Housing and pouch battery module

Abstract

Provided is a bracket comprising a housing and a pouch battery module, the bracket having an I-shaped cross section, the bracket comprising an upper flat portion, a lower flat portion, and a connecting portion, the upper flat portion being installed as an upper cover plate for the battery housing, the lower flat portion being installed parallel to the upper flat portion, the lower flat portion being installed as a lower cover plate for the battery housing, and both ends of the connecting portion being fixedly connected to the upper flat portion and the lower flat portion, respectively.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application relates to the field of batteries, for example brackets, housings and pouch battery modules. [Background technology]

[0002] In related technologies, as the driving distances of electric vehicles become longer, how to improve the energy density of battery packs has become a common challenge in the industry. In battery pack design, a module-free design can increase energy density by about 30%, while at the same time significantly reducing the number of electrical connectors, contributing to reducing energy loss and costs within the battery pack.

[0003] A battery pack housing generally consists of front and rear end covers, left and right side plates, and top and bottom cover plates, and is complicated and time-consuming to assemble. In addition, individual cells or cell stacks are placed inside the housing, and the size in the cell stacking direction is generally between 500 and 800 mm, with the number of stacked cells being between 60 and 100. Since there is no internal support for the stacked cells, the overall rigidity of the battery pack is relatively poor, and the cells within the stack are susceptible to deformation under force, which can easily affect the performance of the battery pack. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present application provides a bracket that can be applied to a battery housing, can save upper and lower cover plates, is convenient to assemble, provides support within the housing, and can improve the rigidity of the housing.

[0005] The present application also provides a housing that uses the bracket and is excellent in overall rigidity, is less likely to deform, and is easy to assemble.

[0006] The present invention also provides a pouch battery module that uses the above-mentioned housing, and thus has excellent overall rigidity and stable performance.

[0007] One embodiment provides a bracket, the cross section of which is shaped like the letter "E", the bracket including an upper flat portion installed as an upper cover plate of a battery housing, a lower flat portion installed parallel to the upper flat portion and installed as a lower cover plate of the battery housing, and a connecting portion having both ends fixedly connected to the upper flat portion and the lower flat portion, respectively.

[0008] One embodiment provides a housing comprising a left side plate, a right side plate, a front end cover, a rear end cover, and the bracket, wherein the left side plate is welded to a first side of the bracket, the bracket forming a first accommodating cavity, the second side plate is welded to a right side of the bracket, the bracket forming a second accommodating cavity, the front end cover and the rear end cover are welded to both front and rear ends of the bracket, respectively, and the first side of the bracket and the second side of the bracket are installed opposite each other.

[0009] One embodiment provides a pouch battery module comprising a cell and the housing, wherein the cell is provided in the first storage cavity and the second storage cavity, respectively, and the cell is a single cell or a cell stack. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a bracket provided in one direction according to an embodiment of the present application; FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 13 is a structural schematic diagram of a bracket provided in another direction according to an embodiment of the present application. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic view of a battery module provided according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a front view of a housing provided in accordance with one embodiment of the present application. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a rear view of a housing provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 6]FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a current collecting sampling plate of a rear connection frame provided by an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a rear connection frame provided in an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a top view of a rear connection frame provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] In the description of this application, the orientations or positional relationships indicated by terms such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", and "outer" are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the drawings or the orientations or positional relationships in which the applied products are usually placed when used, and are used solely for the purpose of simplifying the description of this application, and do not indicate or imply that the referenced devices or components have a specific orientation and must be configured and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting this application. Furthermore, terms such as "first", "second", and the like are used solely for the purpose of describing the distinction, and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. In the description of this application, "plurality" means two or more, unless otherwise specified.

[0012] In the description of this application, unless otherwise clearly defined and limited, the terms "installation" and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, they may be fixed connection, detachable connection, integral connection, mechanical connection, or electrical connection. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the terms in the present application in a specific situation.

