Battery module and vehicle

Abstract

A battery module and a vehicle. The battery module comprises a box body (1), battery cells (2), a box cover (3) and a support member (4), wherein the box body (1) is provided with accommodating recesses (11); a plurality of battery cells (2) are arranged side by side in a first direction to form battery cell groups (20); the battery cell groups (20) are arranged in the accommodating recesses (11); the box cover (3) is configured to seal recess openings of the accommodating recesses (11); the support member (4) is arranged between the box cover (3) and the battery cell groups (20); pressure relief grooves (41) are provided in the support member (4); the support member (4) comprises a base plate (42) and a first reinforcing portion (43); the first reinforcing portion (43) is provided on the side of the base plate (42) that faces the box cover (3); the first reinforcing portion (43) abuts against the box cover (3); at least some of the pressure relief grooves (41) are arranged in the first reinforcing portion (43); and pressure relief valves of all the battery cells (2) are all in communication with the pressure relief grooves (41).

Description

Battery modules and automobiles

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the China Patent Office on July 3, 2024, with application number 202421563942.6. The entire contents of the above application are incorporated by reference into this application.

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to the field of battery technology, for example, to battery modules and automobiles.

[0004] Background Art

[0005] Vehicles are in a period of energy transition, with new energy vehicles increasing in popularity. Lithium-ion vehicles are a representative example. The key technology behind lithium-ion vehicles is the lithium-ion battery, and its design requires consideration of many factors: ensuring battery performance meets vehicle requirements while also ensuring adequate safety and reliability.

[0006] Technical issues

[0007] To reduce weight and costs, battery modules are often integrated directly into the vehicle frame, with the battery module cover serving as the passenger compartment floor. However, since passengers often step on the vehicle, using the battery module cover as the passenger compartment floor often results in insufficient support, leading to deformation and poor product quality assurance.

[0008] Technical Solutions

[0009] The present application provides a battery module and a car, which have a simple structure and a strong cover support.

[0010] In a first aspect, a battery module is provided, comprising a case, a battery cell, a case cover and a support member, wherein a recessed receiving groove is provided in the case; a plurality of battery cells are arranged side by side along a first direction to form a battery cell group, and the battery cell group is arranged in the receiving groove; the case cover is configured to block a notch of the receiving groove; the support member is arranged between the case cover and the battery cell group, and a pressure relief groove is provided on the support member, the length of the pressure relief groove extends along the first direction, the support member comprises a base plate and a first reinforcement portion, the first reinforcement portion is provided on the side of the base plate facing the case cover, the first reinforcement portion is pressed against a side of the case cover close to the battery cell group, the length of the first reinforcement portion extends along the first direction, at least part of the pressure relief groove is provided in the first reinforcement portion, and the pressure relief valves of all the battery cells are connected to the pressure relief groove.

[0011] In a second aspect, an automobile is provided, comprising a vehicle frame and the battery module of the first aspect, wherein the battery module is detachably connected to the bottom of the vehicle frame, and the cover of the battery module serves as the floor of the automobile.

[0012] Beneficial effects

[0013] The beneficial effects of the present application are as follows: by providing the support member, the first reinforcement part can effectively strengthen the support for the box cover, thereby improving the support strength of the box cover, reducing the deformation amplitude caused by the driver's stepping on it, and ensuring the product quality of the battery module; by providing a pressure relief groove on the support member, and the pressure relief groove is always partially provided in the first reinforcement part, on the one hand, the weight of the support member can be reduced, and the use of materials can be reduced to achieve cost reduction; on the other hand, the pressure relief groove is connected to the pressure relief valve of the battery cell, so that high-temperature gas and flame can be discharged from the pressure relief channel when the battery cell thermal runaways, reducing the occurrence of thermal runaway of the battery module caused by blockage of the pressure relief valve, and improving the safety of the battery module.

