Batteries and power consumption devices

Abstract

The present embodiment provides a battery and a power consumption device, the battery including a housing, a battery module and a stopper member. The battery module is installed in the housing, the battery module includes two or more battery cells arranged along a first direction, the battery cells include a first side wall and a second side wall connected to each other, the first side wall is the wall with the largest area among all the outer walls of the battery cells, and the second side walls of two adjacent battery cells are installed opposite to each other along the first direction. The stopper member is fixedly connected to the housing and abuts the first side wall of the battery cells, the stopper member is used to limit the deformation of the battery cells in a second direction, the second direction is perpendicular to the first side wall. The present embodiment can simplify the manufacturing process, reduce costs and realize a lightweight design while meeting the requirements of positional limiting, fixing and resisting expansion force.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] This application relates to the field of battery technology, and specifically, to batteries and power-consuming devices.

Background Art

[0002] Energy conservation and emission reduction are key points in the sustainable development of the automotive industry. Electric vehicles, due to their advantages of energy conservation and environmental friendliness, have become an important component in the sustainable development of the automotive industry. For electric vehicles, battery technology is an important factor related to their development.

[0003] In the conventional battery manufacturing process, generally, an end plate is installed and the battery cells are tightened through connecting members, and further, a reinforcing structure is installed on the end plate to resist the expansion force of the battery cells. However, this installation method has many components, is complicated in manufacturing, and increases the weight and manufacturing cost.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a battery and a power-consuming device that can simplify the manufacturing process, reduce costs, and achieve lightweight design while meeting the requirements of position limitation, fixation, and resistance to expansion force.

[0005] According to a first aspect, an embodiment of this application provides a battery including a housing, a battery module, and a stopper member. The battery module is installed in the housing. The battery module includes two or more battery cells arranged along a first direction. The battery cells include a first side wall and a second side wall that are connected. The first side wall is the wall with the largest area among all the outer walls of the battery cell. The second side walls of two adjacent battery cells are installed opposite to each other along the first direction. The stopper member is fixedly connected to the housing and abuts against the first side wall of the battery cell. The stopper member is used to limit the deformation of the battery cell in a second direction, and the second direction is perpendicular to the first side wall.

[0006] In the embodiment of the present invention, by installing a stopper member, which is fixedly connected to the housing and abuts against the first side wall of the battery cell, the requirements for positional restriction and fixing of the battery cell are met. At the same time, the stopper member can limit the deformation of the battery cell in the second direction, which is advantageous in buffering the expansion of the battery cell and ensuring the safety performance of the battery. Furthermore, by installing in this manner, there is no need to provide an end plate and other connecting members, which is advantageous in improving mounting efficiency and mounting accuracy, simplifying the manufacturing process, reducing manufacturing costs and the overall weight of the battery, and realizing a lightweight design. In addition, since the first side wall is the wall with the largest surface area among all the outer walls of the battery cell, the stopper member can more effectively restrict and fix the position of the battery cell and resist expansion deformation. Moreover, by installing the stopper member, the effect on the structural strength of the entire battery can be improved, better ensuring the safety performance of the battery.

[0007] In some embodiments, when the height dimension of the stopper member is H and the height dimension of the battery cell is h in the height direction of the housing, then 2 / 3 ≤ H / h ≤ 11 / 10.

[0008] If H / h is too high, the internal space of the battery is wasted, resulting in an excessively low energy density. If H / h is too low, the structural strength requirements of the battery cannot be met, which can lead to cracks in the housing after the battery cells expand, and ultimately to safety accidents such as fire and explosion. By setting H / h between 2 / 3 and 11 / 10, including the two endpoints of 2 / 3 and 11 / 10, it is possible to not only meet the requirements for the effect on structural strength and resist the expansion effect, but also save space, improve space utilization, and increase the energy density of the battery.

[0009] In some embodiments, when the height dimension of the stopper member is H and the height dimension of the battery cell is h in the height direction of the housing, 0.9 ≤ H / h ≤ 1.

[0010] Setting H / h between 0.9 and 1, and including the two endpoints of 0.9 and 1, is advantageous in better meeting the requirements for the effect on structural strength, resisting expansion effects, improving reliability for safety, and better improving the energy density of the battery.

[0011] In some embodiments, the stopper member includes a position-restricting beam that extends along a first direction, is connected to the housing at both ends in the first direction, and is pressed against and connected to a first side wall of the battery cell.

[0012] By installing in this manner, the stopper member is installed in the form of a position-restricting beam, which is advantageous in saving space, allowing the housing to accommodate more battery cells and improving the space utilization rate of the housing. Furthermore, since the position-restricting beam is connected to the housing, the overall structural strength of the housing is improved, and the ability to resist the expansion of battery cells is enhanced, thus ensuring safety performance.

[0013] In some embodiments, multiple cavities penetrating along a first direction are installed within the position-restricting beam.

[0014] This installation method is advantageous because it compresses the space within the cavity along the second direction, allowing the position-restricting beam to limit the deformation of the battery cells, buffer and absorb the expansion force of the battery cells, and ensure the safety performance of the battery cells. Furthermore, by providing a cavity, the weight of the position-restricting beam can be reduced, costs can be lowered, a lightweight design can be achieved, and at the same time, the overall energy density of the battery can be improved.

[0015] In some embodiments, there are two position-restricting beams, which are spaced apart in a second direction, and the battery module is sandwiched between the two position-restricting beams.

[0016] By installing in this manner, the positional restricting beam better meets the requirements for positional restriction, fixation, and resistance to expansion, thereby ensuring the safety performance of the battery.

[0017] In some embodiments, there are two or more battery modules, which are arranged along a second direction, with a partition between two adjacent battery modules, and the partition is connected to the first side wall of each battery cell in the two adjacent battery modules.

[0018] By installing in this manner, the partition can be used as a structural member of the housing, and since the partition is provided between two adjacent battery modules and connected to the first side wall of each battery cell, the partition can play a role in better achieving at least one of the following: improved structural strength and resistance to expansion forces.

[0019] In some embodiments, the partition is bonded and fixed to the first side wall of each battery cell in two adjacent battery modules.

[0020] This installation method is advantageous in improving the connection strength and stability between the partition and the battery cells, thereby ensuring the safety and reliability of the battery. Furthermore, by using an adhesive method to connect the partition and each battery cell as a single unit, the partition and each battery cell of the battery module can be bonded together before the entire unit is placed inside the enclosure, which is advantageous for assembling the battery module. In addition, the installation of adjacent battery modules becomes more compact, improving the space utilization efficiency of the enclosure.

[0021] In some embodiments, the partition is used to regulate the temperature of the battery cell, and a medium channel is provided within the partition.

[0022] By installing it as described above, the partition not only allows for thermal management of the battery cells, but also improves the overall structural strength of the battery as a structural component of the housing. This eliminates the need for vertical and horizontal beams inside the housing, resulting in a higher degree of integration, reduced costs, improved space utilization within the housing, and a lighter design.

[0023] In some embodiments, the battery further includes a connecting channel, a supply channel, and a discharge channel, wherein, along a second direction, the media channels of two adjacent partitions communicate via the connecting channel, and the supply channel and discharge channel communicate with the media channels of the same partition.

[0024] By installing in this manner, each partition can meet the requirements for the heat exchange medium through only one supply pipe and one discharge pipe, reducing the space occupied and simplifying the structure of the supply and discharge pipes, which is advantageous for assembly and replacement, and can be applied to supplying heat exchange medium to different numbers of partitions, improving flexibility and versatility.

[0025] In some embodiments, through-holes are provided in the housing, and the supply pipe and discharge pipe extend from the housing through these through-holes.

[0026] By installing in this manner, the supply and discharge pipes can be extended outside the housing through through-holes, meaning that the external heat exchange medium enters the housing through the supply pipe and flows out of the housing through the discharge pipe, which is advantageous for the acquisition and discharge of the heat exchange medium, and at the same time reduces the risk of the heat exchange medium leaking inside the housing, thereby ensuring the safety and reliability of the battery.

