End cover assembly, battery, and electric device

Abstract

An end cover assembly (100), a battery (10), and an electric device (1). The end cover assembly (100) comprises an end cover (110) and a protective patch (120); the end cover (110) has a first surface (111); first protrusions (113) are arranged on the first surface (111); the protective patch (120) is connected to the first surface (111); the protective patch (120) has a second surface (121) and a third surface (122) arranged opposite to each other; first recesses (123) are formed in the second surface (121); the first protrusions (113) are located in the first recesses (123); a second protrusion (124) is provided on the third surface (122); the second protrusion (124) has case connecting regions (125); and the case connecting regions (125) are used for being connected to a battery case (12). The end cover assembly (100) improves the connection performance between battery cells (11) and the battery case (12), so that the displacement of the end cover (110) structure relative to the battery case (12) can be reduced when the battery (10) expands and deforms, thereby enhancing the electrical connection stability between adjacent battery cells (11).

Description

End cap assembly, battery and electrical device

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office on January 8, 2024, with application number 202420036299.5 and application name “End cover assembly, battery and electrical device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of battery technology, and in particular to an end cap assembly, a battery, and an electrical device. Background Art

[0003] As people become more aware of environmental protection, electric vehicles (EVs) are rapidly gaining popularity in the automotive industry due to their energy-saving and environmentally friendly advantages. EVs use batteries as their power source. Batteries consist of multiple cells, each of which includes an electrode assembly, a housing, and end caps. The end caps fit over the housing, and the electrode assemblies are located within the space enclosed by the housing and end caps. Adjacent electrode assemblies are electrically connected via electrical connection structures.

[0004] During the use of the battery, the electrode assembly undergoes cyclic charge and discharge, causing the battery cells to expand and contract. The deformation of the battery cells will affect the connection strength between the battery cells and the electrical connection structure, thereby making the electrical connection stability between adjacent battery cells poor.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of the embodiments of the present application is to provide an end cover assembly, a battery, and an electrical device, aiming to solve the technical problem of poor electrical connection stability between adjacent battery cells in the prior art.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted in this application is:

[0008] In a first aspect, an end cap assembly is provided, comprising:

[0009] The end cover has a first surface, and the first surface is provided with a first protrusion;

[0010] A protective patch is connected to the first surface, the protective patch has a second surface and a third surface set apart from each other, the second surface has a first recess, the first protrusion is located in the first recess, the third surface has a second protrusion, the second protrusion has a box connection area, and the box connection area is used to connect to the battery box.

[0011] This application improves the connection strength between the end cap and the protective patch by cooperating with the first protrusion and the first recess. By providing a certain degree of positional restraint on the protective patch, the protective patch's restraining effect on the end cap can reduce the displacement of the end cap structure relative to the battery case when the battery expands and deforms, thereby enhancing the electrical connection stability between adjacent battery cells. This solution provides a case connection area on the protective patch, allowing the protective patch to connect to the battery case and restrain the protective patch to a certain extent. In this arrangement, since the first protrusion of the end cap is located within the first recess of the protective patch, the contact area between the end cap and the protective patch is increased, the relative restraining effect is enhanced, and the connection stability is enhanced. Since the second protrusion of the protective patch has a case connection area, the end cap assembly can be connected to the battery case through the case connection area, so that the battery cell equipped with the end cap assembly is connected to the battery case. This improves the connection performance between the battery cell and the battery case, thus reducing the displacement of the end cap structure relative to the battery case when the battery expands and deforms, thereby enhancing the electrical connection stability between adjacent battery cells.

[0012] In a possible design, the end cover has a fourth surface facing away from the first surface, and a second recess is provided on the fourth surface opposite to the first projection.

[0013] Because the third side of the protective patch is provided with a second protrusion, which has a box connection area, when the end cap assembly is applied to a battery cell, the third side where the second protrusion is located is the outer side of the battery cell, the first side of the end cap faces the protective patch, and the fourth side of the end cap faces the interior space of the battery cell. Since the fourth side is provided with a second recess, the internal space of the battery cell can be increased, at least increasing the gas storage space within the battery cell.

[0014] In a possible design, the second protrusion is provided with a wiring groove.

[0015] In this setting, when the end cover assembly is applied to the battery, the wiring trough can be used for laying cables. The wiring trough plays a certain protective role for the cables, and laying the cables in the wiring trough can save the internal space of the battery and improve the utilization rate of the internal space of the battery.

[0016] In a possible design, the second protrusion is provided with an avoidance groove.

[0017] In this setting, the avoidance groove can be used to avoid part of the area of ​​the electrode terminal. When the end cover assembly is used in the battery, the avoidance groove can also be used to avoid other structures located near the end cover assembly, such as detection devices located inside the battery case.

[0018] In a possible design, a plurality of first protrusions are provided on the end cover, and a plurality of first recesses are provided on the protective patch, and the plurality of first protrusions and the plurality of first recesses are provided in a one-to-one correspondence.

[0019] By providing a plurality of first protrusions, the contact area between the protective patch and the end cover can be further increased, thereby improving the connection stability between the protective patch and the end cover.

[0020] In a possible design, two electrode terminals are provided on the end cover, and the plurality of first protrusions are located between the two electrode terminals.

[0021] In this arrangement, since the multiple first protrusions are located between the two electrode terminals, the multiple first protrusions are concentrated in a relatively central area on the end cover. In this way, the multiple first recesses on the protective patch can be concentrated in a relatively central area on the protective patch, and the second protrusions provided on the protective patch can be provided in a relatively central area on the protective patch, that is, the connection between the end cover assembly and the battery case is located in a relatively central area of ​​the end cover assembly, thereby making the connection between the end cover assembly and the battery case more stable.

[0022] In one possible design, the protective patch is a thermally conductive patch.

[0023] In this arrangement, the thermally conductive patch can improve the heat dissipation performance of the end cap assembly, thereby improving the heat dissipation performance of the battery cell to which the end cap assembly is applied.

[0024] In one possible design, there are multiple end caps, and the multiple end caps are connected to a protective patch. The protective patch is provided with multiple first recesses, and the number of the first recesses is equal to the sum of the number of the first protrusions in the multiple end caps. The first protrusions are located one-to-one in the first recesses.

[0025] In this setting, the end cover assembly can be applied to multiple battery cells. The number of cover plates is the same as the number of battery cells. The cover plates are connected one-to-one to the shell of the battery cell. The protective patch connects the multiple end covers together, thereby improving the connection stability between adjacent multiple battery cells. During the expansion and deformation of one or more battery cells, the end covers of each battery cell are connected to each other under the action of the protective patch, thereby reducing the relative displacement between adjacent end covers, so that the electrical connection stability between adjacent battery cells is stronger.

[0026] In a second aspect, the present application also provides another end cap assembly, comprising:

[0027] An end cap, wherein the number of the end caps is multiple, the end cap has a first surface, and the first surface is provided with a first convex portion;

[0028] A protective patch is connected to the first surface, the protective patch has a second surface and a third surface set apart from each other, the second surface has a first recess, the number of the first recesses is equal to the sum of the number of the first protrusions in the multiple end caps, and the multiple first protrusions are respectively located in the corresponding first recesses.

