Batteries and power-consuming devices

Abstract

The present application provides a battery and a power consuming device, the battery including a housing, a battery cell, and a stabilizing assembly, the housing having a top and a bottom opposite to each other along a height direction of the housing, a plurality of battery cells are inverted in the housing, a top cover plate of the battery cell faces the bottom of the housing, and the stabilizing assembly is fixedly connected to the battery cell. According to the present application, the structural stability and safety of the battery can be improved. Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery technology, and more particularly to batteries and power consuming devices. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, the emergence of new energy vehicles has played a major role in promoting both social development and environmental protection. Power batteries, as rechargeable batteries, are the power source for new energy vehicles and are widely used in the field of new energy vehicles.

[0003] In conventional technology, the energy density of batteries is low, resulting in wasted space and affecting the performance of the power consumption device. In addition, conventional batteries have low rigidity and cannot directly withstand the load from other parts of the power consumption device, making them prone to safety accidents and affecting the safety of the power consumption device. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Embodiments of the present application provide batteries and power consuming devices that can improve the energy density and safety of batteries.

[0005] According to a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a battery including a housing, a battery cell, and a stabilization assembly, the housing having a top and bottom opposing each other along a height direction of the housing, a plurality of battery cells inverted within the housing, top cover plates of the battery cells facing the bottom of the housing, and the stabilization assembly fixedly connected to the battery cells.

[0006] In the above technical solution, the housing has a top and a bottom that face each other in the height direction, and the top cover plate of the battery cell is installed facing the bottom of the housing, thereby improving the energy density of the battery, and installing a stabilizing assembly to fixedly connect with the battery cell, thereby improving the stability of the battery structure.

[0007] In some embodiments, the stabilization assembly includes a first support plate and a second support plate, the first support plate being mounted on the top of the housing and fixedly connected to the battery cells, and the second support plate being mounted on the bottom of the housing and fixedly connected to the battery cells, thereby fixing the positions of the battery cells.

[0008] In some embodiments, a suspension beam is provided on the surface of the second support plate facing the battery cells, and a plurality of suspension beams are spaced apart along the second support plate in the length direction of the housing and extend along the width direction of the housing on the second support plate.

[0009] In the above technical solution, the top cover plate of the battery is prevented from directly contacting the second support plate, which would affect the performance of the battery.

[0010] In some embodiments, the top cover plate includes a functional area and a shoulder portion, the electrode terminal is installed in the functional area, the shoulder portions are located on both sides of the functional area along the length direction, and the battery cell is fixed to the suspension beam via the shoulder portions.

[0011] In the above technical solution, the functional area is disposed between the shoulders, and the shoulders can provide a certain protection effect for the functional area. The battery cells abut against the suspension beam through the shoulders, which can prevent the functional area from being damaged by force and extend the service life of the battery cells.

[0012] In some embodiments, the electrode terminal is disposed between two adjacent suspension beams, and the electrode terminal and the second support plate are disposed at a distance from each other.

[0013] In the above technical solution, the electrode terminals are prevented from contacting the second support plate, and electrical connection between the electrode terminals and the outside is easy.

[0014] In some embodiments, the extension height of the suspension beam is greater than the extension height of the electrode terminal in the height direction.

[0015] In the above technical solution, the electrode terminals are suspended between the suspension beams.

[0016] In some embodiments, a pressure reducing mechanism is further installed in the functional area, the pressure reducing mechanism and the second support plate are installed at a distance from each other, and the electrode terminals are installed on both sides of the pressure reducing mechanism in the longitudinal direction.

[0017] In the above technical solution, the pressure reducing mechanism and the second support plate are installed at a distance from each other, which can provide a larger pressure reducing space for the pressure reducing mechanism, reduce the risk of discharged waste, and improve the safety of the battery.

[0018] In some embodiments, the shoulders of two adjacent battery cells are both fixed to the same suspension beam.

[0019] In the above technical solution, adjacent battery cells share the same suspension beam, which can minimize the number of suspension beams and facilitate the manufacture of the second support plate.

[0020] In some embodiments, the width D1 of the suspension beam and the extension width D2 of the shoulder portion in the length direction satisfy the relationship 0.5D2≦D1≦2D2.

[0021] In the above technical solution, the suspension beam is offset to avoid the battery cells on only one side being placed, and the suspension beam only comes into contact with the shoulder portions of the two adjacent battery cells, avoiding contact with the functional area and affecting the function of the battery cells.

[0022] In some embodiments, two adjacent battery cells are electrically connected via a bus member, and the extension length of one of the two adjacent suspension beams in the width direction is shorter than the extension length of the other, thereby forming a relief notch for allowing the bus member to escape.

[0023] In the above technical solution, the suspension beam is more suitable for the structure of the battery, and it is easy to realize the series connection, parallel connection and series-parallel connection of the battery cells.

[0024] In some embodiments, the suspension beam is integrally formed with or removably connected to the second support plate, which allows for easy adjustment of the position of the suspension beam based on manufacturing or battery cell arrangement.

[0025] In some embodiments, in the height direction, the extension height of the suspension beam is a first dimension H1, and the first dimension H1 satisfies 0.5 mm≦H1≦30 mm, thereby appropriately maintaining the volume of the battery.

[0026] In some embodiments, the ratio H1 / M of the first dimension H1 to the weight M of a single battery cell satisfies 0.05 mm / Kg≦H1 / M≦50 mm / Kg.

[0027] In the above technical solution, the battery has good energy density and suitable structural strength.

[0028] In some embodiments, the housing further includes a cover disposed on the bottom, the cover being fixedly connected to the housing.

[0029] In some embodiments, the second support plate is fixedly connected to the cover, thereby improving the structural robustness of the battery.