[0027] In some embodiments, the housing includes a top cover, a bottom cover, and a housing frame, the bottom cover and top cover are installed opposite each other at both ends of the housing frame in the height direction of the housing, and the stopper member is connected to the housing frame and at least one of the top cover and bottom cover, respectively.

[0028] A housing for accommodating battery cells is formed and surrounded by a top cover, a bottom cover, and a receiving frame, ensuring the requirements for sealing and being advantageous for processing, manufacturing, and assembly. The stopper members are respectively connected to at least one of the receiving frame and the top cover and the bottom cover, which is advantageous for improving the structural strength, and it is also possible to set the structure of the entire battery according to different requirements, improving versatility.

[0029] In some embodiments, the housing further includes a connection base, which is provided to protrude from the receiving frame along a first direction, and the connection base is used for attaching the battery to a power consumption device.

[0030] Providing the connection base helps to connect and fix the entire battery to the power consumption device in which it is used, ensuring the safety performance of the battery.

[0031] In some embodiments, the battery further includes a bus member and an output member base. The bus member is electrically connected to the battery cells, and the output member base is provided on the stopper member and used for supporting the bus member.

[0032] Installed in this way, the bus member is electrically connected to the battery cells, the output member base forms an output interface and is connected to an external power consumption device, which helps to install and fix the bus member, avoid the occurrence of contact short - circuit, and ensure the safety performance of the battery.

[0033] In some embodiments, a receiving groove is provided in the stopper member, and at least a part of the output member base extends into the receiving groove.

[0034] Installed in this way, the receiving groove can play a role in restricting the position of the output member base, preventing safety problems from occurring in the battery due to displacement, and at the same time, it also plays a role in positioning, making it easier to install the output member base and improving the manufacturing efficiency.

[0035] In some embodiments, electrode terminals are formed along the height direction of the housing at one end of the battery cell near the bottom cover, and the side of the battery cell away from the electrode terminals is connected to the top cover.

[0036] By installing the battery cells in this manner, they can be positioned in reverse when assembling them into a power consumption device (such as a vehicle). This allows the electrode terminals of the battery cells to face downwards, and the side away from the electrode terminals to be connected to the top cover. This improves the utilization rate in the height direction of the housing and ensures the safety of the driver. Furthermore, because the electrode terminals of the battery cells are located away from the end where the top cover is installed, after clamping and integrally connecting the battery cells with a jig and inserting them into the housing in reverse, the jig can avoid interfering with the electrode terminals, preventing malfunction or damage to the electrode terminals and ensuring the safety performance of the battery. In addition, positioning the battery cells in reverse within the housing is advantageous in improving assembly efficiency and simplifies operation.

[0037] In some embodiments, the battery further includes a buffer member, which is provided between the electrode terminals and the bottom cover along the height direction.

[0038] By providing a cushioning element, when the entire battery shakes or vibrates, the cushioning element can provide cushioning to the electrode terminals of the battery cells, preventing damage to structures such as the pressure reduction mechanism due to friction between the electrode terminals and the bottom, thereby ensuring the safety performance of the battery.

[0039] According to a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a power consumption device including a battery in any of the above embodiments, the battery supplying electrical energy so that the power consumption device can operate normally. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0040] To more clearly explain the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the necessary drawings for the embodiments are briefly described below. It should be understood that the drawings shown below represent only a few embodiments of this application, and those skilled in the art can obtain further drawings based on these drawings without requiring any creative effort.

[0041] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram of the disassembled battery according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery cell in a battery according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram of an exploded battery cell in a battery according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a position-restricting beam in a battery according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a partial plan view of a battery according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a partition in a battery according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is a cross-sectional view of the partition shown in Figure 7, along the first direction.

[0042] In drawings, the drawings are not drawn according to actual proportions. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0043] 1000 vehicles, 100 batteries, 200 controllers, 300 motors, 10 Housing, 10a Opening, 10b Through hole, 11 Bottom cover, 12 Housing frame, 13 Connection base, 20 Battery module, 21 Battery cell, 211 First side wall, 212 Second side wall, 201 End cover assembly, 201a Electrode terminal, 202 Housing, 203 Electrode assembly, 203a Positive tab, 203b Negative tab, 30 Top cover, 40 Stopper member, 41 Position limiting beam, 40a Cavity, 40b Receiving groove, 50 Partition section 50a Media flow path, 51b Ceiling wall, 51c Bottom wall, 51d Side wall, 511 Support assembly, 5111 First support member, 5112 Second support member, 61 Connecting channel, 62 Supply pipe, 63 Discharge pipe, 71 Bus component, 72 Output component base, X: First direction, Y: Second direction, Z: Height direction [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0044] The following examples of embodiments of the technical solution of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are used solely to illustrate the technical solution of the present application more clearly and are merely examples, and do not limit the scope of protection of the present application.

[0045] Unless otherwise stated, the technical and scientific terms used in the embodiments of this application have the same meanings as those understood by a person skilled in the art.

[0046] In the description of the embodiments of this application, terms such as "center," "vertical direction," "horizontal direction," "length," "width," "thickness," "top," "bottom," "front," "back," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "upper part," "bottom," "inside," "outside," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial direction," "radial direction," and "circumferential direction" indicate directions or positional relationships that are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the drawings and are merely for the purpose of simplifying and making it easier to explain the embodiments of this application. They do not indicate or imply that the device or element in question has a specific direction, or that it should be composed of and operated in a specific direction, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the embodiments of this application.

[0047] Furthermore, technical terms such as "first," "second," etc., are used solely for explanatory purposes and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or the quantity of technical features they refer to. In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specifically limited, "multiple" means two or more.

[0048] In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specifically defined and limited, technical terms such as "attached," "connected," "connected," and "fixed" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may be fixed connections, removable connections, or integral connections. They may be mechanical connections or electrical connections. They may be directly connected, indirectly connected via an intermediate medium, or be internal communication between two elements or an interaction relationship between two elements. Those skilled in the art will be able to understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application depending on the specific circumstances.

[0049] In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specifically defined and limited, the statement that the first feature is "above" or "below" the second feature may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that they are indirectly in contact via an intermediate medium. Furthermore, the statement that the first feature is "above," "above," and "on the top surface" of the second feature may mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the horizontal height of the first feature is greater than that of the second feature. The statement that the first feature is "below," "below," and "on the bottom surface" of the second feature may mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the horizontal height of the first feature is lower than that of the second feature.

[0050] Currently, with the evolving market conditions, the applications of power batteries are expanding rapidly. Power batteries are not only used in energy storage and power systems such as hydroelectric, thermal, wind, and solar power plants, but are also widely used in electric vehicles such as electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, and electric cars, as well as in multiple fields such as military equipment and aerospace. As the application fields of power batteries expand, the demand for them in the market is also constantly growing.

[0051] The applicant noted that conventional batteries have a large number of battery cells inside, and generally, a battery module is constructed first before assembly. A battery module contains multiple stacked battery cells, and typically, end plates are installed at each end of the battery module. The two end plates are connected via connecting members, thereby tightening the battery cells. Furthermore, to prevent the end plates from being damaged by the expansion that occurs during charging and discharging of the battery cells, many reinforcing structures are often provided to improve the structural strength of the end plates. However, this method involves many components, making manufacturing complicated, and increasing weight and manufacturing costs, thus raising the manufacturing cost of the battery.

[0052] To solve the problem of simplifying the manufacturing process, reducing costs, and achieving a lightweight design while meeting the requirements of positional constraints, fixation, and resistance to expansion forces, the applicant found through research that the structure and arrangement of the battery can be improved.

[0053] Based on the above considerations, and in order to satisfy the requirements of positional constraint, fixation, and resistance to expansion forces, while simultaneously simplifying the manufacturing process, reducing costs, and achieving a lightweight design, the applicant has diligently researched and designed a battery including a housing, battery module, and stopper member. The battery module is installed within the housing and includes two or more battery cells arranged along a first direction, each including a connected first side wall and a second side wall, the first side wall being the wall with the largest area among all the outer walls of the battery cell, and the second side walls of two adjacent battery cells are positioned opposite each other along the first direction. The stopper member is fixedly connected to the housing and abuts against the first side wall of the battery cell, and is used to limit deformation of the battery cell in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction and the first side wall.