[0029] The present application improves the connection strength between the end cap and the protective patch by cooperating with the first protrusion and the first recess. By limiting the protective patch to a certain extent, the protective patch can reduce the displacement of the end cap structure relative to the battery case when the battery expands and deforms, thereby making the electrical connection between adjacent battery cells more stable. This solution further limits the protective patch to a certain extent by setting the same protective patch on multiple end caps and limiting the protective patch and the multiple end caps. In this setting, the end cap assembly is used to connect multiple battery cells, each end cap is connected to the shell of a battery cell, and each end cap achieves a larger area of ​​contact through the cooperation of the first protrusion and the first recess, thereby improving the connection strength between the protective patch and the multiple end caps. The setting of the first protrusion improves the structural stability of the end plate, and the setting of the second protrusion improves the structural stability of the protective patch. The multiple end caps are connected together by the protective patch, thereby improving the connection stability between multiple adjacent battery cells. During the expansion and deformation of one or more battery cells, the end covers of each battery cell are connected to each other under the action of the protective patch, thereby reducing the relative displacement between adjacent end covers and making the electrical connection between adjacent battery cells more stable.

[0030] In one possible design, the end cap is provided with an electrode terminal, the electrode terminal is passed through the protective patch, and the maximum distance between the third surface and the first surface is smaller than the maximum distance between the electrode terminal and the first surface.

[0031] In this setting, the distance between the protective patch and the first surface is smaller than the distance between the electrode terminal and the first surface, that is, the top of the electrode terminal is higher than the top of the protective patch, so that the bus structure for connecting the electrode terminals on different end covers can be set on the side of the protective patch away from the first surface.

[0032] In a third aspect, the present application provides a battery, comprising a battery case and an end cover assembly provided by any of the above technical solutions, wherein the end cover assembly is disposed in the battery case.

[0033] Since the battery includes the above-mentioned end cover assembly, it has at least all the beneficial effects of the above-mentioned end cover assembly, which will not be described in detail here.

[0034] In a possible design, the battery case includes a case and a cooling structure installed in the case. When the end cover assembly includes a case connection area, the case connection area is connected to the cooling structure.

[0035] In this arrangement, the protective patch dissipates heat through the cooling structure, thereby improving the heat dissipation effect of the end cover, and further improving the heat dissipation effect of the battery cell where the shell covered by the end cover is located.

[0036] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides an electrical device, comprising a battery provided by the above technical solution, and the battery is used to power the electrical device.

[0037] Since the electrical device includes the above-mentioned battery, it has at least all the beneficial effects of the above-mentioned battery, which will not be described in detail here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or descriptions of the prior art. 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 these drawings without any creative work.

[0039] FIG1 is an exploded schematic diagram of parts of an end cap assembly provided by one embodiment of the present application from one perspective;

[0040] FIG2 is an exploded schematic diagram of parts of an end cap assembly provided by one embodiment of the present application from another perspective;

[0041] FIG3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an end cap assembly provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0042] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the connection between the end cap assembly and the busbar structure provided by one embodiment of the present application;

[0043] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a cross-sectional structure of a battery provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0044] FIG6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a battery according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0045] FIG7 is an exploded schematic diagram of parts from one perspective of an end cap assembly provided by another embodiment of the present application;

[0046] FIG8 is a schematic structural diagram of an end cap assembly provided by another embodiment of the present application from one perspective;

[0047] FIG9 is a schematic structural diagram of multiple battery cells connected by a busbar structure according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0048] FIG10 is a schematic structural diagram of an end cap assembly provided by another embodiment of the present application from another perspective;

[0049] FIG11 is a schematic structural diagram of a protective patch in an end cap assembly provided in Example 1 of the present application from one perspective;

[0050] FIG12 is a schematic structural diagram of an end cap assembly provided in another embodiment of the present application from one perspective;

[0051] FIG13 is an exploded schematic diagram of parts of an end cap assembly provided in yet another embodiment of the present application;

[0052] FIG14 is a schematic structural diagram of an end cap assembly provided in yet another embodiment of the present application from one perspective;

[0053] FIG15 is an exploded schematic diagram of parts from one perspective of an end cap assembly provided in yet another embodiment of the present application;

[0054] FIG16 is a schematic structural diagram of a protective patch in an end cap assembly according to a second embodiment of the present application from one perspective;

[0055] FIG17 is an exploded schematic diagram of parts of an end cap assembly provided in yet another embodiment of the present application from another perspective;

[0056] FIG18 is a schematic structural diagram of an end cap assembly provided in another embodiment of the present application from another perspective;

[0057] FIG19 is a schematic structural diagram of a plurality of battery cells connected via a busbar structure according to yet another embodiment of the present application;

[0058] FIG20 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a battery according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0059] FIG21 is a partial enlarged schematic diagram of point A in FIG20;

[0060] FIG22 is a schematic structural diagram of an electrical device provided in one embodiment of the present application.

[0061] The reference numerals used in the above drawings are as follows: 1. Electrical device; 10. Battery; 11. Battery cell; 12. Battery case; 13. Case; 131. Side panel; 132. Beam; 133. Bottom plate; 14. Cover; 15. Cooling structure; 20. Control mechanism; 30. Drive mechanism; 100. End cap assembly; 110. End cap; 111. First surface; 112. Fourth surface; 113. First protrusion; 114. Second recess; 1151. Electrode terminal; 1152. Bus structure; 120. Protective patch; 121. Second surface; 122. Third surface; 123. First recess; 124. Second protrusion; 125. Box connection area; 126. Wiring duct; 1261. First wiring segment; 1262. Second wiring segment; 127. Avoidance groove; 128. Via. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] In order to make the technical problems, technical solutions and beneficial effects to be solved by this application more clearly understood, this application is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain this application and are not intended to limit this application.

[0063] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the term "plurality" refers to more than two (including two).

[0064] 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.

[0065] It should be understood that the terms "length", "width", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", 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 present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the end cover assembly or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present application.

[0066] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of the technical features being referred to. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. Throughout the description of this application, "plurality" means two or more, unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0067] In the drawings of this application, the leads with solid arrows point to the structure itself; the leads with hollow arrows point to the surface of the structure; and the leads with dots point to an area, such as a hole, cavity, groove, or opening.

[0068] As environmental pollution becomes increasingly serious, people's environmental awareness is gradually increasing. At the same time, the rapid rise of the new energy industry has provided a broad space for the application and development of batteries. The battery includes a battery case and a battery cell. The battery cell includes an outer shell and an electrode assembly. The outer shell includes a shell and an end cover. The end cover is sealed on the shell. The electrode assembly is arranged inside the shell, and adjacent battery cells are electrically connected. In the related art, the connection between adjacent battery cells is located at the end cover. The end cover is provided with an electrode terminal. The electrode terminals of adjacent battery cells are electrically connected through a bus structure. However, during the use of the battery, the electrode assembly is cyclically charged and discharged, causing the outer shell of the battery cell to expand or contract. The deformation of the outer shell will cause the position of the end cover to change, that is, the distance between adjacent end covers will change, so that the connection between the bus structure and the electrode terminal may be deformed or broken, which can easily damage the electrode terminal and affect the stability of the connection between the electrode terminal and the bus structure.

