Batteries and power-consuming devices

Abstract

The present application provides a battery and a power consumption device. The battery includes a housing and a battery cell. The housing has a top and a bottom facing each other along the height of the housing, with an opening at the bottom. The battery cell is inverted inside the housing with the end cover facing the bottom, and a pressure relief mechanism and electrode terminals are provided on the end cover, with both the pressure relief mechanism and electrode terminals facing the bottom. The present application can improve the energy density and safety of the battery.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application is in 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 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 some cases, the energy density of batteries is low, which results in wasted space and further affects the performance of the power consuming device. Moreover, traditional batteries have low rigidity, which means they cannot directly bear the loads caused by other parts of the power consuming device, making them prone to safety accidents and affecting the safety of the power consuming device. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present application provides 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 and a battery cell. The housing has a top and a bottom facing each other along the height direction of the housing, and an opening is provided in the bottom. The battery cell is placed upside down inside the housing with the end cover facing the bottom of the housing, and a pressure relief mechanism and electrode terminals are provided on the end cover, with both the pressure relief mechanism and the electrode terminals facing the bottom.

[0006] In the above technical solution, the opening is located at the bottom of the housing, the battery cell is installed inside the housing, and the end cover faces the bottom when the battery is turned upside down inside the housing, which can increase the rigidity of the top of the battery. The electrode terminals and the pressure relief mechanism are both located at the bottom, which can improve the safety of the battery.

[0007] In some embodiments, the housing includes a support plate and a side plate, the support plate being placed on top, and the battery being fixedly connected to the support plate.

[0008] In the above technical solution, the support plate and the side plate ensure that there is space inside the housing to accommodate the battery cells, and fix the battery cells to the top, thereby improving the rigidity of the top of the battery.

[0009] In some embodiments, the housing further includes a lid placed over the opening, the side panels being connected to each other to form a frame structure, and the lid and the side panels being fixedly connected such that the lid covers the opening.

[0010] In some embodiments, there is a first distance H1 between the end cover of the battery cell and the lid in the height direction, and the first distance H1 is 2 mm.

[0011] In the above technical solution, the existence of the first distance H1 ensures that the battery has an appropriate volume and good discharge performance.

[0012] In some embodiments, the ratio H1 / M of the first distance H1 to the weight M of a single battery cell is 0.2 mm / Kg

[0013] The above technical solutions ensure that the battery has good energy density and suitable structural strength.

[0014] In some embodiments, the battery further includes a protective assembly, which is disposed between the battery cell and the lid to protect the pressure relief mechanism and the electrode terminals.

[0015] In some embodiments, the protective assembly includes a plurality of protective members spaced apart along the longitudinal direction of the housing, and a plurality of battery cells are installed, with the pressure relief mechanism and electrode terminal of each battery cell being located between two adjacent protective members.

[0016] ​​In the above technical solution, the protective member serves to protect the pressure relief mechanism and the electrode terminals.

[0017] In some embodiments, the plurality of protective elements include edge protective elements, first protective elements, and second protective elements, and along the longitudinal direction, the edge protective elements are installed on both edges of the plurality of battery cells arranged in an array, and the first protective elements and the second protective elements are alternately distributed between the two edge protective elements.

[0018] In the above technical solution, the protective member can better adapt the array distribution of the battery cells, thereby playing a role in better supporting the battery cells.

[0019] In some embodiments, the extension length of the first guard member is greater than the extension length of the second guard member along the width of the housing.

[0020] In the above technical solution, the busbar components are retracted into the second protective member.

[0021] In some embodiments, the width of the first and second guards along the length is greater than the width of the edge guards.

[0022] The above technical solution helps the inside of the battery to receive a uniform force, and can improve the structural strength of the battery as a whole.

[0023] In some embodiments, the end cover includes a functional area and a shoulder, the shoulder is located on both sides of the functional area along the longitudinal direction, the pressure relief mechanism and the electrode terminal are installed in the functional area, and the protective member is fixedly connected to the shoulder.

[0024] In the above technical solution, the battery cell is fixed to the protective member via the shoulder, the battery has a more compact structure, the functional area is prevented from being damaged by the force received, and the service life of the battery cell can be improved.

[0025] In some embodiments, along the longitudinal direction, the width D1 of the edge protection member, the width D2 of the first protection member, the width D3 of the second protection member, and the width D4 of the shoulder portion satisfy 0.2D4≦D1≦D4, 0.5D4≦D2≦2D4, and 0.5D4≦D3≦2D4 to meet the support needs of the battery cells.

[0026] In some embodiments, the extension height of the protective member is greater than the extension height of the electrode terminal in the height direction.

[0027] In the above technical solution, the electrode terminals and the pressure relief mechanism are suspended between the adjacent protective members 41 to avoid contact with other members and affecting their function.

[0028] In some embodiments, the battery further includes an insulating plate, the insulating plate being disposed between the protective assembly and the lid.

[0029] In some embodiments, the insulating plate is fixedly connected to the lid to improve the structural robustness of the battery.