[0030] According to a second aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a power consuming device including a battery according to any embodiment of the first aspect for supplying electrical energy. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0031] In order to more clearly describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly describes the drawings required for the embodiments of the present application. It should be understood that the drawings shown below are only some embodiments of the present application, and those skilled in the art can further obtain other drawings based on the drawings without any creative efforts.

[0032] [Figure 1] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a vehicle according to some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of an assembled structure of a battery according to some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 3] 1 is an exploded schematic view of a battery according to some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 4] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a second support plate and a suspension beam of a battery according to some embodiments of the present application; FIG. [Figure 5] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery cell according to some embodiments of the present application; [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the battery shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged schematic view of the circled area B in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a crash test device for performing a crash test on batteries according to some embodiments of the present application. [Figure 9] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a cover of a battery according to some embodiments of the present application; [Figure 10] 1 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a battery cell according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0033] The reference numerals in the drawings in the description of the invention are as follows:

[0034] 1000 vehicles 100 batteries 200 Controller 300 motor 1 chassis 101 Upper 102 Bottom 103 Aperture 11 Side panel 2 battery cells 201 Functional Area 202 Shoulder section 21 Top cover plate 211 Electrode terminal 212 Pressure reducing mechanism 22 Housing 23 Electrode Assembly 24 Bus components 3 Stabilizing Assembly 31 1st support plate 32 Second support plate 321 Suspension beam 322 Relief notch 4 Cover 41 Main body 42 Engagement part X length direction Y width direction Z height direction DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] In order to clarify the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present application, and not all of the embodiments of the present application. Based on the embodiments of the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without any creative efforts fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0036] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The terms used in the specification of the present application are intended merely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present application. The terms "comprise" and "have" and their equivalents in the specification and claims of the present application and the description of the drawings are intended to be non-exclusive. The terms "first," "second," etc. in the specification and claims of the present application or the drawings are used to distinguish between different objects and are not used to describe a particular order or hierarchy.

[0037] References herein to an "embodiment" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the application. Appearances of the term "embodiment" in various places in this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment, nor do they refer to embodiments that are mutually exclusive, independent, or alternative to other embodiments.

[0038] It should be noted that in the description of this application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "attach," "connected," "connection," and "attachment" should be understood in a broad sense, and may refer to, for example, a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection. They may be directly connected, indirectly connected via an intermediate medium, or internal communication between two elements. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application according to specific circumstances.

[0039] The term "and / or" in this application merely describes the relationship between related objects and indicates that three types of relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can indicate three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In this application, the symbol " / " generally indicates that the related objects before and after it are in an "or" relationship.

[0040] In the embodiments of the present application, the same reference numerals indicate the same elements, and detailed descriptions of the same elements will be omitted in different embodiments for the sake of brevity. Note that the dimensions such as thickness, length, and width of each element in the embodiments of the present application and the overall dimensions such as thickness, length, and width of the integrated device shown in the drawings are merely illustrative and do not limit the present application in any way.

[0041] The term "plurality" as used herein refers to two or more (including two).

[0042] The term "parallel" in this application not only includes cases where something is absolutely parallel, but also includes situations where it is generally recognized in engineering as being approximately parallel, and at the same time, the term "perpendicular" not only includes cases where something is absolutely perpendicular, but also includes situations where it is generally recognized in engineering as being approximately perpendicular.

[0043] In the present application, the battery cells may include lithium ion secondary battery cells, lithium ion primary battery cells, lithium sulfur battery cells, sodium lithium ion battery cells, sodium ion battery cells, magnesium ion battery cells, etc., and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0044] In this application, a battery refers to a single physical module containing one or more battery cells to provide higher voltage and capacity. For example, the battery referred to in this application may be a battery module or a battery pack. A battery generally includes a housing for packaging one or more battery cells. The housing prevents liquids or other foreign objects from affecting the charging and discharging of the battery cells. Within a battery, multiple battery cells can be connected in series, parallel, or series-parallel, where a series-parallel connection refers to multiple battery cells being connected in parallel as well as in series. Multiple battery cells can be directly connected in series, parallel, or series-parallel, and then the entire configuration of multiple battery cells can be housed in a housing. Of course, multiple battery cells can first be connected in series, parallel, or series-parallel to form a battery module, and then multiple battery modules can be connected in series, parallel, or series-parallel to form an integrated battery and housed in a housing.

[0045] At present, with the development of the market situation, the application of power batteries is becoming more and more widespread. Power batteries are not only used in energy storage power systems such as hydroelectric, thermal, wind and solar power plants, but also widely used in electric vehicles such as electric bicycles, electric motorcycles and electric cars, as well as in military equipment and aerospace, etc. With the expansion of the application fields of power batteries, the demand for them in the market is also constantly increasing.

[0046] In the related art, the opening of the battery housing is normally vertically upward, the battery cells are fixed to the bottom of the battery, and the electrode terminals face a cover that covers the opening of the housing.

[0047] However, the inventors noticed that in a battery installed as described above, when the battery is installed in a power consumption device, the bottom is glued to the power consumption device and the battery cells are fixed to the bottom of the battery, so the rigidity of the upper part of the battery, which is more susceptible to collision, is low, and when the battery is collided, the force received by the internal battery cells is not uniform, making the battery more susceptible to damage, reducing the safety of the battery and affecting its usage performance.

[0048] In view of this, an embodiment of the present application provides a battery in which the housing has a top and bottom that face each other in the height direction, and the top cover plate of the battery cell is installed facing the bottom of the housing, thereby improving the energy density of the battery, and installing a stabilizing assembly to be fixedly connected to the battery cell, thereby improving the stability of the battery structure.

[0049] The technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present application are applied to batteries and power-consuming devices that receive power from the batteries.

