Top cover assembly, battery cell, battery, and assembly method for top cover assembly

Abstract

The present application relates to a top cover assembly (100), a battery cell, a battery, and an assembly method for a top cover assembly. The top cover assembly (100) comprises: a cover plate (10) and a lower insulating member (40), the cover plate (10) having least two terminal holes (11), the cover plate (10) comprising a first surface (101) and a second surface (102), and the lower insulating member (40) being arranged on the second surface (102); at least two terminals (20) and at least two sealing rings (30), the terminals (20) corresponding to the terminal holes (11) on a one-to-one basis, each terminal (20) comprising a main body (21) and an annular flange portion (22) arranged at one end of the main body (21), each main body (21) being sleeved with a sealing ring (30) and inserted into the corresponding terminal hole (11), and each flange portion (22) being sealed and pressed against the first surface (101) of the cover plate (10) by means of the sealing ring (30); and at least two limiting members (50), each of which is insulated and isolated between the corresponding main body (21) and terminal hole (11) and is configured to enable the corresponding terminal (20) and terminal hole (11) to be relatively fixed.

Description

Top cover assembly, battery cell, battery, and assembly method of top cover assembly

[0001] Cross-references

[0002] This application refers to Chinese Patent Application No. 2024101762114 filed on February 8, 2024, entitled “Assembly method of top cover assembly, battery cell, battery and top cover assembly”, which is incorporated into this application in its entirety by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to the technical field of battery production and manufacturing, and in particular to a top cover assembly, a battery cell, and an assembly method of a battery and a top cover assembly. Background Art

[0004] The battery is a power source that provides power for tools. The battery cells in the battery usually include a shell, a top cover and a battery cell. The battery cell is located in the shell and is encapsulated by the top cover. The top cover includes a cover plate and a pole that is provided through the cover plate. The pole is used to connect the battery cell to external electrical equipment. The pole can be connected to the cover plate through an upper plastic part provided on the top of the cover plate. In addition, a sealing ring is required between the cover plate and the pole to prevent leakage and form a closed space in the battery cell. However, in the battery cells of the related art, there are usually problems such as the upper plastic part taking up a large space and the pole being installed at a higher height relative to the shell, which increases the space occupied by the battery cell and affects the energy density of the battery.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] According to various embodiments of the present application, a top cover assembly, a battery cell, a battery, and a method for assembling the top cover assembly are provided. Details of one or more embodiments of the present application are set forth in the following drawings and description. Other features, objects, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description, drawings, and claims.

[0007] A first aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a top cover assembly, comprising:

[0008] The cover plate and the lower insulating member are provided with at least one pole hole extending through the cover plate in the thickness direction, and the cover plate includes a first surface and a second surface oppositely arranged in the thickness direction of the cover plate, and the lower insulating member is provided on the second surface;

[0009] At least one pole and at least one sealing ring, the poles corresponding to the pole holes one by one, each pole comprising a main body and an annular flange portion provided at one end of the main body, each main body being provided with a sealing ring sleeved thereon and inserted into the corresponding pole hole, each flange portion being sealed against the first surface of the cover plate by the sealing ring; and

[0010] At least one limiting member, each limiting member is insulated and isolated between a group of corresponding main bodies and the pole holes, and the limiting member is configured to fix the corresponding pole and the pole hole relative to each other.

[0011] In one embodiment, the flange portion is located outside the pole hole, and the sealing ring is sandwiched between the first surface of the cover plate and the flange portion.

[0012] In one embodiment, the limiting member is configured as a ring-shaped member;

[0013] The pole, the sealing ring and the inner wall of the pole hole jointly define an annular accommodating space, and the limiting member is arranged in the accommodating space.

[0014] In one embodiment, the outer circumferential side surface and the inner circumferential side surface of the limiting member are respectively provided with an annular first matching portion and a second matching portion, and the pole further includes a pole matching portion;

[0015] The pole mating portion presses against the end surface of the second mating portion facing the second direction;

[0016] The first matching portion presses against a side of the cover plate facing the second direction to limit movement of the limiting member along the first direction; the first direction is from the second surface to the first surface, and the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

[0017] In one embodiment, a pole mating groove is provided on the outer circumference of the main body at a position corresponding to the second mating portion, so as to form a pole mating portion at the end of the main body away from the flange portion, and the second mating portion is inserted into the pole mating groove.

[0018] In one embodiment, the main body is configured as a columnar member, the pole mating portion is configured as an annular member, and the pole mating portion is provided on the outer circumference of the main body.

[0019] In one embodiment, the lower insulating member is provided with an avoidance hole for the pole and the limiting member to pass through;

[0020] An annular lower insulating component matching groove is provided on the edge of the hole opening of the lower insulating component, and the first matching portion is inserted into the lower insulating component matching groove.

[0021] In one embodiment, the first matching portion presses against the end surface of the cover plate facing the second direction.

[0022] In one embodiment, one of the opposing surfaces of the lower insulating member and the cover plate is provided with a plurality of mounting protrusions, and the other is provided with a plurality of mounting grooves. The plurality of mounting protrusions are inserted into the plurality of mounting grooves one by one, and a group of corresponding mounting protrusions and mounting grooves are welded or interference fit.

