Explosion-proof structure of battery pack, battery pack and electric vehicle

Abstract

An explosion-proof structure (100) of a battery pack, a battery pack (300) and an electric vehicle (400). The explosion-proof structure (100) of a battery pack comprises a bottom cover plate (10) and an explosion-proof valve (20), wherein the bottom cover plate (10) comprises a cover plate body (11) and an exhaust pipe (12), which are integrally formed, the exhaust pipe (12) being arranged on one side of the cover plate body (11) and extending in a direction away from the cover plate body (11), and a gas inlet (121) of the exhaust pipe (12) being provided in the cover plate body (11); the explosion-proof valve (20) is connected to the side of the cover plate body (11) away from the exhaust pipe (12); and a valve port (211) of the explosion-proof valve (20) directly faces the gas inlet (121) or is in communication with the exhaust pipe (12).

Description

Battery pack explosion-proof structure, battery pack and electric vehicle

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the China Patent Office on February 21, 2024, with application number 202420330743.4. 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 a battery pack explosion-proof structure, a battery pack, and an electric vehicle.

[0004] Background Art

[0005] The battery pack's explosion-proof valve is a critical safety component. For electric vehicles, if the explosion-proof valve is installed at the bottom of the battery case, the battery pack must be mounted on the vehicle chassis, and the valve's exhaust component must be connected to the chassis. For example, the valve is assembled blindly (the chassis's clip-on structure is invisible during assembly). The operator roughly locates the correct position and secures the exhaust component to the clip-on structure inserted into the chassis.

[0006] Technical issues

[0007] In the above-mentioned related technologies, since most exhaust parts are plastic parts, they are easily bumped or even damaged during the assembly process, or they are easily damaged during transportation, handling, and loading. In addition, their positions are hidden and difficult to detect, and the failure of the explosion-proof valve can easily cause safety hazards.

[0008] Technical Solutions

[0009] An embodiment of the present application provides an explosion-proof structure for a battery pack, including:

[0010] The bottom cover plate includes a cover plate body and an exhaust pipe, the cover plate body and the exhaust pipe are integrally formed, the exhaust pipe is arranged on one side of the cover plate body and extends in a direction away from the cover plate body, and the air inlet of the exhaust pipe is opened in the cover plate body;

[0011] The explosion-proof valve is connected to the side of the cover body facing away from the exhaust pipe, and the valve port of the explosion-proof valve is directly opposite to the air inlet or leads into the exhaust pipe.

[0012] An embodiment of the present application further provides a battery pack, comprising the battery pack explosion-proof structure in any embodiment, wherein the battery pack explosion-proof structure is located at the lower part of the battery pack.

[0013] An embodiment of the present application also provides an electric vehicle, comprising a chassis and a battery pack in any embodiment, wherein the battery pack is mounted on the chassis, and the free end of the exhaust pipe passes through the chassis and is located on a side of the chassis facing away from the battery pack.

[0014] Beneficial effects

[0015] Some embodiments of the present application provide a battery pack explosion-proof structure, which forms a bottom cover by integrally forming the exhaust pipe and the cover body, which is equivalent to integrating the longer exhaust structure installed in the explosion-proof valve in the related art into the bottom cover, that is, the material of the exhaust pipe is the same as the material of the cover body, generally a metal material. During the installation of the battery pack explosion-proof structure, the explosion-proof valve is first installed on the cover body so that the valve port of the explosion-proof valve is opposite to or extends into the exhaust pipe, and then the bottom cover with the explosion-proof valve installed is installed on the chassis of the car. During the installation process, since the material of the exhaust pipe is harder, it is not easy to be deformed by colliding with the chassis, so that the exhaust pipe is not easily damaged during the installation process, the installation reliability is improved, and the exhaust smoothness of the explosion-proof valve after failure can be ensured, thereby improving safety performance.

[0016] Some embodiments of the present application further provide a battery pack including the explosion-proof structure of any embodiment, located at the bottom of the battery pack. By employing this explosion-proof structure, the battery pack is less susceptible to damage to the exhaust structure during installation, ensuring smooth exhaust when gas leaks from the battery pack, thereby improving safety.

[0017] Some embodiments of the present application further provide an electric vehicle comprising a chassis and a battery pack according to any embodiment. The battery pack is mounted on the chassis, and the free end of the exhaust pipe in the battery pack's explosion-proof structure passes through the chassis and is located on a side of the chassis facing away from the battery pack. By employing the battery pack, the electric vehicle can, in the event of a fire or other dangerous situation, open an explosion-proof valve to discharge gas from the lower portion of the chassis. Furthermore, the battery pack's exhaust structure is not easily damaged, thereby ensuring the safety of the electric vehicle in the event of internal gas leakage from the battery pack.