[0014] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0016] FIG2 is a cross-sectional view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0017] FIG3 is an exploded view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0018] FIG4 is a schematic structural diagram of a support member according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0019] FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of a support member according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0020] FIG6 is an exploded view of a support member according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0021] FIG7 is an enlarged schematic diagram of point A in FIG6;

[0022] FIG8 is an enlarged schematic diagram of point B in FIG6 .

[0023] In the picture:

[0024] 1. Box body; 11. Receiving groove; 2. Battery cell; 20. Battery cell group; 3. Box cover; 4. Support member; 41. Pressure relief groove; 42. Base plate; 43. First reinforcement part; 431. Main body; 432. Connecting part; 44. Second reinforcement part; 45. First glue groove; 46. Connecting port; 47. Limiting groove; 48. Mounting port; 5. Structural glue; 6. Conductive sheet; 7. Mounting beam; 8. Frame.

[0025] Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0026] The present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are intended to explain the present application, not to limit the present application. It should also be noted that, for ease of description, the accompanying drawings only illustrate portions relevant to the present application, not all structures.

[0027] In the description of this application, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "connected," "connect," and "fixed" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integration; mechanical connections or electrical connections; direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and can refer to internal communication between two components or interaction between two components. A person of ordinary skill in the art will be able to understand the meaning of the above terms in this application according to the circumstances.

[0028] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may include the first and second features being in direct contact, or may include the first and second features being in contact not directly but through another feature between them. Moreover, a first feature being "above," "above," and "above" a second feature includes the first feature being directly above and obliquely above the second feature, or may indicate that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. A first feature being "below," "below," and "below" a second feature includes the first feature being directly below and obliquely below the second feature, or may indicate that the first feature is at a lower level than the second feature.

[0029] In the description of this embodiment, the terms "upper," "lower," "right," and other orientations or positional relationships are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are intended solely for ease of description and simplified operation. They do not indicate or imply that the devices or components referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed, or operate in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and do not have any special meanings.

[0030] As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, a battery module according to an embodiment of the present application includes a housing 1, battery cells 2, a housing cover 3 and a support member 4. The housing 1 is recessed with a receiving groove 11. A plurality of battery cells 2 are arranged side by side along a first direction to form a battery cell group 20 (the first direction is the X direction in the figure), and the battery cell group 20 is disposed in the receiving groove 11. The housing cover 3 is configured to block a notch of the receiving groove 11. The support member 4 is disposed between the housing cover 3 and the battery cell group 20. A pressure relief groove 41 is provided on the support member 4. The length of the pressure relief groove 41 extends along the first direction and passes through both sides of the support member 4 along the first direction. The support member 4 includes a base plate 42 and a first reinforcement portion 43. The first reinforcement portion 43 is provided on the side of the base plate 42 facing the housing cover 3. The first reinforcement portion 43 abuts against a side of the housing cover 3 near the battery cell group 20. The length of the first reinforcement portion 43 extends along the first direction. At least a portion of the pressure relief groove 41 is disposed in the first reinforcement portion 43, and the pressure relief valves of all the battery cells 2 are in communication with the pressure relief groove 41.

[0031] By setting the support member 4, the first reinforcement part 43 can effectively strengthen the support for the box cover 3, thereby improving the supporting strength of the box cover 3, reducing the deformation amplitude caused by the driver's stepping on it, and ensuring the product quality of the battery module; by setting the pressure relief groove 41 on the support member 4, and the pressure relief groove 41 is always partially set in the first reinforcement part 43, on the one hand, the weight of the support member 4 can be reduced, and the use of materials can be reduced to achieve cost reduction. On the other hand, the pressure relief groove 41 is connected to the pressure relief valve of the battery cell 2, so that when the battery cell 2 thermally runs away, the high-temperature gas and flame can be discharged from the pressure relief channel in time, reducing the occurrence of thermal runaway of the battery module caused by blockage of the pressure relief valve, and improving the safety of the battery module.