[0023] In one embodiment, the first matching portion is pressed against the end surface of the cover plate facing the second direction via a partial structure of the lower insulating component.

[0024] In one embodiment, a first anti-rotation portion is provided at at least one circumferential position of the main body, and a second anti-rotation portion and a third anti-rotation portion are provided on the inner wall of the limiting member and the pole hole at positions corresponding to the first anti-rotation portion, respectively. The first anti-rotation portion, the second anti-rotation portion and the third anti-rotation portion cooperate with each other to limit the relative rotation of the main body, the limiting member and the pole hole.

[0025] In one embodiment, a third matching portion is further provided at the end of the position-limiting member facing the flange portion, and the third matching portion and the second anti-rotation portion are located at the same position in the circumferential direction of the pole;

[0026] The third matching portion is blocked on the first surface of the cover plate to limit the displacement of the limiting member relative to the cover plate along the second direction.

[0027] In one embodiment, the sealing ring includes an annular sealing ring base and an extension portion extending radially outward from an outer circumference of the sealing ring base; the thickness of the extension portion is smaller than the thickness of the sealing ring base.

[0028] In one embodiment, the pole comprises an inner conductive member and a corrosion-resistant metal layer;

[0029] The anti-corrosion metal layer covers at least the surface of the inner conductive part extending into the pole hole.

[0030] In one embodiment, the inner conductive member includes a conductive member body and a conductive member flange portion connected to one end of the conductive member body;

[0031] The conductive member body and the anti-corrosion metal layer covering the surface of the conductive member body form the main body, the conductive member flange portion and the anti-corrosion metal layer covering the end surface of the conductive member flange portion facing the second direction form the flange portion, and the second direction is from the first surface to the second surface;

[0032] The outer contour edge of the flange portion of the conductive component is provided with a folded portion folded toward the conductive component body; the sealing ring is arranged at the junction position of the folded portion and the anti-corrosion metal layer.

[0033] In one embodiment, the lower insulating member is provided with an avoidance hole for the pole and the limiting member to pass through;

[0034] A countersunk hole structure is further provided at a position corresponding to each pole hole on the second surface, and a local area on the lower insulating member corresponding to the countersunk hole structure is bent toward the inside of the countersunk hole structure to form a bent portion, so that the pole extends out of the avoidance hole.

[0035] A second aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a method for assembling a top cover assembly, wherein the top cover assembly is the aforementioned top cover assembly. The method for assembling the top cover assembly includes:

[0036] Installing the sealing ring and the poles to the cover plate so that the main body of each pole is inserted into the corresponding pole hole and the flange of each pole is supported on the first surface of the cover plate via a sealing ring;

[0037] Using a positioning tool to press the flange portion against the first surface of the cover plate so that the sealing ring is in a compressed state;

[0038] The injection-molded limiting piece is used to fix the pole and the corresponding pole hole relative to each other, and the limiting piece is insulated and isolated between the main body of the pole and the corresponding pole hole.

[0039] In one embodiment, the step of injection molding the limiting component further includes:

[0040] Install the lower insulating member to the second surface of the cover plate, and allow the pole to pass through the avoidance hole opened on the lower insulating member;

[0041] The steps of injection molding the limiter specifically include:

[0042] The cavity defined by the limiter, the sealing ring, the inner wall of the pole hole and the inner wall of the avoidance hole is filled with injection molding material and cooled to form a limiter. At least part of the structure of the limiter is pressed against the end face of the cover plate facing the second direction through part of the structure of the lower insulating part, and the second direction is from the first surface to the second surface.

[0043] In one embodiment, the step of injection molding the limiter specifically includes:

[0044] Filling the annular accommodating space defined by the limiting member, the sealing ring and the inner wall of the pole hole with injection molding material and cooling the space to form the limiting member;

[0045] The lower insulating member is mounted on the second surface of the cover plate by welding or clamping, and the pole is passed through the avoidance hole opened on the lower insulating member.

[0046] A third aspect of the embodiments of the present application provides a battery cell, comprising the aforementioned top cover assembly.

[0047] A fourth aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a battery comprising at least one of the aforementioned battery cells. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] In order to better describe and illustrate the embodiments and / or examples of the applications disclosed herein, reference may be made to one or more of the accompanying drawings. The additional details or examples used to describe the accompanying drawings should not be considered to limit the scope of the disclosed applications, the presently described embodiments and / or examples, and any of the best modes currently understood for these applications.