[0018] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG1 is a structural schematic diagram 1 of a battery pack explosion-proof structure provided by some implementations of the present application;

[0020] FIG2 is a second structural diagram of a battery pack explosion-proof structure provided by some implementations of the present application;

[0021] FIG3 is a cross-sectional view of the section AA in FIG2 provided by some implementations of the present application;

[0022] FIG4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG3 after adding a first sealing member;

[0023] FIG5 is a first structural diagram of an explosion-proof valve provided by some implementations of the present application;

[0024] FIG6 is a second structural diagram of an explosion-proof valve provided in some implementations of the present application;

[0025] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of the connection between a battery pack and an electric vehicle provided by some implementations of the present application.

[0026] In the picture:

[0027] 10. Bottom cover; 11. Cover body; 12. Exhaust pipe; 121. Air inlet; 122. First channel; 1221. Step surface; 123. Second channel; 124. Third channel;

[0028] 20. Explosion-proof valve; 21. Valve body assembly; 211. Valve body; 2111. Clamping hole; 2112. Accommodating groove; 2113. Threaded hole; 212. Bracket; 2121. Body; 21211. Valve port; 2122. Clamping portion; 213. Elastic sheet; 22. Explosion-proof membrane; 23. Second sealing member;

[0029] 30. First sealing member; 40. Locking member;

[0030] 100. Battery pack explosion-proof structure; 200. PCB board; 300. Battery pack; 400. Electric vehicle; 410. Chassis.

[0031] Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0032] The present application is described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. The embodiments described herein are used to explain the present application. For ease of description, the accompanying drawings show some structures related to the present application.

[0033] 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, electrical connections; direct connections, indirect connections through an intermediate medium, and internal connections between two components or interactions between two components. A person of ordinary skill in the art will understand the meanings of the above terms in this application as appropriate.

[0034] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may include the first feature being in direct contact with the second feature, or may include the first feature being in contact with the second feature through another feature between them instead of being in direct contact. Moreover, a first feature being "above," "above," and "above" a second feature may include the first feature being directly above or 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 may include the first feature being directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or may indicate that the first feature is at a lower level than the second feature.

[0035] In the description of this embodiment, terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are used to refer to positions or locations based on those shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are intended to facilitate description and simplify operation, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the devices or components referred to must have, be constructed, or operate in a specific orientation. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and do not have any special meanings.

[0036] The present embodiment provides a battery pack explosion-proof structure, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the battery pack explosion-proof structure includes a bottom cover plate 10 and an explosion-proof valve 20. The bottom cover plate 10 includes a cover plate body 11 and an exhaust pipe 12. The cover plate body 11 and the exhaust pipe 12 are integrally formed. The exhaust pipe 12 is arranged on one side of the cover plate body 11 and extends in a direction away from the cover plate body 11. The air inlet 121 of the exhaust pipe 12 is opened on the cover plate body 11; the explosion-proof valve 20 is connected to the side of the cover plate body 11 away from the exhaust pipe 12, and the valve port 21211 of the explosion-proof valve 20 is directly opposite to or passes into the exhaust pipe 12.

[0037] The battery pack explosion-proof structure in the above embodiment forms the bottom cover plate 10 by integrally forming the exhaust pipe 12 and the cover plate body 11, which is equivalent to integrating the longer exhaust structure installed on the explosion-proof valve 20 in the related art into the bottom cover plate 10, that is, the material of the exhaust pipe 12 is the same as that of the cover plate body 11, generally a metal material. During the installation of the battery pack explosion-proof structure, the explosion-proof valve 20 is first installed on the cover plate body 11, so that the valve port 21211 of the explosion-proof valve 20 is opposite to the exhaust pipe 12 or extends into the exhaust pipe 12, and then the bottom cover plate 10 with the explosion-proof valve 20 installed is installed on the chassis of the car. During the installation process, since the material of the exhaust pipe 12 is harder, it is not easy to be deformed by collision with the chassis, so that the exhaust pipe 12 is not easily damaged during the installation process, the installation reliability is improved, and it can ensure the exhaust smoothness after the explosion-proof valve 20 fails, thereby improving the safety performance.

[0038] Optionally, the bottom cover plate 10 is formed by die-casting, which has higher strength.

[0039] In some embodiments, the cover body 11 is connected to the periphery of the chassis by screws, so that there is no need to set a snap structure on the exhaust pipe 12, thereby avoiding damage to the exhaust pipe 12 due to the need to connect to the chassis.