[0032] The length of the pressure relief groove 41 extends along the first direction and passes through at least one side surface of the support member 4 arranged along the first direction. That is, the pressure relief groove 41 extends along the first direction and passes through both sides of the support member 4 arranged along the first direction. Both ends of the pressure relief groove 41 along the first direction can be connected to the outside, so that the thermal runaway gas can be discharged in time to avoid accumulation inside the battery module and causing explosion, and the thermal runaway gas discharge effect is good. The length of the pressure relief groove 41 can also be extended along the first direction and only pass through one side surface of the support member 4 arranged along the first direction, that is, one end of the pressure relief groove 41 along the first direction can be connected to the outside for thermal runaway gas discharge. In addition, the length of the pressure relief groove 41 extends along the first direction and does not pass through the support member 4. A connecting port connecting the outside and the pressure relief groove 41 is opened on the support member 4 for thermal runaway gas discharge. This structural design can effectively ensure the structural strength of the support member 4.

[0033] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, the support member 4 also includes a second reinforcement portion 44. At least one second reinforcement portion 44 is provided on each end of the base plate 42 adjacent to the cell pack 20 along the second direction (the second direction is the Y direction in the figure). The second reinforcement portion 44 extends along the first direction and abuts against a side of the cover 3 proximal to the cell pack 20. The first and second directions form an angle. The provision of the second reinforcement portion 44 strengthens support for the cover 3, providing multi-point support and ensuring overall balance. In this embodiment, a second reinforcement portion 44 is provided on either side of the first reinforcement portion 43 along the second direction to provide three-point support for the cover 3. In other embodiments, multiple second reinforcement portions 44 may be provided to ensure adequate support for the cover 3 without compromising the top structure of the cell pack 20.

[0034] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4 , the base plate 42 , the first reinforcement portion 43 , and the second reinforcement portion 44 are integrally formed, such as by integral injection molding. The integrally formed structure has high strength and is easy to produce.

[0035] When the substrate 42 and the first reinforcement portion 43 are integrally formed, the pressure relief groove 41 is arranged on the side of the substrate 42 facing the battery cell group 20, and the depth of the pressure relief groove 41 extends into the first reinforcement portion 43 along the third direction (the third direction is the Z direction in the figure), wherein the first direction, the second direction and the third direction are arranged at angles to each other. In this embodiment, the first direction, the second direction and the third direction are arranged perpendicular to each other. This structure is easy to form and has strong integrity, which effectively improves the production efficiency of the support member 4.

[0036] In other embodiments, as shown in Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8, the base plate 42, the first reinforcement 43 and the second reinforcement 44 are detachably connected. The split arrangement reduces the difficulty of part production, facilitates production, and reduces the cost of subsequent maintenance and replacement.

[0037] For example, the first reinforcement portion 43 and the second reinforcement portion 44 are respectively glued to the base plate 42, and the adhesive connection is stable and easy to assemble and disassemble. In addition, the first reinforcement portion 43 and the second reinforcement portion 44 can also be made of a bracket extruded from a combination of glass fiber and epoxy resin, which has good flame retardancy and higher strength.

[0038] When the substrate 42 and the first reinforcement portion 43 are detachably connected, the first reinforcement portion 43 includes a main body 431 and a connecting portion 432. The main body 431 extends in a first direction. The main body 431 is recessed on the side of the main body 431 facing the battery cell group 20 and is provided with a pressure relief groove 41. The main body 431 has connecting portions 432 protruding on both sides along the second direction. The connecting portions 432 are adjacent to the side of the main body 431 where the pressure relief groove 41 is provided. The connecting portions 432 are detachably connected to the substrate 42. The substrate 42 is provided with multiple connecting ports 46, and the pressure relief valve is connected to the pressure relief groove 41 through the connecting ports 46. The first reinforcement portion 43 has a simple structure and is easy to connect. When the battery cell 2 thermally runs away, high-pressure thermal runaway gas can break through the pressure relief valve and pass through the connecting ports 46 into the pressure relief groove 41 for pressure relief. In this embodiment, the first reinforcement portion 43 is connected to the substrate 42 by gluing, and a third glue groove is provided on the bottom side of the connection portion 432 of the first reinforcement portion 43. The third glue groove is configured to accommodate the structural glue 5. The configuration of the third glue groove can limit the structural glue 5 and reduce the offset of the structural glue 5.