[0049] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of a top cover assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0050] FIG2 is a top view of a top cover assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0051] FIG3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE of FIG2 ;

[0052] FIG4 is a partial enlarged view of point A in FIG3 ;

[0053] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of FIG3 from another angle;

[0054] FIG6 is a partial enlarged view of point B in FIG5 ;

[0055] FIG7 is a schematic structural diagram of a pole in a top cover assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0056] FIG8 is a cross-sectional view of a pole in a top cover assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0057] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of another structure of a pole in a top cover assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0058] FIG10 is a front view of the pole of FIG9;

[0059] FIG11 is a bottom view of the pole of FIG9;

[0060] FIG12 is a schematic diagram of another structure of a pole in a top cover assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0061] FIG13 is a front view of the pole of FIG12;

[0062] FIG14 is a sectional view taken along line FF of FIG2 ;

[0063] FIG15 is a schematic diagram of another structure of a top cover assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0064] FIG16 is a partial enlarged view of point C in FIG15 ;

[0065] FIG17 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of the top cover assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application from another angle;

[0066] FIG18 is a schematic diagram of another structure of a top cover assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0067] FIG19 is a flow chart of an assembly method of a top cover assembly according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0068] Description of Figure Numbers:

[0069] 100. Top cover assembly;

[0070] 10. Cover plate; 101. First surface; 102. Second surface; 11. Pole hole; 12. Mounting protrusion; 13. Mounting groove;

[0071] 20. Pole; 21. Main body; 211. Pole mating groove; 22. Flange; 23. Pole mating portion; 24. Internal conductive member;

[0072] 241. Conductive member body; 242. Conductive member flange; 2420. Folding portion; 25. Anti-corrosion metal layer;

[0073] 30. Sealing ring; 31. Sealing ring base; 32. Extension portion;

[0074] 40. Lower insulating member; 41. Avoidance hole; 42. Lower insulating member matching groove; 43. Bend portion;

[0075] 50. Limiting member; 51. First matching portion; 52. Second matching portion; 53. Third matching portion;

[0076] 61. First anti-rotation portion; 62. Second anti-rotation portion; 621. Second anti-rotation surface; 63. Third anti-rotation portion;

[0077] 70. Countersunk hole structure;

[0078] Y, first direction; R, second direction; O, accommodation space. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0079] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present application more clearly understood, the specific embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description sets forth many specific details to facilitate a full understanding of the present application. However, the present application can be implemented in many other ways than those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar improvements without violating the scope of the present application. Therefore, the present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0080] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships 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 device 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.

[0081] 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 at least one of such features. Throughout the description of this application, "plurality" means at least two, for example, two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0082] In this application, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "installed," "connected," "connect," "fixed," etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connection, detachable connection, or integration; mechanical connection or electrical connection; direct connection or indirect connection through an intermediate medium; internal communication between two elements or interaction between two elements, unless otherwise specified. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application based on specific circumstances.

[0083] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, when a first feature is "above" or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, when a first feature is "above," "above," or "above" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. When a first feature is "below," "below," or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a lower level than the second feature.

[0084] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "disposed on" another element, it may be directly on the other element or there may be an intermediate element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intermediate element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only implementation methods.

[0085] The following describes the assembly method of the top cover assembly, battery cells, battery, and top cover assembly according to the embodiment of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that this application uses a lithium-ion battery with a square hard shell structure as an example. The same applies to other battery types, and will not be further described here.

[0086] The embodiments of the present application provide a top cover assembly, a battery cell, and an assembly method of a battery and a top cover assembly, which have a low installation height of a pole, occupy a small space, and can improve the energy density of the battery.

[0087] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the decomposed structure of the top cover assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application, Figure 2 is a top view of the top cover assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application, Figure 3 is an EE cross-sectional view of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a partial enlarged view of point A in Figure 3, Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure from another angle of Figure 3, and Figure 6 is a partial enlarged view of point B in Figure 5.

[0088] 1 and 6 , a first aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a top cover assembly 100 , which includes a cover plate 10 and a lower insulating member 40 , at least one pole 20 and at least one sealing ring 30 , and at least one stopper 50 .

[0089] The cover plate 10 is provided with at least one pole hole 11 extending through the thickness direction of the cover plate 10 , and the cover plate 10 includes a first surface 101 and a second surface 102 oppositely arranged along the thickness direction of the cover plate 10 , and the lower insulating member 40 is provided on the second surface 102 , in other words, the second surface 102 faces the inner side of the battery cell.

[0090] The poles 20 correspond one-to-one with the pole holes 11. Each pole 20 includes a main body 21 and an annular flange 22 disposed at one end of the main body 21. Each main body 21 is fitted with a sealing ring 30 and inserted into the corresponding pole hole 11. Each flange 22 is sealed against the first surface 101 of the cover plate 10 by the sealing ring 30. Each retaining member 50 is insulated and isolated between a corresponding set of main bodies 21 and pole holes 11, and is configured to secure the corresponding pole 20 relative to the pole hole 11.

[0091] By making the flange portions 22 of each pole 20 seal against the first surface 101 of the cover plate 10 through the sealing ring 30, the sealing ring 30 is arranged on the side of the cover plate 10 facing the outside of the battery cell. During the assembly process, it is convenient to confirm whether the sealing ring 30 is missing. For example, manual confirmation or detection with a CCD camera can be used to ensure that the sealing ring 30 is not missing.

