the thickness direction X of the wall, thereby allowing the sealing member 234 to seal the intake port 2322. Referring to Figure 15, the shielding material 24 and the sealing member 234 are installed with a gap between them along the thickness direction X of the wall, both ends of the elastic member 233 abut against the shielding material 24 and the sealing member 234 respectively, and the air intake port 2322 is installed on the bottom surface of the mounting cavity 2321.

[0266] Here, the shielding material 24 and the bottom surface of the mounting cavity 2321 are installed facing each other, and both ends of the wall portion of the elastic member 233 in the thickness direction X abut against the shielding material 24 and the sealing member 234, respectively. As a result, the elastic member 233 is compressed between the shielding material 24 and the sealing member 234, thereby providing an elastic force to the sealing member 234. This allows the sealing member 234 to seal the air intake port 2322 installed on the bottom surface of the mounting cavity 2321 under the action of the elastic force of the elastic member 233.

[0267] It should be explained that in an embodiment in which a second groove 2452 is installed on the second surface 245 of the shielding material 24, the end of the elastic member 233 away from the sealing member 234 abuts against the bottom surface of the second groove 2452.

[0268] By installing the shielding material 24 and the sealing member 234 with a gap in between along the thickness direction X of the wall, both ends of the elastic member 233 abut against the shielding material 24 and the sealing member 234, respectively, so that the sealing member 234 can seal the intake port 2322 installed on the bottom surface of the mounting cavity 2321 along the thickness direction X of the wall under the action of the elastic member 233. In other words, the intake port 2322 is installed at the end of the valve body 2323 facing the electrode assembly 22 in the thickness direction X of the wall, and the sealing member 234 moves along the thickness direction X of the wall under the action of the elastic member 233, sealing the intake port 2322. A check valve 23 employing such a structure makes it easy for the elastic member 233 to apply elastic force to the sealing member 234, so that the sealing member 234 seals the intake port 2322 and the difficulty of assembling the elastic member 233 can be reduced.

[0269] Referring to Figures 5, 13 and 14, and further to Figure 16, Figure 16 is a local cross-sectional view of a wall portion 211 of a housing 21 of a battery cell 20 according to some embodiments of the present application. The wall portion 211 has a first surface 2112 that is separated from the electrode assembly 22, on which a mounting groove 2113 is provided, and a shielding material 24 is assembled within the mounting groove 2113, and a mounting hole 2111 is provided at the bottom of the groove 2113, the mounting hole 2111 is in communication with the interior of the housing 21, and a valve body 2323 is mounted within the mounting hole 2111 and protrudes from the surface of the wall portion 211 facing the electrode assembly 22 along the thickness direction X of the wall portion. Here, the mounting hole 2111 includes a first hole portion 2111a and a second hole portion 2111b, the first hole portion 2111a and the second hole portion 2111b are arranged along the thickness direction X of the wall portion, and the first hole portion 2111a is located on the side of the second hole portion 2111b away from the electrode assembly 22, and the hole diameter of the first hole portion 2111a is larger than the hole diameter of the second hole portion 2111b. The valve body 2323 has a connecting portion 2323b located within the first hole portion 2111a, the connecting portion 2323b is an annular structure extending along the circumferential direction of the valve body 2323, and the connecting portion 2323b is welded to the hole wall surface of the first hole portion 2111a, forming a weld mark of the annular structure.

[0270] Selectively, referring to Figure 14, a stress-relieving groove 2323c, which is an annular groove structure, is further installed on the connection portion 2323b. In embodiments in which the valve body 232 includes the valve body 2323 and the valve cover 2324, the stress-relieving groove 2323c surrounds the outside of the valve cover 2324, and in embodiments in which only the valve body 2323 is installed on the valve body 232, the stress-relieving groove 2323c surrounds the outside of the mounting cavity 2321. By installing the stress-relieving groove 2323c on the connection portion 2323b, the stress-relieving groove 2323c can release the welding stress caused by the mutual welding between the connection portion 2323b and the hole wall surface of the first hole portion 2111a, thereby reducing the influence of the welding stress on the weld bead connecting the hole wall surface of the first hole portion 2111a and the connection portion 2323b, reducing the risk of the weld bead cracking, and further reducing the risk of seal failure at the weld bead.

[0271] According to some embodiments of this application, referring to Figures 13, 14, and 15, a second guide post 2341 is provided on the side of the sealing member 234 facing the valve cover 2324 or the shielding material 24, and a portion of the elastic member 233 is fitted onto the outside of the second guide post 2341.

[0272] Here, the elastic member 233 is a spring, the portion of which is fitted onto the outside of the second guide post 2341, and the end of the spring that is away from the valve cover 2324 or shielding material 24 abuts against the surface of the sealing member 234 on which the second guide post 2341 is protruding, that is, the second guide post 2341 is inserted into the spring.

[0273] For example, the central axis of the second guide post 2341 coincides with the central axis of the mounting hole 2111, and the central axis of the elastic member 233 coincides with the central axis of the second guide post 2341.

[0274] On the side of the valve cover 2324 of the sealing member 234, a second guide post 2341 is protrudingly provided, and a portion of the elastic member 233 is externally fitted outside the second guide post 2341. Thus, the check valve 23 adopting such a structure enables the second guide post 2341 to play a role in positioning the elastic member 233, facilitating the assembly of the elastic member 233, which is beneficial for reducing the assembly difficulty of the elastic member 233. On the other hand, when the elastic member 233 is compressed along the thickness direction X of the wall portion by the second guide post 2341, the second guide post 2341 plays a certain guiding role, reducing the phenomenon that the elastic member 233 deforms in the radial direction during the compression process. Thereby, it can be realized that the elastic member 233 is stably compressed along the thickness direction X of the wall portion, which is beneficial for improving the use reliability of the elastic member 233. Furthermore, it can reduce the risk that the sealing member 234 accidentally opens the air inlet 2322.