[0069] Based on the above considerations, and in order to solve the above problems, an embodiment of the present application provides an end cap assembly, which includes an end cap and a protective patch. The end cap and the protective patch are provided with a concave-convex structure to improve the connection strength. The protective patch is connected to the battery case, thereby improving the connection strength between the end cap and the battery case. When this end cap assembly is applied to a battery, when the outer shell is deformed, since the end cap assembly is connected to the battery case, the relative position between the end cap assembly and the battery case remains unchanged, thereby reducing the pulling on the bus structure electrically connected to the end cap, improving the protection of the end cap, and improving the connection stability between the end cap and the bus structure.

[0070] The embodiment of the present application also provides another end cap assembly, which includes an end cap and a protective patch. A plurality of end caps are connected to one protective patch, and the connection strength between the protective patch and each end cap is improved by the cooperation of the concave and convex structures. The plurality of end caps are respectively covered on different shells, that is, a plurality of battery cells share a protective patch, and the plurality of battery cells are connected by the protective patch. The setting of the protective patch improves the connection stability between adjacent battery cells. When the shell is deformed, since the plurality of end caps are all connected to the same protective patch, the expansion deformation at the end cap is small under the constraint of the protective patch, so the relative position change between adjacent end caps is small, thereby reducing the pulling on the bus structure electrically connected to the end cap, improving the protection of the end cap, and improving the connection stability between the end cap and the bus structure.

[0071] The end cap assembly, battery, and electrical device provided in the embodiments of the present application are explained in detail below.

[0072] Example 1

[0073] As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, an embodiment of the present application provides an end cap assembly 100, comprising an end cap 110 and a protective patch 120, wherein the end cap 110 has a first surface 111, and the first surface 111 is provided with a first protrusion 113. The protective patch 120 is connected to the first surface 111, and the protective patch 120 has a second surface 121 and a third surface 122 disposed opposite to each other. The second surface 121 has a first recess 123, and the first protrusion 113 is located within the first recess 123. The third surface 122 has a second protrusion 124, and the second protrusion 124 has a case connection area 125, which is used to connect to the battery case 12.

[0074] In the drawings of this embodiment, the width direction of the end cap assembly 100 is shown as the X direction, the length direction is shown as the Y direction, and the thickness direction is shown as the Z direction. The X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction are perpendicular to each other. The X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction do not point to a single direction or a single position. The direction parallel to the X direction is referred to as the X direction, the direction parallel to the Y direction is referred to as the Y direction, and the direction parallel to the Z direction is referred to as the Z direction.

[0075] The end cap assembly 100 is used in a battery. The end cap 110 in the end cap assembly 100 is used to connect to the housing of the battery cell 11 to enclose a space for the electrode assembly. The end cap 110 can be a generally plate-shaped structure. One of the two sides of the end cap 110 in the thickness direction (Z direction) is a first surface 111. When the end cap 110 is attached to the housing, the first surface 111 is the side facing away from the housing. The first surface 111 is provided with a first protrusion 113, which protrudes from the first surface 111 in a direction away from the housing.

[0076] The protective patch 120 is connected to one side of the end cap 110, for example, the side of the end cap 110 away from the shell, that is, the protective patch 120 is connected to the first surface 111 of the end cap 110. When the end cap 110 is connected to the shell, the protective patch 120 is located outside the accommodating space. The protective patch 120 has a second surface 121 and a third surface 122 that are opposite to each other in the thickness direction (Z direction). The second surface 121 is opposite to the first surface 111. The second surface 121 is provided with a first recess 123. The first recess 123 is recessed in the direction of the second surface 121 toward the third surface 122, or in other words, the first recess 123 is recessed in the direction of the second surface 121 away from the first surface 111. The first protrusion 113 is arranged opposite to the first recess 123. After the protective patch 120 is connected to the end cap 110, the first protrusion 113 is located in the first recess 123.

[0077] The connection between the protective patch 120 and the end cap 110 is a fixed connection, and the protective patch 120 and the end cap 110 may be bonded. For example, an adhesive layer may be provided between the protective patch 120 and the end cap 110, and the protective patch 120 and the end cap 110 are connected via the adhesive layer. Alternatively, the protective patch 120 and the end cap 110 may be connected by coating at least one of the protective patch 120 and the end cap 110 with glue, after the protective patch 120 and the end cap 110 are affixed and the glue is cured. It is worth noting that the first protrusion 113 is located on the first surface 111, and the first recess 123 is located on the second surface 121. When the first surface 111 and the second surface 121 are connected, the first protrusion 113 and the first recess 123 are also connected.

[0078] The third surface 122 of the protective patch 120 has a second protrusion 124. The third surface 122 is the side of the protective patch 120 that is away from the end cap 110. The second protrusion 124 protrudes from the third surface 122 in a direction away from the end cap 110. When the end cap assembly 100 is applied to the battery, the end cap 110 is covered on the shell, and the second protrusion 124 of the protective patch 120 is connected to the battery case 12 through the case connection area 125, thereby indirectly connecting the end cap 110 to the battery case 12. Exemplarily, the protective patch 120 is made of an insulating material. The case connection area 125 is the side of the second protrusion 124 that is farthest from the end cap 110, that is, the side closest to the battery case 12 when the end cap assembly 100 is installed in the battery case 12. The case connection area 125 is at least a portion of the side surface of the second protrusion 124 away from the end cover 110. It can be a completely connected area or a plurality of spaced areas. The connection between the case connection area 125 and the battery case 12 is a fixed connection, and the case connection area 125 and the battery case 12 can be bonded. For example, an adhesive layer can be provided between the case connection area 125 and the battery case 12, and the case connection area 125 and the battery case 12 are connected through the adhesive layer. It is also possible to coat at least one of the case connection area 125 and the battery case 12 with glue, and after the case connection area 125 and the battery case 12 are affixed and the glue is cured, the case connection area 125 and the battery case 12 are connected.

[0079] It is worth noting that when the end cap 110 is provided with an electrode terminal 1151, a via 128 is provided in the protective patch 120. The electrode terminal 1151 extends through the via 128 and is connected to the bus structure 1152. Because the second protrusion 124 has a housing connection area 125, the height of the second protrusion 124 is greater than the total height of the electrode terminal 1151 after being connected to the bus structure 1152. As shown in FIG4 , for example, the side of the electrode terminal 1151 facing away from the housing is connected to the bus structure 1152, and the distance H1 between the second protrusion 124 and the first surface 111 is greater than the distance H2 between the bus structure 1152 and the first surface 111.

[0080] The projection of the end cap assembly 100 in the thickness direction (Z direction) matches the structural shape of the housing of the battery cell 11 in which it is used. For example, if the housing is cylindrical, the projection of the end cap assembly 100 in the thickness direction (Z direction) is circular; if the housing is a rectangular parallelepiped, the projection of the end cap assembly 100 in the thickness direction (Z direction) is square. In Figures 1 and 2, the projection of the end cap 110 in the thickness direction (Z direction) is square, and the projection of the protective patch 120 in the thickness direction (Z direction) is also square.