[0050] The power consuming devices may be vehicles, mobile phones, mobile devices, laptops, ships, spacecraft, electric toys, power tools, etc. The vehicles may be gasoline-powered vehicles, natural gas-powered vehicles, or new energy vehicles, and the new energy vehicles may be pure electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, range-extender vehicles, etc. The spacecraft include aircraft, rockets, spaceplanes, spaceships, etc. The electric toys include stationary or mobile electric toys such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric ship toys, and electric aircraft toys. The power tools include metal cutting power tools such as electric drills, electric grinders, electric wrenches, electric screwdrivers, electric hammers, electric impact drivers, concrete vibrators, and electric planers, as well as polishing power tools, assembly power tools, and railroad power tools. The embodiments of the present application are not particularly limited to the above power consuming devices.

[0051] It should be noted that although the technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present application are not limited to being applied to the above-mentioned power consumption devices, for the sake of simplicity, the following embodiments will all be described using the vehicle 1000 as an example.

[0052] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a vehicle 1000 according to some embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 1000 may be a gasoline vehicle, a natural gas vehicle, or a new energy vehicle, and the new energy vehicle may be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, a range extender vehicle, etc. A battery 100 is installed inside the vehicle 1000, and the battery 100 may be installed at the bottom, front, or rear of the vehicle 1000.

[0053] The battery 100 can be used to supply power to the vehicle 1000, for example, as an operating power source for the vehicle 1000. The vehicle 1000 can further include a controller 200 and a motor 300, where the controller 200 is used to control the battery 100 to supply power to the motor 300, for example, to meet the operating power needs for starting, navigating, and driving the vehicle 1000. In some embodiments of the present application, the battery 100 can be used not only as an operating power source for the vehicle 1000, but also as a power source for the vehicle 1000, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle 1000.

[0054] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an assembled structure of a battery 100 according to some embodiments of the present application. FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded view of a battery 100 according to some embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , in this embodiment, the battery 100 includes a housing 1, battery cells 2, and a stabilizing assembly 3. The housing 1 has a top 101 and a bottom 102 that face each other along the height direction of the housing 1. A plurality of battery cells 2 are inverted within the housing 1, with the top cover plate 21 of the battery cells 2 facing the bottom 102 of the housing 1. The stabilizing assembly 3 is fixedly connected to the battery cells 2.

[0055] The statement that the housing 1 has a top portion 101 and a bottom portion 102 that face each other along the height direction of the housing 1 means that the top portion 101 and the bottom portion 102 of the housing 1 are arranged in order from top to bottom along the height direction. For ease of explanation, in the embodiments of the present application, the height direction of the housing 1 is defined as the Z direction, i.e., the vertical direction. Note that the height direction Z of the housing 1 may be along other directions, and in the following content, other directions will be defined in detail to indicate other elements such as the arrangement direction of the battery cells 2, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted here.

[0056] The phrase "the battery cells 2 are inverted within the housing 1, and the top cover plates 21 of the battery cells 2 face the bottom 102 of the housing 1" means that the battery cells 2 are inverted relative to the housing 1 in the height direction Z, and the bottoms of the battery cells 2 are located on the top 101 of the housing 1. By installing the battery cells 2 inverted in the housing 1, the rigidity of the top 101 of the battery 100 can be increased, thereby improving the safety of the battery 100. Furthermore, the top cover plates 21 of the battery cells 2 face the bottom 102 of the battery 100, which increases the energy density of the battery 100 and improves its usability.

[0057] The stabilizing assembly 3 is fixedly connected to the battery cell 2, i.e., the stabilizing assembly 3 is fixedly connected to both ends of the bottom 102 and top cover plate 21 of the battery cell 2, thereby providing support to the battery cell 2 and increasing the structural strength of the battery 100.

[0058] In some embodiments of the present application, the stabilization assembly 3 includes a first support plate 31 and a second support plate 32, the first support plate 31 being mounted on the top 101 of the housing 1 and fixedly connected to the battery cells 2, and the second support plate 32 being mounted on the bottom 102 of the housing 1 and fixedly connected to the battery cells 2.

[0059] The first support plate 31 and the second support plate 32 are respectively installed on the top 101 and bottom 102 of the housing 1 and are fixedly connected to the battery cells 2, thereby fixing the positions of the battery cells 2 and enhancing the structural stability of the battery 100.

[0060] Alternatively, the first support plate 31 may be located on the top 101 of the housing 1 and be a part of the housing 1, or may be installed between the housing 1 and the battery cell 2 as an independent plate, with one side fixedly connected to the housing 1 and the other side fixedly connected to the battery cell 2, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0061] Alternatively, the battery cells 2 may be directly adhered to the first support plate 31 and the second support plate 32 by adhesive, or may be fixedly connected to the first support plate 31 and the second support plate 32 using other methods.

[0062] 4 is a structural schematic diagram of the second support plate 32 and suspension beams 321 of the battery 100 according to some embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 4 , in some embodiments of the present application, the suspension beam 321 is installed on the surface of the second support plate 32 facing the battery cells 2, and multiple suspension beams 321 are installed at intervals along the second support plate 32 in the length direction of the housing 1 and extend along the width direction of the housing 1 on the second support plate 32.

[0063] For ease of explanation, in the embodiments of the present application, the length direction of the housing 1 is defined as the X direction, the width direction as the Y direction, and the length direction X and width direction Y are each perpendicular to the height direction Z. Note that if the included angle between the length direction X, height direction Z, and width direction Y is 85° to 95°, the three can be considered to be perpendicular to each other. The length direction X and width direction Y may be other directions, and they do not have to be perpendicular to the height direction Z, and explanations thereof will be omitted in the present application.