[0275] According to some embodiments of the present application, referring to FIG. 14, the diameter of the second guide post 2341 is D3, the inner diameter of the elastic member 233 is D2, and 0mm < D3 - D1 ≤ 5mm is satisfied.

[0276] Here, the elastic member 233 is a spring, and the inner diameter D2 of the elastic member 233 is the diameter of the hollow cavity formed inside the spring.

[0277] 0mm < D3 - D1 ≤ 5mm, that is, when the second guide post 2341 and the elastic member 233 are coaxially installed, the size of the gap between the second guide post 2341 and the elastic member 233 is greater than 0mm and less than or equal to 5mm.

[0278] Exemplarily, the difference value between the inner diameter of the elastic member 233 and the diameter of the second guide post may be 0mm, 0.1mm, 0.2mm, 0.5mm, 0.8mm, 1mm, 1.2mm, 1.5mm, 2mm, 2.5mm, 3mm, 3.5mm, 4mm, 4.5mm or 5mm, etc.

[0279] By setting the difference value between the inner diameter of the elastic member 233 and the diameter of the second guide post 2341 to be greater than 0 mm and not more than 5 mm, since the difference value between the inner diameter of the elastic member 233 and the diameter of the second guide post 2341 is 0 or less, the phenomenon that it is difficult to assemble the elastic member 233 onto the second guide post 2341 is alleviated, and the rubbing phenomenon during the process of externally fitting the elastic member 233 onto the second guide post 2341 can be reduced. On the other hand, since the difference value between the inner diameter of the elastic member 233 and the diameter of the second guide post 2341 is too large, the phenomenon that the gap between the elastic member 233 and the second guide post 2341 is too large is alleviated, and the case where the elastic member 233 rattles or is deformed in the radial direction can be reduced. Thereby, the balance of the elastic force exerted by the elastic member 233 on the sealing member 234 can be improved, and the risk that the sealing member 234 accidentally opens the air inlet 2322 can be reduced.

[0280] In some embodiments, a second stopper groove may be further provided on the side of the sealing member 234 facing the valve cover 2324, and the end of the elastic member 233 away from the valve cover 2324 is inserted into the second stopper groove.

[0281] Here, on the side of the sealing member 234 facing the valve cover 2324, a second stopper groove is provided, that is, the second stopper groove is provided on the surface facing the valve cover 2324 in the thickness direction X of the wall portion of the sealing member 234. In an embodiment where the second guide post 2341 protrudes on the side of the sealing member 234 facing the valve cover 2324, the second stopper groove is provided on the surface of the sealing member 234 where the second guide post 2341 protrudes.

[0282] The end of the elastic member 233 away from the valve cover 2324 is inserted into the second stopper groove, that is, the end of the elastic member 233 away from the valve cover 2324 abuts on the groove bottom surface of the second stopper groove.

[0283] Exemplary, in an embodiment where the elastic member 233 is a spring, and correspondingly the second stopper groove is an annular groove structure, and a second guide post 2341 is convex on the side of the sealing member 234 facing the valve cover 2324, the second stopper groove is installed surrounding the outside of the second guide post 2341.

[0284] By installing a second stopper groove into which the elastic member 233 is inserted on the side of the sealing member 234 facing the valve cover 2324, the elastic member 233 acts as a stopper for the end of the elastic member 233 that presses against the sealing member 234, reducing the phenomenon of relative radial sliding between the elastic member 233 and the sealing member 234. Furthermore, it is possible to improve the balance of the elastic force that the elastic member 233 acts on the sealing member 234, which is advantageous in improving the reliability of the elastic member 233.

[0285] According to some embodiments of this application, the end of the elastic member 233 that is separated from the valve cover 2324 is fixedly connected to the sealing member 234.

[0286] Here, the structure by which the elastic member 233 is fixedly connected to the sealing member 234 can vary, for example, by welding or bonding.

[0287] It should be explained that in an embodiment in which a second stopper groove is installed on the side of the sealing member 234 facing the valve cover 2324, and the end of the elastic member 233 away from the valve cover 2324 is inserted into the second stopper groove, the end of the elastic member 233 away from the valve cover 2324 is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the second stopper groove. In an embodiment in which a second stopper groove is not installed on the side of the sealing member 234 facing the valve cover 2324, the end of the elastic member 233 away from the valve cover 2324 is fixedly connected to the surfaces of the sealing member 234 that are in contact with each other.

[0288] By fixing the end of the elastic member 233 away from the valve cover 2324 to the sealing member 234, and by fixing the end of the elastic member 233 that presses against the sealing member 234 to the sealing member 234, the stability of the elastic member 233 pressing against the sealing member 234 can be improved, the phenomenon of relative slippage between the elastic member 233 and the sealing member 234 can be reduced, and the balance of the elastic force acting on the sealing member 234 by the elastic member 233 can be further improved.

[0289] According to some embodiments of this application, referring to Figures 13, 14 and 15, the sealing member 234 may include a pressing portion 2342 and a sealing portion 2343, wherein both ends of the elastic member 233 abut against the pressing portion 2342 and the valve cover 2324 or shielding material 24 along the thickness direction X of the wall, the sealing portion 2343 is connected to the side of the pressing portion 2342 away from the valve cover 2324 or shielding material 24, and the sealing portion 2343 is used to seal the intake port 2322.

[0290] Here, the elastic member 233 can provide an elastic force to the pressing portion 2342, thereby allowing the pressing portion 2342 to press against the sealing portion 2343 and seal the intake port 2322 through the sealing portion 2343.