[0081] The first convex portion 113 and the first concave portion 123 have matching structural shapes. For example, when the first convex portion 113 is a rectangular parallelepiped structure, the first concave portion 123 is a rectangular parallelepiped groove structure; when the first convex portion 113 is a cylindrical structure, the first concave portion 123 is a cylindrical groove structure. In Figures 1 and 2, the first convex portion 113 is a rectangular parallelepiped structure, and the first concave portion 123 is a rectangular parallelepiped groove structure.

[0082] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the battery case 12 includes a case 13 and a cover 14. The cover 14 covers the opening of the case 13. The case 13 and the cover 14 enclose an inner cavity, which can accommodate the battery cell 11. The case 13 includes a bottom plate 133 and a side plate 131 arranged around the edge of the bottom plate 133. The cover 14 and the bottom plate 133 are opposite and spaced apart. The inner cavity can be provided with a beam 132, which can include at least one of a longitudinal beam and a transverse beam. For example, the case connection area 125 of the second protrusion 124 can be connected to the cover 14, the beam 132, the side plate 131, etc. of the battery case 12. The connection between the case connection area 125 and the battery case 12 can be adhesive. As shown in Figure 5 , in one specific configuration, the battery cell 11 is placed longitudinally within the inner cavity of the battery case 12, the end cap assembly 100 is located on top of the battery cell 11, and the case connection area 125 is connected to the cover 14 of the battery case 12. As shown in Figure 6 , in one specific configuration, the battery cell 11 is placed transversely within the inner cavity of the battery case 12, the end cap assembly 100 is located on one side of the battery cell 11, and the case connection area 125 is connected to the side panel 131 or beam 132 of the battery case 12.

[0083] In the end cap assembly 100 provided in this embodiment, because the first protrusion 113 of the end cap 110 is located within the first recess 123 of the protective patch 120, the contact area between the end cap 110 and the protective patch 120 is increased, the relative limiting effect is enhanced, and the connection stability is stronger. When the end cap 110 and the protective patch 120 are bonded, the provision of the first protrusion 113 and the first recess 123 increases the connection area between the end cap 110 and the protective patch 120, further improving the connection strength between the end cap 110 and the protective patch 120. Because the second protrusion 124 of the protective patch 120 has a case connection area 125, the end cap assembly 100 can be connected to the battery case 12 via the case connection area 125, thereby connecting the battery cell 11 to which the end cap assembly 100 is applied to the battery case 12. This improves the connection performance between the battery cells 11 and the battery case 12 , thereby reducing the displacement of the end cover 110 relative to the battery case 12 when the battery expands and deforms, thereby making the electrical connection between adjacent battery cells 11 more stable.

[0084] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the first recess 123 is disposed at a position opposite to the second protrusion 124. In this arrangement, since the second protrusion 124 is disposed on the protective patch 120 and the second protrusion 124 has a case connection area 125, the thickness of the second protrusion 124 is greater than the thickness of other areas of the protective patch 120. Disposing the first recess 123 at a position opposite to the second protrusion 124, that is, disposing the first recess 123 within the thickness range of the second protrusion 124, allows the first protrusion 113 to extend into the interior of the second protrusion 124. Thus, when the total thickness of the end cap assembly 100 is relatively small, the connection strength between the end cap 110 and the protective patch 120 can be improved through the cooperation of the first protrusion 113 and the first recess 123. Furthermore, the provision of the case connection area 125 in the second protrusion 124 improves the connection strength between the end cap assembly 100 and the battery case 12.

[0085] In some possible configurations, as shown in FIG2 , end cap 110 has a fourth surface 112 facing away from first surface 111, and fourth surface 112 is flat. In this configuration, the area of ​​end cap 110 where first protrusion 113 is provided is thicker, providing greater structural strength, thereby improving the connection strength between end cap 110 and protective patch 120.

[0086] In other possible configurations, as shown in Figure 7, the end cap 110 has a fourth surface 112 facing away from the first surface 111. A second recess 114 is provided on the fourth surface 112, directly opposite the first protrusion 113. When the end cap assembly 100 is used in a battery, the end cap 110 is connected to the housing, with the fourth surface 112 of the end cap 110 facing the housing's storage space. Because the second recess 114 is provided on the fourth surface 112, the second recess 114 communicates with the housing's storage space. The provision of the second recess 114 increases the housing's gas storage space. The battery cell 11 is provided with an explosion-proof valve, which can be located on the side or bottom surface of the housing (the surface opposite the end cap 110), or in an area of ​​the end cap 110 not provided with the first protrusion 113. When thermal runaway occurs in the battery cell 11, the internal heat of the battery cell 11 increases, causing the gas within the housing to expand and open the explosion-proof valve, thereby releasing pressure and heat from the battery cell 11. The provision of the explosion-proof valve improves the safety of the battery cell 11. The amount of gas stored within the housing is correlated with the duration of the explosion-proof valve's opening. Increasing the gas storage space increases the amount of gas stored within the housing. When heat builds inside the battery cell 11, the larger the gas storage, the faster the gas expands, resulting in a relatively greater impact force on the explosion-proof valve, facilitating its rapid opening. Providing a second recess 114 on the backside of the first protrusion 113 more effectively utilizes the thickness of the first protrusion 113 and improves the structural efficiency of the end cap 110. For example, the first protrusion 113 and the second recess 114 can be formed on either side of the end cap 110 by stamping. It is worth noting that when the explosion-proof valve is positioned on the side of the housing, the area available for adhesive application to connect to the battery case is reduced. However, since the housing is connected to the end cap assembly 100, the end cap assembly 100 connects to the battery case via the case connection area 125, thereby improving the stability of the housing connection. Therefore, the end cap assembly 100 is particularly advantageous when used in housings with explosion-proof valves positioned on the side.

[0087] In one possible design, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the second protrusion 124 is provided with a wiring groove 126. The side of the second protrusion 124 away from the end cover 110 is recessed toward the direction close to the end cover 110 to form the wiring groove 126, and the area of ​​the second protrusion 124 away from the end cover 110 where the wiring groove 126 is not formed forms a box connection area 125. When the end cover assembly 100 is applied to the battery, the wiring groove 126 can be used for laying cables. The wiring groove 126 plays a certain protective role for the cables, and laying the cables in the wiring groove 126 can save the internal space of the battery and improve the utilization rate of the internal space of the battery. A control device, such as a battery management system, can be provided in the battery case 12. The battery management system is connected to a detection device, which is used to detect information such as the voltage, current, and temperature of each battery cell 11. Exemplarily, the detection device includes a temperature sensor and a wiring harness. The temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature at the connection between the electrode terminal 1151 and the bus structure 1152. The temperature sensor can be set on the electrode terminal 1151 or the bus structure 1152. Since there are multiple battery cells 11 in the battery case 12, multiple wiring harnesses and temperature sensors need to be set. For ease of layout, multiple wiring harnesses are integrated on the FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit), and the FPC is laid out in the wiring groove 126. In a specific example, the wiring groove 126 includes a first wiring segment 1261 and a second wiring segment 1262. The first wiring segment 1261 and the second wiring segment 1262 are connected, and the first wiring segment 1261 and the second wiring segment 1262 extend in different directions. In Figure 7, first trace segment 1261 extends along the width (X-direction) of protective patch 120, and second trace segment 1262 extends along the length (Y-direction) of protective patch 120. The width of first trace segment 1261 is greater than the width of second trace segment 1262. In other words, the dimension of first trace segment 1261 along the length (Y-direction) of protective patch 120 is greater than the dimension of second trace segment 1262 along the width (X-direction) of protective patch 120. In this configuration, the FPC is connected to the battery management system and is routed within first trace segment 1261. A temperature sensor is provided on or next to each electrode terminal 1151, and is connected to the FPC via a wiring harness routed within second trace segment 1262.