[0030] In a second aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a method for providing electrical energy to a vehicle, comprising: Battery The present invention provides a power consuming device including: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0031] In order to more clearly explain the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following will briefly describe the drawings that need to be used in the embodiments of the present application. It should be apparent that the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on the drawings without exerting 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 battery lid according to some embodiments of the present application; [Figure 5] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the battery shown in FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a crash test device for crash testing a battery according to some embodiments of the present application; [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic view of a battery according to some further embodiments of the present application. [Figure 8] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery protection assembly according to some other embodiments of the present application. [Figure 9] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery cell of a battery according to some embodiments of the present application; [Figure 10] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the battery shown in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an enlarged schematic view of the circular frame B in FIG. [Figure 12] 1 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a battery cell according to some embodiments of the present application; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] 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 explained below in conjunction with the drawings of the embodiments of the present application. It is clear that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, and do not include all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present application without any creative effort fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0034] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art. In this application, the terms used in the specification of the application are used only to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the application. The terms "comprises," "has," and any variations thereof in the specification and claims of this application and the above-mentioned drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive "comprises." Terms such as "first," "second," etc. in the specification and claims of this application or the above-mentioned drawings are intended to distinguish different objects and are not intended to describe a specific order or a primary-subordinate relationship.

[0035] The term "embodiment" as used herein means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the application. The appearances of the phrase in various places in the specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment, nor are they mutually exclusive, separate, or alternative embodiments of other embodiments.

[0036] In the description of this application, it should be explained that unless otherwise specified and limited, the terms "attached," "connected," "coupled," and "attached" should be understood in a broad sense, and may refer to, for example, a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection, a direct connection, an indirect connection via an intermediate medium, or communication between the interiors of two elements. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application according to specific circumstances.

[0037] The term "and / or" in this application merely describes a relationship between related objects and indicates that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may represent three cases: A alone, A and B in combination, and B alone. / " generally indicates that the related objects before and after are in an "or" relationship.

[0038] In the embodiments of the present application, the same reference numerals represent the same elements, and for the sake of brevity, detailed descriptions of the same elements in different embodiments will be omitted. Note that the dimensions such as thickness, length, and width of each member 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.

[0039] In this application, "plurality" means two or more (including two).

[0040] The term "parallel" in this application includes not only absolutely parallel but also approximately parallel, which is generally accepted in engineering. Similarly, the term "perpendicular" includes not only absolutely perpendicular but also approximately perpendicular, which is generally accepted in engineering.

[0041] 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., but are not limited thereto in the embodiments of the present application.

[0042] 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 can prevent liquids or other foreign objects from affecting the charging or discharging of the battery cells. In a battery, multiple battery cells may be connected in series, parallel, or series-parallel, and a series-parallel connection means that multiple battery cells may be connected in series or parallel. Multiple battery cells may be directly connected in series, parallel, or series-parallel, and then the entire configuration of multiple battery cells may be housed in a housing. Of course, a battery may be formed by connecting multiple battery cells in series, parallel, or series-parallel. Module and multiple batteries Module may be connected in series, in parallel, or in series and parallel to form a single whole and housed in a housing.

[0043] Currently, in view of the development of the market situation, the application of power batteries is expanding more and more. Power batteries are widely used not only in energy storage power systems such as hydroelectric, thermal, wind, and solar power plants, but also in multiple fields such as electric transportation such as electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, and electric cars, military equipment, aviation, and spaceflight. As the application fields of power batteries expand, their market demand is also constantly expanding.

[0044] In the related art, the opening of the battery case is usually directed vertically upward, the battery cell is fixed to the bottom of the battery, and the electrode terminal faces a lid that covers the opening of the case.

[0045] However, the applicant has found 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, which reduces the rigidity of the top of the battery, making it more susceptible to collision, and during the battery collision process, the internal battery cells are subjected to uneven forces, which makes the battery more susceptible to damage, reduces the safety of the battery, and affects the usage performance of the battery.

[0046] In view of this, the embodiment of the present application provides a battery, in which the opening is located at the bottom of the housing, the battery cells are installed in the housing, and the end cover faces the bottom so as to be turned upside down in the housing, thereby increasing the rigidity of the entire battery and reducing the probability of damage during a collision. The electrode terminals and the pressure relief mechanism are both located facing the bottom, thereby improving the safety of the battery. electrode By adjusting the ratio of the distance from the terminal to the lid and the weight of the battery cell, the energy density of the battery can be guaranteed, and the overall structural strength of the battery can be adjusted, further improving the performance of the battery.

[0047] The technical solutions described in the embodiments of this application are applicable to batteries and power-consuming devices powered by batteries.

[0048] The power consuming devices may be vehicles, mobile phones, portable devices, laptops, steamships, spacecraft, electric toys, power tools, etc. The vehicles may be fuel oil vehicles, gas vehicles, or new energy vehicles, and the new energy vehicles may be pure electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, range extender vehicles, etc. The spacecraft may include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, spaceships, etc. The electric toys may include stationary or mobile electric toys, such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric steamship toys, and electric airplane toys, and the electric tools may include metal cutting power tools, polishing power tools, assembly power tools, and railway power tools, such as electric drills, electric grinders, electric wrenches, electric screwdrivers, electric hammers, hammer drills, concrete vibrators, electric planes, etc. In the embodiments of the present application, the power consuming devices are not particularly limited.

[0049] It should be understood that the technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present application are not only applicable to the power consumption devices described above, and for the sake of simplicity, the following embodiments will be described using vehicle 1000 as an example.

[0050] 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 fuel oil vehicle, a gas vehicle, or a new energy vehicle, and the new energy vehicle may be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, an extended range electric 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.

[0051] The battery 100 can be used to power the vehicle 1000, for example, the battery 100 can be an operating power source for the vehicle 1000. The vehicle 1000 may further include a controller 200 and a motor 300, where the controller 200 controls the battery 100 to power the motor 300 for use in, for example, starting, navigating, and running 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 driving power source for the vehicle 1000, providing driving power to the vehicle 1000 in place of, or in place of, fuel oil or natural gas.

