Battery box, battery and electric device

The adjustable expansion beam formed by the splicing of bent plates solves the problems of low applicability and high cost of existing profile expansion beams, and achieves the improvement of adaptability and cost-effectiveness to different battery modules.

WO2025102688A1PCT designated stage expired Publication Date: 2025-05-22CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
PCT/CN2024/097748
Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2023-11-16
Filing Date
2024-06-06
Publication Date
2025-05-22

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

In the prior art, the cross-sectional shape and size of the profile expansion beam are fixed, which is not easy to be suitable for different battery modules, and is costly and cannot be connected to the battery box by welding.

Method used

By splicing the bearing cavity of the expansion beam with the bent plate, the bent structure of the bent plate is allowed to be adjusted, thereby adjusting the cross-sectional structure of the bearing cavity to accommodate different battery modules. Meanwhile, the distance between the first outer bending plate and the second outer bending plate is adjustable, and the overlap length is adjustable to improve the applicability of the expansion beam.

Benefits of technology

The expansion beam is improved in suitability, can be applied to different battery modules, reduce costs, and improve the overall performance of the battery box through welding connections.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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    Figure CN2024097748_22052025_PF_FP_ABST
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Abstract

A battery box, a battery (100) and an electric device. The battery box comprises a box body (2) and an expansion beam (1) arranged in the box body (2). The expansion beam (1) comprises a bearing cavity (11). The bearing cavity (11) comprises an outer bending plate provided on the outer side in the circumferential direction and an inner bending plate (113) connected to the outer bending plate to separate the inner cavity of the bearing cavity (11). The outer bending plate includes a first outer bending plate (111) and a second outer bending plate (112). The first outer bending plate (111) and the second outer bending plate (112) are assembled to form an outer contour of the bearing cavity (11). The distance between the first outer bending plate (111) and the second outer bending plate (112) is adjustably set. The bearing cavity (11) of the expansion beam (1) of the battery box body (2) is formed by assembling the outer bending plate and the inner bending plate (113), and therefore, the bending structure of the outer bending plate and the bending structure of the inner bending plate (113) can be adjusted to realize adjustment of the cross-sectional structure of the bearing cavity (11), so as to adapt to different battery modules, for example, the height of the cross section of the bearing cavity (11) is changed to adapt to different module heights, thereby improving the applicability of the expansion beam (1).
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Description

Battery boxes, batteries and electrical devices

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This disclosure is based on and claims priority to an application with CN application number 202311531958.9 and filing date November 16, 2023. The disclosure content of this CN application is hereby incorporated into this disclosure as a whole. Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to the field of battery technology, and more particularly to a battery box, a battery, and an electrical device. Background Art

[0004] In the related art, in order to resist the expansion force of the battery modules in a power battery pack, an expansion beam needs to be installed in the battery box. How to improve the applicability of the expansion beam is an urgent problem to be solved.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of the above problems, the present application provides a battery box, a battery and an electrical device to improve the applicability of the expansion beam.

[0007] In a first aspect, the present application provides a battery box including a box body and an expansion beam disposed within the box body. The expansion beam includes a load-bearing cavity. The load-bearing cavity includes an outer bending plate disposed circumferentially outward and an inner bending plate connected to the outer bending plate to separate the inner cavity of the load-bearing cavity. The outer bending plate includes a first outer bending plate and a second outer bending plate. The first outer bending plate and the second outer bending plate are spliced ​​to form the outer contour of the load-bearing cavity. The distance between the first outer bending plate and the second outer bending plate is adjustable.

[0008] The load-bearing cavity of the expansion beam of the battery case of the embodiment of the present application is formed by splicing an outer bending plate and an inner bending plate. Therefore, the cross-sectional structure of the load-bearing cavity can be adjusted by adjusting the bending structure of the outer bending plate and the bending structure of the inner bending plate to adapt to different battery modules. For example, the cross-sectional height of the load-bearing cavity can be changed to adapt to different module heights, thereby improving the applicability of the expansion beam. In addition, the expansion beam of the embodiment of the present application includes a first outer bending plate and a second outer bending plate that form the outer contour of the load-bearing cavity. The distance between the first outer bending plate and the second outer bending plate can be adjusted. The distance between the first outer bending plate and the second outer bending plate can be adjusted according to different battery modules, thereby further improving the applicability of the battery case.

[0009] In some embodiments, the first outer bending plate includes a first splicing section spliced ​​to the second outer bending plate. The second outer bending plate includes a second splicing section spliced ​​to the first outer bending plate. The first splicing section and the second splicing section overlap. The overlapping length of the first splicing section and the second splicing section is adjustable.

[0010] The overlap length of the first splicing section and the second splicing section can be adjusted, so that the overlap length can be adjusted according to different battery modules to make the expansion beam suitable for different battery modules, the adjustment is simple, and the application range is wider.