[0088] In one possible design, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the second protrusion 124 is provided with an avoidance groove 127. The side of the second protrusion 124 away from the end cover 110 is recessed toward the direction close to the end cover 110 to form the avoidance groove 127. The area of ​​the second protrusion 124 away from the end cover 110 where the wiring groove 126 and the avoidance groove 127 are not formed forms the box connection area 125. The avoidance groove 127 can be used to avoid part of the bus structure 1152. When the end cover assembly 100 is applied to a battery, the avoidance groove 127 can also be used to avoid other structures located near the end cover assembly 100, such as sensors for detection located inside the battery box 12. For example, as shown in FIG9 , when the end cap assembly 100 is applied to the battery case 12 , one end cap 110 is covered on a shell, and adjacent battery cells 11 are connected via a busbar structure 1152 . One end of the busbar structure 1152 is connected to the electrode terminal 1151 provided on one end cap 110 , and the other end is connected to the electrode terminal 1151 provided on the other end cap 110 . In some busbar structures 1152 (such as the busbar structure 1152 located between the end cap assemblies 100 in the third row in FIG9 ), portions of the ends of the busbar structure 1152 may extend into the avoidance groove 127 on the corresponding end cap 110 . The arrangement of the avoidance groove 127 provides a larger installation space for the busbar structure 1152 . Due to the differences in the layout angles of the busbar structures 1152 , there are also cases where the ends of some busbar structures 1152 are not located in the avoidance groove 127 .

[0089] In some feasible implementations, the end cover 110 may be provided with a first protrusion 113 , and the protective patch 120 may be provided with a first recess 123 .

[0090] In other feasible embodiments, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, a plurality of first protrusions 113 are provided on the end cap 110, and a plurality of first recesses 123 are provided on the protective patch 120, and the plurality of first protrusions 113 are provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of first recesses 123. The plurality of first protrusions 113 are arranged at intervals on the end cap 110, and the structural shapes of different first protrusions 113 may be the same or different. For example, in Figure 10, the number of first protrusions 113 is five, and the structural shapes of the five first protrusions 113 are the same, all of which are rectangular. Among the five first protrusions 113, one of the first protrusions 113 is located in the middle of the first surface 111, and in the width direction (X direction) of the end cap 110, two first protrusions 113 are provided on both sides of the first protrusion 113 located in the middle, and the two first protrusions 113 located on the same side in the width direction (X direction) of the end cap 110 are arranged at intervals along the length direction (Y direction) of the end cap 110. By providing the plurality of first protrusions 113 , the contact area between the protection patch 120 and the end cover 110 can be further increased, thereby improving the connection stability between the protection patch 120 and the end cover 110 .

[0091] In one possible design, two electrode terminals 1151 are provided on the end cap 110, and the plurality of first protrusions 113 are located between the two electrode terminals 1151. For example, as shown in FIG10 , the two electrode terminals 1151 are spaced apart on the end cap 110 along the length direction (Y direction) of the end cap 110, and all the first protrusions 113 are located between the two electrode terminals 1151. That is, along the length direction (Y direction) of the end cap 110, all the first protrusions 113 are concentrated in the middle region of the end cap 110. Since the first protrusion 113 and the first recess 123 are arranged opposite to each other, the multiple first recesses 123 on the protective patch 120 are concentrated in a relatively central area on the protective patch 120, and the second protrusion 124 set on the protective patch 120 can be set in a relatively central area on the protective patch 120, that is, the connection between the end cover assembly 100 and the battery case 12 is located in a relatively central area of ​​the end cover assembly 100, thereby making the connection between the end cover assembly 100 and the battery case 12 more stable.

[0092] In one possible design, the protective patch 120 is a thermally conductive patch. A thermally conductive patch is a sheet-like structure made of an insulating, thermally conductive material. For example, the thermally conductive patch can be made of ceramic or resin materials, such as a modified resin made by adding glass fiber and aluminum oxide to polyester resin. The thermally conductive patch improves the heat dissipation performance of the end cap assembly 100, thereby improving the heat dissipation performance of the battery incorporating the end cap assembly 100.

[0093] In the end cap assembly 100 provided in this embodiment, one protective patch 120 can be connected to one end cap 110. The number of first recesses 123 on the protective patch 120 is the same as the number of first protrusions 113 on the end cap 110. The projection of the protective patch 120 in the thickness direction (Z direction) coincides with the projection of the end cap 110 in the thickness direction (Z direction). This end cap assembly 100 can be used in a battery cell 11, with one end cap assembly 100 being used for each battery cell 11.

[0094] In other embodiments, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, there are multiple end caps 110, and multiple end caps 110 are connected to one protective patch 120. The protective patch 120 is provided with multiple first recesses 123. The number of the first recesses 123 is equal to the sum of the number of the first protrusions 113 in the multiple end caps 110, and the first protrusions 113 are located in the first recesses 123 in a one-to-one correspondence. For example, in Figures 12 and 13, there is one protective patch 120 and three end caps 110. Each of the three end caps 110 is provided with five first protrusions 113, so that the three end caps 110 are provided with a total of fifteen first protrusions 113, and the protective patch 120 is provided with fifteen first recesses 123, and the first protrusions 113 are provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the first recesses 123.

[0095] In the above-mentioned end cover assembly 100, a protective patch 120 is connected to multiple end covers 110, and the multiple end covers 110 can be respectively covered on multiple shells, that is, the end cover assembly 100 is applied to multiple battery cells 11, and the number of cover plates is the same as the number of battery cells 11. The cover plates are connected one-to-one to the shells of the battery cells 11. The protective patch 120 connects the multiple end covers 110 together, thereby improving the connection stability between the multiple battery cells 11. During the process of expansion and deformation of one or more battery cells 11, the end covers 110 of each battery cell 11 are connected to each other under the action of the protective patch 120, thereby reducing the relative displacement between adjacent end covers 110, so that the electrical connection stability between adjacent battery cells 11 is stronger.