[0052] 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 diagram of an exploded view of a battery 100 according to some embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , in some embodiments of the present application, the battery 100 includes a housing 1 and a battery cell 2. The housing 1 has a top 101 and a bottom 102 facing each other along a height direction Z of the housing 1, and an opening 103 is provided in the bottom 102. The battery cell 2 is placed upside down in the housing 1 with the end cover 21 facing the bottom 102, and a pressure relief mechanism 212 and an electrode terminal 211 are provided on the end cover 21, with the pressure relief mechanism 212 and the electrode terminal 211 both facing the bottom 102.

[0053] The housing 1 has a top 101 and a bottom 102 facing each other along the height direction of the housing 1, which means that the top 101 and the bottom 102 of the housing 1 are arranged sequentially from top to bottom in the height direction. The opening 103 is located at the bottom 102, which means that the housing 1 faces downward in the height direction. For ease of explanation, in the embodiments of the present application, the height direction is defined as the Z direction, i.e., the vertical direction. It should be understood that the height direction Z of the housing 1 may also be along other directions, and in the following content, other directions are defined in detail to indicate other elements, such as the arrangement direction of the battery cells 2, and will not be described in detail here.

[0054] The battery cells 2 are placed upside down inside the housing 1 so that the end cover 21 faces the bottom 102, which means that the battery cells 2 and the housing 1 are installed upside down in the height direction Z. The pressure relief mechanism 212 and electrode terminals 211 are installed on the end cover 21, and because the end cover 21 faces the bottom 102, the pressure relief mechanism 212 and electrode terminals 211 also face the bottom 102 of the housing 1.

[0055] The pressure relief 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. That is, when the internal pressure of the battery cell 2 reaches the predetermined threshold, the pressure relief mechanism 212 operates or is activated to a certain state, thereby releasing the internal pressure of the battery cell 2. The operation of the pressure relief mechanism 212 may include, but is not limited to, rupturing, crushing, breaking, or opening of at least a portion of the pressure relief mechanism 212. This can form an opening 103 or a passage for releasing the internal pressure. At this time, high-temperature and high-pressure materials inside the battery cell 2 are discharged from the activated portion as exhaust. In this way, if the pressure is controllable, the pressure in the battery cell 2 can be released, thereby avoiding the occurrence of a potentially more serious accident. The pressure relief mechanism 212 may take the form of, for example, an explosion-proof valve, an air valve, a pressure relief valve, or a safety valve, and may specifically be a pressure-sensitive element or structure.

[0056] Installing the battery cell 2 upside down in the casing 1 allows the battery cell 2 to be installed on the top 101 of the battery 100, thereby improving the rigidity of the top 101 of the battery 100 and enhancing the safety of the battery 100. Furthermore, having the end cover 21 of the battery cell 2 facing the bottom 102 of the battery 100 increases the energy density of the battery 100 and improves the usability of the battery 100. Installing the electrode terminal 211 facing the bottom 102 provides a large space for electrical connection to the electrode terminal 211. Installing the pressure relief mechanism 212 facing the bottom 102 allows the pressure relief direction of the pressure relief mechanism 212 to face the bottom 102 of the battery 100, thereby preventing the pressure relief mechanism 212 from discharging toward other external devices connected to the top 101 of the battery 100 and enhancing the safety of the battery 100.

[0057] In some embodiments of the present application, the housing 1 includes a support plate 11 and a side plate 12 , the support plate 11 is installed on a top 101 , and the battery 100 is fixedly connected to the support plate 11 .

[0058] The support plate 11 is installed on the top 101 and is arranged in succession with the side plates 12 in the height direction Z from top to bottom. The support plate 11 is a plate extending in the horizontal direction and is used to increase the rigidity of the top 101 of the battery 100. The side plates 12 are plates extending in the height direction Z and are installed to surround the support plate 11, but openings 103 are formed in the bottom 102 so that there is space inside the housing 1 to accommodate the battery cells 2. The battery cells 2 are fixedly connected to the support plate 11 to increase the rigidity of the top 101 of the battery 100 and reduce the possibility of damage to the battery 100 during a collision.

[0059] Optionally, the battery cells 2 may be directly connected to the support plate 11 by adhesive or fixedly connected by other methods.

[0060] Optionally, the side plate 12 may be integrally formed with the support plate 11 or may be fixedly connected to the support plate 11 by a connection method such as welding, adhesive, fasteners, or a hot melt self-tapping process, but the present application is not limited thereto.

[0061] In an optional embodiment, cooling passages (not shown) are embedded inside the support plate 11. The battery cells 2 are installed on the support plate 11, and the bottoms 102 of the battery cells 2 are in contact with the support plate 11. Considering the performance of the battery 100, the passages embedded inside the support plate 11, through which a gas or liquid as a heat medium flows, have the effect of regulating the temperature of the battery 100 when the battery 100 is operating, thereby improving the service life and usability of the battery 100.

[0062] In another optional embodiment, the passage may be installed between the battery cell 2 and the support plate 11 as a thermal management member, or may be any other installable member configured to perform the function of regulating the temperature of the battery 100, and the examples of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0063] 4 is a structural schematic diagram of the cover 3 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 housing 1 further includes a cover 3 installed in the opening 103, and the side plates 12 are connected to each other to form a frame structure, and the cover 3 and the side plates 12 are fixedly connected.

[0064] The side plates 12 are connected to each other to form a frame structure, that is, the side plates 12 are installed around the circumferential direction of the support plate 11 to accommodate the battery cells 2 and are combined with the support plate 11 to form the housing 1. The cover 3 and the side plates 12 are fixedly connected to cover the opening 103, so that the housing 1 has a relatively sealed structure.