[0011] In some embodiments, the first outer bent plate further includes a first main section extending in the height direction and a first segment disposed opposite the first splicing segment. The first segment and the first splicing segment are respectively disposed at opposite ends of the first main section, the first segment is connected to the box body, and a gap is formed between the first segment and the second outer bent plate.

[0012] A gap is provided between the first segment and the inner bending plate to avoid positional interference between the first outer bending plate and the inner bending plate.

[0013] In some embodiments, the first outer bending plate is disposed close to the battery module, the second outer bending plate is disposed away from the battery module, and the second outer bending plate is disposed obliquely.

[0014] The second outer bending plate is tilted relative to the height. Specifically, the middle portion of the second outer bending plate is closer to the first outer bending plate than the bottom portion of the second outer bending plate. This arrangement prevents the expansion beam from tipping over due to the expansion force.

[0015] In some embodiments, the first outer bending plate is arranged close to the battery module, the second outer bending plate is arranged away from the battery module, and the inner bending plate is arranged between the first outer bending plate and the second outer bending plate and is respectively connected to the first outer bending plate and the second outer bending plate.

[0016] The inner bending plate is connected to the first outer bending plate and the second outer bending plate respectively, so that the expansion force of the battery module is transmitted to the second outer bending plate through the first outer bending plate, the inner bending plate and the sub-cavity formed by the separation of the inner bending plate. In this way, the shape of the inner bending plate can change the internal structure of the bearing cavity by improving the structure of the inner bending plate, and then the force transmission path of the expansion force can be optimized by optimizing the structure of the inner bending plate, thereby improving the performance of the expansion beam in resisting the expansion force.

[0017] In some embodiments, the inner bending plate includes at least one connecting segment extending from the first outer bending plate to the second outer bending plate, wherein both ends of the connecting segment are respectively connected to the first outer bending plate and the second outer bending plate to separate the inner cavity of the bearing cavity.

[0018] The inner bending plate includes at least one connecting section, so that the expansion force can be transmitted through the at least one connecting section and the separated inner cavity, and the transmission path is relatively distributed, thereby improving the reliability of the expansion beam.

[0019] In some embodiments, the connecting section is tilted relative to both the first outer bending plate and the second outer bending plate. This arrangement divides the inner cavity of the bearing cavity 11 into multiple sub-cavities, further optimizing the transmission path of the expansion force and improving the reliability of the expansion beam.

[0020] In some embodiments, the second outer bending plate includes a connecting portion connected to the inner bending plate, and the connecting portion is configured to be recessed toward the inner cavity side of the carrying cavity.

[0021] The connecting portion of the second outer bent plate is configured to be concave inward, so that the expansion force is first transmitted to the connecting portion and then to other positions of the second outer bent plate, optimizing the force transmission path. In addition, the connecting portion is configured to be concave inward, so that the upper and lower parts of the second outer bent plate on the connecting portion can be configured to be convex outward, thereby improving the strength of the second outer bent plate.

[0022] In some embodiments, the second outer bending plate includes reinforcing ribs. The provision of the reinforcing ribs can improve the rigidity and compressive strength of the expansion beam.

[0023] In some embodiments, the reinforcement ribs include vertical reinforcement ribs extending in the height direction. After reaching the second outer bent plate, the expansion force extends downward along the vertical reinforcement ribs extending in the height direction to the box body, thereby achieving effective transmission of the expansion force.

[0024] In some embodiments, the reinforcing rib is recessed toward the inner cavity of the bearing cavity. The reinforcing rib is formed as a recessed portion, which can further improve the compressive strength of the expansion beam.

[0025] In some embodiments, the second outer bent plate includes a plurality of reinforcing ribs disposed along the length of the expansion beam and a connection portion connected to the inner bent plate. The connection portion is spot welded to the inner bent plate. Along the length of the expansion beam, the spacing region of the second outer bent plate between adjacent reinforcing ribs is configured to be offset from the welds between the connection portion and the inner bent plate.

[0026] The connecting portion is spot-welded to the inner bent plate. The second outer bent plate includes multiple ribs recessed toward the inner cavity of the bearing chamber. These recessed ribs can form a spot-welded connection with the inner bent plate. However, the spacing between adjacent ribs is not recessed inward. Therefore, this spacing needs to be offset from the weld point to avoid compromising the connection quality between the inner bent plate and the second outer bent plate.

[0027] In some embodiments, the second outer bending plate includes multiple reinforcing ribs arranged along the length of the expansion beam. The ribs are symmetrically arranged about the center plane of the expansion beam, which is perpendicular to the length of the expansion beam. This arrangement ensures consistent and uniform compressive strength along the entire length of the expansion beam, effectively improving reliability.

[0028] In some embodiments, a connecting hem is further included. The connecting hem is disposed on the side of the carrying cavity near the battery module. By providing the connecting hem and connecting it to the sidewall of the case, the expansion force is not only transmitted to the bottom wall of the case through the carrying cavity, but also partially transmitted through the sidewall, thereby distributing the force across the case and improving reliability.