[0092] Furthermore, the limiting member 50 is configured to fix the corresponding pole 20 relative to the pole hole 11, thereby fixing the pole 20 in the corresponding pole hole 11. In addition, the limiting member 50 is also insulated and isolated between a set of corresponding main bodies 21 and the pole hole 11. In this way, on the one hand, the pole 20 and the cover plate 10 can be mutually insulated and isolated. On the other hand, the limiting member 50 is sandwiched between the main body 21 and the pole hole 11 and does not extend to the side of the cover plate 10 facing the outside of the battery cell. Compared with the solution in the related art in which the upper plastic part is set on the top of the cover plate 10 (outside the battery cell) to fix the pole 20, it does not occupy the space outside the battery cell and does not increase the installation height of the pole 20. Therefore, it can reduce the space occupied by the battery cell and increase the energy density of the battery.

[0093] In the embodiment of the present application, the number of pole holes 11 on the cover plate 10 is two, and the pole 20 includes a positive pole and a negative pole. The positive pole and the negative pole are respectively arranged to pass through the two pole holes 11.

[0094] In another embodiment, the number of the pole hole 11 , the pole 20 matched with the pole hole 11 , and the sealing ring 30 may all be one, and the other pole with opposite polarity included in the battery cell may be formed integrally with the cover plate 10 .

[0095] In addition, the number of the pole holes 11 and the poles 20 may be other. The case where the number of the pole holes 11 and the poles 20 is other is similar to this and will not be described in detail here.

[0096] The lower insulator 40 is located on the second surface 102. Since the lower insulator 40 is generally located between the cover plate and the winding core for insulation, the second surface 102 faces the inside of the battery cell. When the top cover assembly 100 is assembled, the second surface 102 faces the inside of the battery cell, that is, the side facing the electrolyte. The first surface 101 faces the outside of the battery cell, exposed to the outside world.

[0097] In addition, each main body 21 is provided with a sealing ring 30, which means that the sealing ring 30 is arranged around the outside of the main body 21 of the corresponding pole 20. When the main body 21 is inserted into the corresponding pole hole 11, the flange portion 22 needs to be located outside the pole hole 11 and sealed against the first surface 101 of the cover plate 10 through the sealing ring 30. In this way, the flange portion 22 and the first surface 101 of the cover plate 10 can be sealed.

[0098] In the embodiment of the present application, the flange portion 22 is located outside the pole hole 11, and the sealing ring 30 is sandwiched between the first surface 101 of the cover plate 10 and the flange portion 22. In this case, the sealing ring 30 can be set at a position corresponding to the pole hole 11 and outside the opening edge of the pole hole 11.

[0099] It is understood that to ensure the sealing performance of the sealing ring 30, the sealing ring 30 can be in a compressed state when installed between the flange portion 22 and the first surface 101. In a specific implementation, the sealing ring 30 can be sandwiched between the flange portion 22 and the first surface 101 in a compressed state, and the compression of the sealing ring 30 can be approximately 15% to 55%. To ensure that the sealing ring 30 is installed in a compressed state between the flange portion 22 and the first surface 101, after the sealing ring 30 is installed, a positioning tool can be used to apply a force to the terminal 20 so that the flange portion 22 compresses the sealing ring 30 to a certain compression amount. In this state, the stopper 50 is set, and the terminal 20 and the terminal hole 11 are fixed relative to each other to maintain the compressed state of the sealing ring 30.

[0100] In the embodiment of the present application, the limiting member 50 is constructed as an annular member. The terminal 20, the sealing ring 30, and the inner wall of the terminal hole 11 collectively define an annular accommodating space O, and the limiting member 50 is disposed within the accommodating space O. In this manner, the limiting member 50 can effectively insulate and isolate the terminal hole 11 from the terminal 20. Furthermore, the limiting member 50 is located within the annular accommodating space O collectively defined by the flange portion 22, the sealing ring 30, and the inner wall of the terminal hole 11. Not only does it not protrude outside the battery cell and occupy no external space within the battery cell, but it also occupies less space within the battery cell, thereby improving the internal space utilization of the battery cell.

[0101] In addition, the limiter 50 is usually made of a heat-sensitive polymer material. When the pole 20 is undergoing subsequent welding operations to form a battery cell, since the limiter 50 is located in the annular accommodating space O, it is not easily affected by the heat of the welding operation. This can improve or avoid the softening of the limiter 50 and the release of the compression of the sealing ring 30, thereby avoiding leakage of the pole 20.

[0102] The limiting member 50 can be an integral injection molded part. In this way, the injection molded part can completely fill the annular accommodating space and play a sealing role.

[0103] Furthermore, an annular first matching portion 51 and a second matching portion 52 are respectively provided on the outer circumferential side surface and the inner circumferential side surface of the limiting member 50 , and the pole 20 further includes a pole matching portion 23 .

[0104] The pole mating portion 23 presses against the end surface of the second mating portion 52 facing the second direction R, and the first mating portion 51 presses against the side of the cover plate 10 facing the second direction to limit the movement of the limit member 50 along the first direction Y. The first direction Y is from the second surface 102 to the first surface 101, and the second direction R is opposite to the first direction Y.