[0291] Selectively, the rigidity of the pressing portion 2342 is greater than that of the sealing portion 2343, i.e., the deformation resistance of the pressing portion 2342 is greater than that of the sealing portion 2343, thereby allowing the pressing portion 2342 to press the sealing portion 2343 more effectively against the bottom surface of the mounting cavity 2321 and seal the intake port 2322. Exemplarily, the material of the pressing portion 2342 may vary, for example, steel, iron, or aluminum. Similarly, the material of the sealing portion 2343 may vary, for example, rubber, silicone rubber, or plastic.

[0292] Selectively, the connection structure between the pressing portion 2342 and the sealing portion 2343 may vary, for example, locking, bolting, or bonding.

[0293] It should be explained that in an embodiment in which a second guide post 2341 is installed on the sealing member 234, the second guide post 2341 is convex on the surface of the pressing portion 2342 facing the valve cover 2324 or the shielding material 24. Similarly, in an embodiment in which a second stopper groove is installed on the side of the sealing member 234 facing the valve cover 2324, the second stopper groove is installed on the surface of the pressing portion 2342 facing the valve cover 2324.

[0294] The sealing member 234 is installed to include two parts, a pressing portion 2342 and a sealing portion 2343, with the pressing portion 2342 positioned on the side of the sealing portion 2343 facing the valve cover 2324, and the sealing portion 2343 is used to seal the intake port 2322. Furthermore, both ends of the elastic member 233 abut against the valve cover 2324 and the pressing portion 2342, respectively. This allows the elastic member 233 to exert an elastic force on the sealing portion 2343 by the pressing portion 2342, which is advantageous for improving the balance of the elastic force acting on the sealing portion 2343, and furthermore, can effectively improve the sealing effect of the intake port 2322 by the sealing portion 2343.

[0295] According to some embodiments of this application, continuing to refer to Figures 13, 14 and 15, along the thickness direction X of the wall portion, the pressing portion 2342 has a locking groove 2342a on the side facing the sealing portion 2343, and a locking portion 2343a is provided on the side of the sealing portion 2343 facing the pressing portion 2342, the locking portion 2343a is inserted into the locking groove 2342a, and the locking portion 2343a and the locking groove 2342a are locked and fitted together. The sealing member 234 employing such a structure improves the structural stability of the sealing portion 2343 being installed on the pressing portion 2342, reduces the phenomenon of the sealing portion 2343 sliding radially relative to the pressing portion 2342, and is also advantageous in improving the sealing effect of the air intake port 2322 by the sealing portion 2343, and can reduce the phenomenon of the air intake port 2322 being accidentally opened.

[0296] Exemplarily, the locking portion 2343a has a circular columnar structure, and correspondingly, the locking groove 2342a is a circular groove.

[0297] In some embodiments, the sealing portion 2343 is adhered to the pressing portion 2342. Adopting a structure where they are adhered to connect the sealing portion 2343 and the pressing portion 2342 is advantageous for improving the structural stability of the connection of the sealing portion 2343 on the pressing portion 2342, reducing the risk of the sealing portion 2343 and the pressing portion 2342 separating from each other, and can improve the reliability of the sealing portion 2343 sealing the intake port 2322. On the other hand, it facilitates the realization of the assembly connection between the sealing portion 2343 and the pressing portion 2342 and is advantageous for reducing the assembly difficulty between the sealing portion 2343 and the pressing portion 2342.

[0298] In some embodiments, the material of the sealing portion 2343 includes ethylene propylene rubber, fluororubber or Teflon (registered trademark). The sealing portion 2343 made of ethylene propylene rubber, fluororubber or Teflon enables the sealing portion 2343 to have relatively good corrosion resistance, effectively alleviates the phenomenon that the sealing portion 2343 is corroded by the electrolyte, which is advantageous for improving the service life of the sealing portion 2343, and can reduce the phenomenon that the sealing effect of the sealing portion 2343 sealing the intake port 2322 is poor after the sealing portion 2343 is corroded.

[0299] It should be noted that in some embodiments, the sealing member 234 may not be provided with the pressing portion 2342. The sealing member 234 only includes the sealing portion 2343, and one end of the elastic member 233 directly abuts on the sealing portion 2343.

[0300] According to some embodiments of the present application, referring to FIG. 14, along the thickness direction X of the wall portion, the size of the gap between the valve cover 2324 and the sealing member 234 is L, satisfying 0 mm < L ≤ 2 mm.

[0301] Here, the size of the gap between the valve cover 2324 and the sealing member 234 is L, that is, the pitch in the thickness direction X of the wall portions of the valve cover 2324 and the sealing member 234 is L.

[0302] For example, the size L of the gap between the valve cover 2324 and the sealing member 234 may be 0 mm, 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.8 mm, 0.9 mm, 1 mm, 1.2 mm, 1.5 mm, 1.8 mm, or 2 mm.

[0303] It should be explained that in an embodiment in which a first guide post 2324a is provided on the valve cover 2324 and a second guide post 2341 is provided on the sealing member 234, L is the size in the thickness direction X of the wall portion of the gap formed between the first guide post 2324a and the second guide post 2341. In an embodiment in which a first guide post 2324a is provided on the valve cover 2324 and a second guide post 2341 is not provided on the sealing member 234, L is the size in the thickness direction X of the wall portion of the gap formed between the first guide post 2324a and the surface of the sealing member 234 facing the valve cover 2324. In an embodiment in which a first guide post 2324a is not provided on the valve cover 2324 and a second guide post 2341 is provided on the sealing member 234, L is the size in the thickness direction X of the wall portion of the gap formed between the second guide post 2341 and the surface of the valve cover 2324 facing the sealing member 234.