[0096] In a specific implementation of the present embodiment, an end cap assembly 100 is provided, and the end cap assembly 100 includes an end cap 110 and a protective patch 120. As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the projection of the end cap 110 in the thickness direction (Z direction) is square, and the projection of the protective patch 120 in the thickness direction (Z direction) is square. The end cap assembly 100 is applied to a battery cell 11, and the battery cell 11 includes a shell, and the end cap 110 is connected to the shell, and the end cap 110 and the shell are surrounded to form a accommodating space. The end cap 110 has a first surface 111 and a fourth surface 112 that are opposite to each other in the thickness direction (Z direction). After the end cap 110 is covered on the shell, the first surface 111 is the surface facing away from the shell. The first surface 111 is provided with a first protrusion 113, and the first protrusion 113 is provided on the first surface 111 to protrude in the direction away from the shell. A second recess 114 is provided at a position opposite to the fourth surface 112 and the first protrusion 113. The second recess 114 forms an opening on the fourth surface 112. The second recess 114 has a bottom wall provided opposite to the opening of the second recess 114. The distance between the bottom wall of the second recess 114 and the first surface 111 is at least equal to 2 millimeters (mm) to ensure the structural strength of the end cap 110 to a certain extent. By providing the second recess 114, at least 0.5 milliliters (ml) of space inside the shell can be released to increase the gas storage space of the shell. The protective patch 120 is connected to the first surface 111 of the end cap 110, and is located outside the accommodating space when the end cap 110 is connected to the shell. An adhesive layer is provided between the protective patch 120 and the end cap 110, and the protective patch 120 and the end cap 110 are connected by the adhesive layer. The protective patch 120 has a second surface 121 and a third surface 122 that are opposite to each other in the thickness direction (Z direction). The second surface 121 is opposite to the first surface 111, and the third surface 122 is the side of the protective patch 120 away from the end cap 110. The structural shapes of the first protrusion 113 and the first recess 123 match. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the first protrusion 113 is a rectangular parallelepiped structure, and the first recess 123 is a rectangular parallelepiped groove structure. The second surface 121 is provided with a first recess 123, which is recessed in the direction of the second surface 121 toward the third surface 122. The number of the first protrusion 113 and the first recess 123 are both multiple, and the multiple first protrusions 113 are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the multiple first recesses 123. After the protective patch 120 is connected to the end cap 110, each first protrusion 113 is located in the corresponding first recess 123. The third surface 122 has a second protrusion 124 that protrudes from the third surface 122 in a direction away from the end cap 110. The second protrusion 124 has a case connection area 125. The second protrusion 124 of the protective patch 120 is connected to the battery case 12 via the case connection area 125, thereby indirectly connecting the end cap 110 to the battery case 12.The end cap 110 is provided with an electrode terminal 1151, and the protective patch 120 is provided with a via 128. The electrode terminal 1151 extends through the via 128. The side of the electrode terminal 1151 facing away from the battery case is connected to the bus structure 1152. Because the second protrusion 124 has a case connection area 125, the height of the second protrusion 124 is greater than the total height of the electrode terminal 1151 and the bus structure 1152 after connection. This configuration can, to a certain extent, avoid the risk of the bus structure 1152 overlapping the battery case 12 or the opposite bus structure 1152. The second protrusion 124 is provided with a wiring groove 126, which includes a first wiring segment 1261 and a second wiring segment 1262. The first wiring segment 1261 and the second wiring segment 1262 are connected. The first wiring segment 1261 extends along the width direction (X direction) of the protective patch 120, and the second wiring segment 1262 extends along the length direction (Y direction) of the protective patch 120. The width of the first wiring segment 1261 is greater than the width of the second wiring segment 1262. The side of the second protrusion 124 away from the end cover 110 is recessed toward the end cover 110 to form an avoidance groove 127. The side of the second protrusion 124 away from the end cover 110 does not form the wiring groove 126, and the area without the avoidance groove 127 forms the box connection area 125. The avoidance groove 127 is used to avoid a portion of the bus structure 1152.

[0097] Example 2

[0098] As shown in Figures 14, 15, and 16, this embodiment provides an end cap assembly 100, comprising an end cap 110 and a protective patch 120, wherein: there are multiple end caps 110, each having a first surface 111, on which a first protrusion 113 is disposed. The protective patch 120 is connected to the first surface 111, and has a second surface 121 and a third surface 122 disposed opposite to each other. The second surface 121 has a first recess 123, the number of which is equal to the sum of the first protrusions 113 in the multiple end caps 110, and the multiple first protrusions 113 are respectively located in corresponding first recesses 123.

[0099] In the end cap assembly 100 provided in this embodiment, a plurality of end caps 110 are connected to a single protective patch 120, or in other words, the plurality of end caps 110 are connected via a single protective patch 120. The end cap assembly 100 is applied to a battery. For example, the end cap assembly 100 is applied to a plurality of battery cells 11, each of which includes a housing. The plurality of end caps 110 in the end cap assembly 100 are connected to the plurality of housings in a one-to-one correspondence, and the protective patch 120 is connected to the plurality of end caps 110, thereby connecting the plurality of battery cells 11 via the protective patch 120.

[0100] In this configuration, the end cap assembly 100 is used to connect multiple battery cells 11. Each end cap 110 is connected to the housing of a battery cell 11. Each end cap 110 achieves a larger contact area through the cooperation of the first protrusion 113 and the first recess 123, thereby improving the connection strength between the protective patch 120 and the multiple end caps 110. In addition, the first protrusion 113 extends into the first recess 123. The cooperation between the first protrusion 113 and the first recess 123 gives the end cap 110 a greater restraining force in the horizontal direction (any direction on a plane coplanar with the X and Y directions, or in other words, any direction on a plane perpendicular to the Z direction). In other words, the protective patch 120 has a better effect of limiting the end cap 110 in the horizontal direction. The provision of the first protrusion 113 improves the structural stability of the end plate, and the provision of the second protrusion 124 improves the structural stability of the protective patch 120. The protective patch 120 connects multiple end caps 110 together, thereby improving the connection stability between multiple adjacent battery cells 11. During the expansion and deformation of one or more battery cells 11, the end covers 110 of each battery cell 11 are connected to each other under the action of the protective patch 120, thereby reducing the relative displacement between adjacent end covers 110 and making the electrical connection between adjacent battery cells 11 more stable.

[0101] The protective patch 120 and the end cap 110 may be bonded together, and the projection of the end cap assembly 100 in the thickness direction (Z direction) matches the structural shape of the battery housing in which it is used. The structural shapes of the first protrusion 113 and the corresponding first recess 123 match. In some embodiments, multiple first recesses 123 are arranged at positions opposite to the second protrusion 124.

[0102] In some possible configurations, as shown in FIG17 , the end cap 110 has a fourth surface 112 facing away from the first surface 111 , and a second recess 114 is provided on the fourth surface 112 opposite to the first protrusion 113 . The provision of the second recess 114 can increase the gas storage space of the battery cell 11 to which the end cap 110 is applied.

[0103] In one possible design, as shown in FIG18 , the end cap 110 is provided with an electrode terminal 1151 , the electrode terminal 1151 is passed through the protective patch 120 , and the maximum distance H1 between the third surface 122 and the first surface 111 is smaller than the maximum distance H3 between the electrode terminal 1151 and the first surface 111 .