[0105] Because the flange portion 22 is sealed against the first surface 101 of the cover plate 10 via the sealing ring 30, the terminal 20's freedom of movement toward the second direction, that is, toward the second direction R, is restricted by the cover plate 10. Because the first mating portion 51 is pressed against the side of the cover plate 10 facing the second direction, the freedom of movement of the stopper 50 along the first direction Y is restricted by the cover plate 10. The terminal mating portion 23 is pressed against the end surface of the second mating portion 52 facing the second direction. When the stopper 50 tends to move in the second direction R, the second mating portion 52 is blocked by the terminal mating portion 23, which is unable to move in the second direction R. Therefore, the freedom of movement of the stopper 50 along the second direction R is restricted by the terminal 20. Therefore, the stopper 50 can be fixed relative to the cover plate 10.

[0106] On the other hand, when the terminal 20 tends to move in the first direction Y, the terminal mating portion 23 is blocked by the second mating portion 52, which is unable to move in the first direction Y. That is, the freedom of movement of the terminal 20 in the first direction Y is restricted by the stopper 50. Furthermore, the freedom of movement of the terminal 20 in the second direction R is restricted by the cover 10, so the terminal 20 can be relatively fixed relative to the cover 10. This arrangement achieves an interlocking function between the terminal 20 and the stopper 50, ensuring that both the terminal 20 and the stopper 50 are relatively fixed to the cover 10.

[0107] Figure 7 is a schematic structural diagram of the pole 20 in the top cover assembly 100 provided in an embodiment of the present application, Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the pole 20 in the top cover assembly 100 provided in an embodiment of the present application, Figure 9 is a schematic structural diagram of another pole 20 in the top cover assembly 100 provided in an embodiment of the present application, Figure 10 is a front view of the pole 20 in Figure 9, Figure 11 is a bottom view of the pole 20 in Figure 9, Figure 12 is a schematic structural diagram of yet another pole 20 in the top cover assembly 100 provided in an embodiment of the present application, and Figure 13 is a front view of the pole 20 in Figure 12.

[0108] In a further improvement, referring to Figures 6, 8, and 10, a pole mating groove 211 is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the main body 21 at a position corresponding to the second mating portion 52, thereby forming a pole mating portion 23 at the end of the main body 21 facing away from the flange portion 22. The second mating portion 52 is inserted into the pole mating groove 211. The pole mating groove 211 can be formed as an annular groove, and a pair of opposing groove walls of the pole mating groove 211 can respectively limit the movement of the second mating portion 52 along the first direction Y and the second direction R.

[0109] In the cases shown in Figures 9, 10, and 11, the main body 21 and the pole mating portion 23 can be formed separately. For example, the main body 21 can be integrally formed, and then the annular pole mating portion 23 can be welded to the main body 21. This arrangement not only facilitates manufacturing, but also allows the main body 21 and the pole mating portion 23 to be made of different materials, or facilitates replacement of the pole mating portion 23 if damaged.

[0110] Referring to Figures 12 and 13 , as another possible implementation, the main body 21 is configured as a columnar member, and the pole mating portion 23 is configured as an annular member, disposed on the outer circumference of the main body 21. With this configuration, the pole 20 can be integrally formed, for example, by integral stamping or cold heading. This configuration ensures that all parts of the pole 20 are made of the same material, and the connection strength of the pole mating portion 23 is high, thereby enhancing connection reliability.

[0111] In addition, it should be noted that in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the pole 20 is formed by two layers of composite material, in another embodiment recorded in Figures 9, 10, and 11, and in yet another embodiment recorded in Figures 12 and 13, the pole 20 is formed by a single material.

[0112] 6, 7, and 8, the terminal 20 includes an inner conductive member 24 and an anti-corrosion metal layer 25. The anti-corrosion metal layer 25 covers at least the surface of the inner conductive member 24 that extends into the terminal hole 11. That is, the interface between the inner conductive member 24 and the anti-corrosion metal layer 25 is located outside the battery cell, and the inner conductive member 24 is not corroded by the electrolyte within the battery cell.

[0113] Furthermore, the inner conductive member 24 includes a conductive member body 241 and a conductive member flange portion 242 connected to one end of the conductive member body 241 .

[0114] The conductive member body 241 and the anti-corrosion metal layer 25 covering the surface of the conductive member body 241 form the main body 21 , and the conductive member flange portion 242 and the anti-corrosion metal layer 25 covering the end surface of the conductive member flange portion 242 facing the second direction R form the flange portion 22 .

[0115] The outer edge of the conductive flange portion 242 is provided with a folded portion 2420 folded toward the conductive body 241 , and the sealing ring 30 is blocked at the junction of the folded portion 2420 and the anti-corrosion metal layer 25 .

[0116] With this arrangement, the only portion of the terminal 20 (bounded by the sealing ring 30) that is exposed to the electrolyte within the battery cell is the corrosion-resistant metal layer 25. The internal conductive member 24 is not exposed to the electrolyte, preventing the formation of electron pathways that could corrode the internal conductive member 24. Specifically, the interface between the internal conductive member 24 and the corrosion-resistant metal layer 25 is wrapped around the sealing surface of the sealing ring 30.