[0013] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may include a direct contact between the first and second features, and may also include a case where the first and second features are not in direct contact, but are in contact through another feature between them. Furthermore, a first feature being "above," "upper," or "on the upper surface" of a second feature includes the first feature being directly above and diagonally above the second feature, or simply the first feature being horizontally higher than the second feature. A first feature being "below," "below," or "on the lower surface" of a second feature includes the first feature being directly below and diagonally below the second feature, or simply the first feature being horizontally lower than the second feature.

[0014] EMBODIMENT 1

[0015] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this embodiment provides a bracket 1, the cross section of which is in the shape of the letter "E", and the bracket 1 includes an upper flat portion 11, a lower flat portion 12, and a connecting portion 13, and the upper flat portion 11 is used as an upper cover plate of a battery housing. The lower flat portion 12 is installed parallel to the upper flat portion 11, and the lower flat portion 12 is installed as a lower cover plate of the battery housing. Both ends of the connecting portion 13 are fixedly connected to the upper flat portion 11 and the lower flat portion 12, respectively. When the bracket 1 forms a housing together with the left plate 2, the right plate 3, the front end cover 4, and the rear end cover 5, the connecting portion 13 is used as a support inside the housing, improving the rigidity of the housing and allowing the upper and lower cover plates to be omitted, which is convenient for assembly.

[0016] In one embodiment, the bracket 1 is a one-piece structure. In another embodiment, the bracket 1 can be formed by two "U"-shaped brackets fixedly connected back to back. In another embodiment, the bracket 1 can be formed in other ways, omitting the top and bottom cover plates of the housing, as long as it can provide support inside the housing, and will not be described here one by one.

[0017] In one embodiment, the upper flat portion 11 is provided with a coolant flow passage 14 passing through it along its length. The lower flat portion 12 is provided with a coolant flow passage 14 passing through it along its length. The connecting portion 13 is provided with a coolant flow passage 14 passing through it along its length.

[0018] In one embodiment, the bracket 1 may be formed by extrusion and the coolant passages 14 may be formed at the same time.

[0019] EMBODIMENT 2

[0020] This embodiment provides a housing including the bracket 1 described in the first embodiment.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 3 , the housing further includes a left plate 2, a right plate 3, a front end cover 4, a rear end cover 5, a front connecting frame 6, a rear connecting frame 7, a current collecting sampling plate 8 and an explosion-proof valve 9.

[0022] The left plate 2 is welded to a first side of the bracket 1 to form a first accommodating cavity together with the bracket 1, and the right plate 3 is welded to a second side of the bracket 1 to form a second accommodating cavity together with the bracket 1. Here, the first side of the bracket 1 and the second side of the bracket 1 are opposite sides, and the front end cover 4 and the rear end cover 5 are welded to both ends of the bracket 1, respectively, thereby forming a case-like structure closed on all four sides.

[0023] In one embodiment, an explosion-proof valve 9 is provided on the front end cover 4, and an explosion-proof valve 9 is provided on the rear end cover 5, so that after the cell experiences thermal runaway, high-temperature gas can be sprayed in a specific direction, thereby improving the explosion-proof performance of the housing.

[0024] In one embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4 together with Fig. 1, upper limit convex portions 111 are provided at both ends of upper flat portion 11, lower limit convex portions 121 are provided at both ends of lower flat portion 12, the upper limit convex portion 111 at a first end of upper flat portion 11 and the lower limit convex portion 121 at a first end of lower flat portion 12 are disposed opposite each other, and the upper limit convex portion 111 at a second end of upper flat portion 11 and the lower limit convex portion 121 at a second end of lower flat portion 12 are disposed opposite each other. By abutting the upper limit convex portion 111 at the first end of upper flat portion 11 and the lower limit convex portion 121 at the first end of lower flat portion 12, respectively, mounting and positioning are facilitated, which is advantageous for welding left side plate 2 to bracket 1. Both ends of the right side plate 3 abut against the upper limit convex portion 111 at the second end of the upper flat portion 11 and the lower limit convex portion 121 at the second end of the lower flat portion 12, respectively, making installation and positioning easier and advantageous for welding the right side plate 3 to the bracket 1.