[0054] In such batteries, the battery module is installed within a housing to meet the sealing requirements. The battery module includes two or more battery cells arranged along a first direction, with the second side walls of two adjacent battery cells facing each other. A stopper member is fixedly connected within the housing and contacts the first side wall of the battery cell, thereby limiting deformation of the battery cell in the second direction and effectively buffering the expansion of the battery cell, ensuring the safety performance of the battery. At the same time, it provides pressing force to the battery module, achieving positional restriction and fixation, thus ensuring good battery quality. Furthermore, by fixing and connecting the stopper member to the housing and installing it to contact the battery cell, the number of connecting members can be reduced, which is advantageous in improving mounting efficiency and mounting accuracy. This simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces manufacturing costs and the overall weight of the battery, and enables a lightweight design. Moreover, by installing it in this manner, the stopper member can be used as a structural member of the housing, thereby meeting the structural strength requirements and achieving high integration density.

[0055] The technical solution described in the embodiments of this application is applicable to a power consumption device that uses a battery.

[0056] Power consumption devices may include vehicles, mobile phones, portable devices, laptop computers, ships, spacecraft, electric toys, and power tools. Vehicles may be gasoline-powered cars, natural gas cars, or new energy cars, and new energy cars may be pure electric cars, hybrid cars, or range-extender cars. Spacecraft include aircraft, rockets, space shuttles, and spaceships. Electric toys include stationary or mobile electric toys such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric boat toys, and electric aircraft toys. 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 railway power tools. The embodiments of this application are not particularly limited to the above-mentioned power consumption devices.

[0057] The technical solutions described in the embodiments of this application are applicable not only to the above-mentioned power consumption devices but also to all power consumption devices that use batteries. However, for the sake of brevity, the following embodiments will all be described using electric vehicles as examples.

[0058] Referring to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of the structure of a vehicle 1000 according to several embodiments of the present application, 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, or 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. The battery 100 can be used to supply power to the vehicle 1000, for example, as the operating power source for the vehicle 1000. The vehicle 1000 may further include a controller 200 and a motor 300, the controller 200 is used to control the battery 100 to supply power to the motor 300, for example, to meet the operating power requirements for starting, navigation, and driving the vehicle 1000.

[0059] In some embodiments of the present invention, the battery 100 can provide driving power to the vehicle 1000 not only as an operating power source for the vehicle 1000, but also as a driving power source for the vehicle 1000, by substituting or partially substituting fuel or natural gas.

[0060] Referring to Figures 2 to 4, an embodiment of the present application provides a battery 100 including a housing 10, a battery module 20, and a stopper member 40. The battery module 20 is installed inside the housing 10 and includes two or more battery cells 21 arranged along a first direction X, the battery cells 21 including connected first side walls 211 and second side walls 212, the first side wall 211 being the wall with the largest area of ​​all the outer walls of the battery cell 21, and the second side walls 212 of two adjacent battery cells 21 are installed facing each other along the first direction X. The stopper member 40 is fixedly connected to the housing 10 and abuts against the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21, and the stopper member 40 is used to limit the deformation of the battery cell 21 in a second direction Y, the second direction Y being perpendicular to the first side wall 211.

[0061] The housing 10 may be a simple three-dimensional structure such as an independent rectangular parallelepiped or cylinder, or it may be a complex three-dimensional structure composed of a combination of simple three-dimensional structures such as rectangular parallelepipeds or cylinders, and the embodiments of this application are not limited thereto. The material of the housing 10 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 such as glass fiber with epoxy resin added, and the embodiments of this application are not limited thereto.

[0062] The housing 10 is used to house the battery cells 21, and the housing 10 can have various structures, as long as it can guarantee the requirement of airtightness.

[0063] In the battery 100, there may be one battery cell 21 or multiple battery cells 21. If there are multiple battery cells 21, they can be connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel. Series-parallel connection means that there are not only series connections but also parallel connections between the multiple battery cells 21. Multiple battery cells 21 can be directly connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel, and then the entire assembly composed of multiple battery cells 21 can be housed in the housing 10. Of course, multiple battery cells 21 may first be connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel to form a battery module 20, and then the multiple battery modules 20 may be further connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel to form a single unit which can then be housed in the housing 10.

[0064] In this application, the battery cell 21 may include lithium-ion battery cells 21, sodium-ion battery cells 21, or magnesium-ion battery cells 21, and the embodiments of this application are not limited thereto. The battery cell 21 may be flattened, rectangular, or have other shapes, and the embodiments of this application are not limited thereto. Generally, battery cells 21 are classified into three types based on the packaging method: cylindrical battery cells 21, prismatic battery cells 21, and soft-pack battery cells 21, and the embodiments of this application are not limited thereto. However, for the sake of brevity, the following embodiments will all be described using prismatic battery cells 21 as examples.

[0065] Referring to Figure 4, the battery cell 21 refers to the smallest unit that makes up the battery 100, and the battery cell 21 includes an end cover assembly 201, a housing 202, and an electrode assembly 203.

[0066] The end cover assembly 201 is a component that fits over the opening of the housing 202 to isolate the internal environment of the battery cell 21 from the external environment. The shape of the end cover assembly 201 can be adapted to the shape of the housing 202 and fitted into the housing 202, but is not limited to this. Selectively, the end cover assembly 201 can be manufactured from a material having a certain hardness and strength (e.g., an aluminum alloy), which makes the end cover assembly 201 less prone to deformation even when pressed or struck, allowing the battery cell 21 to have higher structural strength and improving safety performance. Functional components such as electrode terminals 201a may be provided on the end cover assembly 201. The electrode terminals 201a can be used to electrically connect to the electrode assembly 203 and are used to output or input electrical energy from the battery cell 21. In some embodiments, the end cover assembly 201 may be further equipped with a pressure reduction mechanism used to release internal pressure when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell 21 reaches a threshold. The end cover assembly 201 may be made of any material, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, or plastic, and the embodiments of this application are not particularly limited thereto. In some embodiments, an additional insulating member may be installed inside the end cover assembly 201, which may be used to isolate the electrical connection members in the housing 202 from the end cover assembly 201, thereby reducing the risk of short circuits. Exemplarily, the insulator may be made of plastic, rubber, or the like.

[0067] The housing 202 is an assembly for mating with the end cover assembly 201 to form the internal environment of the battery cell 21, which may be used to house the electrode assembly 203, electrolyte (not shown), and other components. The housing 202 and the end cover assembly 201 may be separate components, or the housing 202 may have an opening, and the end cover assembly 201 may cover the opening to form the internal environment of the cell 21. The end cover assembly 201 and the housing 202 may be integrated, and specifically, the end cover assembly 201 and the housing 202 may have a common connecting surface before other components are placed in the housing, and if it is necessary to seal the inside of the housing 202, the end cover assembly 201 is placed over the housing 202, but is not limited to this. The housing 202 may have various shapes and dimensions, such as a rectangular parallelepiped. Specifically, the shape of the housing 202 is determined by the specific shape and size of the electrode assembly 203. The housing 202 can be made of any material, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, or plastic, and the embodiments of this application are not particularly limited to these materials.

[0068] The electrode assembly 203 is a component that generates an electrochemical reaction in the battery cell 21. One or more electrode assemblies 203 can be included in the housing 202. The electrode assembly 203 is mainly formed by winding or stacking a positive electrode sheet and a negative electrode sheet, and generally a separator is provided between the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet. The portions of the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet containing the active material constitute the main body of the electrode assembly 203, and the portions of the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet not containing the active material each constitute a tab. The positive electrode tab 203a and the negative electrode tab 203b may be located together at one end of the main body, or they may be located at both ends of the main body, respectively. During the charging and discharging 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 201a to form an electric current circuit.