[0117] In a specific implementation, the inner conductive member 24 may be made of aluminum, and the anti-corrosion metal layer 25 may be made of copper. Of course, the present application is not limited thereto, and the anti-corrosion metal layer 25 may also be made of other materials as needed.

[0118] In the embodiment of the present application, in combination with Figures 1, 5 and 6, as described above, the cover plate 10 assembly further includes a lower insulating member 40 mounted on the second surface 102, and the lower insulating member 40 is provided with an avoidance hole 41 for the pole 20 and the limiting member 50 to pass through.

[0119] An annular lower insulator fitting groove 42 is defined at the edge of the avoidance hole 41 of the lower insulator 40 . The first fitting portion 51 is inserted into the lower insulator fitting groove 42 . The first fitting portion 51 presses against the end surface of the cover plate 10 facing the second direction R.

[0120] FIG14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line FF of FIG2 .

[0121] 14 , further, on the opposite surfaces of the lower insulating member 40 and the cover plate 10 , one is provided with a plurality of mounting protrusions 12 , and the other is provided with a plurality of mounting grooves 13 , and the plurality of mounting protrusions 12 are inserted into the plurality of mounting grooves 13 one by one, and a group of corresponding mounting protrusions 12 and mounting grooves 13 are welded or interference fit.

[0122] It should be noted that, in order to prevent the lower insulator 40 from being installed upside down, the mounting protrusions 12 near the two poles 20 need to be arranged at different positions, and the sizes of the mounting protrusions 12 may also be different.

[0123] FIG15 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the top cover assembly 100 provided in an embodiment of the present application, and FIG16 is a partial enlarged view of point C in FIG15 .

[0124] Referring to Figures 15 and 16 , as another possible embodiment, with the first mating portion 51 inserted into the mating groove 42 of the lower insulator, the first mating portion 51 presses against the end surface of the cover plate 10 facing the second direction R, across a portion of the lower insulator 40. Of course, the portion sandwiched between the first mating portion 51 and the end surface of the cover plate 10 facing the second direction R also constitutes the annular area on the lower insulator 40 located at the edge of the avoidance hole 41. In this case, the lower insulator 40 is partially sandwiched between the retaining member 50 and the cover plate 10, allowing it to be secured relative to the cover plate 10 without requiring welding or other fixing methods.

[0125] FIG17 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of the top cover assembly 100 provided in an embodiment of the present application from another angle.

[0126] In the embodiment of the present application, with reference to Figures 1, 7, 9, 12, and 17, a first anti-rotation portion 61 is provided at at least one circumferential position of the main body 21, and a second anti-rotation portion 62 and a third anti-rotation portion 63 are provided on the inner wall of the position-limiting member 50 and the pole hole 11 at positions corresponding to the first anti-rotation portion 61, respectively. The first anti-rotation portion 61, the second anti-rotation portion 62, and the third anti-rotation portion 63 cooperate with each other to limit the relative rotation of the main body 21, the position-limiting member 50, and the pole hole 11. In the embodiment of the present application, two first anti-rotation portions 61, two second anti-rotation portions 62, and two third anti-rotation portions 63 are provided, and the two first anti-rotation portions 61 are arranged relative to each other as an example for explanation. The same applies to other cases where the number and arrangement positions of the first anti-rotation portions 61, the second anti-rotation portions 62, and the third anti-rotation portions 63 are different, and no further description is given here.

[0127] 17 , the first anti-rotation portion 61 is formed on a first plane on the surface of the main body 21 , and the third anti-rotation portion 63 is formed on a third plane on the inner wall of the pole hole 11 .

[0128] A second anti-rotation surface 621 is provided on the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the stopper 50 at positions corresponding to the first anti-rotation portions 61, and the two second anti-rotation surfaces 621 form a second anti-rotation portion 62. The first plane, the third plane, and all the second anti-rotation surfaces 621 are parallel to each other.

[0129] Furthermore, referring to Figures 17 and 6 , a third engaging portion 53 is further provided on the end of the position-limiting member 50 facing the flange portion 22. The third engaging portion 53 and the second anti-rotation portion 62 are located at the same position circumferentially of the terminal 20. The third engaging portion 53 is positioned against the first surface 101 of the cover plate 10 to limit displacement of the position-limiting member 50 relative to the cover plate 10 in the second direction R. Thus, the first engaging portion 51 and the third engaging portion 53, respectively, are engaged with two opposing surfaces of the cover plate 10, further facilitating the relative positioning of the position-limiting member 50 and the cover plate 10.

[0130] Further, referring to Figure 4 , the sealing ring 30 includes an annular sealing ring base 31 and an extension 32 extending radially outward from the outer circumference of the sealing ring base 31. The thickness of the extension 32 is smaller than that of the sealing ring base 31. This arrangement can increase the creepage distance between the terminal 20 and the cover plate 10. The thickness of the extension 32 can be approximately 5% to 95% of the overall thickness of the sealing ring 30 after compression.