[0064] The suspension beams 321 protrude from the second support plate 32 in the height direction Z toward the battery cells 2, thereby serving to support and place the battery cells 2. A plurality of suspension beams 321 are installed at intervals on the second support plate 32 in the length direction X, i.e., the suspension beams 321 are arranged along the length direction X, thereby providing support for the battery cells 2 at a plurality of positions. Since a plurality of battery cells 2 are installed within the housing 1, the battery cells 2 are arranged in an array inside the housing 1, and the suspension beams 321 extend along the width direction Y, thereby allowing a single suspension beam 321 to provide support for a plurality of battery cells 2 in the width direction Y.

[0065] A suspension beam 321 is installed on the second support plate 32 to improve the structural stability of the battery 100 and prevent the top cover plate of the battery 100 from directly abutting against the second support plate 32, which would affect the performance of the battery 100.

[0066] 5 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery cell 2 according to some embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 5, in some embodiments of the present application, the top cover plate 21 includes a functional area 201 and shoulder portions 202, the electrode terminals 211 are installed in the functional area 201, the shoulder portions 202 are located on both sides of the functional area 201 in the longitudinal direction X, and the battery cell 2 is fixed to the suspension beam 321 via the shoulder portions 202.

[0067] The functional area 201 refers to an area where the battery cell 2 installed on the top cover plate 21 can perform its own function or an area where the battery cell 2 can interact with the outside, such as an electrode terminal 211 that allows the battery cell 2 to be electrically connected to the outside. Because components such as the electrode terminal 211 are always installed in the functional area 201, the functional area 201 is not suitable for receiving force during use of the battery 100. The shoulder portion 202 refers to an area of ​​the top cover plate 21 excluding the functional area 201 that can receive force.

[0068] The functional area 201 on which the electrode terminals 211 are installed is located between the shoulders 202, so that the shoulders 202 provide a certain level of protection for the functional area 201. The battery cells 2 abut against the suspension beams 321 via the shoulders 202, which prevents the electrode terminals 211 in the functional area 201 from being damaged by force and extends the service life of the battery cells 2.

[0069] Alternatively, the battery cells 2 may be directly attached to the suspension beam 321 by adhesive, or may be fixedly connected to the suspension beam 321 in other ways, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0070] In some embodiments of the present application, the electrode terminal 211 is installed between two adjacent suspension beams 321, and the electrode terminal 211 and the second support plate 32 are installed with a gap therebetween.

[0071] Since the functional area 201 is located between the two shoulder portions 202, the shoulder portions 202 abut against the suspension beam 321, and the electrode terminal 211 of the functional area 201 is also located between the two adjacent suspension beams 321, and the electrode terminal 211 and the second support plate 32 are installed with a gap between them, i.e., the electrode terminal 211 does not contact the second support plate 32, and the electrode terminal 211 can be considered to be installed in a floating state between the two suspension beams 321, which makes it easier to extract electrical energy from the battery cell 2 through the electrode terminal 211 and improves the availability of the battery cell 2.

[0072] In some embodiments of the present application, the extension height of the suspension beam 321 in the height direction Z is greater than the extension height of the electrode terminal 211 and the pressure reducing mechanism 212 .

[0073] In the height direction Z, the extension height of the suspension beam 321 is greater than the extension height of the electrode terminal 211, and the electrode terminal 211 and the pressure reducing mechanism 212 can be suspended between adjacent suspension beams 321 to avoid contact with other components and affecting their function.

[0074] In some embodiments of the present application, a pressure reducing mechanism 212 is further installed in the functional area 201, and the pressure reducing mechanism 212 and the second support plate 32 are installed at a distance from each other, and the electrode terminals 211 are installed on both sides of the pressure reducing mechanism 212 in the longitudinal direction X.

[0075] The pressure reducing mechanism 212 is an element or component that is activated to release the internal pressure when the internal pressure of the battery cell 2 reaches a predetermined threshold. When the internal pressure of the battery cell 2 reaches the predetermined threshold, the pressure reducing mechanism 212 generates an operation or is activated to a certain state, thereby releasing the internal pressure of the battery cell 2. The operation generated by the pressure reducing mechanism 212 includes, but is not limited to, rupturing, crushing, tearing, or opening at least a portion of the pressure reducing mechanism 212, thereby forming an opening 103 or passage through which the internal pressure can be released. At this time, the high-temperature and high-pressure material inside the battery cell 2 is discharged from the activated location as a discharge. In this manner, pressure can be released from the battery cell 2 under controllable pressure conditions, preventing the occurrence of potentially more serious accidents. The pressure reducing mechanism 212 can be, for example, an explosion-proof valve, an air valve, a pressure reducing valve, or a safety valve, and specifically, can be a pressure-sensitive element or structure.

[0076] The electrode terminals 211 are installed on both sides of the pressure reducing mechanism 212, which can reduce the impact on the electrode terminals 211 when pressure is released from the pressure reducing mechanism 212. In addition, the pressure reducing mechanism 212 and the second support plate 32 are installed with a gap between them, so that the pressure reducing mechanism 212 does not contact the second support plate 32, providing a larger pressure reducing space for the pressure reducing mechanism 212, reducing the risk of discharged materials, and improving the safety of the battery 100.

[0077] In some embodiments of the present application, the shoulder portions 202 of two adjacent battery cells 2 are both fixed to the same suspension beam 321 .

[0078] When multiple battery cells 2 are installed in the housing 1, the multiple battery cells 2 are arranged adjacent to each other in the housing 1, and the suspension beams 321 are installed at intervals along the second support plate 32 in the longitudinal direction X, so that the shoulder portions 202 are located on both sides of the functional area 201 in the longitudinal direction X and can be located at the connection portions of adjacent battery cells 2, thereby allowing the shoulder portions 202 of two adjacent battery cells 2 to be fixed to the same suspension beam 321.