[0069] Referring again to Figures 2 to 4, the battery module 20 provided by the embodiment of the present application includes two or more battery cells 21 arranged along a first direction X, each battery cell 21 including a connected first side wall 211 and a second side wall 212, the first side wall 211 being the wall with the largest area among all the outer walls of the battery cell 21, and the second side walls 212 of two adjacent battery cells 21 are installed facing each other along the first direction X. The stopper member 40 is fixedly connected to the housing 10 and abuts against the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21, and the stopper member 40 is used to limit the deformation of the battery cell 21 in a second direction Y.

[0070] In the embodiment of the present application, the second direction Y is perpendicular to the first side wall 211, and as can be understood, the second direction Y is also perpendicular to the first direction X. Selectively, the first direction X may be the length direction of the housing 10, and correspondingly, the second direction Y is the width direction of the housing 10. Naturally, the first direction X may be the width direction of the housing 10, and correspondingly, the second direction Y is the length direction of the housing 10.

[0071] Selectively, the number of stopper members 40 may be one, two, or, of course, multiple stopper members may be installed.

[0072] The stopper member 40 is fixedly connected to the housing 10 and abuts against the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21, thereby limiting the deformation of the battery cell 21 in the second direction Y. When expansion occurs in the battery cell 21 during charging and discharging operations, the stopper member 40 can provide a cushioning effect to the battery cell 21, and furthermore, a force acting in the opposite direction to the expansion force, which is advantageous in improving the safety of the operation of the battery cell 21, ensuring the safety and reliability of the battery 100. At the same time, it can provide a pressing force to the battery module 20 to achieve positional restriction and fixing effects, ensuring good quality of the battery 100.

[0073] Furthermore, this installation method reduces the number of end plates and connecting components, which is advantageous in improving installation efficiency and accuracy. It also simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces manufacturing costs and the overall weight of the battery 100, and enables a lightweight design.

[0074] Furthermore, the stopper member 40 can be used as a structural member of the housing 10, thereby meeting the structural strength requirements, increasing the degree of integration, and allowing the stopper member 40 and the battery cell 21 to be more closely attached to each other, which is advantageous for making the housing 10 more compact and improving the space utilization rate of the housing 10.

[0075] The first side wall 211 is set as the wall with the largest area among all the outer walls of the battery cell 21, thereby allowing the stopper member 40 to more effectively restrict and fix the position of the battery cell 21, resist expansion deformation and improve structural strength, and better guarantee the safety performance of the battery 100.

[0076] For example, two stopper members 40 may be installed, and each of the two stopper members 40 is fixedly connected between the housing 10 and the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21, and abuts against the first side wall 211, thereby not only providing positional restriction and fixing and resistance to expansion force for the battery cell 21, but also preventing the battery cell 21 from coming into contact with the housing 10, preventing electrical connection or thermal runaway phenomena from occurring, and at the same time the stopper members 40 can provide support and protection to the battery cell 21 and improve structural strength.

[0077] Selectively, the stopper member 40 and the housing 10 may have an integrally molded structure and be formed through processes such as bending and pressing. Naturally, the stopper member 40 and the housing 10 may be provided separately and then fixed and connected together by methods such as welding and bonding.

[0078] The battery 100 provided in the embodiment of the present invention satisfies the requirements for positional restriction and fixation of the battery cell 21 by having a stopper member 40 installed, which is fixedly connected to the housing 10 and abuts against the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21. At the same time, the stopper member 40 can restrict the deformation of the battery cell 21 in the second direction Y, thereby satisfying the requirement to resist the expansion of the battery cell 21. Furthermore, by installing in this manner, there is no need to provide an end plate and a connecting member for connecting the battery cell 21, which is advantageous in improving mounting efficiency and mounting accuracy, simplifying the manufacturing process, reducing manufacturing costs and the overall weight of the battery 100, and realizing a lightweight design. In addition, the stopper member 40 can be a structural member of the housing 10, which is advantageous in supporting the battery cell 21 and improving structural strength. Moreover, since the first side wall 211 is the wall with the largest area among all the outer walls of the battery cell 21, the stopper member 40 can more effectively restrict the position and fixation of the battery cell 21, resist expansion deformation and improve structural strength, and better guarantee the safety performance of the battery 100.

[0079] The battery 100 provided in the embodiment of the present invention uses the above structural form and, during molding, first the second side walls 212 of each battery cell 21 in the same battery module 20 are placed facing each other, thereby forming a battery module 20 containing two or more battery cells 21 arranged along a first direction X. Next, the battery module 20 is clamped using a tool and placed between stopper members 40 that are spaced apart along a second direction Y inside the housing 10. When the tool is removed, each battery cell 21 in the battery module 20 repels and presses against the stopper members 40, causing the stopper members 40 to contact the first side walls 211 of the battery cells 21, sealing the housing 10 and completing the manufacture of the battery 100. This molding method improves the space utilization rate of the housing 10, enables a lightweight design, is easy to manufacture, advantageous for molding, and reduces costs while satisfying the requirements of positional constraint, fixation, and resistance to expansion deformation.

[0080] Referring to Figures 2 to 5, in some embodiments, when the height dimension of the stopper member 40 is H and the height dimension of the battery cell 21 is h in the height direction Z of the housing 10, then 2 / 3 ≤ H / h ≤ 11 / 10.

[0081] Selectively, the ratio of the height dimension H of the stopper member 40 to the height dimension h of the battery cell 21 may be any value between 2 / 3 and 11 / 10, including the two endpoints 2 / 3 and 11 / 10.

[0082] Refer to the table below, which shows the test results when H / h is in the range of 2 / 3 to 11 / 10.

[0083] [Table 1] For example, as can be seen from the second to fifth test data in the table, when the height dimension H of the stopper member 40 and the height dimension h of the battery cell 21 were set within the range of 2 / 3 ≤ H / h ≤ 11 / 10, the test results showed that neither of the stopper members 40 was damaged and no safety problems occurred with the battery cell 21. Furthermore, the contact area between the stopper member 40 and the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21 can be increased, thereby allowing the stopper member 40 to more effectively restrict the deformation of the battery cell 21 in the second direction Y, improving the positional restriction, support function and resistance to expansion deformation of the battery cell 21, and improving the safety and reliability of the battery 100.

[0084] For example, as can be seen from the fourth and fifth test results in the table, when the height dimension H of the stopper member 40 was set to be greater than or equal to the height dimension h of the battery cell 21, i.e., 1 ≤ H / h ≤ 11 / 10, the test results showed that the stopper member 40 was not damaged and no safety problems occurred with the battery cell 21. Furthermore, by installing in this manner, not only are the positional restriction, support function and resistance to expansion deformation of the battery cell 21 improved, but the battery cell 21 can also be protected via the stopper member 40, preventing external impacts, vibrations, or forces acting under other operating conditions from directly acting on the battery cell 21, mutually reinforcing the structural strength of the battery cell 21 and the stopper member 40, and improving the structural strength of the battery 100.

[0085] If H / h is set to a value greater than 11 / 10, the space inside the casing 10 will be wasted, and the energy density of the battery 100 will decrease.

[0086] When H / h is set to less than 2 / 3, as can be seen from the first test data in the table, the test results show that cracks appear in the stopper member 40 and safety problems occur in the battery cell 21. In other words, when installed in this manner, the contact area between the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21 and the stopper member 40 becomes too small, failing to meet structural strength requirements. As a result, the stopper member 40 cannot effectively resist the expansion of the battery cell 21, potentially leading to safety accidents such as ignition and explosion.

[0087] Therefore, based on simulation calculations, setting H / h between 2 / 3 and 11 / 10, which include the two endpoints 2 / 3 and 11 / 10, not only satisfies the requirements for the effect on structural strength and resists expansion effects, but also saves space and improves space utilization.

[0088] In some embodiments, when the height dimension of the stopper member 40 is H and the height dimension of the battery cell 21 is h in the height direction Z of the housing 10, then 0.9 ≤ H / h ≤ 1.

[0089] From the test results in the table above, setting H / h between 0.9 and 1 is advantageous in better meeting the requirements for the effect on structural strength and resisting the expansion effect, improving reliability for safety, and better improving the energy density of battery 100.

[0090] In some embodiments, the stopper member 40 includes a position-restricting beam 41 which extends along a first direction X and is connected to the housing 10 at both ends in the first direction X, and is pressed against and connected to the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21.