[0131] In this embodiment of the present application, countersunk structures 70 are further provided on the second surface 102 at locations corresponding to the respective terminal holes 11. A portion of the lower insulator 40 corresponding to the countersunk structures 70 is bent inwardly of the countersunk structures 70 to form a bent portion 43. This allows the terminal 20 to extend from the avoidance hole 41 to the inside of the battery cell, thereby preventing the end of the terminal 20 near the inside of the battery cell from being affected by interference from the lower insulator 40 during welding. The extended length of the terminal 20 can range from 0 to approximately 2 mm.

[0132] Furthermore, a ratio of a bending height of the bending portion 43 toward the first direction Y to a thickness of the lower insulating member 40 is greater than 0.5 and less than 1.

[0133] Furthermore, the top cover assembly 100 further includes a cover plate protective layer (not shown), which is disposed on the first surface 101 of the cover plate 10 and covers the flange portion 22 and the sealing ring 30. Here, the cover plate protective layer can prevent the sealing ring 30 from being punctured by foreign objects and causing insulation failure.

[0134] FIG18 is a schematic diagram of another structure of a top cover assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application. Referring to FIG18 , as previously described, the terminal 20 is formed from two layers of composite material. The terminal 20 includes an inner conductive member 24 and an anti-corrosion metal layer 25. The anti-corrosion metal layer 25 covers the surface of the inner conductive member 24 that extends into the terminal hole 11. That is, the boundary between the inner conductive member 24 and the anti-corrosion metal layer 25 is located outside the battery cell. Unlike the embodiment shown in FIG8 , the boundary between the inner conductive member 24 and the anti-corrosion metal layer 25 extends all the way to the circumferential side of the flange 22. Thus, when the sealing ring 30 is clamped between the flange 22 and the cover plate 10, the boundary between the inner conductive member 24 and the anti-corrosion metal layer 25 is exposed to the outside world and is not covered by the sealing ring 30. However, since the boundary line between the internal conductive part 24 and the anti-corrosion metal layer 25 extends all the way to the circumferential side of the flange portion 22, the flange portion 22 is located on the side of the pole hole 11 away from the battery cell (i.e., the outside of the battery cell), so there is no risk of corrosion by the electrolyte.

[0135] The second aspect of the embodiment of the present application further provides a battery cell and a battery, wherein the battery cell includes the above-mentioned top cover assembly 100. The structure, function, working principle, etc. of the top cover assembly 100 have been described in detail above and will not be repeated here.

[0136] A battery includes a single battery cell, and a battery may refer to a battery pack, which includes multiple single batteries. Alternatively, a battery may refer to a battery pack, which includes multiple battery packs.

[0137] FIG19 is a flow chart of an assembly method of a top cover assembly according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0138] A third aspect of the embodiments of the present application further provides a method for assembling a top cover assembly, which is used to assemble the top cover assembly 100 of the aforementioned embodiment.

[0139] In combination with Figures 1, 6 and 19, the assembly method of the top cover assembly includes:

[0140] S10 , installing the sealing ring 30 and the pole 20 to the cover 10 so that the main body 21 of each pole 20 is inserted into the corresponding pole hole 11 , and the flange portion 22 of each pole 20 is supported on the first surface 101 of the cover 10 via a sealing ring 30 .

[0141] S20, using a positioning tool to press the flange portion 22 against the first surface 101 of the cover plate 10, so that the sealing ring 30 is in a compressed state;

[0142] S30 , injection molding the limiting member 50 to fix the pole 20 relative to the corresponding pole hole 11 , and to insulate and isolate the limiting member 50 between the main body 21 of the pole 20 and the corresponding pole hole 11 .

[0143] By making the flange portions 22 of each pole 20 sealed and supported on the first surface 101 of the cover plate 10 via the sealing ring 30, the sealing ring 30 is outside the battery cell. During the assembly process, it is convenient to confirm whether the sealing ring 30 is missing. For example, manual confirmation or detection with a CCD camera can be used to ensure that the sealing ring 30 is not missing.

[0144] Furthermore, when the sealing ring 30 is in a compressed state, a stopper 50 is injection molded to fix the pole 20 relative to the corresponding pole hole 11, thereby fixing the pole 20 in the corresponding pole hole 11. In addition, each stopper 50 is also insulated and isolated between a group of corresponding main bodies 21 and pole holes 11. In this way, on the one hand, mutual insulation and isolation between the pole 20 and the cover plate 10 can be achieved. On the other hand, the stopper 50 is sandwiched between the main body 21 and the pole hole 11 and does not extend to the side of the cover plate 10 facing the outside of the battery cell. Compared with the solution in the related art in which the upper plastic part is set on the top of the cover plate (outside the battery cell) to fix the pole, it does not occupy the space outside the battery cell and does not increase the installation height of the pole 20. Therefore, it can reduce the space occupied by the battery cell to increase the energy density of the battery.

