Busbar assembly and battery module

Abstract

To provide a busbar assembly and a battery module capable of improving safety.SOLUTION: A busbar assembly includes a busbar support body, an output terminal busbar, and a firestop sleeve 200. The output terminal busbar is attached to the busbar support body. The output terminal busbar includes a cell connection portion 102, an output connection portion 101, and a fuse portion. The cell connection portion is connected to the output connection portion via the fuse portion. The firestop sleeve is sleeved on the output terminal busbar, wraps at least the fuse portion, and being disposed on one side of the busbar support body away from a cell.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of power batteries, and more particularly to busbar assemblies and battery modules. [Background technology]

[0002] To achieve higher power output and energy density, current lithium-ion batteries for vehicles and energy storage are typically designed by increasing the voltage of the modules and battery packs. This increases the current in the module, so fuses are typically installed to ensure the safe operation of the battery circuit. If a circuit fault or abnormality, such as an external short circuit, occurs and the current continues to rise, the fuse automatically melts to interrupt the current and protect the circuit. In modules (especially commonly used soft-package modules), the fuse is designed to be part of the positive and negative output terminal busbars (copper bars) to integrate the fuse. Thinning a portion of the busbar increases the resistance of the thinned area. When an external short circuit occurs, the current increases, causing a rapid rise in the temperature of the thinned area, melting first and interrupting the circuit. However, sparks and dramatic arc discharges can occur, igniting surrounding components, potentially igniting the module and affecting the safety of the battery module. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, and to solve the problem that sparks or arcs are likely to occur during the fuse melting process, which may cause a fire, the present invention provides a busbar assembly and a battery module that can improve the safety of the busbar assembly and the battery module. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] To achieve the above and other related objects, the present invention provides a busbar assembly including a busbar support, an output terminal busbar, and a fire-protection sleeve. The output terminal busbar is attached to the busbar support. The output terminal busbar includes a cell connection portion, an output connection portion, and a fuse portion, the cell connection portion and the output connection portion being connected via the fuse portion. The fire-protection sleeve is fitted over the output terminal busbar, encasing at least the fuse portion, and is located on one side of the busbar support away from the cells.

[0005] Optionally, the blast guide structure is disposed in the fire sleeve.

[0006] Optionally, a blast avoidance area corresponding to a fire protection sleeve is arranged between the cell connection and the output connection, with the blast guide structure facing the blast avoidance area.

[0007] Optionally, the width of the fuse portion is smaller than the width of the cell connection portion and the width of the output connection portion, and a groove is provided surrounded by the fuse portion, the cell connection portion, and the output connection portion, the opening of the groove being away from the busbar support, and the groove forming a blast avoidance area.

[0008] Optionally, the blast guide structure is formed by thinning a portion of the fire sleeve.

[0009] Optionally, the blast guide structure is a notch.

[0010] Optionally, one end of the fire sleeve extends toward the cell connection portion and encases at least a portion of the cell connection portion, and the other end of the fire sleeve extends toward the output connection portion and encases at least a portion of the output connection portion.

[0011] Optionally, the fire protection sleeve is fixed to the output terminal bus bar by hot pressing.

[0012] To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention further provides a battery module including the above-mentioned bus bar assembly.

[0013] Optionally, it also includes a cell, the cell and the fire protection sleeve being located on two opposite sides of each of the busbar supports. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] As described above, the busbar assembly and battery module of the present invention have at least the following advantageous effects: A fireproof sleeve enclosing the fuse portion is disposed on the output terminal busbar. The fireproof sleeve protects the fuse portion and mitigates the impact of sparks on surrounding components when the fuse portion melts, thereby preventing fires caused by arc discharge. Based on the above, the fireproof sleeve is disposed on one side of the busbar support away from the cells to prevent sparks from spreading inside the battery module and causing a fire in the battery module. In this way, the safety performance of the busbar assembly and battery module can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a busbar assembly according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the bus bar assembly of FIG. 1 with an end plate removed. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a partial front view of the busbar assembly of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the output terminal bus bar and fire protection sleeve of FIG. 3 according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the output terminal bus bar of FIG. 4 with the fireproof sleeve removed. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is a front view of the output terminal bus bar and fire protection sleeve of FIG. 4. [Figure 7] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the fire sleeve of FIG. 4. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a front view of the fire sleeve of FIG. 7. [Figure 9] 4 is a schematic diagram showing a second embodiment of the output terminal bus bar and fire protection sleeve of FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is a front view of the output terminal bus bar and fire protection sleeve of FIG. 9. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to specific examples. Those skilled in the art will easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the contents disclosed in this specification.