[0025] 4, the housing further includes an insulating film 17, which is attached to the upper flat portion 11, the connecting portion 13 and the lower flat portion 12, and the length of the insulating film 17 is the same as the length of the connecting portion 13, and the length of the upper flat portion 11 and the length of the lower flat portion 12 are the same and longer than the length of the connecting portion 13. In short, the insulating film 17 is attached in the first and second receiving cavities and is used for insulation between the cell 10 and the bracket 1.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 4, the front connecting frame 6 may be fixed to the front end of the bracket 1 and is configured to position the front end cover 4, so as to quickly position and install the front end cover 4, thereby improving the installation efficiency and preventing the front end cover 4 from shifting when being welded, thereby ensuring the accuracy and quality of the welding.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 5, the rear connecting frame 7 may be fixed to the rear end of the bracket 1 and is configured to position the rear end cover 4, allowing the rear end cover 4 to be quickly positioned and installed, improving the installation efficiency, and preventing the rear end cover 4 from shifting when being welded, thereby ensuring the accuracy and quality of the welding.

[0028] In one embodiment, the front connection frame 6 is an insulator. Similarly, the rear connection frame 7 is an insulator.

[0029] For the convenience of fixed connection between the front connecting frame 6 and the bracket 1, one of the front connecting frame 6 and the bracket 12 is provided with a front locking protrusion 15, and the other is provided with a front locking groove 61 that engages with the front locking protrusion 15, so that the front connecting frame 6 can be engaged with the front end of the bracket 1.

[0030] For example, the front locking protrusion 15 is provided on the bracket 1, specifically, the front locking protrusion 15 may be provided on the upper flat portion 11 and the lower flat portion 12, and the front connecting frame 6 is provided with a front locking groove 61, which is engaged with the front locking protrusion 15, thereby realizing the positioning connection between the front connecting frame 6 and the bracket 1.

[0031] In order to facilitate positioning and connecting the front end cover 4 and the front connecting frame 6, the front end cover 4 is provided with a front positioning groove 41, and the front connecting frame 6 is provided with a front positioning block. The front positioning block is engaged in the front positioning groove 41, thereby realizing the positioning of the front end cover 4 and preventing the front end cover 4 from shifting during the welding process, and ensuring the accuracy and quality of the welding.

[0032] 1 and 4 , in this embodiment, the front connecting frame 6 has a strip-like structure, and at least a part of the front connecting frame 6 is used to lock the front positioning block into the front positioning groove 41 on the front end cover 4 so that the front locking groove 61 can pass through the front connecting frame 6. In the assembly process, first, the front connecting frame 6 is mounted on the bracket 1, at which time the front locking groove 61 is locked onto the front locking protrusion 15, and then the front positioning groove 41 of the front end cover 4 is locked onto the front connecting frame 6.

[0033] For convenience in positioning and connecting the rear connecting frame 7 and the bracket 1, as shown in Figures 1 and 5, one of the rear connecting frame 7 and the bracket 1 is provided with a rear engagement protrusion 16, and the other is provided with a rear engagement groove 711 that engages with the rear engagement protrusion 16, so that the rear connecting frame 7 can be engaged with the rear end of the bracket 1.

[0034] In one embodiment, the rear connecting frame 7 is provided with a rear engagement groove 711, and the two rear engagement grooves 711 are provided at a distance from each other on the rear connecting frame 7 along the vertical direction, and the upper flat portion 11 and the lower flat portion 12 of the bracket 1 are both provided with rear engagement protrusions 16, and the rear engagement groove 711 is engaged with the rear engagement protrusions 16 on the bracket 1, thereby realizing positioning and fixed connection of the rear connecting frame 7 and the bracket 1.