[0304] By setting the size of the gap between the valve cover 2324 and the sealing member 234 in the thickness direction X of the wall to be greater than 0 mm and less than or equal to 2 mm, the obstruction of the sealing member 234 by the valve cover 2324 is reduced, allowing the sealing member 234 to move along the thickness direction X of the wall between the valve cover 2324 and the sealing member 234. This enables the sealing member 234 to open the intake port 2322 and exhaust gas when the gas inside the housing 21 pushes against the sealing member 234. At the same time, the phenomenon of the check valve 23 occupying too much space in the thickness direction X of the wall due to an excessively large gap between the valve cover 2324 and the sealing member 234 can be mitigated, which is advantageous for improving the space utilization rate of the battery cell 20.

[0305] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 4 and 5, and further to Figure 17, Figure 17 is a local cross-sectional view of an insulating member 28 according to some embodiments of the present application. The battery cell 20 may further include an insulating member 28 installed on the side of the wall 211 facing the electrode assembly 22. Along the thickness direction X of the wall, the valve body 232 of the check valve 23 protrudes from the surface of the wall 211 facing the electrode assembly 22, and the insulating member 28 includes a body 281 and a housing 282, the body 281 installed on the side of the wall 211 facing the electrode assembly 22, the housing 282 connected to the body 281, and the portion of the valve body 232 of the check valve 23 that protrudes from the surface of the wall 211 facing the electrode assembly 22 is housed in the housing 282.

[0306] Here, the insulating member 28 is installed on the side of the wall portion 211 facing the electrode assembly 22, and the insulating member 28 plays a role in separating the wall portion 211 from the electrode assembly 22, thereby insulating and isolating the wall portion 211 from the electrode assembly 22.

[0307] For example, the material of the insulating member 28 may vary, such as rubber, silicone rubber, or plastic.

[0308] The portion of the valve body 232 of the check valve 23 that protrudes from the surface of the wall portion 211 facing the electrode assembly 22 is housed in the housing portion 282. In other words, the housing portion 282 is formed at the position of the insulating member 28 corresponding to the check valve 23, and the housing portion 282 covers the outside of the portion of the valve body 232 of the check valve 23 that protrudes from the surface of the wall portion 211 facing the electrode assembly 22.

[0309] Selectively, the main body 281 and the housing 282 of the insulating member 28 may be an integrated structure or separate structures. If the main body 281 and the housing 282 are an integrated structure, they can be integrally molded by processes such as injection molding or milling. If the main body 281 and the housing 282 are separate structures, the housing 282 can be connected to the main body 281 by methods such as bonding or locking. Exemplarily, in Figure 17, the main body 281 and the housing 282 are an integrated structure.

[0310] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 5 and 17, a second through-hole 2821 is provided in the housing 282, and the second through-hole 2821 communicates with an intake port 2322 located on the valve body 232.

[0311] Here, a second through-hole 2821 is installed on the housing portion 282, and the second through-hole 2821 penetrates the housing portion 282, so that the second through-hole 2821 can communicate with the inside of the housing portion 282 and the inside of the housing 21, and thereby the intake port 2322 of the valve body 232 can communicate with the inside of the housing 21 via the second through-hole 2821.

[0312] By installing a second through-hole 2821 on the housing portion 282, the second through-hole 2821 can communicate with the inside of the housing 21 and the inside of the housing portion 282. As a result, the intake port 2322 of the valve body 232 of the check valve 23 communicates with the inside of the housing 21 via the second through-hole 2821. This allows gas from inside the housing 21 to enter the housing portion 282 through the second through-hole 2821 and then be discharged to the outside of the housing 21 via the check valve 23. This eliminates the need for gas to enter the housing portion 282 through the gap between the main body portion 281 and the wall portion 211 and then be discharged via the check valve 23, which is advantageous for improving the smoothness of gas discharge by the check valve 23 from inside the housing 21.

[0313] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 5 and 17, along the thickness direction X of the wall, the intake port 2322 is located at the end of the valve body 232 facing the electrode assembly 22. The housing 282 includes a first wall 2822 and a second wall 2823, the first wall 2822 being installed around the valve body 232, one end of the first wall 2822 being connected to the main body 281 along the thickness direction X of the wall, the second wall 2823 being connected to the end of the first wall 2822 away from the main body 281, and a second through-hole 2821 being located in the second wall 2823.

[0314] Here, the first wall 2822 is installed surrounding the valve body 232; that is, the first wall 2822 of the housing 282 is an annular structure installed around the valve body 232.

[0315] One end of the first wall 2822 is connected to the main body 281, and the second wall 2823 is connected to the end of the first wall 2822 that is away from the main body 281. In other words, the second wall 2823 is connected to the main body 281 by the first wall 2822, and the second wall 2823 and the first wall 2822 together enclose a housing portion 282 for housing the valve body 232, and the second wall 2823 is a single wall on which the housing portion 282 and the intake port 2322 are installed facing each other.

[0316] The second through-hole 2821 is located on the second wall 2823, i.e., on the end of the housing 282 facing the electrode assembly 22. Of course, in other embodiments, the second through-hole 2821 may be located on the first wall 2822, i.e., on one radial side of the housing 282.

[0317] The housing section 282 is provided with a first wall 2822 and a second wall 2823 that are connected to each other, with the first wall 2822 surrounding the valve body 232 and the second wall 2823 located at the end of the wall portion of the valve body 232 facing the electrode assembly 22 in the thickness direction X, so that the first wall 2822 and the second wall 2823 surround the housing section 282 for housing the portion of the valve body 232 that extends into the interior of the housing 21, and the second through hole of the housing section 282 By installing 2821 on the first wall 2822, it is advantageous to increase the path for gas to enter the intake port 2322 of the valve body 232 from the second through-hole 2821, mitigating the phenomenon of electrolyte overflowing with gas. By installing the second through-hole 2821 of the housing section 282 on the second wall 2823, it is advantageous to realize the corresponding installation of the intake port 2322 and the second through-hole 2821, improving the smoothness of the check valve 23 in discharging gas from inside the housing 21.