[0039] In order to reduce the weight of the second reinforcement part 44 when it is set independently, the second reinforcement part 44 can be set to be hollow, that is, a through groove is set in the second reinforcement part 44, and the through groove extends along the first direction and passes through both sides of the second reinforcement part 44 along the first direction, that is, the second reinforcement part 44 is a tubular structure with a U-shaped cross-section. This structural setting facilitates the molding of the second reinforcement part 44 and consumes less material.

[0040] A limiting groove 47 is recessed in the base plate 42, and the length of the limiting groove 47 extends along the first direction. The connecting portion 432 and the end of the main body 431 adjacent to the battery cell group 20 are both bonded to the bottom of the limiting groove 47. A plurality of communication ports 46 are provided through the bottom of the limiting groove 47, and the projection of the communication ports 46 along the third direction is located within the pressure relief groove 41. Each pressure relief valve of the battery cell 2 is provided with a corresponding communication port 46, wherein the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are arranged at an angle to each other. The provision of the limiting groove 47 can strengthen the definition of the installation position of the first reinforcement portion 43, improve the installation position accuracy of the first reinforcement portion 43, that is, ensure the relative position accuracy of the pressure relief groove 41 and the pressure relief valve of the battery cell 2. At the same time, the height of the support member 4 along the third direction can be reduced, thereby reducing the overall space occupied by the entire battery module. The number of connecting ports 46 corresponds one-to-one to the number of battery cells 2, which can ensure the structural strength of the connection of the substrate 42 on both sides of the connecting ports 46 along the second direction, and can ensure that the pressure relief port of each battery cell 2 is independently connected to the pressure relief channel, thereby avoiding affecting the adjacent battery cells 2 when one battery cell 2 has thermal runaway.

[0041] A first adhesive groove 45 is recessed on one side of the first and second reinforcing portions 43, 44, toward the box cover 3. The first adhesive groove 45 extends in a first direction and is configured to accommodate the structural adhesive 5. The provision of the structural adhesive 5 strengthens the connection between the first and second reinforcing portions 43, 44, and the box cover 3, preventing gaps between the structures that could subsequently impact or squeeze the box cover 3 under vibration, thereby improving the structural stability between the reinforcing portions and the box cover 3. The provision of the first adhesive groove 45 also limits the position of the structural adhesive 5, improving its positional stability and preventing adhesive overflow or misalignment. In some embodiments, the first adhesive groove 45 may be provided only on the first reinforcing portion 43 or only on the second reinforcing portion 44.

[0042] Furthermore, the substrate 42 is provided with a plurality of second adhesive grooves on the side facing the cell group 20. The second adhesive grooves extend along the first direction and are configured to accommodate structural adhesive 5. The structural adhesive 5 strengthens the connection between the substrate 42 and the cell group 20, reduces the shaking gap between the support member 4 and the cell group 20, and can also be used to connect the multiple cells 2 in the cell group 20 into a whole, reducing shaking between the multiple cells 2 and improving the overall structural stability of the battery module.

[0043] When the second reinforcement portion 44 and the base plate 42 are detachably arranged, in addition to providing a second glue groove on the side of the base plate 42 facing the battery cell group 20, a second glue groove can also be provided on the side of the second reinforcement portion 44 facing the battery cell group 20, so that the second reinforcement portion 44 is connected to the battery cell group 20, the base plate 42 and the box cover 3 respectively through the structural glue 5, thereby improving the connection strength and position stability of the second reinforcement portion 44.