[0029] In a second aspect, the present application provides a battery, comprising a battery box, a battery module and the above-mentioned expansion beam, wherein the expansion beam is connected to the box.

[0030] In a third aspect, the present application provides an electrical device comprising the above-mentioned battery, which is used to provide electrical energy.

[0031] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of the present application. In order to more clearly understand the technical means of the present application, it can be implemented in accordance with the contents of the specification. In order to make the above and other purposes, features and advantages of the present application more obvious and easy to understand, the specific implementation methods of the present application are listed below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for use in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the drawings without creative work.

[0033] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of a vehicle according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0034] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of a battery according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0035] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of a battery box in some embodiments of the present application

[0036] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of an expansion beam according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0037] FIG5 is a side view schematic diagram of the expansion beam according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0038] FIG6 is a schematic structural diagram of a second outer bent plate of an expansion beam according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0039] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of topology optimization results of the second outer bent plate of the expansion beam in some embodiments of the present application;

[0040] In the drawings, the drawings are not drawn to scale.

[0041] Marking explanation: Vehicle 1000; Battery 100; Controller 200; Motor 300; Box 2; First part 21; Second part 22; Battery module 3; Expansion beam 1; Carrying cavity 11, First outer bending plate 111, First main section 1111, First splicing section 1112, First segment 1113, Second outer bending plate 112, Second main section 1121, Second splicing section 1122, Second segment 1123, Reinforcement rib 1124, Vertical reinforcement rib 1124a, Connecting portion 112a, Inner bending plate 113, First connecting section 1131, Second connecting section 1132; Third connecting section 1133; Connecting folding edge 12; Expansion force F; Gap Q; First direction X; Second direction Y; Height direction Z. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application belongs; the terms used herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application; the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof in the specification and claims of this application and the above-mentioned figure descriptions are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions.

[0043] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the technical terms "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish different objects and should not be understood to indicate or imply relative importance or implicitly specify the quantity, specific order, or primary and secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. In the description of the embodiments of this application, the meaning of "plurality" is more than two, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0044] References herein to "embodiments" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it constitute an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive of other embodiments. It is understood, both explicitly and implicitly, by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

[0045] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the term "and / or" is simply a description of the association relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent the following three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0046] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the term "multiple" refers to more than two (including two). Similarly, "multiple groups" refers to more than two groups (including two groups), and "multiple pieces" refers to more than two pieces (including two pieces).

[0047] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the technical terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or position relationship, are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the embodiments of the present application.

[0048] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, technical terms such as "installed," "connected," "connected," 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; internal connections between two components or interactions between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of the present application based on specific circumstances.

[0049] In order to resist the expansion force of the battery module, a strong force transmission structure needs to be provided in the battery box to withstand the expansion force and avoid battery deformation.

[0050] In related art, profile expansion beams are generally used to form the force transmission mechanism. These beams are made of profiles, which have a fixed structure, shape, and dimensions. Consequently, the cross-sectional shape and dimensions of these beams are fixed, making them difficult to adapt to different battery modules. Consequently, these profile expansion beams in related art suffer from limited applicability.

[0051] Secondly, the cost of the profile expansion beam is high. In addition, the profile expansion beam cannot be connected to the battery box through welding methods such as spot welding and arc welding. Instead, a sheet metal beam must be installed on the box and connected to the sheet metal beam through riveting, which further increases the cost.

[0052] In response to the above problems, an embodiment of the present application provides a battery box, which includes an expansion beam, and the load-bearing cavity of the expansion beam is formed by splicing bent plates. In this way, the cross-sectional structure of the load-bearing cavity can be adjusted by adjusting the bending structure of the bending plate, so that the expansion beam is suitable for different battery modules, thereby improving the applicability of the battery box. Moreover, the expansion beam of the embodiment of the present application includes a first outer bending plate and a second outer bending plate that form the outer contour of the load-bearing cavity, and the distance between the first outer bending plate and the second outer bending plate can be adjusted, and the distance between the first outer bending plate and the second outer bending plate can be adjusted according to different battery modules, thereby further improving the applicability of the battery box.

[0053] The battery disclosed in the embodiments of the present application can be used, but is not limited to, in electrical devices such as vehicles, ships, or aircraft. The battery disclosed in the present application can be used to form a power supply system for the electrical device.

[0054] The present invention provides an electric device that uses a battery as a power source. The electric device may be, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, a tablet, a laptop computer, an electric toy, an electric tool, a battery-powered vehicle, an electric car, a ship, a spacecraft, etc. The electric toy may include a fixed or mobile electric toy, such as a game console, an electric car toy, an electric ship toy, and an electric airplane toy, etc. The spacecraft may include an airplane, a rocket, a space shuttle, and a spacecraft, etc.