[0104] As shown in Figures 16, 17 and 18, the end cap 110 is provided with an electrode terminal 1151. Depending on the model of the battery cell 11 to which the end cap 110 is applied, the end cap 110 may be provided with one electrode terminal 1151 or two electrode terminals 1151. A via 128 is provided on the protective patch 120, and the electrode terminal 1151 passes through the via 128, so that the electrode terminal 1151 is passed through the protective patch 120. The number of vias 128 provided on the protective patch 120 is equal to the total number of electrode terminals 1151 on the multiple end caps 110 connected thereto. As shown in Figures 16 and 17, in an end cap assembly 100, the number of protective patches 120 is one, the number of end caps 110 is two, and each end cap 110 is provided with two electrode terminals 1151, respectively. The protective patch 120 is provided with four vias 128.

[0105] Since the maximum distance H1 between the third surface 122 and the first surface 111 is smaller than the maximum distance H3 between the electrode terminal 1151 and the first surface 111, that is to say, when the end cap assembly 100 is placed longitudinally so that the thickness direction (Z direction) of the end cap assembly 100 is longitudinal, and the protective patch 120 is located above the end cap 110, the top surface height of the protective patch 120 is lower than the top surface height of the electrode terminal 1151, so that the bus structure 1152 connected to the top of the electrode terminal 1151 can be located above the protective patch 120. As shown in Figure 19, when the electrode terminals 1151 of different battery cells 11 are connected, since the setting of the second protrusion 124 of the protective patch 120 will not interfere with the layout of the bus structure 1152, the bus structure 1152 can be arranged at various angles according to needs. For example, the length direction (Y direction) of the bus structure 1152 can be parallel to the length direction (Y direction) of the end cover assembly 100, or the length direction (Y direction) of the bus structure 1152 can be relatively inclined to the length direction (Y direction) of the end cover assembly 100.

[0106] In a specific implementation of this embodiment, another end cap assembly 100 is provided, as shown in Figures 14, 15 and 16, the end cap assembly 100 includes an end cap 110 and a protective patch 120, wherein the number of end caps 110 is two. One protective patch 120 connects the two end caps 110. The end cap assembly 100 is applied to a battery cell 11, and the battery cell 11 includes a shell. The multiple end caps 110 in the end cap assembly 100 are connected to the multiple shells in a one-to-one correspondence, and each end cap 110 and the corresponding shell are respectively surrounded to form a accommodating space. The end cap 110 has a first surface 111 and a fourth surface 112 that are opposite to each other in the thickness direction (Z direction). After the end cap 110 is covered on the shell, the first surface 111 is the surface facing away from the shell. The first surface 111 is provided with a first protrusion 113, and the first protrusion 113 is provided on the first surface 111 in a direction protruding away from the shell. A second recess 114 is provided at a position opposite to the fourth surface 112 and the first protrusion 113. The second recess 114 forms an opening on the fourth surface 112. The second recess 114 has a bottom wall provided opposite to the opening of the second recess 114. The distance between the bottom wall of the second recess 114 and the first surface 111 is at least equal to 2 mm, so as to ensure the structural strength of the end cap 110 to a certain extent. By providing the second recess 114, at least 0.5 ml of space inside the shell can be released to increase the gas storage space of the shell. The protective patch 120 is connected to the first surface 111 of the end cap 110. When the end cap 110 is connected to the shell, the protective patch 120 is located outside the accommodating space. An adhesive layer is provided between the protective patch 120 and the end cap 110, and the protective patch 120 and the end cap 110 are connected by the adhesive layer. The protective patch 120 has a second surface 121 and a third surface 122 that are opposite to each other in the thickness direction (Z direction). The second surface 121 is opposite to the first surface 111, and the third surface 122 is the side of the protective patch 120 away from the end cap 110. The structural shapes of the first protrusion 113 and the first recess 123 match. The first protrusion 113 is a rectangular parallelepiped structure, and the first recess 123 is a rectangular parallelepiped groove structure. The second surface 121 is provided with a first recess 123, which is recessed in the direction of the second surface 121 toward the third surface 122. The number of the first protrusion 113 and the first recess 123 are both multiple, and the number of the multiple first recesses 123 is equal to the sum of the number of the first protrusions 113 on the first surface 111 of the two end caps 110, and the multiple first protrusions 113 are respectively located in the corresponding first recesses 123. The third surface 122 has a second protrusion 124 that protrudes from the third surface 122 away from the end cap 110. The side of the second protrusion 124 away from the end cap 110 constitutes a portion of the third surface 122. An electrode terminal 1151 is provided on the end cap 110. A via 128 is provided on the protective patch 120. The electrode terminal 1151 extends through the via 128. The side of the electrode terminal 1151 away from the housing is connected to the bus structure 1152.When the end cap assembly 100 is placed longitudinally so that the thickness direction (Z direction) of the end cap assembly 100 is longitudinal, and the protective patch 120 is located above the end cap 110, the top surface height of the second protrusion 124 is lower than the top surface height of the electrode terminal 1151, so that the bus structure 1152 connected to the top of the electrode terminal 1151 can be located above the protective patch 120, and the bus structure 1152 can be arranged at a variety of different angles according to needs.

[0107] Example 3

[0108] As shown in Figures 1-5, 18, 20, and 21, this embodiment provides a battery 10, comprising a battery case 12 and an end cap assembly 100 provided in the first or second embodiment above, wherein the end cap assembly 100 is located within the battery case 12. When the battery 10 includes the end cap assembly 100 provided in the first embodiment above, the battery 10 has at least all the beneficial effects of the end cap assembly 100 provided in the first embodiment. When the battery 10 includes the end cap assembly 100 provided in the second embodiment above, the battery 10 has at least all the beneficial effects of the end cap assembly 100 provided in the second embodiment.

[0109] The battery case 12 has an inner cavity for accommodating battery cells 11 and other devices (such as a battery management system). The battery case 12 includes a case 13 and a cover 14. The cover 14 covers the opening of the case 13. The case 13 and the cover 14 enclose an inner cavity. A plurality of battery cells 11 are placed in the battery case 12. Each battery cell 11 is provided with an end cap assembly 100, or a plurality of battery cells 11 are provided with an end cap assembly 100. When the end cap assembly 100 in the battery case 12 is the end cap assembly 100 in the first embodiment described above, the case connection area 125 in the end cap assembly 100 is connected to the battery case 12. The battery case 12 includes a bottom plate 133 and a side plate 131 arranged around the edge of the bottom plate 133. The cover 14 is opposite to the bottom plate 133 and is spaced apart. The inner cavity may be provided with a beam 132, which may include at least one of a longitudinal beam and a transverse beam. The box connection area 125 can be connected to the cover 14, beam 132, side plate 131, etc. of the battery box 12. When the end cap assembly 100 in the battery box 12 is the end cap assembly 100 in the second embodiment, the end cap assembly 100 is not connected to the battery box 12.