[0079] By having adjacent battery cells 2 in the length direction X share the same suspension beam 321, the number of suspension beams 321 can be reduced as much as possible, which facilitates the manufacture of the second support plate 32.

[0080] In some embodiments of the present application, the width D1 of the suspension beam 321 and the extension width D2 of the shoulder portion 202 in the length direction X satisfy 0.5D2≦D1≦2D2.

[0081] If the width D1 of the suspension beam 321 is at least 0.5 times the extension width D2 of the shoulder portion 202, it can provide sufficient support for the battery cells 2. When two adjacent battery cells 2 are simultaneously placed on the suspension beam 321, if the width of the suspension beam 321 in the longitudinal direction X is no more than twice the extension width of the shoulder portion 202, the suspension beam 321 will only come into contact with the shoulder portions 202 of the two adjacent battery cells 2, and will avoid coming into contact with the functional area 201 and affecting the function of the battery cells 2.

[0082] Preferably, the relationship between the width D1 of the suspension beam 321 and the extension width D2 of the shoulder portion 202 satisfies D2≦D1≦2D2. Because the suspension beam 321 may be offset from adjacent battery cells 2, the width of the suspension beam 321 in the longitudinal direction X is set to be equal to or greater than the extension width of the shoulder portion 202, so that two adjacent battery cells 2 can be placed on the suspension beam 321 at the same time, without causing the problem of poor structural stability due to uneven forces being applied to the battery 100 when only one battery cell is placed due to offsetting.

[0083] Referring again to FIG. 4, in some embodiments of the present application, as shown in FIG. 4, two adjacent battery cells 2 are electrically connected via a bus member 24, and the extension length of one of two adjacent suspension beams 321 in the width direction Y is shorter than the extension length of the other, thereby forming an escape notch 322 for allowing the bus member 24 to escape.

[0084] The bus members 24 are members that realize electrical connection between the multiple battery cells 2. The bus members 24 connect across the electrode terminals 211 of adjacent battery cells 2, and connect the multiple battery cells 2 in series, parallel, or series-parallel. In the embodiment of the present application, since the bus members 24 connect across the electrode terminals 211 of adjacent battery cells 2 in the length direction X, it is necessary to provide relief for at least a portion of the suspension beams 321 extending along the width direction Y, and therefore relief notches 322 are formed.

[0085] The extension length of one of two adjacent suspension beams 321 is shorter than the extension length of the other, i.e., the suspension beams 321 with longer extension lengths and the suspension beams 321 with shorter extension lengths are arranged alternately. Optionally, the length of the suspension beams 321 may be adjusted according to the arrangement of the bus members 24. Furthermore, the extension length of the suspension beams 321 in the width direction Y simply refers to the total length of the suspension beams 321 in the width direction Y. In other words, the relief notch 322 may be located at one end of the suspension beam 321 or at the center of the suspension beam 321, and this is determined according to the arrangement of the bus members 24, and the embodiment of the present application is not particularly limited thereto.

[0086] The suspension beam 321 is provided with relief notches 322, which allows the suspension beam 321 to better fit the structure of the battery 100, and makes it easier to connect the battery cells 2 in series, parallel, or series-parallel with each other.

[0087] In some embodiments of the present application, the suspension beam 321 may be integrally formed with or removably connected to the second support plate 32 .

[0088] If the suspension beam 321 and the second support plate 32 are integrally molded, it facilitates the manufacture of the second support plate 32. If the suspension beam 321 and the second support plate 32 are detachably connected to each other, it is easy to adjust the position of the suspension beam 321 based on the arrangement of the battery cells 2, so that the battery 100 has a more stable structure.

[0089] In an alternative embodiment, the surfaces of the second support plate 32 and the suspension beam 321 are coated with an insulating material.

[0090] The second support plate 32 and the suspension beam 321 are insulating members to avoid affecting the electrical connections between the battery cells 2. The second support plate 32 and the suspension beam 321 may be made entirely of an insulating material, or may be objects whose surfaces are coated with an insulating material to provide insulating properties as a whole. When the second support plate 32 and the suspension beam 321 are objects whose surfaces are coated with an insulating material, the core material may be a metal material, an insulating material, or a composite material, and the outer surface of the core material is coated with an insulating material.

[0091] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the battery 100 shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is an enlarged schematic view of the circled area B in Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, in some embodiments of the present application, the extension height of the suspension beam 321 in the height direction Z is a first dimension H1, and the first dimension H1 satisfies 0.5 mm≦H1≦30 mm.

[0092] The suspension beam 321 has a certain dimension in the height direction Z, and can protrude from the second support plate 32 to support and place the battery cell 2. The suspension beam 321 has a first dimension H1, and can maintain a certain distance between the top cover plate 21 of the battery cell 2 and the bottom 102 of the housing 1, thereby maintaining an appropriate energy density of the battery 100.

[0093] In some embodiments of the present application, the ratio H1 / M of the first dimension H1 to the weight M of a single battery cell 2 satisfies 0.05 mm / Kg≦H1 / M≦50 mm / Kg.

[0094] The ratio H1 / M of the first dimension H1 to the weight M of a single battery cell 2 can indicate the energy density and structural strength of the battery 100. If the ratio H1 to the weight M of a single battery cell 2 is too large, the energy density of the battery 100 will be too low, and if the ratio H1 to the weight M of a single battery cell 2 is too small, the structural strength of the battery 100 will be insufficient, which may result in a safety hazard in the event of a collision. Therefore, if the ratio H1 / M of the first dimension H1 to the weight M of a single battery cell 2 satisfies 0.05 mm / Kg≦H1 / M≦50 mm / Kg, the battery 100 will have good energy density and appropriate structural strength within this range.