[0065] The cover 3 includes a main body 31 and a fitting portion 32. The fitting portion 32 is arranged circumferentially around the main body 31 and is matched to the side plate 12. That is, the main body 31 covers the opening 103 formed by the side plate 12, and the fitting portion 32 is fixed to the side plate 12, thereby fixedly connecting the cover 3 and the side plate 12. Optionally, the fitting portion 32 and the side plate 12 may be connected by bolts, but the fitting portion 32 and the side plate 12 may also be fixedly connected by other methods.

[0066] In the height direction Z, the main body 31 protrudes from the extending surface of the bottom 102 relative to the fitting portion 32. A relatively long distance is provided between the battery cell 2 installed inside the housing 1 and the lid 3. It should be understood that the protruding distance of the main body 31 relative to the fitting portion 32 should be selected based on the energy density of the battery 100, and should not be too large, which would increase the volume of the battery 100 and thereby reduce the energy density of the battery 100.

[0067] Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the battery 100 shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 5, in some embodiments of the present application, there is a first distance H1 between the end cover 21 of the battery cell 2 and the lid body 3, and the first distance H1 is 2 mm.

[0068] When the main body 31 of the lid 3 protrudes from the extending surface of the bottom 102 relative to the fitting portion 32, the first distance H1 is Terminals and indicates the distance between the surface having the explosion-proof valve and the main body 31. The first distance H1 is 2 mm.

[0069] In some embodiments of the present application, the ratio of the first distance H1 to the weight M of a single battery cell 2 is 0.2 mm / Kg

[0070] ​​​The ratio H1 / M of the first distance 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 of the first distance 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 of the first distance 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 accident during a collision. Therefore, H1 / M is 0.2 mm / Kg. 1 / M≦20 mm / Kg, and keeping the value within this range ensures that the battery 100 has good energy density and adequate structural strength.

[0071] FIG. 6 is a structural schematic diagram of a crash test apparatus A for crash testing a battery 100 according to some embodiments of the present application. To verify that the battery 100 has good performance when the ratio H1 / M of the first distance H1 to the weight M of a single battery cell 2 is within an appropriate range, the battery 100 is crash tested using the crash test apparatus A. As shown in FIG. 6 , the crash test apparatus A includes an impact head A1, a launcher A2, and a rack A3. During the test, the battery 100 is placed on the rack A3, and the impact head A1 is driven by the launcher A2 to impact the battery 100 at a constant speed. Here, the test conditions may be selected such that 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.

[0072] ​Since the battery 100 is applied to a power-consuming device such as a vehicle 1000, the top 101 is attached to the vehicle 1000, and the battery 100 is impacted in the height direction Z against the bottom 102 of the battery 100 to simulate the situation after the battery 100 is attached to the vehicle 1000. The weak point of the battery 100 refers to a location on the battery 100 that is prone to breakage, and this point is usually within a region with a radius of 240 mm from the geometric center of the battery 100. By impacting the weak point of the battery 100, the state of the battery 100 after the structurally weak point of the battery 100 is impacted can be simulated. The impact energy of 90 J is equivalent to the impact of the impact head A1 on the battery 100 at a speed of 4.2 m / s. As can be understood, the battery 100 can also be impacted with other impact energies, such as 120 J (impact velocity is 4.9 m / s) or 150 J (impact velocity is 5.5 m / s). In actual testing, the battery 100 can be impacted multiple times with a single impact energy, or the battery 100 can be impacted multiple times with multiple impact energies.

[0073] After impacting the battery 100 with the crash test device A, the battery 100 is observed at ambient temperature for two hours to detect whether there is any ignition or explosion phenomenon in the battery 100. Optionally, after the impact test of the battery 100 with the crash test device A, tests such as the case protection level may be performed on the battery 100, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0074] Table 1 shows the test results of the collision test of the battery 100 according to the above method when the first distance H1, the weight M of the single battery cell 2, and the value of H1 / M are different.

[0075] [Table 1]

[0076] As shown in Table 1, 2 mm

[0077] Fig. 7 is an exploded schematic view of a battery 100 according to some other embodiments of the present application. Fig. 8 is a structural schematic view of a protection assembly 4 of the battery 100 according to some other embodiments of the present application. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8 , in some embodiments of the present application, the battery 100 further includes a protection assembly 4, which is disposed between the battery cell 2 and the cover 3 to protect the pressure release mechanism 212 and the electrode terminal 211.

[0078] The protective assembly 4 is installed between the battery cell 2 and the cover body 3, i.e., between the pressure relief mechanism 212 and the electrode terminal 211 and the cover body 3, and is configured to support the battery cell 2 and the cover body 3, thereby protecting the pressure relief mechanism 212 and the electrode terminal 211 and playing a role in protecting them during a collision.

[0079] In some embodiments of the present application, the protective assembly 4 includes a plurality of protective members 41 spaced apart along the longitudinal direction of the housing 1, and a plurality of battery cells 2 are installed, with the pressure relief mechanism 212 and electrode terminal 211 of each battery cell 2 being located between two adjacent protective members 41.

[0080] For ease of description, in some embodiments of the present application, the longitudinal direction of the housing 1 is the X direction, i.e., one of the horizontal directions. The length direction X and the height direction Z are perpendicular to each other, and the included angle between the length direction X and the height direction Z is 85°. °~95° If the included angle is between the length direction X and the height direction Z, the length direction X and the height direction Z can be considered to be perpendicular to each other. It should be understood that the length direction X may be in another direction, and the length direction X and the height direction Z may not be perpendicular to each other, and the description thereof will be omitted in this application.