[0318] According to some embodiments of this application, the material of the shielding material 24 is the same as the material of the wall portion 211.

[0319] For example, the material of the shielding material 24 and the material of the wall portion 211 may both be copper, iron, aluminum, steel, or an aluminum alloy.

[0320] By installing the shielding material 24 and the wall portion 211 in a structure made of the same material, it becomes easier to assemble the shielding material 24 and the wall portion 211 made of the same material together, for example by welding, which is advantageous in reducing the difficulty of assembly when installing the shielding material 24 on the wall portion 211. At the same time, the appearance of the shielding material 24 and the wall portion 211 can be made the same, which is advantageous in improving the aesthetic appearance of the battery cell 20.

[0321] According to some embodiments of this application, with reference to Figures 3 and 4, the housing 21 may include a case 212 and an end cap 213. Inside the case 212 is a housing cavity having an opening 2121, which is used to house an electrode assembly 22, and the end cap 213 seals the opening 2121, and the end cap 213 is a wall portion 211.

[0322] Here, the end cap 213 is the wall portion 211, meaning that the check valve 23 is installed on the end cap 213.

[0323] It should be noted that the structure of the battery cell 20 is not limited to this, and in some embodiments, the battery cell 20 may have other structures. For example, the case 212 may include a wall portion 211, meaning the check valve 23 is mounted on one wall of the case 212, and the check valve 23 may be mounted on a bottom wall where the case 212 and the end cap 213 are installed facing each other, or the case 212 may be mounted on a side wall adjacent to and connected to the end cap 213.

[0324] By installing the wall portion 211 of the housing 21 onto the end cap 213 that seals the opening 2121 of the case 212 of the housing 21, a battery cell 20 employing such a structure facilitates the installation of the check valve 23 on the end cap 213, which is advantageous in reducing the difficulty of assembly in the battery cell 20 and improving the production efficiency of the battery cell 20. Similarly, by installing the wall portion 211 of the housing 21 onto one wall of the case 212, a battery cell 20 employing such a structure reduces the impact of stress generated during the interconnection of the end cap 213 and the case 212 on the check valve 23, which can mitigate phenomena such as damage to the check valve 23, and further improve the operational stability and service life of the battery cell 20.

[0325] According to some embodiments of this application, referring to Figures 3 and 4, the battery cell 20 further includes a pressure relief mechanism 27 installed in the housing 21, the pressure relief mechanism 27 being configured to operate in the event of thermal runaway of the battery cell 20 to release the pressure inside the battery cell 20, the operating pressure of the pressure relief mechanism 27 being greater than the opening pressure of the check valve 23.

[0326] Here, the pressure relief mechanism 27 is installed on the housing 21, may be installed on the end cap 213, or may be installed on the case 212. For example, in Figure 4, the pressure relief mechanism 27 is installed on the end cap 213.

[0327] The pressure release mechanism 27 is configured to operate when the battery cell 20 experiences thermal runaway and release the pressure inside the battery cell 20. In other words, if thermal runaway occurs inside the battery cell 20, the pressure release mechanism 27 operates and opens up, allowing gases and other substances caused by the thermal runaway inside the battery cell 20 to escape.

[0328] The operating pressure of the pressure relief mechanism 27 is greater than the opening pressure of the check valve 23; that is, the pressure at which the gas inside the housing 21 opens the pressure relief mechanism 27 is greater than the pressure at which the gas inside the housing 21 opens the check valve 23. It should be explained that if thermal runaway occurs in the battery cell 20, the gas inside the housing 21 of the battery cell 20 will rapidly increase, enabling the pressure relief mechanism 27 to open and release the pressure. However, during normal use, the battery cell 20 can open the check valve 23 when the gas generated inside the housing 21 reaches a threshold, but it cannot open the pressure relief mechanism 27.

[0329] Selectively, the pressure relief mechanism 27 may be integrally molded with the housing 21, or it may be a separate component. If the pressure relief mechanism 27 is integrally molded with the housing 21, it is located in an area on the housing 21 where a fragile structure is installed, for example, an area on the housing 21 where a groove is installed. If the pressure relief mechanism 27 is a separate component from the housing 21, it may be connected to the housing 21 by methods such as welding, heat fusion, injection molding, or bonding. Exemplarily, in Figure 4, the pressure relief mechanism 27 and the housing 21 are separate components, and the pressure relief mechanism 27 is installed on the end cap 213 of the housing 21. The pressure relief mechanism 27 may be a pressure relief member such as an explosion-proof valve, explosion-proof plate, pressure relief valve, or safety valve.

[0330] For example, in Figure 4, both the electrode terminals 26 and the pressure relief mechanism 27 are mounted on the end cap 213. Of course, in other embodiments, the electrode terminals 26 and the pressure relief mechanism 27 may be mounted on different walls of the housing 21. For example, the pressure relief mechanism 27 may be mounted on the case 212, and the electrode terminals 26 may be mounted on the end cap 213.

[0331] By setting the opening pressure of the check valve 23 for exhaust to be lower than the operating pressure of the pressure release mechanism 27, when gas is generated inside the housing 21 during normal use of the battery cell 20, it is possible to discharge it to the outside of the housing 21 via the check valve 23, thereby mitigating the phenomenon of the pressure release mechanism 27 activating prematurely and releasing pressure before the battery cell 20 experiences thermal runaway due to the rise in internal pressure of the battery cell 20. Furthermore, this effectively improves the operational stability of the battery cell 20, thereby improving its service life and reliability.

[0332] In some embodiments, the check valve 23 and the pressure relief mechanism 27 may be mounted on the same wall of the housing 21. For example, both the check valve 23 and the pressure relief mechanism 27 are mounted on the end cap 213.