[0110] There are multiple battery cells 11, and the multiple battery cells 11 are electrically connected, for example, in series, parallel, or hybrid connection. Hybrid connection means that the multiple battery cells 11 are connected both in series and in parallel. The battery cells 11 can be secondary batteries, which are battery cells 11 that can be recharged to activate the active material after discharge and continue to be used. The battery cells 11 can be lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, sodium-potassium-ion batteries, lithium metal batteries, sodium metal batteries, potassium-sulfur batteries, magnesium-ion batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, lead-acid batteries, etc., and the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this.

[0111] The battery cell 11 generally includes an outer shell and an electrode assembly. The electrode assembly is provided with a tab, which can conduct current from the electrode assembly. The tab includes a positive tab and a negative tab. The outer shell is used to encapsulate the electrode assembly and components such as the electrolyte. The outer shell includes a shell. The end cap 110 in the end cap assembly 100 is covered on the shell. The end cap 110 is provided with an electrode terminal 1151. The electrode terminal 1151 includes a positive terminal and a negative terminal. The positive terminal is connected to the positive tab, and the negative terminal is connected to the negative tab. The electrical connection between adjacent battery cells 11 is achieved through a bus structure 1152. The bus structure 1152 is made of a conductive material, such as copper or aluminum. The two ends of the bus structure 1152 are respectively connected to the electrode terminals 1151 of different battery cells 11.

[0112] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 20 and 21, the battery case 12 includes a case 13 and a cooling structure 15 installed in the case 13. When the end cap assembly 100 includes a case connection area 125, the case connection area 125 is connected to the cooling structure 15. That is, when the battery 10 includes the end cap assembly 100 provided in the first embodiment, the case connection area 125 is connected to the cooling structure 15. The cooling structure 15 can be a liquid cooling structure, which can be a plate-shaped structure. A groove is provided on the side plate 131 of the case 13, and the cooling structure 15 is installed in the groove. The cooling structure 15 is fixedly connected to the side plate 131. Since the case connection area 125 is connected to the cooling structure 15, on the one hand, the protective patch 120 is connected to the case 13 through the cooling structure 15, thereby improving the connection strength between the end cap 110 and the battery case 12. On the other hand, the protection patch 120 dissipates heat through the cooling structure 15, thereby improving the heat dissipation effect of the end cover 110, and further improving the heat dissipation effect of the battery cell 11 where the housing covered by the end cover 110 is located.

[0113] Example 4

[0114] This embodiment provides an electrical device 1, which includes the battery 10 of the third embodiment. The battery 10 is used to provide electrical energy. Since the electrical device 1 includes the battery 10, it has at least all the benefits of the battery 10, which will not be described in detail here.

[0115] The electric device 1 may be, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, a tablet, a laptop computer, an electric toy, an electric tool, a battery car, 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.

[0116] Please refer to Figure 22. For the convenience of description, the vehicle in this example is taken as the electrical device 1 as an example. The vehicle 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 augmented program vehicle, etc. A driving mechanism 30, a control mechanism 20 and a battery 10 can be set inside the vehicle. The driving mechanism 30 can be a motor, etc., and the control mechanism 20 is used to control the battery 10 to power the driving mechanism 30. For example, a battery 10 can be set at the bottom, front or rear of the vehicle. The battery 10 can be used to power other equipment in the vehicle. For example, the battery 10 can be used as the operating power supply of the vehicle and for the circuit system of the vehicle, for example, for the working power requirements during the start-up, navigation and operation of the vehicle. In another example, the battery 10 can not only be used as the operating power supply of the vehicle, but also as the driving power supply of the vehicle, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle.

[0117] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and they should all be included in the scope of the claims and specification of the present application. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the various technical features mentioned in the various embodiments can be combined in any way. The present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions that fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An end cap assembly, wherein, Comprising: An end cover, the end cover having a first face, the first face being provided with a first convex portion; A protective patch, the protective patch being connected to the first face, the protective patch having a second face and a third face arranged to face away from each other, the second face having a first concave portion, the first convex portion being located within the first concave portion, the third face having a second convex portion, the second convex portion having a battery box connection area, the battery box connection area being used for connecting to a battery box.

2. The end cap assembly according to claim 1, wherein, The end cover has a fourth face facing away from the first face, and a second concave portion is provided at a position where the fourth face is directly opposite to the first convex portion.

3. The end cap assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The second convex portion is provided with a wire routing groove.

4. The end cap assembly according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein, The second convex portion is provided with an avoidance groove.

5. The end cap assembly according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein, A plurality of first convex portions are provided on the end cover, and a plurality of first concave portions are provided on the protective patch, and the plurality of first convex portions are arranged in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of first concave portions.

6. The end cap assembly according to claim 5, wherein, Two electrode terminals are provided on the end cover, and a plurality of the first convex portions are all located between the two electrode terminals.

7. The end cap assembly according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein, The protective patch is a heat-conducting patch.

8. The end cap assembly according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein, The number of the end covers is multiple, the multiple end covers are connected to one protective patch, the protective patch is provided with a plurality of the first concave portions, the number of the first concave portions is equal to the sum of the numbers of the first convex portions in the multiple end covers, and the first convex portions are located within the first concave portions in one-to-one correspondence.

9. An end cap assembly, wherein, Comprising: An end cover, the number of the end covers being multiple, the end cover having a first face, the first face being provided with a first convex portion; A protective patch, the protective patch being connected to the first face, the protective patch having a second face and a third face arranged to face away from each other, the second face having a first concave portion, the number of the first concave portions being equal to the sum of the numbers of the first convex portions in the multiple end covers, and the plurality of first convex portions are respectively located within the corresponding first concave portions.

10. The end cap assembly according to claim 9, wherein, The end cover is provided with electrode terminals, the electrode terminals penetrate through the protective patch, and the maximum distance between the third face and the first face is less than the maximum distance between the electrode terminals and the first face.

11. A battery, wherein, Comprising a battery box and an end cover assembly according to any one of claims 1-10, the end cover assembly being arranged within the battery box.

12. The battery according to claim 11, wherein, The battery box includes a box body and a cover body, the box body and the cover body enclose an inner cavity, the box body includes a bottom plate and side plates surrounding the periphery of the bottom plate, a beam body is arranged in the inner cavity, and the battery box connection area is connected to the cover body, the beam body or the side plates.

13. The battery according to claim 11 or 12, wherein, The battery box includes a box body and a cooling structure installed within the box body, and when the end cover assembly includes the battery box connection area, the battery box connection area is connected to the cooling structure.

14. The battery according to claim 13, wherein, The box body includes a bottom plate and side plates surrounding the periphery of the bottom plate, the side plates are provided with embedding grooves, the cooling structure is installed within the embedding grooves, and the cooling structure is fixedly connected to the side plates.

15. The battery according to any one of claims 11-14, wherein, The battery further includes a housing and an electrode assembly, the end cover is connected to the housing to enclose a receiving space for the electrode assembly, and the second concave portion communicates with the receiving space.

16. The battery according to any one of claims 11-14, wherein, The battery further includes a housing, the end cover is connected to the housing, the end cover is opposite to the bottom surface of the housing, and an explosion-proof valve is provided on the side surface of the housing.

17. An electrical device, wherein, Comprising a battery as described in any one of claims 11-16, the battery being used to power the electrical device.

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