[0044] In this embodiment, the battery module further includes a conductive sheet 6. The support member 4 is an insulating support member. A mounting opening 48 is provided on the support member 4 at a position corresponding to the pole of the battery cell 2. The conductive sheet 6 is provided on the support member 4, and a portion of the guide sheet passes through the mounting opening 48 to connect to the pole of the battery cell 2. By configuring the support member 4 as an insulating support member, the conductive sheet 6 arranged to connect multiple battery cells 2 in series or in parallel can be installed on the support member 4. In other words, the support member 4 is used to serve as an isolation plate of the battery module's cell connection system (CCS), configured to mount the conductive sheet 6 and the sampling harness, thereby improving the functionality of the support member 4.

[0045] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, mounting beams 7 are provided on both sides of the cell group 20 along the first direction, and the length of the mounting beams 7 extends along the second direction. The support member 4 is connected to the mounting beams 7, wherein the first direction and the second direction are arranged at an angle. The provision of the mounting beams 7 enhances the support strength of the support member 4, thereby ensuring the support strength of the support member 4 on the box cover 3. In this embodiment, the dimensions of the mounting beams 7 along the third direction are consistent with the dimensions of the cell 2 along the third direction. That is, the support member 4 abuts both the cell group 20 and the mounting beams 7, ensuring the overall structural support of the support member 4.

[0046] When the battery module is provided with a mounting beam 7, the battery module further includes foam, which is provided on the mounting beam 7, with the side of the foam away from the mounting beam 7 abutting against the box cover 3. By providing the foam, the mounting beam 7 can be used to strengthen the support of the box cover 3, thereby improving the support strength of the box cover 3.

[0047] The battery module also includes mica paper, which is pasted into the pressure relief groove 41. Mica paper has electrical insulation, high temperature resistance, and corrosion resistance, effectively preventing the spread of flames ejected from the pressure relief valve during thermal runaway of the battery cell 2, thereby improving the overall safety of the battery module.

[0048] As shown in Figures 1 to 8, an embodiment of the present application further provides an automobile, comprising a vehicle frame 8 and a battery module according to any embodiment of the present application. The battery module is detachably connected to the bottom of the vehicle frame 8, and the battery module cover 3 serves as the vehicle's floor. The battery module support member 4 is provided so that the first reinforcement portion 43 can effectively strengthen the support provided to the cover 3, thereby increasing the support strength of the cover 3 and, therefore, the strength of the vehicle's floor, preventing deformation caused by the driver stepping on it and ensuring the vehicle's product quality.

Claims

1. A battery module, comprising: A box body (1), wherein the box body (1) is recessed and provided with a receiving groove (11); A battery cell (2), wherein a plurality of battery cells (2) are arranged side by side along a first direction to form a battery cell group (20), and the battery cell group (20) is arranged in the containing groove (11); A box cover (3), the box cover (3) being configured to block a notch of the containing groove (11); A support member (4), the support member (4) being arranged between the box cover (3) and the battery cell group (20), the support member (4) being provided with a pressure relief groove (41), the length of the pressure relief groove (41) extending along the first direction, the support member (4) comprising a base plate (42) and a first reinforcement portion (43), the base plate (42) being provided with the first reinforcement portion (43) protruding toward a side of the box cover (3), the first reinforcement portion (43) being pressed against a side surface of the box cover (3) close to the battery cell group (20), the length of the first reinforcement portion (43) extending along the first direction, at least a portion of the pressure relief groove (41) being arranged in the first reinforcement portion (43), and the pressure relief valves of all the battery cells (2) being communicated with the pressure relief groove (41).

2. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein: The support member (4) further comprises a second reinforcing portion (44), and at least one second reinforcing portion (44) is respectively arranged at two end positions of the substrate (42) adjacent to the battery cell group (20) along the second direction, and the length of the second reinforcing portion (44) extends along the first direction, and the second reinforcing portion (44) is arranged to press against a side surface of the box cover (3) close to the battery cell group (20), wherein the first direction and the second direction are arranged at an angle.

3. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein: The base plate (42), the first reinforcement portion (43) and the second reinforcement portion (44) are integrally formed; or, The base plate (42), the first reinforcement portion (43) and the second reinforcement portion (44) are detachably connected.

4. The battery module according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: Satisfy at least one of the following: At least one of the first reinforcement portion (43) and the second reinforcement portion (44) is recessed toward one side of the box cover (3) to form a first glue groove (45), the length of the first glue groove (45) extending along the first direction, and the first glue groove (45) is configured to accommodate the structural glue (5); A plurality of second glue grooves are provided on a side of the substrate (42) facing the battery cell group (20), the length of the second glue grooves extending along the first direction, and the second glue grooves are configured to accommodate structural glue.

5. The battery module according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein: The substrate (42) and the first reinforcement part (43) are detachably connected, the first reinforcement part (43) comprises a main body part (431) and a connecting part (432), the main body part (431) extends along the first direction, the pressure relief groove (41) is provided on a side of the main body part (431) facing the battery cell group (20), the connecting parts (432) are respectively protrudingly provided on both sides of the main body part (431) along the second direction, the connecting parts (432) are detachably connected to the substrate (42), a plurality of communication ports (46) are provided through the substrate (42), and the pressure relief valve is connected to the pressure relief groove (41) through the communication ports.

6. The battery module according to claim 5, wherein: A limiting groove (47) is recessed on the substrate (42), and the length of the limiting groove (47) extends along the first direction; the connecting portion (432) and one end of the main body (431) adjacent to the battery cell group (20) are both bonded to the bottom of the limiting groove (47); a plurality of connecting ports (46) are provided through the bottom of the limiting groove (47), and the projection of the connecting ports (46) along the third direction is located in the pressure relief groove (41); a corresponding connecting port is provided for the pressure relief valve of each battery cell (2), wherein the first direction, the second direction and the third direction are arranged at an angle to each other.

7. The battery module according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein: The substrate (42) and the first reinforcement portion (43) are integrally formed, the pressure relief groove (41) is arranged on a side of the substrate (42) facing the battery cell group (20), and the depth of the pressure relief groove (41) extends along a third direction into the first reinforcement portion (43), wherein the first direction, the second direction and the third direction are arranged at an angle to each other.

8. The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: The length of the pressure relief groove (41) extends along the first direction and passes through at least one side surface of the support member (4) arranged along the first direction.

9. The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a conductive sheet (6), the support member (4) being an insulating support member, a mounting opening (48) being provided on the support member (4) at a position corresponding to the pole of the battery cell (2), the conductive sheet (6) being provided on the support member (4), and a portion of the conductive sheet (6) passing through the mounting opening (48) to be connected to the pole of the battery cell (2).

10. The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: Satisfy at least one of the following: The support member (4) abuts against the battery cell group (20); The battery module further comprises a mounting beam (7), the mounting beam (7) being arranged on both sides of the battery cell group (20) along the first direction, and the length of the mounting beam (7) extending along the second direction, the support member (4) being connected to the mounting beam (7), wherein the first direction and the second direction are arranged at an angle; The battery module also includes mica paper, and the mica paper is pasted in the pressure relief groove (41).

11. The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: The battery module further comprises a mounting beam (7) and foam, the mounting beam (7) being arranged on both sides of the battery cell group (20) along the first direction, and the length of the mounting beam (7) extending along the second direction, the support member (4) being connected to the mounting beam (7), the foam being arranged on the mounting beam (7), and the side of the foam away from the mounting beam (7) being in contact with the box cover (3), wherein the first direction and the second direction are arranged at an angle.

12. An automobile, comprising a frame (8) and a battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the battery module is detachably connected to the bottom of the frame, and a cover (3) of the battery module is the floor of the automobile.

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