[0017] The structures, ratios, dimensions, etc. shown in the drawings attached to this specification are used solely to conform to the contents disclosed herein and to facilitate the understanding and recognizability of those skilled in the art. They are not provided to limit the implementation of the present invention. Therefore, the contents of the drawings have no substantive technical meaning. Any structural changes, ratio changes, or size adjustments are considered to be within the scope of the technical content disclosed in this specification without affecting the effects and objectives that can be achieved by the present invention. Terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "middle," and "first" used in this specification are used for convenience of explanation only and are not used to limit the scope of the present invention. Regarding the feasible scope of the present invention, changes or adjustments to relative relationships are also considered to be within the feasible scope of the present invention as long as there is no substantial change in the technical content.

[0018] Figure 1 ~ 5 and 9, in some optional embodiments, the present invention provides a battery module including a busbar assembly. In addition to the busbar assembly, the battery module may further include cells and / or end plates 400.

[0019] Figure 1 ~5 and 9 , in some optional embodiments, a busbar assembly includes a busbar support 300, an output terminal busbar 100, and a fireproof sleeve 200. The output terminal busbar 100 is disposed on the busbar support 300, which can provide support for the configuration of the output terminal busbar 100. The output terminal busbar 100 includes a cell connection portion 102, an output connection portion 101, and a fuse portion 103. The cell connection portion 102 and the output connection portion 101 are connected via the fuse portion 103. The fireproof sleeve 200 is fitted onto the output terminal busbar 100, and the fireproof sleeve 200 encases at least the fuse portion 103 and is disposed on one side of the busbar support 300 away from the cells.

[0020] Optionally, the cell connection part 102 is arranged to be electrically connected to the cells and the bus bars connected between the cells, and realizes an electrical connection between the cells and the outside via the output connection part 101, and directs the electrical energy of the cells to the outside of the cells.

[0021] Optionally, the cells and the fire sleeve 200 are disposed on two opposing sides of the busbar support 300. The end plate 400 is disposed on one side of the busbar support 300 away from the cells. That is, the end plate 400 is located outside the busbar support 300. At least a portion of the output terminal busbar 100 and the fire sleeve 200 are located between the end plate 400 and the busbar support 300. This layout structure not only mitigates the impact of the fuse portion 103 on the cells and other components located inside the busbar support 300 when the fuse portion 103 melts, but also prevents impact on components outside the end plate 400. In this way, sparks generated at the moment of melting fall into the gap between the end plate 400 and the busbar support 300 and are protected by the fire sleeve 200. This reduces the impact on surrounding components and ensures safety and reliability. The outside of the end plate 400 refers to the side of the end plate 400 away from the busbar support 300.

[0022] Optionally, the fire protection sleeve 200 can be fixed onto the output terminal bus bar 100 by hot pressing. The fixing and molding method is simple and convenient for manufacturing. The fire protection sleeve 200 is placed onto the output terminal bus bar 100 by hot pressing, which also improves the convenience of assembly with other components in the production line. This design simplifies assembly, reduces the number of man-hours, and improves production efficiency.

[0023] Optionally, the fire sleeve 200 is made of other insulating, high-temperature-resistant, and fire-retardant materials, such as PP (polypropylene), PI (polyimide), or mica. The fire sleeve 200 has excellent fire retardancy, heat insulation, high-temperature resistance, and insulation properties. It effectively mitigates the impact of sparks generated when the fuse portion 103 melts on surrounding components, preventing fires caused by arcing. The end plate 400 also has excellent fire retardancy, heat insulation, high-temperature resistance, and insulation properties, which further prevents sparks from flying out and affecting surrounding components during the melting process of the fuse portion 103, improving safety performance.