[0095] To verify that the battery 100 has good performance when the ratio H1 / M of the first dimension H1 to the weight M of a single battery cell 2 is within an appropriate range, a structural strength test can be performed on the battery 100. In the process of performing the structural strength test on the battery 100, the structural strength of the battery 100 can be determined by a number of tests, such as a shear strength test and a compressive strength test, for example.

[0096] In a shear strength test, for example, the battery 100 is fixed between the fixtures of a shear tester, and then the detection head of the shear tester is used to drive the battery 100, moving it along the width direction X or length direction Y at a speed of 5 mm / min. The tensile force F applied by the detection head when the housing 1 breaks is recorded. The projected area of ​​the battery 100 in the height direction Z is defined as area A, and the value of F / A is the shear strength that the battery 100 can withstand.

[0097] In the compressive strength test, for example, a pressure head is used to apply pressure to the battery 100 in the height direction Z and the width direction X or length direction Y, and is propelled toward the battery 100 at a speed of 2 m / s. When the pressure reaches 50 kN or the deformation of the battery 100 reaches 30%, the pressure head is stopped and maintained for 10 minutes. After the compressive strength test, the battery 100 is allowed to stand at ambient temperature for 2 hours and then observed.

[0098] Optionally, the structural strength of the battery 100 can be tested by other structural strength tests, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0099] Table 1 shows the results of a structural strength test performed on the battery 100 using the above method, with different values ​​being used for the first dimension H1, the weight M of the single battery cell 2, and the value of H1 / M.

[0100] [Table 1]

[0101] As shown in Table 1, when H1 satisfies 0.5 mm≦H1≦30 mm and H1 / M satisfies 0.05 mm / Kg≦H1 / M≦50 mm / Kg, the battery 100 has relatively good structural strength in a structural strength test.

[0102] In another alternative embodiment, the battery cells 2 may be mounted on the suspension beams 321 of the second support plate 32 without being fixedly connected thereto.

[0103] In this case, the first dimension H1 satisfies 5 mm≦H1≦30 mm, and the ratio H1 / M of the first dimension H1 to the weight M of a single battery cell 2 satisfies 0.5 mm / Kg≦H1 / M≦50 mm / Kg, and preferably, H1 / M satisfies 1 mm / Kg≦H1 / M≦30 mm / Kg. Within this value range, the battery 100 has good energy density and appropriate structural strength.

[0104] FIG. 8 is a structural schematic diagram of a crash test apparatus A for performing a crash test on a battery 100 according to some embodiments of the present application. To verify that a battery 100 with a ratio H1 / M of the first dimension H1 to the weight M of a single battery cell 2 within an appropriate range has good performance, a crash test was performed on the battery 100 using the crash test apparatus A as an example. As shown in FIG. 8, the crash test apparatus A includes an impact head A1, a launcher A2, and a frame A3. During the test, the battery 100 is placed on the frame A3, and the impact head A1 is driven by the launcher A2 to impact the battery 100 at a constant speed. The test conditions can be selected as follows: the impact direction is the height direction Z, the impact position is a weak point of the battery 100, and the impact energy is 90 J.

[0105] Since the battery 100 is applied to a power consumption device such as a vehicle 1000, the top 101 is attached to the vehicle 1000, and the battery 100's bottom 102 is impacted in the height direction Z to simulate the state of the battery 100 after it is installed in the vehicle 1000. The weak spot of the battery 100 refers to a location of the battery 100 that is susceptible to destruction, and this location is always located within a 240 mm radius from the geometric center of the battery 100. By impacting the weak spot of the battery 100, the state of the battery 100 after impacting a location of the battery 100 where the structural strength is weak can be simulated. The impact energy is 90 J, which may be equivalent to impacting the battery 100 with an impact head A1 at a speed of 4.2 m / s. However, other impact energies, such as 120 J (impact speed 4.9 m / s) or 150 J (impact speed 5.5 m / s), may also be used. In the course of an actual experiment, the battery 100 may be hit multiple times with one collision energy, or may be hit multiple times with multiple collision energies.

[0106] After the battery 100 is crashed by the crash test device A, it is observed for two hours at ambient temperature to detect whether or not there is any fire or explosion of the battery 100. Optionally, after the crash test of the battery 100 is performed by the crash test device A, the battery 100 may be further subjected to a test such as a protection rating test of the housing, but the embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto.

[0107] Table 2 shows the results of a collision test conducted on the battery 100 using the above method when the battery cell 2 is mounted on the suspension beam 321 and different values ​​are used for the first dimension H1, the weight M of a single battery cell 2, and the value of H1 / M.

[0108] [Table 2]

[0109] As shown in Table 2, when H1 satisfies 5mm≦H1≦30mm and H1 / M satisfies 0.5mm / Kg≦H1 / M≦50mm / Kg, the battery 100 will not ignite or explode in a crash test of a certain strength, and has relatively good safety.

[0110] 9 is a structural schematic diagram of the cover 4 of the battery 100 according to some embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 9, in some embodiments of the present application, the housing 1 further includes a cover 4 installed on the bottom 102, and the cover 4 is fixedly connected to the housing 1.

[0111] When the bottom 102 of the housing 1 has the cover 4, i.e., the bottom 102 of the housing 1 has an opening 103, the opening 103 faces downward in the height direction Z, and the cover 4 covers the opening 103, thereby causing the housing 1 to have a relatively sealed structure.

[0112] In an alternative embodiment, the cover 4 includes a main body 41 and an engaging portion 42, and the engaging portion 42 is disposed circumferentially around the main body 41 and engages with the side plate 11. That is, the main body 41 covers the opening 103 formed in the side plate 11, and the engaging portion 42 is fixed to the side plate 11, thereby fixedly connecting the cover 4 to the side plate 11. Alternatively, the engaging portion 42 and the side plate 11 may be connected by bolts, or the engaging portion 42 and the side plate 11 may be fixedly connected in other ways.