[0081] ​In the battery 100, a plurality of battery cells 2 may be installed, and the plurality of battery cells 2 may be connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel, and a series-parallel connection means that the plurality of battery cells 2 may be connected in both series and parallel. The plurality of battery cells 2 may be directly connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel, and then the entire configuration of the plurality of battery cells 2 may be housed in the housing 1. Of course, the battery 100 may also be configured such that a plurality of battery cells 2 are connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel to form a battery 100 module, and the plurality of battery 100 modules are connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel, and integrated and housed in the housing 1. Thus, the battery cells 2 may be distributed in an array in the battery 100.

[0082] The multiple protection members 41 are distributed at intervals in the longitudinal direction X, i.e., the protection assemblies 4 are arranged in the longitudinal direction X between the multiple battery cells 2 and the cover 3. For example, the protection members 41 may be strip-shaped, protruding from the cover 3 in the height direction Z and fixed to the battery cells 2, and positioning the pressure relief mechanism 212 and electrode terminals 211 of the battery 100 between two adjacent protection members 41, thereby protecting the pressure relief mechanism 212 and electrode terminals 211.

[0083] In some embodiments of the present application, the multiple protective elements 41 include edge protective elements 411, first protective elements 412, and second protective elements 413. Along the longitudinal direction X, the edge protective elements 411 are installed on both edges of the multiple battery cells 2 arranged in an array, and the first protective elements 412 and the second protective elements 413 are alternately distributed between the two edge protective elements 411.

[0084] The edge protection members 411 are disposed on both edges of the arrayed battery cells 2, i.e., on the edge of the outermost battery cell 2 in the array, thereby supporting both battery cells 2 at positions close to the housing 1. The first protection members 412 and second protection members 413 are alternately distributed between the two edge protection members 411, which allows the protection members 411 to better adapt to the arrangement and distribution of the battery cells 2 and thereby better support the battery cells 2.

[0085] In some embodiments of the present application, the extension length of the first protective member 412 is greater than the extension length of the second protective member 413 along the width direction of the housing 1 .

[0086] For ease of description, in the embodiments of the present application, the width direction of the housing 1 is referred to as the Y direction, i.e., another horizontal direction. The length direction X, the height direction Z, and the width direction Y are perpendicular to each other, and the length direction X, the height direction Z, and the width direction Y form an included angle of 85°. °~95° If the included angle between the X and Z directions is equal to or less than 1 / 2, the three directions can be considered to be perpendicular to each other. It should be understood that the width direction Y may be in another direction, and the width direction Y may not be perpendicular to the X and Z directions, and the present application will omit detailed description thereof.

[0087] 3 , in some optional embodiments, electrical connection is achieved between multiple battery cells 2 via busbar components 24. To connect multiple battery cells 2 in series, parallel, or series-parallel, the busbar components 24 are bridge-connected between the electrode terminals 211 of adjacent battery cells 2. In some embodiments of the present application, since the busbar components 24 are bridge-connected between the electrode terminals 211 of adjacent battery cells 2 in the longitudinal direction X, it is necessary to retract at least a portion of the protective member 41. Therefore, in the width direction Y, the extension length of the first protective member 412 is greater than the extension length of the second protective member 413, thereby allowing the second protective member 413 to retract the busbar component 24.

[0088] Making the lengths of the first protective member 412 and the second protective member 413 unequal in the width direction Y allows the busbar components 24 to be retracted into the protective members, thereby allowing the protective assembly 4 to better fit the structure of the battery 100 and facilitating series, parallel, or series-parallel connection of the battery cells 2 to each other.

[0089] Optionally, when the busbar component 24 is bridge-connected between the electrode terminals 211 along other directions, the sizes of the first protective member 412 and the second protective member 413 can be changed according to specific circumstances.

[0090] Optionally, the extension length of the protective member 41 may only indicate the total length of the protective member 41 in the width direction Y, and the total length of the second protective member 413 may be smaller than that of the first protective member 412. That is, the busbar component 24 can be retracted at any position on the second protective member 413, whether it is the end of the second protective member 413 or the middle of the second protective member 413, and this is determined by the arrangement of the busbar component 24. However, in the embodiments of the present application, there are no particular restrictions on the above-mentioned power consumption device.

[0091] In some embodiments of the present application, the width of the first protection member 412 and the second protection member 413 along the longitudinal direction X is greater than the width of the edge protection member 411 .

[0092] Because the edge protection member 411 is installed at the edge of the battery cell 2 array, the edge protection member 411 does not need to simultaneously support adjacent battery cells 2 in the longitudinal direction X, as the first protection member 412 and the second protection member 413 do, but only needs to support a row of battery cells 2. The width of the edge protection member 411 can be smaller than the width of the first protection member 412 and the second protection member 413, thereby achieving good support effect.

[0093] Optionally, the width of the first protection member 412 in the longitudinal direction X may be smaller than the width of the second protection member 413. In this case, the widths of the second protection member 413, the first protection member 412, and the edge protection member 411 in the longitudinal direction X gradually decrease.

[0094] 9 is a structural schematic diagram of a battery cell 2 of a battery 100 according to some embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 9, in some embodiments of the present application, the end cover 21 includes a functional area 201 and shoulders 202. The shoulders 202 are located on both sides of the functional area 201 along the longitudinal direction X. A pressure relief mechanism 212 and an electrode terminal 211 are installed in the functional area 201. The protective member 41 is fixedly connected to the shoulders 202.