[0333] In some embodiments, the check valve 23 and the pressure relief mechanism 27 may be mounted on different walls of the housing 21. For example, the check valve 23 may be mounted on the end cap 213, and the pressure relief mechanism 27 may be mounted on the case 212.

[0334] In some embodiments, the exhaust rate of the check valve 23 is smaller than the exhaust rate of the pressure relief mechanism 27.

[0335] By setting the exhaust rate of the check valve 23 to be lower than the exhaust rate of the pressure relief mechanism 27, it is possible to mitigate the phenomenon in which the pressure relief mechanism 27 cannot be activated and released due to the exhaust of the check valve 23 being too fast when thermal runaway occurs in the battery cell 20. As a result, the pressure relief mechanism 27 can be activated when thermal runaway occurs in the battery cell 20, and the internal pressure of the battery cell 20 can be stably released, which is advantageous in reducing the risk of the battery cell 20 igniting or exploding when thermal runaway occurs.

[0336] In some embodiments, the battery cell 20 is an alkaline metal battery, and may be, for example, a sodium metal battery, a lithium metal battery, or the like. By using an alkaline metal battery in combination with a check valve 23, the gas generated when the alkaline metal battery is operating normally can be discharged in a timely manner, thereby improving the service life of the alkaline metal battery.

[0337] According to some embodiments of this application, the application further provides a battery 100 which comprises a battery cell 20 of any one of the above-described solutions.

[0338] Referring to Figure 2, the battery 100 may further include a housing 10, and the battery cells 20 are housed within the housing 10. In some embodiments, the housing 10 may include a first box body 11 and a second box body 12, the first box body 11 and the second box body 12 overlapping each other, and the first box body 11 and the second box body 12 together define an assembly space for housing the battery cells 20.

[0339] Selectively, in Figure 2, the second box body 12 may be a hollow structure with one end open, and the first box body 11 may be a plate-like structure, and the first box body 11 is placed over the open side of the second box body 12, thereby limiting the assembly space for both the first box body 11 and the second box body 12. Of course, the structure of the housing 10 is not limited to this, and in other embodiments, both the first box body 11 and the second box body 12 may be hollow structures with one side open, and the open side of the first box body 11 is placed over the open side of the second box body 12.

[0340] Of course, the housing 10 formed by the first box body 11 and the second box body 12 may have various shapes, such as a cylinder or a rectangular parallelepiped. For example, in Figure 2, the housing 10 has a rectangular parallelepiped structure.

[0341] In some embodiments, the battery cell 20 installed in the housing 10 may be one or multiple. For example, in Figure 2, multiple battery cells 20 are installed in the housing 10 of the battery 100, and the multiple battery cells 20 may be connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel. Series-parallel connection means that the multiple battery cells 20 have both series and parallel connections. The multiple battery cells 20 may be directly connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel, and the entire assembly composed of multiple battery cells 20 may be housed in the housing 10. Of course, the battery 100 may first have multiple battery cells 20 connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel to form a battery module, and then the multiple battery modules may be connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel to form an integrated unit, which may then be housed in the housing 10.

[0342] Here, the battery 100 may further include other structures, for example, the battery 100 may further include a busbar member, the busbar member being connected to a plurality of battery cells 20 to realize electrical connections between the plurality of battery cells 20.

[0343] It should be explained that in some embodiments, the battery 100 does not require a housing 10, and the battery 100 includes a plurality of battery cells 20, but the battery 100 composed of a plurality of battery cells 20 can be assembled directly on a power consumption device and the plurality of battery cells 20 can provide electrical energy to the power consumption device. In other words, the housing 10 can be part of the power consumption device. Taking a vehicle 1000 as an example, the power consumption device can be part of the chassis structure of the vehicle 1000, for example, a portion of the housing 10 may be at least part of the floor of the vehicle 1000, or a portion of the housing 10 may be at least part of the cross member and side member of the vehicle 1000.

[0344] According to some embodiments of this application, the application further provides a power consumption device comprising a battery cell 20 of any one of the above-described solutions, wherein the battery cell 20 is used to provide electrical energy to the power consumption device.

[0345] Here, the power consumption device may be any one of the devices or systems that utilize the aforementioned battery cell 20.