[0035] In order to facilitate the positioning and connection of the rear end cover 5 and the rear connecting frame 7, as shown in FIG. 5, the rear end cover 5 is provided with a rear positioning groove 51, and the rear connecting frame 7 is provided with a rear positioning block 71, which is locked in the rear positioning groove 51 to prevent the rear end cover 5 from being displaced during the welding process and ensure the precision and quality of the welding.

[0036] In one embodiment, the rear positioning block 71 is provided with a rear engagement groove 711, and the upper flat portion 11 and the lower flat portion 12 are each provided with a rear engagement protrusion 16. In this embodiment, two rear positioning blocks 71 are provided on the rear connecting frame 7 with a gap therebetween along the vertical direction, and each rear positioning block 71 is provided with a rear engagement groove 711. In the assembly process, first, the rear connecting frame 7 is attached onto the bracket 1, with the rear engagement groove 711 engaging with the rear engagement protrusion 16, and then the rear end cover 5 is attached onto the rear connecting frame 7, with the rear positioning groove 51 engaging with the rear positioning block 71.

[0037] For convenience in sampling the battery module, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, a sampling protrusion 81 is provided on the collecting sampling plate 8, and a through hole 52 is provided on the rear end cover 5, so that the collecting sampling plate 81 can be positioned and attached on the rear connecting frame 7, and a portion of the sampling protrusion 81 can extend from the through hole 52.

[0038] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6 , one of the collecting sampling plate 8 and the rear connecting frame 72 is provided with a positioning post 72, and the other is provided with a positioning hole 82 that fits the positioning post 72, so that the collecting sampling plate 8 can be positioned and attached on the rear connecting frame 7, and the collecting sampling plate 8 can be positioned and attached on the rear connecting frame 7.

[0039] In one embodiment, the current collecting sampling plate 8 is provided with positioning holes 82 and the rear connecting frame 7 is provided with positioning posts 72 .

[0040] In one embodiment, after the current collecting sampling plate 8 and the rear connection frame 7 are positioned and connected, they can be fixed by hot riveting. In another embodiment, the current collecting sampling plate 8 and the rear connection frame 7 can be fixed by integral injection molding.

[0041] In order to shorten the length of the housing, the rear connecting frame 7 is provided with an insertion groove 73, into which the current collecting sampling plate 8 can be inserted. After the current collecting sampling plate 8 and the rear connecting frame 7 are positioned and connected, the two can be inserted into each other, so that the overall thickness of the current collecting sampling plate 8 and the rear connecting frame 7 must be smaller than the sum of their thicknesses.

[0042] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, a collecting sampling plate 8 is further separately connected to the rear connecting frame 7, and the force applied to the rear connecting frame 7 becomes uneven, which affects the engagement strength between the rear engagement groove 711 and the rear engagement protrusion 16. Therefore, in order to improve the connection strength between the rear connecting frame 7 and the bracket 1, a clamp 74 is further provided on the rear connecting frame 7, and the clamp 74 can be clamped on the connection portion 13 of the bracket 1.

[0043] In one embodiment, two clamps 74 are spaced apart along the vertical direction on the rear connecting frame 7 to ensure the connection strength between the rear connecting frame 7 and the bracket 1 .

[0044] 7 and 8, the clamp 74 includes a support body 741 and a clamp elastic piece 742, the support body 741 includes a first support portion 7411 and a second support portion 7412, and the first support portion 7411 and the second support portion 7412 are disposed opposite to each other. The clamp elastic piece 742 includes a first elastic piece 7421 and a second elastic piece 7422, one end of the first elastic piece 7421 is fixed on the first support portion 7411, one end of the second elastic piece 7422 is fixed on the second support portion 7412, the first elastic piece 7421 and the second elastic piece 7422 are provided at an acute angle, and the opening faces the connecting portion 13, and the minimum distance between the first elastic piece 7421 and the second elastic piece 7422 is shorter than the thickness of the connecting portion 13, which ensures the clamping of the clamp elastic piece 742 to the connecting portion 13.