[0095] The functional area 201 is located on the end cover 21 and indicates an area where the battery cells 2 can perform their own functions or where the battery cells 2 can communicate with the outside world. Since electrical connection components or components performing other functions are usually located in the functional area 201, the functional area 201 should not be subjected to force during use of the battery 100. The shoulders 202 indicate areas of the end cover 21 other than the functional area 201 that can be subjected to force. Optionally, within the functional area 201, the electrode terminals 211 may be located on both sides of the pressure relief mechanism 212, thereby reducing the impact on the electrode terminals 211 when the pressure relief mechanism 212 relieves pressure.

[0096] The functional area 201 is disposed between the shoulders 202, so that the shoulders 202 can provide a certain degree of protection for the functional area 201. The battery cells 2 are fixed to the protective members 41 via the shoulders 202, so that the battery 100 has a more compact structure, the functional area 201 is prevented from being damaged by force, and the service life of the battery cells 2 is improved.

[0097] In some embodiments of the present application, along the longitudinal direction X, the width D1 of the edge protection member 411, the width D2 of the first protection member 412, the width D3 of the second protection member 413, and the width D4 of the shoulder portion 202 satisfy 0.2D4≦D1≦D4, 0.5D4≦D2≦2D4, and 0.5D4≦D3≦2D4.

[0098] Since the edge protection member 411 is installed at the edge of the battery 100 array, the edge protection member 411 only contacts the shoulder portion 202 on one side of the edge battery cell 2 in the longitudinal direction X. If the width D1 of the edge protection member 411 is smaller than the width D4 of the shoulder portion 202, it is possible to prevent the edge protection member 411 from contacting the functional area 201 and affecting the function of the battery cell 2. If the width D1 of the edge protection member 411 is 0.2 times or more the width D4 of the shoulder portion 202, the edge protection member 411 can provide sufficient support for the battery cell 2.

[0099] Because the first protective member 412 is installed between adjacent battery cells 2, if the width D2 of the first protective member 412 is 0.5 times or more the extension width D4 of the shoulder portion 202, sufficient support force can be provided to the battery cells 2. Preferably, if the width D2 of the first protective member 412 is equal to or greater than the extension width D4 of the shoulder portion 202, the first protective member 412 can simultaneously support two adjacent battery cells 2 without causing only one cell to be loaded due to offset, which would result in the battery 100 receiving uneven force and thus poor structural stability. Furthermore, if the width D2 of the first protective member 412 is equal to or less than twice the width D4 of the shoulder portion 202, when two adjacent battery cells 2 are simultaneously loaded, the first protective member 412 will only contact the shoulder portions 202 of the two adjacent battery cells 2, preventing contact with the functional area 201 and affecting the function of the battery cells 2.

[0100] Similar to the first protective member 412, the width D3 of the second protective member 413 may be 0.5 times or more the extension width D4 of the shoulder portion 202 and may be 2 times or less the width D4 of the shoulder portion 202.

[0101] In some embodiments of the present application, the extension height of the protection member is greater than the extension height of the electrode terminal 211 in the height direction Z.

[0102] In the height direction Z of the housing 1, the extension height of the protective member 41 is greater than the extension height of the electrode terminal 211, so that the electrode terminal 211 is suspended between adjacent protective members 41, thereby preventing contact with other members from affecting its function.

[0103] In some embodiments of the present application, the battery 100 further includes an insulating plate 42, which is installed between the protective assembly 4 and the lid 3 to absorb and distribute external impact forces in the horizontal direction.

[0104] By installing the insulating plate 42, the multiple protective members 41 in the protective assembly 4 can be combined as a whole, and the installation of the insulating plate 42 extending in the longitudinal direction X can distribute the force received by the protective members 4 and improve the structural strength of the battery 100.

[0105] Optionally, both the insulating plate 42 and the protective assembly 4 may be insulating members so as not to affect the electrical connection between the battery cells 2. As can be understood, the term "insulating member" refers to the fact that the insulating plate 42 and the protective assembly 4 may be made of an insulating material, or may be objects whose surfaces are covered with an insulating material and which exhibit insulating properties as a whole. When the insulating plate 42 and the protective assembly 4 are objects whose surfaces are covered with an insulating material, the core material may be a metal material, an insulating material, a composite material, or the like, and the outer surface of the core material is covered with an insulating material.

[0106] Optionally, the protection assembly 4 and the insulating plate 42 may be integrally molded to facilitate the manufacture of the protection assembly 4. The protection assembly 4 and the insulating plate 42 may be detachably connected to each other, which is advantageous for adjusting the position of the protection assembly 4 according to the arrangement of the battery cells 2, thereby enabling the protection assembly 4 to have a wider range of application scenarios.

[0107] In some embodiments of the present application, the insulating plate 42 is fixedly connected to the lid 3 .

[0108] The insulating plate 42 may be fixedly connected to the cover 3, thereby improving the structural robustness of the battery 100. Optionally, the insulating plate 42 may abut the cover 3, although the embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto.

[0109] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the battery 100 shown in Figure 7. Figure 11 is an enlarged schematic view of the circular frame B in Figure 10. As shown in Figures 10 and 11, in an optional embodiment, the extension height of the protective assembly 4 in the height direction Z of the housing 1 is a second distance H2, and the second distance H2 satisfies 0.5 mm ≤ H2 ≤ 30 mm.

[0110] The protection assembly 4 has a certain size in the height direction Z, allowing it to protrude from the insulating plate 42 and support and load the battery cells 2. The protection assembly 4 has a second distance H2, which allows the end cover 21 of the battery cell 2 to maintain a certain distance from the lid body 3, thereby maintaining an appropriate energy density of the battery 100.