[0113] In the height direction Z, the main body 41 protrudes from the extending surface of the bottom 102 relative to the engaging portion 42. This allows a relatively large distance between the battery cells 2 installed inside the housing 1 and the cover 4, thereby providing space for the bus members 24 or the second support plate 32. Note that the protruding distance of the main body 41 relative to the engaging portion 42 should be selected based on the energy density of the battery 100, and should not be so large as to increase the volume of the battery 100 and reduce the energy density of the battery 100.

[0114] In some embodiments of the present application, the second support plate 32 may be fixedly connected to the cover 4, thereby improving the structural robustness of the battery 100. Optionally, the second support plate 32 may abut the cover 4, although embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0115] It should be noted that the above description of several embodiments of battery 100 is merely exemplary, and battery 100 may have other configurations.

[0116] 2 and 3 , in an alternative embodiment, the first support plate 31 is located on the upper portion 101 of the housing 1 and is a part of the housing 1. The housing 1 further includes a side plate 11, which is disposed along the periphery of an opening 103 facing the bottom portion 102, and the first support plate 31 and the cover 4 are fixedly connected to the side plate 11. That is, the first support plate 31, the side plate 11, and the cover 4 are arranged in order from top to bottom along the height direction Z, the first support plate 31 is a plate extending along the length direction X, the side plate 11 is a plate extending along the height direction Z, the side plate 11 is installed to surround the first support plate 31, the opening 103 is formed at the bottom portion 102, and the cover 4 covers the opening 103, leaving a space inside the housing 1 for installing battery cells 2. The battery cells 2 are mounted on the first support plate 31, which can increase the rigidity of the upper portion 101 of the battery 100 and reduce the possibility of the battery 100 being damaged in a collision.

[0117] Alternatively, the side plate 11 may be integrally formed with the first support plate 31, or may be fixedly connected to the first support plate 31 by a connection method such as welding, adhesive, fasteners, or a hot melt self-tapping process, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0118] In an alternative embodiment, cooling passages (not shown) are embedded inside the first support plate 31. Since the battery cells 2 are installed on the first support plate 31, the bottoms of the battery cells 2 are in contact with the first support plate 31. Considering the performance of the battery 100, the cooling passages are embedded inside the first support plate 31, and a cooling gas or liquid can be passed through them to provide a cooling effect to the battery 100 when it is operating, thereby improving the service life and usability of the battery 100.

[0119] In another alternative embodiment, the cooling passages may be installed between the battery cells 2 and the first support plate 31 as a water-cooled plate, or may be formed in any other member installed to provide a cooling effect, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0120] Alternatively, the housing 1 may have a simple three-dimensional structure such as a rectangular parallelepiped or a cylinder, or a complex three-dimensional structure formed by combining simple three-dimensional structures such as rectangular parallelepipeds or cylinders. The material of the housing 1 may be an alloy material such as an aluminum alloy or an iron alloy, a polymer material such as polycarbonate or polyisocyanurate foam, or a composite material made of glass fiber and epoxy resin. To improve the sealing performance of the housing 1, a sealing member such as a sealant or a seal ring may be installed between the cover 4 and the side panel 11. The embodiments of the present application are not limited to any of the above possible installations.

[0121] Alternatively, in the battery 100, the plurality of battery cells 2 may be connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel, and a series-parallel connection refers to not only a series connection but also a parallel connection among the plurality of battery cells 2. The plurality of battery cells 2 may be directly connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel, and then the entire battery cell set may be housed in the housing 1. Note that the battery 100 may be configured such that the plurality of battery cells 2 are first connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel to form a module of the battery 100, and then the modules of the plurality of batteries 100 may be further connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel to be integrally formed and housed in the housing 1.

[0122] Each battery cell 2 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 cells 2 may be cylindrical, flat, rectangular, or have other shapes.

[0123] 10 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a battery cell 2 according to some embodiments of the present application. The battery cell 2 refers to the smallest unit constituting the battery 100. As shown in FIG. 10, the battery cell 2 further includes a top cover plate 21, a housing 22, an electrode assembly 23, and other functional members.

[0124] The top cover plate 21 is a member that covers the opening of the housing 22 and isolates the internal environment of the battery cell 2 from the external environment. The shape of the top cover plate 21 can be adapted to the shape of the housing 22 to fit the housing 22, but is not limited to this. Alternatively, the top cover plate 21 can be made of a material with a certain hardness and strength (e.g., aluminum alloy), which makes the top cover plate 21 less likely to deform when pressed or hit. This allows the battery cell 2 to have higher structural strength and improved safety performance. Functional components such as electrode terminals 211 and explosion-proof valves are installed on the top cover plate 21. The electrode terminals 211 can be used to electrically connect with the electrode assembly 23 and to input or output electrical energy from the battery cell 2. In some embodiments, the top cover plate 21 can further be installed with a pressure reducing mechanism 212 that can release internal pressure when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell 2 reaches a threshold. The top cover plate 21 may be made of any material, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, plastic, etc., and the present embodiment is not particularly limited thereto. In some embodiments, an insulating member may be further installed inside the top cover plate 21, and the insulating member may be used to isolate the electrical connection plate members in the housing 22 from the top cover plate 21, thereby reducing the risk of short circuit. For example, the insulator may be plastic, rubber, etc.