[0040] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the battery pack explosion-proof structure further includes a first seal 30. The exhaust pipe 12 is configured to penetrate the chassis of the vehicle, and the first seal 30 is configured to seal the exhaust pipe 12 and the chassis. This arrangement ensures a tight seal between the cover body 11 and the chassis. Once the valve port 21211 of the explosion-proof valve 20 is opened and gas overflows from the exhaust pipe 12, the gas is ensured to be discharged, preventing the gas from entering the space above the chassis through the gap between the exhaust pipe 12 and the chassis, thereby preventing harmful gases from entering the interior of the vehicle and causing harm to the human body.

[0041] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 3 and 4 , the exhaust pipe 12 includes a first channel 122 and a second channel 123. The first channel 122 is connected to the cover body 11; the second channel 123 is connected to the end of the first channel 122 facing away from the cover body 11. The outer diameter of the first channel 122 is larger than the outer diameter of the second channel 123, so that the end surface of the first channel 122 forms a stepped surface 1221. The battery pack explosion-proof structure also includes a first seal 30. The first seal 30 is annular and surrounds the exterior of the second channel 123. The first end of the first seal 30 is connected to the stepped surface 1221, and the second end of the first seal 30 is configured to abut the chassis. This configuration allows the first seal 30 to abut the stepped surface 1221 rather than the flat surface of the cover body 11, thereby reducing deformation of the cover body 11 after installation.

[0042] In another embodiment, the first seal 30 can also be sealed between the exhaust pipe 12 and the side wall of the through hole opened in the chassis. That is, the end face of the first seal 30 may not abut against the plane of the cover body 11 or the chassis, and the sealing effect can also be achieved.

[0043] Optionally, the first sealing member 30 is a high-temperature resistant ceramic foam, which is light in weight, easy to deform, has good airtightness, and is resistant to high temperatures.

[0044] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the end surface of the first sealing member 30 is bonded to the stepped surface 1221, which is a finely machined surface. This arrangement reduces the roughness of the stepped surface 1221, making it easier for the adhesive to adhere. Optionally, the adhesive is a highly viscous adhesive with a thickness of 0.15 millimeters (mm). In other embodiments, the adhesive can be made of other materials capable of bonding to the first sealing member 30, and the thickness can be other, allowing the user to flexibly adjust the thickness according to the circumstances.

[0045] After the cover body 11 and the chassis are connected, the first seal 30 is compressed due to its elasticity to achieve a good sealing effect. As shown in Figure 4 , after the first seal 30 is compressed, it undergoes a certain amount of radial deformation. If the outward deformation of the first seal 30 is too large, the bonding end surface of the first seal 30 and the stepped surface 1221 will be displaced relative to each other, which can lead to localized poor adhesive bonding.

[0046] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the exhaust pipe 12 further includes a third channel 124, which is in communication with the second channel 123. The outer diameter of the third channel 124 is smaller than that of the second channel 123, and a portion of the third channel 124 is located within the inner ring of the first seal 30. The first seal 30 is spaced apart from the second channel 123 and the third channel 124. With the above arrangement, as shown in Figure 4, after the first seal 30 is squeezed and deformed, there is sufficient clearance between the outer wall of the second channel 123 and the outer wall of the third channel 124 and the inner side of the first seal 30, allowing the first seal 30 to expand inwardly, thereby minimizing the extent of outward expansion of the outer side of the first seal 30, thereby reducing the relative displacement between the first seal 30 and the step surface 1221, and ensuring the firmness of the adhesion between the two.

[0047] In addition, the exhaust pipe 12 can also improve its overall strength by providing multiple sub-channels, thereby preventing the exhaust pipe 12 from being damaged by bumps during the installation process.

[0048] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 3, the inner corners of the exhaust pipe 12 are all chamfered. This arrangement can prevent the gas ejected from the explosion-proof valve 20 from passing through the corners, ensuring smooth airflow.

[0049] Optionally, as shown in Figures 4-6, the explosion-proof valve 20 includes a valve body assembly 21 and an explosion-proof membrane 22. The valve body assembly 21 defines a valve port 21211, and the valve body assembly 21 is connected to the cover body 11 via a locking member 40. The explosion-proof membrane 22 covers the valve port 21211 and is directly opposite to or located within the exhaust pipe 12. This arrangement facilitates connection between the explosion-proof valve 20 and the cover body 11. When the gas pressure applied to the explosion-proof valve 20 reaches a certain value, the explosion-proof membrane 22 is ruptured, allowing gas to flow out of the valve port 21211 and into the exhaust pipe 12.