[0091] The installation of the stopper member 40 in the form of a position-restricting beam 41 is advantageous in reducing the space required for the position-restricting beam 41, thereby allowing the housing 10 to accommodate more battery cells 21 and improving the space utilization rate inside the housing 10.

[0092] Furthermore, the position-restricting beam 41 is connected to the housing 10, improving the overall structural strength of the housing 10 and enhancing its ability to resist the expansion of the battery cells 21, thereby ensuring safety performance.

[0093] The connection between the position-restricting beam 41 and the first side wall 211 may be a direct bond between the position-restricting beam 41 and the first side wall 211, or the position-restricting beam 41 may be connected to the first side wall 211 by adhesive, fasteners (bolts, etc.), welding, or there may be other members (such as the partition portion 50 below) between the position-restricting beam 41 and the first side wall 211, and the position-restricting beam 41 may be in contact with the first side wall 211 via the other members and indirectly connected to the first side wall 211.

[0094] For example, the cross-sectional area of ​​each part of the position-restricting beam 41 in the first direction X is the same, making production and manufacturing easier and saving internal space in the housing 10. Furthermore, it is advantageous to tightly bond each part of the position-restricting beam 41 to the first side wall 211 of each battery cell 21, improving support and protection and increasing the utilization rate of internal space in the housing 10.

[0095] In some embodiments, multiple cavities 40a penetrating along a first direction X are installed within the position-restricting beam 41.

[0096] Selectively, the multiple cavities 40a may be set to be spaced apart in the second direction Y, and of course, they may also be set to be spaced apart in the height direction Z.

[0097] Selectively, in the height direction Z, multiple cavities 40a may be arranged in a single row, or, of course, in multiple rows.

[0098] For example, by setting the multiple cavities 40a to be spaced apart in the height direction Z and installed in a single row, the extension length of the position-restricting beam 41 in the second direction Y is shortened, creating more space within the housing 10 to accommodate more battery cells 21, which is advantageous for improving the energy density of the battery 100.

[0099] By installing multiple cavities 40a penetrating along the first direction X within the position-restricting beam 41, when the battery cell 21 is charged and discharged and expands, the space within the cavity 40a is compressed along the second direction Y, thereby allowing the position-restricting beam 41 to limit the deformation of the battery cell 21, buffer and absorb the expansion force of the battery cell 21, and ensure the safety performance of the battery cell 21.

[0100] Furthermore, by providing the cavity 40a, the weight of the position-restricting beam 41 can be reduced, costs can be lowered, a lightweight design can be achieved, and at the same time the overall energy density of the battery 100 can be improved.

[0101] In some embodiments, there are two position-restricting beams 41, which are spaced apart in the second direction Y, and the battery module 20 is sandwiched between the two position-restricting beams 41.

[0102] For example, if the number of position-restricting beams 41 is set to two and they are spaced apart in the second direction Y, and the battery module 20 is sandwiched between the two position-restricting beams 41, that is, the position-restricting beams 41 are located between the battery module 20 and the inner wall of the housing 10, and the position-restricting beams 41 are connected to and installed in contact with the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21, then the two position-restricting beams 41 can each be used to restrict the deformation of the battery cell 21 in the second direction Y of the housing 10, thereby more effectively satisfying the requirements of position restriction, fixation, and resistance to expansion, and better guaranteeing the safety performance of the battery 100.

[0103] Continuing with reference to Figures 2 to 5, in some embodiments, the number of battery modules 20 is two or more, and the two or more battery modules 20 are arranged along the second direction Y, a partition 50 is installed between two adjacent battery modules 20, and the partition 50 is connected to the first side wall 211 of each battery cell 21 in the two adjacent battery modules 20.

[0104] Selectively, the number of battery modules 20 is two, but of course, multiple modules may be installed.

[0105] Similarly, the number of partitions 50 may be set to one, and if the number of battery modules 20 is set to two, one partition 50 is sandwiched between the two battery modules 20. Naturally, multiple partitions 50 may be installed, and if the number of battery modules 20 is set to multiple, one partition 50 is sandwiched between each of two adjacent battery modules 20.

[0106] Selectively, two or more battery modules 20 are arranged along a second direction Y, and each battery module 20 includes two or more battery cells 21 arranged along a first direction X of the housing 10, and the partition 50 can prevent the battery cells 21 of two adjacent battery modules 20 in the second direction Y from coming into direct contact, thereby avoiding problems such as short circuits.

[0107] Selectively, the partition 50 is connected to the first side wall 211 of each battery cell 21 in two adjacent battery modules 20, allowing it to support the battery cell 21 as a structural member of the housing 10 and improving structural strength.

[0108] Selectively, the partition 50 can also be used to resist the expansion force of the connected battery cell 21, thereby ensuring the safety performance of the battery 100.

[0109] Selectively, the partition 50 can also be used for thermal management of the connected battery cell 21, ensuring that the battery cell 21 is within an appropriate temperature range, thereby ensuring the safety performance of the battery 100.

[0110] By sandwiching the partition 50 between two adjacent battery modules 20, the partition 50 can better achieve at least one of the following: improved structural strength and resistance to expansion forces.

[0111] Selectively, the ratio of the height dimension of the partition 50 in the height direction Z to the height dimension h of the battery cell 21 may be set between 2 / 3 and 11 / 10, including two endpoints, 2 / 3 and 11 / 10, which not only satisfies the requirements for the effect on structural strength and can resist expansion effects, but also saves space and improves space utilization.

[0112] In some embodiments, the partition 50 is bonded and fixed to the first side wall 211 of each battery cell 21 in two adjacent battery modules 20.

[0113] This installation method provides a more robust connection between the partition 50 and each battery cell 21, resulting in greater connection stability and ensuring the safety and reliability of the battery 100. Furthermore, by using an adhesive method to connect the partition 50 and each battery cell 21 as a single unit, the partition 50 and each battery cell 21 of the battery module 20 can be bonded together before the entire unit is placed inside the housing 10. This is advantageous for assembling the battery 100 modules and also allows for a more compact installation of adjacent battery modules 20, improving the space utilization efficiency of the housing 10.

[0114] Furthermore, the use of adhesive bonding is advantageous in reducing consumables and overall weight, contributing to the lightweight design of the Battery 100. In addition, it simplifies the manufacturing process and improves production and assembly efficiency.

[0115] Selectively, a connecting adhesive layer may be provided between the partition 50 and the first side wall 211, and the partition 50 and each battery cell 21 may be bonded and fixed together.

[0116] Selectively, the connecting adhesive layer may include a thermally conductive structural adhesive, which not only provides high adhesive effect but also possesses properties such as thermal conductivity, degradation resistance, fatigue resistance, and corrosion resistance, thereby improving the connection strength between the battery cell 21 and the partition 50 and accelerating heat transfer between the battery cell 21 and the partition 50. Naturally, the connecting adhesive layer may further include double-sided tape or the like.

[0117] In some embodiments, the partition 50 is used to regulate the temperature of the battery cell 21, and a medium flow path 50a is provided within the partition 50.

[0118] Selectively, the partition 50 may be installed as a heat exchange plate, which is sandwiched between two adjacent battery modules 20 and connected to the first side wall 211. This installation satisfies the requirement to regulate the temperature of the battery cells 21 in contact with it and to perform thermal management of the battery cells 21. Furthermore, since the first side wall 211 is the wall with the largest surface area among all the outer walls of the battery cells 21, the contact area between the heat exchange plate and the battery cells 21 can be increased, which is advantageous in improving the efficiency of thermal management for the battery cells 21.

[0119] Each battery cell 21 may have two first side walls 211, that is, the two first side walls 211 of each battery cell 21 are connected to the partition 50, thereby more effectively improving thermal management efficiency and ensuring temperature stability of the battery cell 21.