[0125] The housing 22 is an assembly that mates with the top cover plate 21 to form an internal environment of the battery cell 2. This internal environment can be used to accommodate the electrode assembly 23, an electrolyte (not shown), and other components. The housing 22 and the top cover plate 21 may be separate components, or an opening may be formed in the housing 22, and the top cover plate 21 may be placed over the opening to form the internal environment of the battery cell 2. The top cover plate 21 and the housing 22 may be integrated. Specifically, the top cover plate 21 and the housing 22 may form a common connecting surface before other components are placed in the housing. If the interior of the housing 22 needs to be sealed, the top cover plate 21 may be placed over the housing 22, but this is not limiting. The housing 22 may have various shapes and sizes, such as a rectangular parallelepiped, a cylinder, or a hexagonal prism. Specifically, the shape of the housing 22 is determined by the specific shape and size of the electrode assembly 23. The housing 22 may be made of any of a variety of materials, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, plastic, etc., and the present embodiment is not particularly limited thereto.

[0126] The electrode assembly 23 is a component that generates an electrochemical reaction in the battery cell 2. One or more electrode assemblies 23 may be included within the housing 22. The electrode assembly 23 is primarily formed by winding or stacking a positive electrode sheet and a negative electrode sheet, with a separator typically provided between the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet. The portions of the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet that contain the active material form the body of the electrode assembly 23, and the portions of the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet that do not contain the active material form the tabs, respectively. The positive electrode tab and the negative electrode tab may be located together at one end of the body, or may be located at both ends of the body. During the charge and discharge process of the battery cell 100, the positive electrode active material and the negative electrode active material react with the electrolyte, and the tabs are connected to the electrode terminals 211 to form a current circuit.

[0127] In an alternative embodiment of the present application, the battery 100 includes a housing 1, a plurality of battery cells 2, and a stabilizing assembly 3, where the battery cells 2 are inverted within the housing 1 and the top cover plate 21 faces the bottom 102 in the height direction Z of the housing 1. The stabilizing assembly 3 includes a first support plate 31 and a second support plate 32, where the first support plate 31 is installed on the top 101 of the housing 1 in the height direction Z and is fixedly connected to the battery cells 2, and the second support plate 32 is installed on the bottom 102 of the housing 1 and is fixedly connected to the battery cells 2.

[0128] The embodiments and features of the embodiments in the present application can be combined with each other as long as they are not contradictory.

[0129] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical solutions of the present application, and are not intended to limit the same. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand the following: Those skilled in the art may still modify the technical solutions described in the above embodiments or substitute some technical features therein with equivalents, but such modifications or substitutions shall not cause the substance of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. The battery cell (2) includes a housing (1), a plurality of battery cells (2), and a stabilizing assembly (3), the housing (1) having a top (101) and a bottom (102) facing each other along a height direction of the housing (1), the plurality of battery cells (2) being inverted within the housing (1), with top cover plates (21) of the battery cells (2) facing the bottom (102) of the housing (1), and the stabilizing assembly (3) being fixedly connected to the battery cells (2); The stabilization assembly (3) includes a first support plate (31) and a second support plate (32), the first support plate (31) is installed on the top (101) of the housing (1) and is fixedly connected to the battery cells (2), and the second support plate (32) is installed on the bottom (102) of the housing (1) and is fixedly connected to the battery cells (2); A suspension beam (321) is installed on a surface of the second support plate (32) facing the battery cell (2), and the suspension beam (321) protrudes from the second support plate (32) along the height direction toward the battery cell (2).

2. A battery as described in claim 1, wherein the plurality of suspension beams (321) are arranged at intervals along the second support plate (32) in the longitudinal direction of the housing (1) and extend on the second support plate (32) along the width direction of the housing (1).

3. 3. The battery of claim 2, wherein the top cover plate (21) includes a functional area (201) and shoulder portions (202), electrode terminals (211) are installed in the functional area (201), the shoulder portions (202) are located on both sides of the functional area (201) along the length direction, and the battery cells (2) are fixed to the suspension beam (321) via the shoulder portions (202).

4. 4. The battery according to claim 3, wherein the electrode terminal (211) is installed between two adjacent suspension beams (321), and the electrode terminal (211) and the second support plate (32) are installed with a gap therebetween.

5. The battery according to claim 4, wherein the extension height of the suspension beam (321) is greater than the extension height of the electrode terminal (211) in the height direction.

6. 5. The battery according to claim 4, further comprising a pressure reducing mechanism (212) installed in the functional area (201), the pressure reducing mechanism (212) and the second support plate (32) are installed at a distance from each other, and the electrode terminals (211) are installed on both sides of the pressure reducing mechanism (212) in the length direction.

7. The battery according to claim 3, wherein the shoulder portions (202) of two adjacent battery cells (2) are both fixed to the same suspension beam (321).

8. 8. The battery according to claim 7, wherein the width D1 of the suspension beam (321) and the extension width D2 of the shoulder portion (202) in the length direction satisfy 0.5D2≦D1≦2D2.

9. 3. The battery according to claim 2, wherein two adjacent battery cells (2) are electrically connected via a bus member (24), and the extension length of one of the two adjacent suspension beams (321) in the width direction is shorter than the extension length of the other, thereby forming a relief notch (322) for allowing the bus member (24) to escape.

10. 3. The battery of claim 2, wherein the suspension beam (321) is integrally formed with or removably connected to the second support plate (32).

11. The battery according to claim 2 , wherein in the height direction, the extension height of the suspension beam (321) is a first dimension H1, and the first dimension H1 satisfies 0.5 mm≦H1≦30 mm.

12. 12. The battery according to claim 11, wherein a ratio H1 / M of the first dimension H1 to a weight M of a single battery cell (2) satisfies 0.05 mm / Kg≦H1 / M≦50 mm / Kg.

13. 2. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the housing (1) further comprises a cover (4) installed on the bottom (102), the cover (4) being fixedly connected to the housing (1).

14. 14. The battery according to claim 13, wherein the second support plate (32) is fixedly connected to the cover (4).

15. A power consuming device comprising a battery according to any one of claims 1 to 14 for supplying electrical energy thereto.

Images