[0045] In one embodiment, at least two clamp elastic pieces 742 are provided on the support body 741, and the at least two clamp elastic pieces 742 are spaced apart along the clamp depth direction, which can improve the clamping force of the clamp 74.

[0046] In one embodiment, the end of the first support portion 7411 is an arc-shaped surface. The end of the second support portion 7412 is an arc-shaped surface. The arc-shaped surface structure provides a guide for the connecting portion 13, allowing the connecting portion 13 to be smoothly inserted into the clamp 74, improving the convenience of assembly.

[0047] EMBODIMENT 3

[0048] As shown in Fig. 3, this embodiment provides a pouch battery module including a cell 10 and the housing according to embodiment 2, in which the first housing cavity and the second housing cavity are provided with the cell 10, and the cell 10 is a single cell or a cell stack. By using the housing, the pouch battery module has excellent overall rigidity, the internal cell 10 is not easily deformed, and has stable performance. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 1. Bracket 11, Upper flat part 111, upper limit convex part 12, lower flat part 121, lower limit convex part 13. Connection part 14, Coolant flow path 15. Front lock protrusion 16, Rear engagement convex part 17. Insulating film 2. Left side plate 3. Posterior plate 4. Front end cover 41, front positioning groove 5. Rear end cover 51, rear positioning groove 52, through hole 6. Front connecting frame 61, front lock groove 7. Rear connecting frame 71, rear positioning block 711, rear engagement groove 72, positioning column 73, fitting groove 74, Clamp 741, support body 7411, first support 7412, second support 742, Clamp elastic piece 7421, first elastic piece 7422, second elastic piece 8. Current collection sampling plate 81, sampling protrusion 82, positioning hole 9. Explosion-proof valve 10. Cell

Claims

1. A battery housing comprising a left plate (2), a right plate (3), a front end cover (4), a rear end cover (5), and a bracket (1), The cross section of the bracket (1) is in the shape of the letter "E", and the bracket (1) includes an upper flat portion (11) that is installed as an upper cover plate of the housing, a lower flat portion (12) that is installed parallel to the upper flat portion (11) and that is installed as a lower cover plate of the housing, and a connection portion (13) whose both ends are fixedly connected to the upper flat portion (11) and the lower flat portion (12), respectively. the left side plate (2) is welded to a first side of the bracket (1) and forms a first accommodating cavity together with the bracket (1), the right side plate (3) is welded to a second side of the bracket (1) and forms a second accommodating cavity together with the bracket (1), the front end cover (4) and the rear end cover (5) are welded to both ends of the bracket (1), respectively, and the first side of the bracket (1) and the second side of the bracket (1) are installed opposite each other.

2. 2. The housing according to claim 1, further comprising a front connection frame (6) arranged to position the front end cover (4) and a rear connection frame (7) arranged to position the rear end cover (5), the front connection frame (6) being fixedly connected to a front end of the bracket (1) and the rear connection frame (7) being fixedly connected to a rear end of the bracket (1).

3. 3. The housing according to claim 2, wherein the front connection frame (6) is an insulator and the rear connection frame (7) is an insulator.

4. One of the front connection frame (6) and the bracket (1) is provided with a front locking protrusion (15), and the other is provided with a front locking groove (61) that engages with the front locking protrusion (15), so that the front connection frame (6) can be engaged with a first end of the bracket (1); The housing of claim 2, wherein one of the rear connection frame (7) and the bracket (1) is provided with a rear engagement protrusion (16), and the other is provided with a rear engagement groove (711) that engages with the rear engagement protrusion (16), thereby engaging the rear connection frame (7) with the second end of the bracket (1).

5. The front end cover (4) is provided with a front positioning groove (41), and the front connection frame (6) is provided with a front positioning block, the front positioning block being configured to engage in the front positioning groove (41); 5. The housing according to claim 4, wherein the rear end cover (5) is provided with a rear positioning groove (51), and the rear connection frame (7) is provided with a rear positioning block (71), which engages in the rear positioning groove (51).