[0055] For the convenience of description, the following embodiments are described by taking a vehicle 1000 as an example of an electrical device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0056] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic structural diagram of a vehicle 1000 provided in some embodiments of the present application. The vehicle 1000 can be a fuel vehicle, a gas vehicle or a new energy vehicle. The new energy vehicle can be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle or an extended-range vehicle, etc. A battery 100 is provided inside the vehicle 1000, and the battery 100 can be provided at the bottom, head or tail of the vehicle 1000. The battery 100 can be used to power the vehicle 1000. For example, the battery 100 can serve as an operating power source for the vehicle 1000. The vehicle 1000 may also include a controller 200 and a motor 300. The controller 200 is used to control the battery 100 to power the motor 300, for example, for starting, navigating or driving the vehicle 1000.

[0057] In some embodiments of the present application, the battery 100 can serve not only as an operating power source for the vehicle 1000, but also as a driving power source for the vehicle 1000, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle 1000.

[0058] Please refer to Figure 2, which is an exploded view of a battery 100 provided in some embodiments of the present application. Battery 100 includes a housing 2 and a battery module 3. The battery module 3 is housed within the housing 2. The housing 2 provides a storage space for the battery module 3 and can have various structures. In some embodiments, the housing 2 can include a first portion 21 and a second portion 22, which overlap each other and together define a storage space for the battery module 3. The second portion 22 can be a hollow structure with one end open, and the first portion 21 can be a plate-like structure, with the first portion 21 overlapping the open side of the second portion 22, so that the first portion 21 and the second portion 22 together define a storage space. The first portion 21 and the second portion 22 can also be hollow structures with one end open, with the open side of the first portion 21 overlapping the open side of the second portion 22. Of course, the housing 2 formed by the first portion 21 and the second portion 22 can have various shapes, such as a cylinder, a rectangular parallelepiped, etc.

[0059] In battery 100, battery module 3 includes multiple battery cells arranged side by side. These battery cells can be connected in series, parallel, or in a hybrid configuration. A hybrid configuration refers to a combination of series and parallel connections. Multiple battery cells can be directly connected in series, parallel, or in a hybrid configuration to form battery module 3. Battery module 3 is then housed within housing 2. Battery module 3 may also include other structures, such as a busbar assembly for electrically connecting the multiple battery cells.

[0060] Each battery cell can be a secondary battery or a primary battery; it can also be a lithium-sulfur battery, a sodium-ion battery, or a magnesium-ion battery, but is not limited thereto. The battery cell can be flat, rectangular, or in other shapes.

[0061] The battery box provided in an embodiment of the present application includes a box body 2 and an expansion beam 1. The expansion beam 1 is disposed within the box body 2 to resist the expansion force of the battery module 3. In some embodiments, the battery box includes a box body 2 and at least two expansion beams 1 spaced apart within the box body 2. A receiving cavity for accommodating the battery module 3 is formed between two adjacent expansion beams 1. In this way, when the battery module 3 expands, the expansion force acts on the expansion beam 1 and is transmitted to the box body 2, thereby effectively improving the battery's ability to resist deformation.

[0062] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG3 , the expansion beam 1 is connected to the second portion 22 (lower box) of the box 2 , and the expansion force F can be transmitted to the box 2 via the expansion beam 1 .

[0063] With reference to Figures 3 to 5, the present application proposes a battery case including a case 2 and an expansion beam 1, wherein the expansion beam 1 includes a load-bearing cavity 11. The load-bearing cavity 11 includes an outer bending plate arranged on the circumferential outer side and an inner bending plate 113 connected to the outer bending plate to separate the inner cavity of the load-bearing cavity 11. The outer bending plate includes a first outer bending plate 111 and a second outer bending plate 112, which are spliced ​​to form the outer contour of the load-bearing cavity 11, and the distance between the first outer bending plate 111 and the second outer bending plate 112 can be adjusted.

[0064] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the outer bending plate forms the outer contour of the bearing cavity 11. The inner bending plate 113 is disposed in the inner cavity of the bearing cavity 11 and separates the inner cavity of the bearing cavity 11. The outer bending plate and / or the inner bending plate include sheet metal parts.

[0065] The load-bearing cavity 11 of the expansion beam 1 of the battery case of the embodiment of the present application is formed by splicing an outer bending plate and an inner bending plate 113. Therefore, the cross-sectional structure of the load-bearing cavity 11 can be adjusted by adjusting the bending structure of the outer bending plate and the bending structure of the inner bending plate 113 to adapt to different battery modules. For example, the cross-sectional height of the load-bearing cavity 11 can be changed to adapt to different module heights, thereby improving the applicability of the expansion beam. In addition, the expansion beam 1 of the embodiment of the present application includes a first outer bending plate 111 and a second outer bending plate 112 that form the outer contour of the load-bearing cavity. The distance between the first outer bending plate 111 and the second outer bending plate 112 can be adjusted, and the distance between the first outer bending plate 111 and the second outer bending plate 112 can be adjusted according to different battery modules, thereby further improving the applicability of the battery case.