[0346] According to some embodiments of this application, with reference to Figures 3 to 9 and Figures 12 to 14, this application provides a battery cell 20 comprising a housing 21, an electrode assembly 22, a check valve 23, and a shielding material 24. The housing 21 has a wall portion 211, and the housing 21 comprises a case 212 and an end cap 213, the case 212 having an enclosure cavity with an opening 2121, the electrode assembly 22 being housed in the enclosure cavity, the end cap 213 sealing the opening 2121, and the end cap 213 being the wall portion 211. Along the thickness direction X of the wall portion, the wall portion 211 has a first surface 2112 that moves away from the electrode assembly 22, and a mounting groove 2113 is provided on the first surface 2112, and a mounting hole 2111 is provided on the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113, and a check valve 23 is mounted in the mounting hole 2111 and protrudes from the surface of the wall portion 211 that faces the electrode assembly 22, and the check valve 23 is used to discharge gas from inside the housing 21. The check valve 23 includes a valve body 232, an elastic member 233, and a sealing member 234. The valve body 232 is installed in the wall portion 211, and a mounting cavity 2321 is formed inside the valve body 232. An intake port 2322 and an exhaust port 231 are installed on the valve body 232. The intake port 2322 is used to communicate between the mounting cavity 2321 and the inside of the housing 21, and the exhaust port 231 is used to communicate between the mounting cavity 2321 and the exhaust passage 25. An elastic member 233 is installed inside the mounting cavity 2321, and a sealing member 234 is movably installed inside the mounting cavity 2321. The sealing member 234 is used to seal the intake port 2322 under the action of the elastic member 233 and to open the intake port 2322 under the action of the gas inside the housing 21.The valve body 232 includes a valve body 2323 and a valve cover 2324. The valve body 2323 is mounted in a mounting hole 2111, and an intake port 2322 is provided at the end of the valve body 2323 facing the electrode assembly 22. Along the thickness direction X of the wall, the valve cover 2324 is connected to the end of the valve body 2323 away from the electrode assembly 22. The valve cover 2324 and the valve body 2323 together enclose the mounting cavity 2321. An exhaust port 231 is provided on the valve cover 2324. The valve cover 2324 and the sealing member 234 are spaced apart, and both ends of the elastic member 233 abut against the valve cover 2324 and the sealing member 234, respectively. The intake port 2322 is located on the bottom surface of the mounting cavity 2321. The shielding material 24 is installed in the mounting groove 2113, and the material of the shielding material 24 is the same as the material of the wall portion 211. Along the thickness direction X of the wall portion, the shielding material 24 is located on the side away from the electrode assembly 22 of the check valve 23, and the shielding material 24 covers the check valve 23, and an exhaust passage 25 is formed between the shielding material 24 and the wall portion 211, and the exhaust passage 25 communicates the exhaust port 231 with the outside of the housing 21. The exhaust passage 25 includes a first exhaust gap 251 and a second exhaust gap 252, and the first exhaust gap 251 is formed between the shielding material 24 and the groove side surface of the mounting groove 2113. The cross-section of the shielding material 24 and the wall portion of the mounting groove 2113 perpendicular to the thickness direction X is rectangular, the outer surface of the shielding material 24 includes four first corner surfaces 241 and four first side surfaces 242, with each pair of adjacent first side surfaces 242 connected by one first corner surface 241, the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113 includes four second corner surfaces 2113a and four second side surfaces 2113b, with each pair of adjacent second side surfaces 2113b connected by one second corner surface 2113a, each first side surface 242 abuts against and is welded to the corresponding second side surface 2113b, forming a first exhaust gap 251 between each first corner surface 241 and the corresponding second corner surface 2113a. Both the first corner surface 241 and the second corner surface 2113a are arcuate surfaces, and the radius of the first corner surface 241 is greater than the radius of the second corner surface 2113a.Along the thickness direction X of the wall, the shielding material 24 has a second surface 245 facing the check valve 23 and a third surface 246 away from the check valve 23. The second surface 245 overlaps with the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113, and the third surface 246 is flush with the first surface 2112. Four first grooves 2451 are provided on the second surface 245. The first grooves 2451 extend along the radial direction of the shielding material 24, penetrate one first corner surface 241, and form a second exhaust gap 252 between the bottom surface of the first grooves 2451 and the bottom surface of the mounting groove 2113. A second groove 2452 is further provided on the second surface 245, and a plurality of first grooves 2451 are provided around the second groove 2452, all communicating with the second groove 2452, which communicates with the exhaust port 231. Along the thickness direction X of the wall, the exhaust port 231 is installed facing the second groove 2452, and the projection of the exhaust port 231 is located within the second groove 2452.

[0347] It should be noted that, as long as they do not conflict, the embodiments and features in this application can be combined with each other.

[0348] The foregoing are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit it. To those skilled in the art, this application is subject to various modifications and changes. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the scope of protection. [Explanation of symbols]

[0349] 1000-Vehicle, 100-Battery, 10-Housing, 11-First Box Body, 12-Second Box Body, 20-Battery Cell, 21-Housing, 211-Wall, 2111-Mounting Hole, 2111a-First Hole Section, 2111b-Second Hole Section, 2112-First Surface, 2113-Mounting Groove, 2113a-Second Corner Surface, 2113b-Second Side, 212-Case, 2121-Opening, 213-End Cap, 22-Electrode Assembly, 221-Tab, 23-Check Valve, 231-Exhaust Port, 232-Valve Body, 2321-Mounting Cavity, 2322-Intake Port, 2323-Valve Body, 2323a-Recessed Groove, 2323b-Connection Section, 2323c-Stress Release Groove, 2324-Valve Cover, 2324a-First Guide post, 233 - Elastic member, 234 - Sealing member, 2341 - Second guide post, 2342 - Pressing part, 2342a - Locking groove, 2343 - Seal part, 2343a - Locking part, 24 - Shielding material, 241 - First corner surface, 242 - First side surface, 243 - Recessed groove, 244 - Protruding part, 245 - Second surface, 2451 - First groove, 2452 - Second groove, 246 - Third surface, 25 - Exhaust passage, 251 - First exhaust gap, 252 - Second exhaust gap, 26 - Electrode terminal, 27 - Pressure release mechanism, 28 - Insulating member, 281 - Main body part, 282 - Housing part, 2821 - Second through hole, 2822 - First wall, 2823 - Second wall, 200 - Controller, 300 - Motor, X - Thickness direction of wall part.

Claims

1. It is a battery cell, A housing having a wall section, An electrode assembly housed within the housing, A check valve installed in the wall and having an exhaust port for discharging gas from inside the housing, A battery cell comprising a shielding material attached to the wall portion, wherein, along the thickness direction of the wall portion, the shielding material is located on the side away from the electrode assembly of the check valve, the shielding material covers the check valve, an exhaust passage is formed between the shielding material and the wall portion, and the exhaust passage includes a shielding material that connects the exhaust port to the outside of the housing.

2. The battery cell according to claim 1, wherein, along the thickness direction of the wall portion, the wall portion has a first surface that moves away from the electrode assembly, a mounting groove is provided on the first surface, a mounting hole is provided on the bottom surface of the mounting groove, at least a portion of the check valve is installed in the mounting hole, and at least a portion of the shielding material is housed in the mounting groove.