[0111] The ratio H2 / M of the second distance H2 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 of the second distance H2 to the weight M of a single battery cell 2 is too large, the energy density of the battery 100 will be low, and if the ratio of the second distance H2 to the weight M of a single battery cell 2 is too small, the structural strength of the battery 100 will be insufficient, resulting in a safety accident during a collision. Therefore, the ratio H2 / M of the second distance H2 to the weight M of a single battery cell 2 satisfies 0.05 mm / Kg≦H2 / M≦50 mm / Kg, and by keeping the value within this range, the battery 100 will have good energy density and appropriate structural strength.

[0112] The battery 100 is subjected to a structural strength test to verify that the battery 100 has good performance when the ratio H2 / M of the second distance H2 to the weight M of a single battery cell 2 is within an appropriate range. In the process of structural strength testing the battery 100, the structural strength of the battery 100 can be determined, for example, by a plurality of tests such as a shear strength test and a compressive strength test.

[0113] In the shear strength test, for example, the battery 100 is fixed between the clamps of a shear tester, and the test head of the shear tester is used to drive the battery 100 to move in the length direction X or width direction Y at a speed of 5 mm / min, and the tensile force F applied by the test head is recorded when the casing 1 is damaged. The projected area of ​​the battery 100 in the height direction Z is taken as area A, and the value of F / A is the shear strength that the battery 100 can withstand.

[0114] In the compressive strength test, for example, a pressing head was used to apply pressure to the battery 100 in the height direction Z and the length direction X or width direction Y, and the head was propelled toward the battery 100 at a speed of 2 m / s. When the pressing force reached 50 KN or the deformation of the battery 100 reached 30%, the pressure was stopped and the battery 100 was held in this state for 10 minutes. After the compressive strength test, the battery 100 was left to stand at ambient temperature and observed for 2 hours.

[0115] Optionally, the structural strength of the battery 100 can be tested by other structural strength tests, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0116] Table 2 shows the results of structural strength testing of the battery 100 using the above method when the second distance H2, the weight M of a single battery cell 2, and the value of H2 / M are different.

[0117] [Table 2]

[0118] As shown in Table 2, when H2 satisfies 0.5 mm≦H2≦30 mm and H2 / M satisfies 0.05 mm / Kg≦H2 / M≦50 mm / Kg, the structural strength test shows that the battery 100 has good structural strength.

[0119] It should be understood that the above description of some embodiments of battery 100 is for illustrative purposes only, and that battery 100 may have other configurations.

[0120] In some optional embodiments, the housing 1 may have a simple three-dimensional structure such as a rectangular parallelepiped or a cylindrical body, or a complex three-dimensional structure that combines simple three-dimensional structures such as a rectangular parallelepiped or a cylindrical body. The material of the housing 1 may be, for example, 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 of glass fiber and epoxy resin. To improve the sealing performance of the housing 1, a sealing member such as a sealant or a sealing ring may be installed between the cover 3 and the side panel 12. The present application does not limit the above possible configurations.

[0121] Here, 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.

[0122] 12 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a battery cell according to some embodiments of the present application. A battery cell 2 refers to the smallest unit constituting a battery 100. As shown in FIG. 12, the battery cell 2 further includes an end cover 21, a case 22, an electrode assembly 23, and other functional components.

[0123] The end cover 21 refers to a member that covers the opening of the case 22 and isolates the internal environment of the battery cell 2 from the external environment. The shape of the end cover 21 may be adapted to fit the shape of the case 22, but is not limited to this. Optionally, the end cap 21 may be made of a material with a certain hardness and strength (e.g., aluminum alloy). This makes the end cap 21 less likely to deform when pressed or hit, further enhancing the structural strength of the battery cell 2 and improving safety performance. The end cap 21 is provided with functional components such as electrode terminals 211 and explosion-proof valves. The electrode terminals 211 may be used for electrical connection with the electrode assembly 23 to input and output electrical energy to and from the battery cell 2. In some embodiments, the end cover 21 may be provided with a pressure relief mechanism 212 for releasing internal pressure when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell 2 reaches a threshold. The end cover 21 may be made of various materials, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, plastic, etc., and is not particularly limited to these in the embodiments of the present application. In some embodiments, an insulating member may be provided inside the end cover 21, and the insulating member may be used to isolate the electrical connection plate in the case 22 from the end cover 21 to reduce the risk of short circuits. Illustratively, the insulating member may be made of plastic, rubber, etc.

[0124] The case 22 is an assembly that fits into the end cover 21 to form an internal environment of the battery cell 2. The formed internal environment can be used to accommodate the electrode assembly 23, an electrolyte (not shown), and other components. The case 22 and the end cover 21 may be independent components, or an opening may be formed in the case 22 and the end cover 21 may cover the opening to form the internal environment of the battery cell 2. The end cover 21 and the case 22 may be integrated, but are not limited to this. Specifically, the end cover 21 and the case 22 form a common connecting surface before other components are inserted into the case. If it is necessary to package the interior of the case 22, the end cover 21 may cover the case 22. The case 22 may have various shapes and sizes, such as a rectangular parallelepiped, a cylindrical shape, a hexagonal prism, etc. Specifically, the shape of the case 22 may be determined based on the specific shape and dimensions of the electrode assembly 23. The case 22 may be made of various materials, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, plastic, etc., and is not particularly limited to these in the embodiments of the present application.

[0125] The electrode assembly 23 is a component where an electrochemical reaction occurs in the battery cell 2. One or more electrode assemblies 23 may be included within the case 22. The electrode assembly 23 is primarily formed by winding or stacking positive and negative electrode plates, with a separator typically provided between the positive and negative electrode plates. The portions of the positive and negative electrode plates containing active material constitute the body of the electrode assembly 23, and the portions of the positive and negative electrode plates without active material constitute tabs, respectively. The positive and negative electrode tabs may both be located 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 100, the positive and negative electrode active materials react with the electrolyte, and the tabs are connected to electrode terminals 211 to form a current circuit.