[0050] For example, the locking member 40 is a screw, the cover body 11 defines a through hole, and the valve body assembly 21 defines a threaded hole 2113 on the side facing the cover body 11. The screw passes through the through hole and is threadedly connected to the threaded hole 2113. This arrangement eliminates the appearance of the explosion-proof valve 20 without screws or other connecting parts when viewed from above the cover body 11, resulting in a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.

[0051] In other embodiments, the screws may also be replaced by a combination of bolts and nuts.

[0052] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 4 to 6, the valve body assembly 21 includes a valve body 211, a bracket 212 and an elastic sheet 213. The valve body 211 is connected to the cover body 11 through a locking member 40, and the valve body 211 has a clamping hole 2111; the bracket 212 includes a body 2121 and at least two clamping parts 2122 connected to the body 2121, at least two clamping parts 2122 are inserted into the clamping hole 2111 and clamped to the valve body 211, the body 2121 has a valve port 21211, and the explosion-proof membrane 22 is arranged in contact with the body 2121; the elastic sheet 213 is annular, the inner periphery of the elastic sheet 213 is arranged on the bracket 212, and the outer periphery of the elastic sheet 213 is in contact with the valve body 211. Through the above arrangement, when assembling the explosion-proof valve 20, at least two clamping parts 2122 are inserted into the clamping hole 2111. Under the elastic action of the clamping part 2122, the side surface of the clamping part 2122 abuts against the side wall of the clamping hole 2111, so that the radial position of the bracket 212 is fixed, the protrusion of the clamping part 2122 abuts against the upper side of the valve body 211, and the outer edge of the elastic sheet 213 abuts against the lower side of the valve body 211, so that the bracket 212 is fixed in the axial direction.

[0053] In this embodiment, three clamping parts 2122 are provided, and each connecting end of the clamping part 2122 and the body 2121 is correspondingly provided with a valve port 21211. In other embodiments, two, four or more clamping parts 2122 can also be provided.

[0054] The elastic sheet 213 is elastic and can deform to ensure sealing between the outer edge of the elastic sheet 213 and the valve body 211, ensuring that gas pressure can only act on the explosion-proof membrane 22 through the valve port 21211. Optionally, the elastic sheet 213 is made of silicone. In other embodiments, the elastic sheet 213 can also be made of other elastic materials.

[0055] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the valve body assembly 21 or the cover body 11 defines a receiving groove 2112, which is configured to accommodate a second sealing member 23. The second sealing member 23 is located between the valve body assembly 21 and the cover body 11. This arrangement ensures a tight seal between the explosion-proof valve 20 and the bottom cover 10, preventing gas from escaping from the gap between the explosion-proof valve 20 and the bottom cover 10, and preventing the explosion-proof membrane 22 from being opened even when there is excessive gas in the battery pack.

[0056] Exemplarily, the accommodating groove 2112 and the threaded hole 2113 are both provided on the valve body 211. In other embodiments, the accommodating groove 2112 may also be provided on the cover body 11.

[0057] Optionally, the second sealing member 23 is made of soft silicone material, which has a longer service life, is more corrosion-resistant, and has better deformation performance to ensure sealing.

[0058] Optionally, the valve body 211 is made of aluminum alloy, which can reduce the weight of the explosion-proof valve 20 .

[0059] This embodiment also provides a battery pack 300, as shown in FIG7 . The battery pack 300 includes the battery pack explosion-proof structure 100 described in the above embodiment, which is located at the bottom of the battery pack 300. By adopting the battery pack explosion-proof structure 100, the battery pack 300 is less susceptible to damage to the exhaust structure during installation. This ensures smooth exhaust when gas overflows from the battery pack 300, improving safety.

[0060] Optionally, as shown in Figure 1, the battery pack 300 also includes a printed circuit board (PCB) 200, located above the bottom cover 10. The spacing between the PCB 200 and the cover body 11 is H, where H is ≤ 12 mm. The explosion-proof valve 20 is a flat-type explosion-proof valve. This arrangement allows the explosion-proof valve 20 to be installed even in a narrow space, without compromising the space within the battery pack 300 and thus meeting customer requirements.

[0061] This embodiment also provides an electric vehicle 400, as shown in FIG7 . The electric vehicle 400 includes the battery pack 300 of the above embodiment and a chassis 410. The battery pack 300 is mounted on the chassis 410, and the free end of the exhaust pipe 12 (i.e., the outlet end of the exhaust pipe 12) passes through the chassis 410 and is located on the side of the chassis 410 facing away from the battery pack 300. By using the above-described battery pack 300, the electric vehicle 400 can open the explosion-proof valve 20 to discharge gas from the lower portion of the chassis 410 in the event of a fire or other dangerous situation within the battery pack 300. Furthermore, the exhaust structure of the battery pack 300 is not easily damaged, thereby ensuring the safety of the electric vehicle 400 in the event of internal gas leakage from the battery pack 300.