[0066] Referring to Figure 5, in some embodiments, the outer bending plate includes a first outer bending plate 111 and a second outer bending plate 112. The first outer bending plate 111 and the second outer bending plate 112 are spliced ​​together to form the outer contour of the load-bearing cavity. The first outer bending plate 111 and the second outer bending plate 112 are spliced ​​together to form the outer contour of the load-bearing cavity 11. In this way, by adjusting the shape or size of at least one of the first outer bending plate 111 and the second outer bending plate 112, the cross-sectional shape and size of the load-bearing cavity 1 can be adjusted, thereby improving the adaptability of the expansion beam. Moreover, the load-bearing cavity 1 is spliced ​​by the first outer bending plate 111 and the second outer bending plate 112. In this way, the structure of the first outer bending plate 111 and the second outer bending plate 112 can be adaptively changed and processed according to the different positions of the first outer bending plate 111 and the second outer bending plate 112, further improving the performance of the load-bearing cavity 11. For example, the second outer bending plate 112 is located on the side away from the battery module 3. To prevent the expansion beam 1 from tipping, the second outer bending plate 112 includes an inclined section. The inclined section is arranged to be inclined relative to the height direction Z.

[0067] Moreover, the inner cavity of the bearing cavity 11 of the expansion beam in the embodiment of the present application is separated by the inner bending plate 113. Therefore, the internal structure of the bearing cavity 11 can be changed by improving the structure of the inner bending plate 113, thereby optimizing the force transmission path of the expansion force and improving the performance of the expansion beam 1 in resisting the expansion force.

[0068] In some embodiments, the first outer bending plate 111 includes a first splicing section 1112 spliced ​​with the second outer bending plate 112. The second outer bending plate 112 includes a second splicing section 1122 spliced ​​with the first outer bending plate 111. The first splicing section 1112 and the second splicing section 1122 overlap, and the overlapping length of the first splicing section 1112 and the second splicing section 1122 is adjustable.

[0069] Referring to FIG5 , the first splicing section 1112 and the second splicing section 1122 are overlapped, that is, the first splicing section 1112 and the second splicing section 1122 have an overlapping section, and at least portions of the first splicing section 1112 and the second splicing section 1122 are superimposed in the thickness direction. The overlap length of the first splicing section 1112 and the second splicing section 1122 is adjustable. This allows the expansion beam to be adapted to different battery modules by adjusting the overlap length, simplifying adjustment, and extending its applicability.

[0070] 5 , in some embodiments, the first outer bent plate 111 further includes a first main section 1111 extending in the height direction and a first segment 1113 disposed opposite the first splicing section 1112. The first segment 1113 and the first splicing section 1112 are disposed at opposite ends of the first main section 1111. The first segment 1113 is connected to the box body 2, and a gap Q is formed between the first segment 1113 and the second outer bent plate 112.

[0071] When installing the expansion beam, first connect the first outer bending plate 111 to the box body 2, and then connect the second outer bending plate 112 to the first outer bending plate 111. Setting a gap Q between the first segment 1113 and the second outer bending plate 112 can avoid interference between the first outer bending plate 111 and the second outer bending plate 112.

[0072] In the embodiment shown in FIG5 , the inner bending plate 113 extends downward to the position where the first segment 113 is provided. Therefore, in the embodiment shown in FIG5 , a gap Q is provided between the first segment 113 and the inner bending plate 113 to avoid positional interference between the first outer bending plate 111 and the inner bending plate 113.

[0073] In some embodiments, the first outer bending plate 111 is positioned proximate to the battery module 3, while the second outer bending plate 112 is positioned distally from the battery module 3. The second outer bending plate 112 is configured to be tilted. The tilted configuration of the second outer bending plate 112 refers to the second outer bending plate 112 being tilted relative to the height direction Z. Specifically, the middle portion of the second outer bending plate 112 is closer to the first outer bending plate 111 than the bottom portion of the second outer bending plate 112. This configuration prevents the expansion beam 1 from tipping over due to expansion forces.

[0074] As shown in Figure 5, in a specific embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the first outer bending plate 111 is a groove-shaped structure, that is, the first outer bending plate 111 includes a first main section 1111 arranged close to the battery module and a first splicing section 1112 and a first segment 1113 arranged at both ends of the first main section 1111. The first splicing section 1112 and the first segment 1113 are both perpendicular to the first main section 1111 and are arranged on the same side of the first main section 1111. The same side here refers to the side of the first main section 1111 away from the battery module. The first splicing section 1112 is connected to the second outer bending plate 112. The first main section 1111, the first splicing section 1112 and the first segment 1113 are all planar sections.

[0075] As shown in FIG5 , the second outer bending plate 112 includes a second main section 1121 disposed opposite the first main section 1111 of the first outer bending plate 111, and a second splicing section 1122 and a second segment 1123 disposed at both ends of the second main section 1121. The second splicing section 1122 and the second segment 1123 are disposed on different sides of the second main section 1121. Specifically, as shown in FIG5 , the second splicing section 1122 is disposed on the left side of the second main section 1121, and the second segment 1123 is disposed on the right side of the second main section 1121. The second splicing section 1122 is connected to the first outer bending plate 111. The second segment 1123 extends in a direction away from the first outer bending plate 111. When the expansion beam 1 is mounted on the battery box 2, the second segment 1123 can be connected to the box 2 by welding, which reduces costs compared to riveting in related art.