[0024] In the busbar assembly of the above embodiment, the fuse portion 103 is enclosed in the fireproof sleeve 200, which simultaneously performs shock-absorbing and heat-insulating functions. This reduces damage to other components caused by sparks generated when the fuse portion 103 melts, prevents fires caused by arcs in surrounding components, and improves safety.

[0025] 1, 4, and 10, in some optional embodiments, a blast guide structure 201 is disposed on the fire sleeve 200 to allow a directional blast of the fire sleeve 200 when the fuse portion 103 melts and generates a spark, thereby reducing damage caused by arcing at the moment the fuse portion 103 melts, while shifting it to a less dangerous area, i.e., an area with a larger air gap.

[0026] Optionally, a blast avoidance area 104 corresponding to a fire protection sleeve 200 is disposed between the cell connection portion 102 and the output connection portion 101. The blast guide structure 201 faces the blast avoidance area 104 to prevent sparks generated when the fuse portion 103 melts from affecting the cell connection portion 102 and the output connection portion 101.

[0027] Optionally, the width of the fuse portion 103 is smaller than the width of the cell connection portion 102 and the width of the output connection portion 101, and a groove is provided surrounded by the fuse portion 103, the cell connection portion 102, and the output connection portion 101, with the opening of the groove facing away from the busbar support 300, i.e., the opening of the groove facing the end plate 400, and the groove forming a blast avoidance region 104. Furthermore, the width of one end of the output connection portion 101 connected to the fuse portion 103 is D1, and the width of the fuse portion 103 is D3, with both D1 and D2 being larger than D3. The output connection portion 101, the fuse portion 103, and the cell connection portion 102 may be connected to surround the U-shaped groove. It is understood that the groove may be C-shaped or have another structure and is not limited to the structure shown in this specification. The groove corresponds to the fuse portion 103 and the blast guide structure 201, and when the fuse portion 103 melts, the blast guide structure 201 can shift the danger to an area with a larger gap, thereby reducing damage to other components.

[0028] Figure 4 ~ Referring to FIG. 10, in some optional embodiments, the strength of the blast guide structure 201 is less than the structural strength of the rest of the fire sleeve 200 .

[0029] Optionally, the blast guide structure 201 may be formed by thinning a portion of the fire protection sleeve 200. That is, the thickness of the blast guide structure 201 is thinner than the thickness of other portions of the fire protection sleeve 200, so that when the fire protection sleeve 200 is impacted, the blast guide structure 201 is damaged first, and therefore the impact or sparks are directed to the blast avoidance area 104. Furthermore, the blast guide structure 201 may be a notch. Specifically, the notch is - The notch may be a " shape, a "+" shape, or any other shape, and the number of notches may be one or more. The number of notches can be set as needed. If there are two or more notches, the notches are spaced apart along the length of the fire protection sleeve 200. This structural design not only ensures the structural strength of the fire protection sleeve 200, but also helps to completely transfer sparks and smoke generated during the melting process to the blast avoidance area 104 in a timely manner, thereby reducing the risk of damage to other components. The length of the fire protection sleeve 200 is the same as the length of the fuse portion 103.

[0030] Optionally, the material strength of the blast guide structure 201 may be lower than the material strength of other parts of the fire sleeve 200, i.e., the blast guide structure 201 and other parts of the fire sleeve 200 may be made of materials with different strengths so that the blast guide structure 201 is more susceptible to damage than other parts of the fire sleeve 200 to achieve the purpose of directional blasting.

[0031] Optionally, the shape of the fire protection sleeve 200 matches the shape of the portion that will be wrapped around the output terminal bus bar 100. Furthermore, the entire or a portion of the fire protection sleeve 200 may have a rectangular tubular structure. Specifically, the portion of the fire protection sleeve 200 that corresponds to the fuse portion 103 may have a rectangular tubular structure.