[0120] Thermal management is understood to mean the transfer of heat between the partition and the battery cell 21. For example, contact heat exchange is achieved by the partition 50 directly contacting the battery cell 21, or by providing a heat conduction structure (such as a heat-conductive adhesive) between the partition 50 and the battery cell 21 to perform heat exchange. Specifically, the partition cools or heats the battery cell 21 to dissipate heat, controlling the temperature of the battery cell 21 within an appropriate range and improving the service life and safety performance of the battery cell 21. Furthermore, if thermal runaway occurs in one battery cell 21, the heat generated from the runaway battery cell 21 is absorbed by the partition in contact with it, lowering the temperature of the runaway battery cell 21 and avoiding the problem of adjacent battery cells 21 also experiencing thermal runaway, thereby guaranteeing the safety performance of the battery cell 21.

[0121] Selectively, a partition 50 is sandwiched between two adjacent battery modules 20, so as can be understood, one partition 50 can act on both battery modules 20 to perform heat exchange, and one battery module 20 can perform heat exchange with both partitions 50, which is advantageous in improving thermal management efficiency and improving the safety and reliability of the battery cell 21.

[0122] A media channel 50a is provided within the partition 50, and a heat exchange medium (water, air, phase change material, etc.) can flow through the media channel 50a to perform heat exchange with the battery cell 21, thereby completing the thermal management for the battery cell 21.

[0123] By installing it as described above, the partition 50 can improve the overall structural strength of the battery 100 as a structural component of the housing 10, thereby eliminating the need for vertical and horizontal beams inside the housing 10, resulting in higher integration density, reduced costs, improved space utilization of the housing 10, and a lighter design. Furthermore, since the area of ​​the first side wall 211 is larger than the area of ​​the second side wall 212, the partition 50 can more effectively exchange heat with the battery cells 21, improving thermal management efficiency. In addition, by sandwiching the partition 50 between two adjacent battery modules 20, it is possible to avoid situations in which the partition 50 is damaged or leaks occur under operating conditions such as collisions and vibrations, improving the service life, safety, and reliability of the partition 50, improving the thermal management efficiency of the battery cells 21, and further guaranteeing the safety performance of the battery 100.

[0124] Referring to Figures 2 to 6, in some embodiments, the battery 100 further includes a connecting channel 61, a supply pipe 62, and a discharge pipe 63, wherein along the second direction Y, the media channels 50a of two adjacent partitions 50 are connected via the connecting channel 61, and the supply pipe 62 and the discharge pipe 63 are connected to the media channels 50a of the same partition 50.

[0125] Selectively, the communication channel 61, the supply pipe 62, and the discharge pipe 63 may be installed on the same side extending along the first direction X of the partition 50, or, of course, they may be installed on both sides extending along the first direction X of the partition 50.

[0126] Selectively, the extension direction of the supply pipe 62 and the extension direction of the discharge pipe 63 may be the same or different.

[0127] Selectively, communication channels 61 are installed on both sides of a partition 50 extending along a first direction X, and the communication channels 61 on both sides of each partition 50 are connected sequentially and connected to a supply pipe 62 and a discharge pipe 63, respectively, making assembly and replacement easier and providing greater flexibility.

[0128] Furthermore, the ability to arbitrarily combine the connecting passage 61, supply pipe 62, and discharge pipe 63 allows for application to various numbers of partition sections 50, which is advantageous in improving flexibility and versatility.

[0129] Selectively, connecting members may be provided on both sides of the partition 50 extending in the first direction X, thereby connecting to the communication channel 61 and improving the connection strength.

[0130] By installing in this manner, the media flow path 50a of each partition section 50 can meet the requirements for the heat exchange medium through only one supply pipe 62 and one discharge pipe 63, reducing the space occupied and simplifying the structure of the supply pipe 62 and discharge pipe 63, which is advantageous for assembly and replacement, and can be applied to supplying heat exchange medium to a different number of partition sections 50, improving flexibility and versatility.

[0131] In some embodiments, the housing 10 is provided with through holes 10b, and the supply pipe 62 and the discharge pipe 63 extend out of the housing 10 through the through holes 10b, respectively.

[0132] By installing in this manner, one end of the supply pipe 62 and the discharge pipe 63 extend outside the housing 10. The supply pipe 62 can be connected to an external device that supplies the heat exchange medium, which is advantageous for acquiring the heat exchange medium and sending it to the partition section 50. The discharge pipe 63 can be connected to an external device that stores the heat exchange medium, thereby discharging the heat exchange medium that has exchanged heat with the battery cells 21. This is advantageous for acquiring and discharging the heat exchange medium, and at the same time reduces the risk of the heat exchange medium leaking inside the housing 10, thus ensuring the safety and reliability of the battery 100.

[0133] Selectively, the device supplying the external heat exchange medium and the device storing the heat exchange medium may be installed as the same device, or, of course, they may be two separate devices.

[0134] Referring to Figures 6 to 8, in some embodiments, the partition 50 has a ceiling wall 51b, a bottom wall 51c, and a side wall 51d connected to the ceiling wall 51b and bottom wall 51c, which are installed opposite each other along the second direction Y, forming a medium flow path 50a enclosed by the ceiling wall 51b, bottom wall 51c and side wall 51d, and the medium flow path 50a is installed in communication with a supply pipe 62 and a discharge pipe 63. Under a predetermined pressure, at least a portion of the ceiling wall 51b and bottom wall 51c can move toward each other along the second direction Y, thereby absorbing the expansion force of the battery cell 21.

[0135] A media channel 50a is formed, enclosed by a ceiling wall 51b, a bottom wall 51c, and side walls 51d. The media channel 50a is connected to a supply pipe 62 and a discharge pipe 63. This allows the heat exchange medium to enter the media channel 50a via the supply pipe 62, where it exchanges heat with the battery cell 21. After heat exchange, the heat exchange medium is then transferred from the media channel 50a to the discharge pipe 63 and flows out, completing the thermal management for the battery cell 21.

[0136] Under a predetermined pressure, the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c can move toward each other in a direction along the second direction Y, and as understood, when the battery cell 21 expands during operation and the force acting on the partition 50 exceeds a predetermined pressure, the partition 50 can deform to absorb the expansion force of the battery cell 21, that is, the cross-sectional area of ​​the partition 50 in the second direction Y becomes smaller, improving the safety performance of the battery 100. At the same time, the partition 50 can always maintain a compact connection with the battery cell 21, improving the connection strength.

[0137] In some embodiments, the partition 50 includes a support assembly 511, which is installed in a medium flow path 50a, and along the height direction Z of the housing 10, the support assembly 511 includes a plurality of first support members 5111 that are spaced apart, the first support members 5111 being connected to a ceiling wall 51b and a bottom wall 51c respectively, the first support members 5111 being installed at an inclination and the angle between them and one of the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c being less than 90°.

[0138] The first support members 5111 are arranged at intervals along the height direction Z, and selectively, the spacing between two adjacent first support members 5111 may be the same or different.

[0139] Selectively, the number of first support members 5111 included in the support assembly 511 may be set according to the dimensions of the partition 50. The support assembly 511 is installed in the medium flow path 510a and used to support the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c, thereby ensuring the support requirements for the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c.

[0140] The first support members 5111 are connected to the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c, respectively, and as can be understood, when the partition 50 deforms to absorb the expansion force of the battery cell 21, the first support members 5111 can deform in accordance with this so that at least a portion of the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c can move toward each other along the second direction Y.

[0141] By installing the first support member 5111 at an inclination and setting the angle between it and either the ceiling wall 51b or the bottom wall 51c to less than 90°, the flexibility of the first support member 5111 can be improved, allowing it to deform more effectively and satisfying the requirement for the partition 50 to absorb expansion force. Furthermore, the flat shape reduces the deformation space, avoiding the risk of breakage and failure.

[0142] For example, setting the angle between the first support member 5111 and either the ceiling wall 51b or the bottom wall 51c within the range of 30° to 60° better satisfies the support requirements, is advantageous for deformation, and is less prone to fracture.

[0143] Selectively, the inclination directions of two adjacent first support members 5111 may be the same, or, of course, they may be different.

[0144] Selectively, the material of the first support member 5111 may be formed using a reinforcing rib structure, which ensures support while simultaneously achieving a lightweight design for the partition 50 and thus a lightweight design for the entire battery 100.