[0126] In some embodiments of the present application, a battery 100 includes a housing 1 and a battery cell 2, the housing 1 having a top 101 and a bottom 102 facing each other in a height direction Z, an opening 103 of the housing 1 being installed on the bottom 102, the battery cell 2 being placed upside down in the housing 1 with the end cover 21 facing the bottom 102, and an electrode terminal 211 and a pressure relief mechanism 212 being installed on the end cover 21, both of which face the bottom 102. The housing 1 further includes a cover 3 installed on the opening 103, and a first distance H1 exists between the end cover 21 of the battery cell 2 and the cover 3, and the first distance H1 is 2 mm.

[0127] In some cases, the battery 100 according to the embodiment of the present application can be placed upside down in the housing 1 so that the end covers 21 of the battery cells 2 face the bottom 102, thereby increasing the rigidity of the top of the battery 100. Having both the electrode terminals 211 and the pressure relief mechanism 212 facing the bottom 102 can improve the safety of the battery 100.

[0128] It should be noted that, where not inconsistent, the embodiments and features of the embodiments in the present application may be combined with each other.

[0129] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to explain 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 can still understand that the technical solutions described in the above embodiments can be modified or some of the technical features can be substituted with equivalents, and such modifications and substitutions will 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. [Explanation of symbols]

[0130] ​1000, vehicle, 100, battery, 200, controller, 300, motor, 1, housing, 101, top, 102, bottom, 103, opening, 11, support plate, 12, side plate, 2, battery cell, 201, functional area, 202, shoulder, 21, end cover, 211, electrode terminal, 212, pressure release mechanism, 22, case, 23, electrode assembly, 24, bus bar member, 3, lid, 31, main body, 32, fitting portion, 4, protection assembly, 41, protection member, 411, edge protection member, 412, first protection member, 413, second protection member, 42, insulating plate, X, longitudinal direction, Y, width direction, Z, height direction.

Claims

1. A battery, A housing (1) having a top (101) and a bottom (102) facing each other along a height direction of the housing (1), and an opening (103) provided in the bottom (102); a battery cell (2) that is placed upside down in the housing (1) with its end cover (21) facing the bottom (102), and that has a pressure relief mechanism (212) and electrode terminals (211) installed on the end cover (21), with both the pressure relief mechanism (212) and the electrode terminals (211) facing the bottom (102); The housing (1) further includes a cover (3) installed in the opening (103), The battery further includes a protection assembly (4), which is installed between the battery cell (2) and the cover (3) to protect the pressure relief mechanism (212) and the electrode terminal (211); The protective assembly (4) includes a plurality of protective members (41) distributed at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the housing (1), and a plurality of the battery cells (2) are installed, with the pressure release mechanism (212) and the electrode terminal (211) of each battery cell (2) being located between two adjacent protective members (41).

2. 2. The battery of claim 1, wherein the housing (1) includes a support plate (11) and a side plate (12), the support plate (11) is installed on the top (101), and the battery is fixedly connected to the support plate (11).

3. A battery as described in claim 2, wherein the side plates (12) are connected to each other to form a frame structure, and the cover body (3) and the side plates (12) are fixedly connected.

4. 4. The battery according to claim 3, wherein a first distance H1 exists between the end cover (21) and the lid body (3) of the battery cell (2) in the height direction, and the first distance H1 satisfies 2 mm < H1 < 30 mm.

5. 5. The battery according to claim 4, wherein a ratio H1 / M of the first distance H1 to a weight M of a single battery cell (2) satisfies 0.2 mm / Kg<H1 / M<50 mm / Kg.

6. 2. The battery of claim 1, wherein the plurality of protective members (41) include an edge protective member (411), a first protective member (412), and a second protective member (413), and along the longitudinal direction, the edge protective members (411) are installed on both edges of the plurality of battery cells (2) arranged in an array, and the first protective member (412) and the second protective member (413) are alternately distributed between two of the edge protective members (411).

7. 7. The battery according to claim 6, wherein the extension length of the first protective member (412) is greater than the extension length of the second protective member (413) along the width direction of the housing (1).

8. 7. The battery of claim 6, wherein the width of the first and second guards (412, 413) is greater than the width of the edge guards (411) along the longitudinal direction.

9. 7. The battery according to claim 6, wherein the end cover (21) includes a functional area (201) and shoulders (202), the shoulders (202) are located on both sides of the functional area (201) along the longitudinal direction, the pressure release mechanism (212) and the electrode terminal (211) are installed in the functional area (201), and the protective member (41) is fixedly connected to the shoulders (202).

10. 10. The battery according to claim 9, wherein a width D1 of the edge protection member (411), a width D2 of the first protection member (412), a width D3 of the second protection member (413), and a width D4 of the shoulder portion (202) along the longitudinal direction satisfy 0.2D4≦D1≦D4, 0.5D4≦D2≦2D4, and 0.5D4≦D3≦2D4.

11. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the extension height of the protection member (41) is greater than the extension height of the electrode terminal (211) in the height direction.

12. 2. The battery of claim 1, further comprising an insulating plate (42), the insulating plate (42) being disposed between the protective assembly (4) and the lid (3).

13. 13. The battery according to claim 12, wherein the insulating plate (42) is fixedly connected to the lid (3).

14. A power consuming device comprising a battery according to any one of claims 1 to 13, said battery being for providing electrical energy.

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