[0032] In the busbar assembly of the above embodiment, the blast guide structure 201 is disposed on the fire protection sleeve 200 so as to achieve directional blast when the fuse portion 103 melts, which not only reduces damage caused by sparks and arc discharge at the moment of melting, but also shifts the danger to the blast avoidance area 104 to avoid other components, thereby preventing damage from spreading to other components and further reducing the possibility of fire.

[0033] 9 and 10 , in an optional embodiment, one end of the fireproof sleeve 200 extends toward the cell connection portion 102 and encloses at least a portion of the cell connection portion 102. The other end of the fireproof sleeve 200 extends toward the output connection portion 101 and encloses at least a portion of the output connection portion 101. Specifically, the fireproof sleeve 200 can enclose the sidewall of the groove, the surface of one end of the cell connection portion 102 that is close to the fuse portion 103, and the surface of one end of the output connection portion 101 that is close to the fuse portion 103. This structural design not only completely encloses the area of ​​the output terminal busbar 100 that is close to the periphery of the fuse portion 103, thereby mitigating the effects of sparks, but also increases the contact area between the fireproof sleeve 200 and the output terminal busbar 100. In this way, the fireproof sleeve 200 can be more securely fixed to the output terminal busbar 100, improving the stability and reliability of the structure.

[0034] In the busbar assembly and battery module of the present invention, the output terminal busbar 100 is integrated with the fireproof sleeve 200 that encases the fuse portion 103, thereby mitigating the impact on other components when the fuse portion 103 melts. Furthermore, the blast guide structure 201 is disposed on the fireproof sleeve 200 to achieve directional blasting, protect the components around the fuse portion 103, and prevent fires caused by spark diffusion and arc discharge, thereby improving the safety of the busbar assembly and battery module.

[0035] In the description herein, the terms "the present embodiment," "example," "specific example," and the like mean that the particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, schematic diagrams of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics described can be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0036] The above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and effects of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. Anyone skilled in the art can modify or change the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent modifications or changes made by a person of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and technical idea disclosed in the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0037] The busbar assembly and battery module of the present invention can be applied in the field of battery technology. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 100: Output terminal bus bar 101: Output connection 102: Cell connection 103: Fuse section 104: Blast Evasion Area 200: Fireproof sleeve 201: Blast guide structure 300: Busbar support 400: end plate D1, D2, D3: width

Claims

1. A busbar support; an output terminal bus bar attached to the bus bar support, the output terminal bus bar including a cell connection portion, an output connection portion, and a fuse portion, the cell connection portion and the output connection portion being connected via the fuse portion; a fireproof sleeve fitted onto the output terminal bus bar, enclosing at least the fuse portion, and positioned on a side of the bus bar support away from the cells; a blast guide structure disposed in the fire sleeve; A blast avoidance area corresponding to the fire protection sleeve is disposed between the cell connection portion and the output connection portion; The blast guide structure faces a blast avoidance area so that the fire protection sleeve can blast in a directional manner; a width of the fuse portion is smaller than a width of the cell connection portion and a width of the output connection portion, a groove is provided surrounded by the fuse portion, the cell connection portion, and the output connection portion, an opening of the groove is spaced from the busbar support, and the groove forms the blast avoidance area.

2. The blast guide structure is formed by thinning a portion of the fireproof sleeve. The busbar assembly of claim 1 .

3. The blast guide structure is a notch. The busbar assembly according to claim 2 .

4. One end of the fireproof sleeve extends toward the cell connection portion and encloses at least a portion of the cell connection portion, and the other end of the fireproof sleeve extends toward the output connection portion and encloses at least a portion of the output connection portion. The busbar assembly of claim 1 .

5. The fireproof sleeve is fixed to the output terminal bus bar by hot pressing. The busbar assembly of claim 1 .

6. A battery module comprising the busbar assembly according to claim 1 .

7. Further comprising a cell, the cells and the fire protection sleeves are respectively located on two opposite sides of the busbar support; The battery module according to claim 6 .

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