[0145] Selectively, the first support member 5111 is connected to the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c and extends along the first direction X, thereby increasing the connection area between the first support member 5111 and the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c, and improving the support strength.

[0146] In some embodiments, the first support member 5111 exhibits a plate-like structure.

[0147] By installing the first support member 5111 as a flat plate-shaped structure, deformation occurs more effectively, thereby satisfying the requirement that the partition 50 absorbs the expansion force of the battery cell 21.

[0148] Furthermore, it is advantageous for production and processing, improving manufacturing efficiency.

[0149] In some embodiments, the support assembly 511 further includes a plurality of second support members 5112 arranged at intervals along the height direction Z of the housing 10, the extension dimension of the second support members 5112 in the second direction Y being smaller than the distance between the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c, and the second support members 5112 being connected to at least one of the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c.

[0150] Selectively, the second support member 5112 may be installed on the ceiling wall 51b, or it may also be installed on the bottom wall 51c, for example, the second support member 5112 may be installed on both the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c.

[0151] For example, in the height direction Z, a second support member 5112 is installed between two adjacent first support members 5111. Selectively, one of the two adjacent second support members 5112 is installed on the ceiling wall 51b and the other on the bottom wall 51c, thereby ensuring that the forces acting on the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c are uniform and that the weight acting on them simultaneously is not excessive.

[0152] By installing the second support member 5112 and setting its extension dimension in the second direction Y to be smaller than the distance between the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c, it not only achieves a better support effect in cooperation with the first support member 5111, but also allows control of the deformation range of the partition 50. When one of the second support members 5112 of the ceiling wall 51b or the bottom wall 51c comes into contact with the other, the deformation of the partition 50 can be further restricted, preventing clogging of the media flow path 50a, ensuring the effectiveness of the media flow path 50a, and thereby ensuring the effectiveness of the partition 50.

[0153] In some embodiments, the second support member 5112 has a polygonal prism shape.

[0154] By installing the second support member 5112 in a polygonal prism shape, the second support member 5112 has a sufficient cross-sectional area, and the partition 50 absorbs the expansion force of the battery cell 21. Even when the second support member 5112 installed on the ceiling wall 51b or the bottom wall 51c deforms to the point of contact with the other wall, the second support member 5112 can still have a sufficient contact area, thereby improving the support capacity and preventing the second support member 5112 from being damaged or losing its effectiveness, thus avoiding contact with the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c and ensuring the effectiveness of the partition 50.

[0155] Selectively, the second support member 5112 is installed perpendicular to the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c, thereby ensuring a better support effect for the partition 50 and preventing clogging of the media flow path 50a.

[0156] In some embodiments, the second support member 5112 is installed on both the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c, and the first support member 5111 and the second support member 5112 are arranged alternately along the height direction Z of the housing 10.

[0157] The first support member 5111 and the second support member 5112 are arranged alternately, and selectively, two adjacent second support members 5112 may be installed alternately on the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c, and of course, the positions of the second support members 5112 may be set according to certain arrangement rules.

[0158] For example, in the height direction Z, one of the two adjacent second support members 5112 is installed on the ceiling wall 51b and the other on the bottom wall 51c, thereby ensuring that the forces acting on the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c are uniform, and that the weight applied to them simultaneously is not excessive.

[0159] By installing in this manner, it is possible to not only ensure the uniformity of the support action of the partition section 50 against the ceiling wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c, but also to further guarantee the effectiveness of the media flow path 50a by preventing clogging in any part along the first direction X of the media flow path.

[0160] Referring to Figures 2 to 6, in some embodiments, the housing 10 includes a top cover 30, a bottom cover 11, and a housing frame 12, the bottom cover 11 and the top cover 30 are installed opposite each other in the height direction Z of the housing 10 and on both ends of the housing frame 12, and the stopper member 40 is connected to the housing frame 12 and at least one of the top cover 30 and the bottom cover 11, respectively.

[0161] The housing that houses the battery cell 21 is formed by being surrounded by the top cover 30, the bottom cover 11, and the housing frame 12, thereby ensuring the requirement of airtightness.

[0162] Selectively, the housing frame 12 may have an opening 10a, and selectively, the housing frame 12 may have an opening 10a on one side, that is, the housing frame 12 and one of the top cover 30 and bottom cover 11 may be integrally molded, and the other may surround the opening 10a by sealing it and connecting to the housing frame 12, thereby forming a housing 10 that seals and protects the battery module 20. Naturally, the housing frame 12 may have openings 10a on both sides, and the top cover 30 and bottom cover 11 may each seal two openings 10a, connect to and surround the housing frame 12, thereby forming a housing 10 that seals and protects the battery module 20.

[0163] To improve the airtightness after connecting the housing frame 12 to the top cover 30 and bottom cover 11, sealing members such as sealing material and sealing rings may be installed between the housing 10 and the top cover 30 or bottom cover 11.

[0164] The top cover 30, bottom cover 11, and housing 10 may be selectively connected by methods such as bolts, flowdrill screws (FDS), adhesive, and welding, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0165] Selectively, the top cover 30 or the bottom cover 11 may be manufactured from a material (such as an aluminum alloy) that has a certain degree of high hardness and high strength, making it less prone to deformation, providing higher structural strength, and improving safety performance.

[0166] Selectively, the bottom cover 11 and the housing frame 12 may have an integrally molded structure, or, of course, the bottom cover 11 and the housing frame 12 may be provided separately and then joined together by methods such as welding or bonding.

[0167] For example, the bottom cover 11 and the housing frame 12 may be detachably connected, which can reduce costs and make it easier to replace the bottom cover 11 or housing frame 12 in case of damage or other problems.

[0168] Selectively, the bottom cover 11 and the housing frame 12 may be manufactured using the same material, or, of course, they may be manufactured using different materials.

[0169] Selectively, the stopper member 40 and the bottom cover 11 or top cover 30 are installed with a gap between them, and selectively, at least a portion of the bottom cover 11 or top cover 30 can be recessed in the height direction Z away from the battery cell 21 to form a recess, and a gap exists between the recess and the stopper member 40, which can provide a cushioning effect when other operating conditions such as collision or vibration occur, which is advantageous for better supporting and protecting the stopper member 40 and the battery cell 21, thereby improving safety and reliability.

[0170] The stopper members 40 are selectively connected to the housing frame 12 and either the top cover 30 or the bottom cover 11. During assembly and molding, the battery cells 21 and the stopper members 40 may be connected to the housing frame 12 first, and then the top cover 30 or the bottom cover 11 may be covered to form the sealed housing 10.

[0171] In some embodiments, the housing 10 further includes a connecting base 13, which is provided protruding from the housing frame 12 along a first direction X.

[0172] By providing the connection base 13, the entire battery 100 is connected to and secured to the device in which it is used, for example, to the chassis of a vehicle 1000, improving the stability of the connection, making the connection more robust, and at the same time, avoiding safety risks to the battery 100 due to poor connection, thereby ensuring the safety and reliability of the battery 100.

[0173] Selectively, the connecting base 13 is provided projecting from one side of the housing frame 12 along the first direction X, and naturally, connecting bases 13 projecting from either side of the housing frame 12 along the first direction X are provided.

[0174] In some embodiments, the battery cell 21 further includes a bus member 71 for electrically connecting two adjacent battery cells 21.

[0175] Selectively, one or two bus components 71 may be installed, and of course, multiple components may be installed.

[0176] Two adjacent battery cells 21 can be electrically connected via a bus member 71, and optionally, the bus member 71 may be connected to the electrode terminals 201a of the adjacent battery cell 21, thereby enabling series connection, parallel connection, or series-parallel connection of multiple battery cells 21 within the same battery module 20 or within two adjacent battery modules 20.

[0177] Selectively, two electrode terminals 201a are provided as output terminals on the outermost battery module 20 located along the first direction X, and the bus member 71 electrically connected to the two output terminals is also referred to as an output member.

[0178] In some embodiments, the battery 100 further includes an output member base 72, which is provided on the stopper member 40 and used to support a bus member 71 as an output member. Optionally, the output member base 72 includes an insulating material.