Claims

1. A battery pack explosion-proof structure, comprising: A bottom cover plate (10) comprises a cover plate body (11) and an exhaust pipe (12), wherein the cover plate body (11) and the exhaust pipe (12) are integrally formed, the exhaust pipe (12) is arranged on one side of the cover plate body (11) and extends in a direction away from the cover plate body (11), and an air inlet (121) of the exhaust pipe (12) is opened on the cover plate body (11); An explosion-proof valve (20) is connected to a side of the cover plate body (11) facing away from the exhaust pipe (12); a valve port (211) of the explosion-proof valve (20) is directly opposite to or connected to the air inlet (121) of the exhaust pipe (12).

2. The explosion-proof structure of the battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising a first seal (30), wherein the exhaust pipe (12) is arranged to pass through a chassis of the vehicle, and the first seal (30) is arranged to seal the exhaust pipe (12) and the chassis.

3. The explosion-proof structure of the battery pack according to claim 2, wherein: The exhaust pipe (12) comprises: A first channel (122), the first channel (122) being connected to the cover plate body (11); a second channel (123) connected to an end of the first channel (122) away from the cover plate body (11), the outer diameter of the first channel (122) being greater than the outer diameter of the second channel (123) so that an end surface of the first channel (122) forms a step surface (1221); The first sealing member (30) is annular and is arranged outside the second channel (123); the first end of the first sealing member (30) abuts against the step surface (1221); and the second end of the first sealing member (30) is arranged to abut against the bottom plate.

4. The explosion-proof structure of the battery pack according to claim 3, wherein: The end surface of the first sealing member (30) is connected to the step surface (1221) by bonding, and the step surface (1221) is a precision-machined surface.

5. The explosion-proof structure of a battery pack according to claim 3, wherein: The exhaust pipe (12) further comprises a third channel (124), the third channel (124) being in communication with the second channel (123), the outer diameter of the third channel (124) being smaller than the outer diameter of the second channel (123), a portion of the third channel (124) being located in the inner ring of the first sealing member (30), and the first sealing member (30) being spaced from the second channel (123) and the third channel (124).

6. The explosion-proof structure of a battery pack according to claim 5, wherein: The inner wall corners of the exhaust pipe (12) are all chamfered.

7. The explosion-proof structure of a battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The explosion-proof valve (20) comprises: A valve body assembly (21), wherein the valve body assembly (21) is provided with the valve port (211), and the valve body assembly (21) is connected to the cover plate body (11) via a locking member (40); An explosion-proof membrane (22) covers the valve port (211) and is directly opposite to the exhaust pipe (12) or located in the exhaust pipe (12).

8. The explosion-proof structure of a battery pack according to claim 7, wherein: The valve body assembly (21) or the cover plate body (11) is provided with a receiving groove (212), and the receiving groove (212) is configured to receive a second sealing member (23), and the second sealing member (23) is located between the valve body assembly (21) and the cover plate body (11).

9. The explosion-proof structure of a battery pack according to claim 7, wherein: The valve body assembly (21) comprises: A valve body (211) is connected to the cover plate body (11) via the locking member (40), and a locking hole (2111) is provided on the valve body (211); The bracket (212) comprises a body (2121) and at least two clamping parts (2122) connected to the body (2121), wherein at least two of the clamping parts (2122) are inserted into the clamping holes (2111) and clamped to the valve body (211), the body (2121) is provided with a valve port (21211), and the explosion-proof membrane (22) is arranged to fit the body (2121); The elastic sheet (213) is ring-shaped, the inner periphery of the elastic sheet (213) is arranged on the bracket (212), and the outer periphery of the elastic sheet (213) abuts against the valve body (211).

10. A battery pack (300), comprising a battery pack explosion-proof structure (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the battery pack explosion-proof structure (100) is located at a lower part of the battery pack (300).

11. The battery pack (300) according to claim 10, further comprising a printed circuit board (200), wherein the printed circuit board (200) is located above the bottom cover plate (10), and the distance between the printed circuit board (200) and the cover plate body (11) is H, H≤12 mm, and the explosion-proof valve (20) is a flat explosion-proof valve.

12. An electric vehicle (400), comprising a chassis (410) and a battery pack (300) as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the battery pack (300) is mounted on the chassis (410), and the free end of the exhaust pipe (12) passes through the chassis (410) and is located on a side of the chassis (410) away from the battery pack (300).

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