3. The battery cell according to claim 2, wherein the exhaust passage includes a first exhaust gap, the first exhaust gap is formed between the shielding material and the groove side of the mounting groove, and the first exhaust gap is used to communicate the exhaust port with the outside of the housing.

4. The outer circumferential surface of the shielding material includes a first corner surface and at least two first side surfaces, the first corner surface being connected to two adjacent first side surfaces, The battery cell according to claim 3, wherein the groove side surface of the mounting groove includes a second corner surface and at least two second sides, the second corner surface being connected to two adjacent second sides, each second side being connected to one first side, and the first exhaust gap being formed between the second corner surface and the first corner surface.

5. The battery cell according to claim 4, wherein both the first corner surface and the second corner surface are arcuate surfaces, and the radius of the first corner surface is greater than the radius of the second corner surface.

6. The battery cell according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the first side surface is welded to the second side surface.

7. The battery cell according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the cross section of the shielding material perpendicular to the thickness direction of the wall portion is rectangular, the outer surface of the shielding material includes four first side surfaces and four first corner surfaces, and at least one of the first corner surfaces has the first exhaust gap formed therein.

8. The battery cell according to claim 3, wherein a groove is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the shielding material, and the first exhaust gap is formed between the bottom surface of the groove and the side surface of the mounting groove.

9. The battery cell according to claim 8, wherein the area on the outer surface of the shielding material in which the groove is not installed is welded to the groove side of the mounting groove.

10. The battery cell according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of protrusions are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the shielding material, the plurality of protrusions are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction of the shielding material, the protrusions abut against the groove side surface of the mounting groove, and the first exhaust gap is formed between the area on the outer circumferential surface of the shielding material where the protrusions are not provided and the groove side surface of the mounting groove.

11. The battery cell according to claim 10, wherein the protrusion is tightly fitted into the groove side of the mounting groove.

12. The battery cell according to any one of claims 3 to 11, wherein the exhaust passage further includes a second exhaust gap, the second exhaust gap is formed between the shielding material and the bottom surface of the mounting groove, and the second exhaust gap communicates with the first exhaust gap and the exhaust port.

13. The battery cell according to claim 12, wherein the shielding material has a second surface facing the check valve along the thickness direction of the wall portion, the second surface overlaps the groove bottom surface of the mounting groove, a first groove is provided on the second surface, and the second exhaust gap is formed between the groove bottom surface of the first groove and the groove bottom surface of the mounting groove.

14. A plurality of the first exhaust gaps are formed between the shielding material and the groove side surface of the mounting groove, the plurality of the first exhaust gaps are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction of the shielding material, a plurality of the first grooves are provided on the second surface, and each of the first exhaust gaps communicates with one of the first grooves, as described in claim 13.

15. The battery cell according to claim 14, wherein a second groove is further provided on the second surface, a plurality of the first grooves are provided around the second groove and all communicate with the second groove, and the second groove communicates with the exhaust port.

16. The battery cell according to claim 15, wherein, along the thickness direction of the wall portion, the exhaust port is installed at the end of the check valve away from the electrode assembly, the exhaust port is installed facing the second groove, and the projection of the exhaust port is located within the second groove.

17. The battery cell according to any one of claims 2 to 16, wherein the shielding material does not protrude beyond the first surface along the thickness direction of the wall portion.

18. The battery cell according to claim 17, wherein the shielding material has a third surface that is away from the check valve, and the third surface is flush with the first surface.

19. The battery cell according to any one of claims 2 to 18, wherein the check valve does not protrude from the bottom surface of the mounting groove along the thickness direction of the wall portion.

20. The shielding material is fixedly connected to the wall portion, as described in any one of claims 1 to 19.

21. The aforementioned check valve is A valve body installed in the wall portion, wherein a mounting cavity is formed inside the valve body, and an intake port and an exhaust port are provided on the valve body, the intake port is used to communicate between the mounting cavity and the inside of the housing, and the exhaust port is used to communicate between the mounting cavity and the exhaust passage. An elastic member installed within the aforementioned mounting cavity, A battery cell according to any one of claims 1 to 20, comprising a sealing member movably installed within the mounting cavity, which is used to seal the air intake under the action of the elastic member and to open the air intake under the action of the gas inside the housing.

22. The valve body is, A valve body installed on the wall portion and on which the air intake port is installed, The battery cell according to claim 21, comprising a valve cover installed along the thickness direction of the wall portion at the end of the valve body away from the electrode assembly, which together with the valve body forms the mounting cavity and on which the exhaust port is installed.

23. The battery cell according to claim 22, wherein the valve cover is installed at a distance from the sealing member along the thickness direction of the wall portion, both ends of the elastic member abut against the valve cover and the sealing member, respectively, and the air intake is installed on the bottom surface of the mounting cavity.

24. The battery cell according to claim 21, wherein, along the thickness direction of the wall portion, the mounting cavity penetrates the end of the valve body away from the electrode assembly to form the exhaust port, and the shielding material is installed facing the exhaust port.

25. The battery cell according to claim 24, wherein the shielding material is installed at a distance from the sealing member along the thickness direction of the wall portion, both ends of the elastic member abut against the shielding material and the sealing member, respectively, and the air intake is installed on the bottom surface of the mounting cavity.

26. The battery cell according to any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein the material of the shielding material is the same as the material of the wall portion.

27. The aforementioned housing is A case having an internally formed housing cavity, wherein the housing cavity is used to house the electrode assembly, Includes an end cap that seals the opening, Here, the end cap is the wall portion, or The case includes the wall portion, the battery cell according to any one of claims 1 to 26.

28. A battery comprising a battery cell according to any one of claims 1 to 27.

29. A power consumption device comprising a battery cell as described in any one of claims 1 to 27, wherein the battery cell is used to provide electrical energy.

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