6. the rear engagement groove (711) is provided on the rear positioning block (71), and the upper flat portion (11) and the lower flat portion (12) are each provided with the rear engagement protrusion (16); The housing according to claim 5, wherein the front locking groove (61) is provided on the front positioning block, and the upper flat portion (11) and the lower flat portion (12) are each provided with the front locking protrusion (15).

7. 7. The housing according to claim 6, wherein the front connection frame (6) is a strip-like structure, at least a part of the front connection frame (6) is used as the front positioning block and is configured to engage in a front positioning groove (41) on the front end cover (4), and the front locking groove (61) passes through the front connection frame (6).

8. The housing of claim 2, further comprising a collecting sampling plate (8), the collecting sampling plate (8) having a sampling protrusion (81), the rear end cover (5) having a through hole (52), the collecting sampling plate (81) being positioned and attached on the rear connection frame (7), and a portion of the sampling protrusion (81) extending from the through hole (52).

9. The housing of claim 8, wherein one of the current collecting sampling plate (8) and the rear connection frame (7) is provided with a positioning post (72), and the other is provided with a positioning hole (82) that matches the positioning post (72), allowing the current collecting sampling plate (8) to be positioned and attached on the rear connection frame (7).

10. 9. The housing according to claim 8, wherein the rear connection frame (7) is provided with a fitting groove (73), and the current collecting sampling plate (8) is fitted into the fitting groove (73).

11. 3. The housing according to claim 2, wherein the rear connecting frame (7) is further provided with a clamp (74), which is clamped onto the connecting portion (13) of the bracket (1).

12. The clamp (74) A support body (741) including a first support portion (7411) and a second support portion (7412), the first support portion (7411) and the second support portion (7412) being disposed opposite each other; A clamp elastic piece (742) having a first elastic piece (7421) and a second elastic piece (7422), The housing of claim 11, wherein one end of the first elastic piece (7421) is fixed on the first support portion (7411), one end of the second elastic piece (7422) is fixed on the second support portion (7412), an acute angle is formed between the first elastic piece (7421) and the second elastic piece (7422), an opening between the first elastic piece (7421) and the second elastic piece (7422) faces the connection portion (13), and the minimum distance between the first elastic piece (7421) and the second elastic piece (7422) is smaller than the thickness of the connection portion (13).

13. The housing of claim 12, wherein the support body (741) is provided with at least two of the clamp elastic pieces (742), and the at least two of the clamp elastic pieces (742) are provided at intervals along the depth direction of the opening.

14. The housing of claim 12, wherein an end of the first support portion (7411) is an arcuate surface, and an end of the second support portion (7412) is an arcuate surface.

15. 2. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the front end cover (4) and the rear end cover (5) are each provided with an explosion-proof valve (9).

16. The housing of claim 1, further comprising an insulating film (17), the insulating film (17) being attached onto the upper flat portion (11), the connection portion (13) and the lower flat portion (12), the length of the insulating film (17) being the same as the length of the connection portion (13), the length of the upper flat portion (11) being the same as the length of the lower flat portion (12) and being longer than the length of the connection portion (13).

17. The housing of claim 1, wherein an upper limit convex portion (111) is provided at a first end of the upper flat portion (11) and a second end of the upper flat portion (11), and a lower limit convex portion (121) opposite the upper limit convex portion (111) is provided at a first end and a second end of the lower flat portion (12), respectively, and both ends of the left side plate (2) abut against the upper limit convex portion (111) and the lower limit convex portion (121) at the first end of the bracket (1), and both ends of the right side plate (3) abut against the upper limit convex portion (111) and the lower limit convex portion (121) at the second end of the bracket (1).

18. A pouch battery module comprising a cell (10) and the housing according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the cell (10) is provided in each of the first and second storage cavities, and the cell (10) is a single cell or a cell stack.

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