[0179] Selectively, the number of output members may be set to two, each electrically connected to two output terminals and installed on the same side of the second direction Y, thereby forming a power supply path together with other bus members 71. This configuration avoids the need to use large output members that span across the battery module 20, which is advantageous for making the battery cell 21 more compact and improving energy density.

[0180] The shape of the output member may be a bent plate shape or any other shape, and this invention is not limited thereto.

[0181] In some embodiments, the two output terminals are provided on two battery cells 21 located at the ends of the outermost battery module 20 in the first direction X.

[0182] This installation method is advantageous in ensuring that the two output members are located on the same side of the second direction Y, and the two output members and two output terminals form an output interface that connects to an external power consumption device.

[0183] Selectively, the output member base 72 is installed on the stopper member 40 and used to support the bus member 71 as an output member, facilitating the installation and fixing of the bus member 71, avoiding the occurrence of contact short circuits, and ensuring the safety performance of the battery 100.

[0184] In some embodiments, the stopper member 40 is provided with a accommodating groove 40b, and at least a portion of the output member base 72 extends into the accommodating groove 40b.

[0185] Selectively, the number of accommodating grooves 40b may be one, two, or, of course, multiple grooves may be installed. Selectively, the shape of the accommodating grooves 40b may be provided to match the shape of the output member base 72, and the accommodating grooves 40b may be able to accommodate the output member base 72 just enough to restrict its position and prevent displacement.

[0186] The accommodating groove 40b can act as a positional limiting force for the output member base 72, preventing safety problems in the battery 100 due to displacement. At the same time, it also plays a positioning role, facilitating the installation of the output member base 72 and improving manufacturing efficiency.

[0187] Selectively, the number of housing grooves 40b and output member bases 72 may correspond one-to-one, or multiple to one, meaning that multiple output member bases 72 may be installed within the same housing groove 40b.

[0188] For example, the stopper member 40 is provided with two or more accommodating grooves 40b, and the two or more accommodating grooves 40b are installed with a gap between them.

[0189] Selectively, the receiving groove 40b may be formed by press molding, meaning that the receiving groove 40b can be quickly formed in the stopper member 40, the process is simple, and at the same time, material can be saved, which is advantageous for realizing a lightweight design.

[0190] Continuing with Figures 2 to 4, in some embodiments, an electrode terminal 201a is formed at one end of the battery cell 21 near the bottom cover 11 along the height direction Z of the housing 10, and the side of the battery cell away from the electrode terminal 201a is connected to the top cover 30.

[0191] As can be seen, by installing in this manner, the battery cell 21 is positioned upside down inside the housing 10, and when assembling the battery cell 21 into a power consumption device (vehicle 1000, etc.), it can be positioned upside down, with the electrode terminals 201a of the battery cell 21 facing downwards, and the side of the battery cell 21 away from the electrode terminals 201a connected to the top cover 30, thereby improving the utilization rate of the housing 10 in the height direction and ensuring the safety of the driver's body.

[0192] Furthermore, with the above installation, when inserting the battery cell 21, which is clamped and integrally connected using a jig, into the opening 10a of the housing 10, the end cover assembly 201 of the battery cell 21 is located away from the end where the opening 10a is installed. This prevents the jig from interfering with the end cover assembly 201, thus preventing malfunction and damage to the end cover assembly 201, and ensuring the safety performance of the battery 100. In addition, arranging the battery cell 21 in reverse inside the housing 10 is advantageous in improving assembly efficiency and simplifies operation.

[0193] In some embodiments, the battery 100 further includes a buffer member, which is provided between the electrode terminals 201a and the bottom cover 11 along the height direction Z.

[0194] By providing a cushioning member, when the entire battery 100 is shaken or vibrated, the cushioning member can provide cushioning to the electrode terminals 201a of the battery cell 21, preventing damage to structures such as the pressure reduction mechanism due to friction between the electrode terminals 201a and the bottom cover 11, thereby ensuring the safety performance of the battery 100.

[0195] According to a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a power consumption device including a battery 100 in any of the above embodiments, the battery 100 supplying electrical energy so that the power consumption device can operate normally.

[0196] Furthermore, the power consumption device provided in the embodiment of this application has the beneficial effects of the battery 100 in any of the embodiments described above. Specifically, please refer to the description of the beneficial effects of the battery 100, and this application omits the examples.

[0197] Furthermore, the embodiments and features described herein can be combined with each other, as long as they do not contradict each other.

[0198] The final points to be explained are as follows: The above embodiments are merely for the purpose of illustrating the technical solutions of the present application and do not limit them. 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 can still modify the technical solutions described in the above embodiments or substitute some of their technical features, but such modifications or 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.

Claims

1. It includes a housing, a battery module installed inside the housing, and a stopper member, The battery module includes two or more battery cells arranged along a first direction, the battery cells include a first side wall and a second side wall which are connected, the first side wall being the wall with the largest area among all the outer walls of the battery cell, and the second side walls of two adjacent battery cells are installed facing each other along the first direction. The stopper member is fixedly connected to the housing and abuts against the first side wall of the battery cell, and the stopper member is used to restrict deformation of the battery cell in a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first side wall. The number of the battery modules is two or more, and the two or more battery modules are arranged along the second direction, a partition is installed between two adjacent battery modules, and the partition is connected to the first side wall of each of the battery cells in the two adjacent battery modules. A battery wherein a media channel is provided within the partition, a support assembly is installed within the media channel, the support assembly includes a plurality of first support members and at least one second support member, the first support members are installed at an angle, and the second support member is positioned between two adjacent first support members to prevent blockage of the media channel.

2. The battery according to claim 1, wherein, in the height direction of the housing, when the height dimension of the stopper member is H and the height dimension of the battery cell is h, 2 / 3 ≤ H / h ≤ 11 / 10.

3. The battery according to claim 1, wherein, in the height direction of the housing, when the height dimension of the stopper member is H and the height dimension of the battery cell is h, 0.9 ≤ H / h ≤ 1.

4. The battery according to claim 3, wherein the stopper member includes a positioning beam, the positioning beam extends along a first direction, the positioning beam is connected to the housing at both ends in the first direction, and the positioning beam is pressed against and connected to the first side wall of the battery cell.

5. The battery according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of cavities penetrating in the first direction are installed within the positioning beam.

6. The battery according to claim 4, wherein the number of positioning beams is two, the two positioning beams are arranged with an interval between them in the second direction, and the battery module is sandwiched between the two positioning beams.

7. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the partition portion is bonded to and fixed to the first side wall of each of the battery cells in two adjacent battery modules.

8. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the partition is used to regulate the temperature of the battery cell.

9. The battery according to claim 8, further comprising a connecting channel, a supply pipe and a discharge pipe, wherein, along the second direction, the media channels of two adjacent partitions are in communication via the connecting channel, and the supply pipe and the discharge pipe are in communication with the media channels of the same partition.

10. The battery according to claim 9, wherein the housing is provided with a through hole, and the supply pipe and the discharge pipe extend from the housing through the through hole.

11. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the housing includes a top cover, a bottom cover, and a housing frame, the bottom cover and the top cover are installed opposite each other at both ends of the housing frame in the height direction of the housing, and the stopper member is connected to the housing frame and at least one of the top cover and the bottom cover, respectively.

12. The battery according to claim 11, wherein the housing further includes a connection base, the connection base protruding from the housing frame along a first direction, and the connection base is used to attach the battery to a power consumption device.

13. A battery according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a bus member and an output member base, wherein the bus member is electrically connected to the battery cell, and the output member base is provided on the stopper member and used to support the bus member.

14. The battery according to claim 13, wherein the stopper member is provided with a housing groove, and at least a portion of the output member base extends into the housing groove.

15. The battery according to claim 11, wherein an electrode terminal is formed at one end of the battery cell near the bottom cover along the height direction of the housing, and the side of the battery cell away from the electrode terminal is connected to the top cover.

16. The battery according to claim 15, further comprising a buffer member, wherein the buffer member is provided between the electrode terminals and the bottom cover along the height direction.

17. A power consumption device including a battery according to any one of claims 1 to 10, used for supplying electrical energy.

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