[0076] Moreover, the second segment 1123 is not connected to the first segment 1113, and there is a gap Q between the first segment 1113 and the second segment 1123, thereby avoiding position interference during installation.

[0077] In some embodiments, the second splicing section 1122 and the second section 1123 of the second outer bent plate 112 are both planar sections, and the second main section 1121 is a non-planar section.

[0078] 3 and 5 , the first outer bending plate 111 is arranged close to the battery module 3. The second outer bending plate 112 is arranged away from the battery module 3. The inner bending plate 113 is arranged between the first outer bending plate 111 and the second outer bending plate 112 and is connected to the first outer bending plate 111 and the second outer bending plate 112 respectively. The inner bending plate 113 is connected to the first outer bending plate 111 and the second outer bending plate 112 respectively, so that the expansion force of the battery module is transmitted to the second outer bending plate 112 through the first outer bending plate 111, the inner bending plate 113 and the sub-cavity formed by the separation of the inner bending plate. In this way, the shape of the inner bending plate 113 can change the internal structure of the bearing cavity 11 by improving the structure of the inner bending plate 113, and then the force transmission path of the expansion force can be optimized by optimizing the structure of the inner bending plate 113, thereby improving the performance of the expansion beam 1 in resisting the expansion force.

[0079] In some embodiments, the inner bending plate 113 includes at least one connecting segment extending from the first outer bending plate 111 to the second outer bending plate 112. The ends of the connecting segment are respectively connected to the first outer bending plate 111 and the second outer bending plate 112 to separate the inner cavity of the bearing cavity 11. The inner bending plate 113 includes at least one connecting segment, which allows the expansion force to be transmitted through the at least one connecting segment and the separated inner cavity in a more distributed manner, thereby improving the reliability of the expansion beam.

[0080] Referring to Figure 5 , in some embodiments, the connecting segments are inclined relative to both the first outer bending plate 111 and the second outer bending plate 112. As shown in Figure 5 , the at least one connecting segment includes a first connecting segment 1131, a second connecting segment 1132, and a third connecting segment 1133. The first connecting segment 1131, the second connecting segment 1132, and the third connecting segment 1133 are all inclined. This divides the inner cavity of the bearing cavity 11 into multiple sub-cavities, further optimizing the transmission path of the expansion force and improving the reliability of the expansion beam.

[0081] In some embodiments, the second outer bending plate 112 includes a connecting portion 112a connected to the inner bending plate 113. The connecting portion 112a is configured to be recessed toward the inner cavity side of the bearing cavity 11. The connecting portion 112a of the second outer bending plate 112 is configured to be recessed toward the inside, so that the expansion force is first transmitted to the connecting portion 112a, and then transmitted to other positions of the second outer bending plate 112, thereby optimizing the force transmission path. Moreover, the connecting portion 112a is configured to be recessed toward the inside, so that the portions of the second outer bending plate 112 located on the upper and lower sides of the connecting portion 112a can be configured to be protruding toward the outside, thereby improving the strength of the second outer bending plate 112.

[0082] In some embodiments, in order to improve the rigidity and compressive strength of the expansion beam 1 , the second outer bending plate 112 includes a reinforcing rib 1124 .

[0083] In some embodiments, the second outer bending plate 112 includes vertical reinforcing ribs 1124a extending in the height direction Z. After reaching the second outer bending plate 112, the expansion force extends downward along the vertical reinforcing ribs 1124a extending in the height direction to the box body 2, thereby achieving effective transmission of the expansion force.

[0084] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 6 and 7 , the reinforcement ribs 1124 are configured based on topology optimization. Figure 7 illustrates the force results of the topology optimization of the second outer bent plate 112. The black areas represent the portions of the second outer bent plate 112 that are subject to greater force. Therefore, as shown in Figure 6 , reinforcement ribs are provided in the corresponding black areas of the second outer bent plate 112 to increase the rigidity of the second outer bent plate 112.

[0085] In some embodiments, the reinforcing rib 1124 is recessed toward the inner cavity of the bearing cavity 11. The reinforcing rib 1124 is formed as a recessed portion, which can further improve the compressive strength of the expansion beam.

[0086] In some embodiments, the second outer bent plate 112 includes a plurality of reinforcing ribs 1124 disposed along the length of the expansion beam 1 and a connecting portion 112a connected to the inner bent plate 113. The connecting portion 112a is spot welded to the inner bent plate 113. Along the length of the expansion beam 1, the spacing between adjacent reinforcing ribs 1124 of the second outer bent plate 112 is configured to be offset from the welds between the connecting portion 112 and the inner bent plate 113.

[0087] The connecting portion 112a is spot-welded to the inner bent plate 113. The second outer bent plate 112 includes a plurality of reinforcing ribs 1124 recessed toward the inner cavity of the carrier cavity 11. These recessed ribs 1124 may form a spot-welded connection with the inner bent plate 113. However, the spacing between adjacent ribs 1124 is not recessed inward. Therefore, this spacing needs to be offset from the weld point to avoid affecting the connection quality between the inner bent plate 113 and the second outer bent plate 112.

[0088] The second outer bent plate 112 includes a plurality of reinforcing ribs 1124 arranged along the length of the expansion beam 1. These ribs 1124 are symmetrically arranged relative to the center plane of the expansion beam 1, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X of the expansion beam 1. This arrangement ensures consistent and uniform compressive strength along the entire length of the expansion beam, effectively improving reliability.

[0089] In some embodiments, the expansion beam 1 further includes a connecting hem 12. This hem 12 is disposed on the side of the load-bearing cavity 11 proximal to the battery module. The connecting hem 12 is configured to connect to the sidewalls of the housing 2. By providing the connecting hem 12 and connecting to the sidewalls of the housing 2, the expansion force is not only transmitted to the bottom wall of the housing 2 through the load-bearing cavity 11, but also partially transmitted through the sidewalls, thereby distributing the force across the housing 2 and improving reliability.

[0090] As shown in FIG3 , an embodiment of the present application provides a battery, including a battery box, a battery module, and an expansion beam 1 , wherein the expansion beam 1 is connected to a box body 2 .

[0091] In some embodiments, the expansion beam 1 is welded to the box body 2 .

[0092] The present application also provides an electrical device including a battery for providing electrical energy.

[0093] The structure of the battery box and the battery of a specific embodiment of the present application is described in detail below with reference to FIG3 to FIG7 .

[0094] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the battery box of this embodiment includes a box body 2 and an expansion beam 1. The expansion beam 1 includes a bearing cavity 11 and a connecting fold 12. The expansion beam 1 extends along a first direction X. That is, the longitudinal direction of the expansion beam 1 is the first direction X. The connecting fold 12 is arranged on one side of the second direction Y of the bearing cavity 11. The second direction Y is perpendicular to the first direction X. And the second direction Y is perpendicular to the large surface of the battery cell of the battery module. As shown in Figure 3, the bearing cavity 11 of the expansion beam 1 is welded to the bottom wall of the box body 2. The connecting fold 12 is welded to the side wall of the box body 2.

[0095] As shown in Figure 5, the bearing cavity 11 includes a first outer bending plate 111, a second outer bending plate 112 and an inner bending plate 113. The first outer bending plate 111 and the second outer bending plate 112 are connected to form the outer contour of the bearing cavity 11. The inner bending plate 113 is arranged on the inner side of the bearing cavity 11 to divide the inner cavity of the bearing cavity 11 into multiple sub-cavities. The bottom of the first outer bending plate 111 and the bottom of the second outer bending plate 112 are connected to the bottom wall of the box body 2. In this way, the expansion force F is transmitted to the second outer bending plate 112 and to the bottom wall of the box body 2 through the first outer bending plate 111, the inner bending plate 113 and the multiple sub-cavities.

[0096] As shown in Figure 5, the inner bending plate 113 includes a first connecting section 1131, a second connecting section 1132 and a third connecting section 1133. The inner bending plate 113 divides the inner cavity of the carrying cavity 11 into a plurality of sub-cavities.

[0097] As shown in FIG5 , the inner bending plate 113 further includes a first intermediate connecting segment disposed between the first connecting segment 1131 and the second connecting segment 1132, and a second intermediate connecting segment disposed between the second connecting segment 1132 and the third connecting segment 1133. The first intermediate connecting segment is connected to the second outer bending plate 112. The second intermediate connecting segment is connected to the first outer bending plate 111. A first end of the third connecting segment 1133 is connected to the first outer bending plate 111 via the second intermediate connecting segment, and a second end of the third connecting segment 1133 is connected to the second segment 1123 of the second outer bending plate 112.

[0098] The second outer bending plate 112 includes a connecting portion 112a connected to the inner bending plate 113. The connecting portion 112a is recessed toward one side of the first outer bending plate 111.

[0099] In order to optimize the force on the second outer bent plate 112, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, reinforcing ribs 112A are provided on the second outer bent plate 112. The distribution of the reinforcing ribs 112A is obtained according to the topology optimization results shown in Figure 7.

[0100] In this embodiment, the outer bending plate and / or the inner bending plate include sheet metal parts. The sheet metal parts are spliced ​​together to form the bearing cavity, thereby reducing the cost of the expansion beam.

[0101] The installation process of the expansion beam of this embodiment is as follows: first, connect (e.g., weld) the first outer bent plate 111 to the box body 2. Specifically, connect the first segment 1113 of the first outer bent plate 111 to the box body 2, connect (e.g., weld) the inner bent plate 113 and the second outer bent plate 112 to form an integrated structure, then connect the first splicing section 1112 of the first outer bent plate 111 to the second splicing section 1122 of the second outer bent plate 112, and weld the second segment 1123 of the second outer bent plate 112 to the box body. As can be seen from the above process, providing a gap Q between the first segment 1113 and the inner bent plate 113 can prevent interference during installation.

[0102] As shown in FIG. 3 , the expansion force of the battery module is first transmitted to the first outer bending plate 111 , and then passes through the inner bending plate 113 and a plurality of sub-cavities to transmit the expansion force to the bottom of the box body 2 .

[0103] Although the present application has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, various modifications may be made thereto and components may be substituted with equivalents without departing from the scope of the present application. In particular, the various technical features described in the various embodiments may be combined in any manner as long as there are no structural conflicts. The present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but encompasses all technical solutions within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A battery box, comprising a box body (2) and an expansion beam (1) arranged in the box body (2), the expansion beam (1) comprising a bearing cavity (11), the bearing cavity (11) comprising an outer bending plate (111, 112) arranged on the circumferential outer side and an inner bending plate (113) connected to the outer bending plate (111, 112) to separate the inner cavity of the bearing cavity (11), the outer bending plate comprising a first outer bending plate (111) and a second outer bending plate (112), the first outer bending plate (111) and the second outer bending plate (112) being spliced ​​to form the outer contour of the bearing cavity (11), and the distance between the first outer bending plate (111) and the second outer bending plate (112) being adjustable.

2. The battery box according to claim 1, wherein: The first outer bending plate (111) includes a first splicing section (1112) spliced ​​with the second outer bending plate (112), and the second outer bending plate (112) includes a second splicing section (1122) spliced ​​with the first outer bending plate (111), the first splicing section (1112) and the second splicing section (1122) are overlapped, and the overlap length of the first splicing section (1112) and the second splicing section (1122) can be adjusted.

3. The battery box according to claim 2, wherein: The first outer bending plate (111) further comprises a first main section (1111) extending in the height direction and a first segment (1113) arranged opposite to the first splicing section (1112); the first segment (1113) and the first splicing section (1112) are respectively arranged at two ends of the first main section (1111); the first segment (113) is connected to the box body (2); and a gap (Q) is formed between the first segment (1113) and the second outer bending plate (112).

4. The battery box according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The first outer bending plate (111) is arranged close to the battery module (3), the second outer bending plate (112) is arranged away from the battery module (3), and the second outer bending plate (112) is arranged obliquely.

5. The battery box according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The first outer bending plate (111) is arranged close to the battery module, the second outer bending plate (112) is arranged away from the battery module, and the inner bending plate (113) is arranged between the first outer bending plate (111) and the second outer bending plate (112) and is respectively connected to the first outer bending plate (111) and the second outer bending plate (112).

6. The battery box according to claim 5, wherein: The inner bending plate (113) comprises at least one connecting section extending from the first outer bending plate (111) to the second outer bending plate (112), and two ends of the connecting section are respectively connected to the first outer bending plate (111) and the second outer bending plate (112) to separate the inner cavity of the bearing cavity (11).

7. The battery box according to claim 6, wherein: The connecting section is arranged obliquely relative to both the first outer bending plate (111) and the second outer bending plate (112).

8. The battery box according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein: The second outer bending plate (112) comprises a connecting portion (112a) connected to the inner bending plate (113), and the connecting portion (112a) is configured to be recessed toward one side of the inner cavity of the bearing cavity (11).

9. The battery box according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein: The second outer bent plate (112) includes a reinforcing rib (1124).

10. The battery box according to claim 9, wherein: The reinforcing ribs (1124) include vertical reinforcing ribs (1124a) extending in the height direction.

11. The battery box according to claim 10, wherein: The reinforcing rib (1124) is recessed toward one side of the inner cavity of the bearing cavity (11).

12. The battery box according to claim 11, wherein: The second outer bending plate (112) comprises a plurality of reinforcing ribs (1124) arranged in the length direction of the expansion beam (1) and a connecting portion (112a) connected to the inner bending plate (113); the connecting portion (112a) and the inner bending plate (113) are connected by spot welding; in the length direction of the expansion beam (1), the spacing area of ​​the second outer bending plate (112) between two adjacent reinforcing ribs (1124) is configured to be staggered with the welding point between the connecting portion (112a) and the inner bending plate (113).

13. The battery box according to claim 9, wherein: The second outer bending plate (112) includes a plurality of reinforcing ribs (1124) arranged in the length direction of the expansion beam (1), and the plurality of reinforcing ribs (1124) are symmetrically arranged relative to the center plane of the expansion beam (1), and the center plane is perpendicular to the length direction of the expansion beam (1).

14. The battery box according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising a connecting folded edge (12), wherein the connecting folded edge (12) is arranged on a side of the bearing cavity (11) close to the battery module.

15. A battery, comprising a battery box, a battery module and an expansion beam (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the expansion beam (1) is connected to the box body (2).

16. An electrical device comprising the battery according to claim 15, wherein the battery is used to provide electrical energy.

Citation Information

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