[0145] Furthermore, in step S30, before the step of injection molding the limiting member 50, the following steps are further included:

[0146] Install the lower insulating member 40 to the second surface 102 of the cover plate 10 , and allow the pole 20 to pass through the avoidance hole 41 opened on the lower insulating member 40 ;

[0147] The steps of injection molding the limiter 50 specifically include:

[0148] The cavity defined by the stopper 50, the sealing ring 30, the inner wall of the pole hole 11, and the inner wall of the avoidance hole 41 is filled with injection molding material and cooled to form the stopper 50. At least a portion of the stopper 50 is pressed against the end surface of the cover plate 10 facing the second direction R, through a portion of the lower insulator 40. In this way, the stopper 50 can assist in positioning the lower insulator 40.

[0149] For example, referring to FIG. 16 , the injection-molded limiting portion may include a first matching portion 51 , and the first matching portion 51 extends to be inserted into the matching groove 42 of the lower insulating member.

[0150] The first mating portion 51 presses against the end surface of the cover plate 10 facing the second direction R, across a portion of the lower insulator 40. Of course, the portion sandwiched between the first mating portion 51 and the end surface of the cover plate 10 facing the second direction R also constitutes the annular area on the lower insulator 40, located at the edge of the avoidance hole 41. In this case, the lower insulator 40 is partially sandwiched between the retaining member 50 and the cover plate 10, allowing it to be secured relative to the cover plate 10 without requiring welding or other fixing methods.

[0151] In another possible embodiment, in step S30, the step of injection molding the limiter 50 specifically includes:

[0152] Filling the annular accommodating space defined by the stopper 50 , the sealing ring 30 and the inner wall of the pole hole 11 with injection molding material and cooling the space to form the stopper 50 ;

[0153] The lower insulating member 40 is mounted on the second surface 102 of the cover plate 10 by welding or clamping, and the pole 20 passes through the avoidance hole 41 opened on the lower insulating member 40 .

[0154] For example, referring to Figure 6, when the limiting member 50 is first injection-molded and then the lower insulating member 40 is installed, an annular lower insulating member matching groove 42 is provided on the edge of the opening of the avoidance hole 41 of the lower insulating member 40. When installing the lower insulating member matching groove 42, it is necessary to insert the first matching portion 51 into the lower insulating member matching groove 42. When the first matching portion 51 of the limiting member 50 is pressed against the end face of the cover plate 10 facing the second direction R, at least part of the structure of the lower insulating member 40 is pressed against the first matching portion 51 to prevent metal such as the tab from entering the gap between the lower insulating member 40 and the limiting member 50.

[0155] Continuing with FIG. 14 , as previously described, the lower insulator 40 and the cover plate 10 have opposing surfaces, one with a plurality of mounting protrusions 12 and the other with a plurality of mounting grooves 13. When installing the lower insulator 40, the plurality of mounting protrusions 12 are inserted into the plurality of mounting grooves 13 in a one-to-one correspondence. A pair of corresponding mounting protrusions 12 and mounting grooves 13 are then welded or interference-fitted together. The welding process may be ultrasonic hot-melt welding.

[0156] The technical features of the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. In order to make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-mentioned embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0157] The above-described embodiments merely represent several implementation methods of the present application. While the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present application. It should be noted that variations and improvements are possible within the scope of the present application, as would be apparent to one skilled in the art. These variations and improvements fall within the scope of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present patent application shall be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A top cover assembly, characterized in that: include: A cover plate and a lower insulating member, wherein the cover plate is provided with at least one pole hole extending through the cover plate in a thickness direction thereof, and the cover plate includes a first surface and a second surface oppositely disposed in the thickness direction thereof, and the lower insulating member is disposed on the second surface; At least one pole and at least one sealing ring, the poles corresponding to the pole holes one by one, each pole comprising a main body and an annular flange provided at one end of the main body, each main body being sleeved with a sealing ring and inserted into the corresponding pole hole, each flange being sealed against the first surface of the cover plate by the sealing ring; as well as At least one limiting member, each limiting member is insulated and isolated between a corresponding group of the main bodies and the pole holes, and the limiting member is configured to fix the corresponding pole and the pole hole relative to each other; The limiting member is constructed as an annular member, and the outer circumferential side surface and the inner circumferential side surface of the limiting member are respectively provided with an annular first matching portion and a second matching portion, and the pole further includes a pole matching portion; The pole matching portion presses against the end surface of the second matching portion facing the second direction; The first matching portion presses against a side of the cover plate facing the second direction to limit movement of the limiting member along the first direction; the first direction is from the second surface to the first surface, and the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

2. The top cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The flange portion is located outside the pole hole, and the sealing ring is sandwiched between the first surface of the cover plate and the flange portion.

3. The top cover assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The pole, the sealing ring and the inner wall of the pole hole jointly define an annular accommodating space, and the limiting member is arranged in the accommodating space.

4. The top cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein: A pole mating groove is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the main body at a position corresponding to the second mating portion, so as to form the pole mating portion at an end of the main body away from the flange portion, and the second mating portion is inserted into the pole mating groove.

5. The top cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The main body is configured as a columnar member, the pole matching portion is configured as an annular member, and the pole matching portion is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the main body.

6. The top cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The lower insulating member is provided with an avoidance hole for the pole and the limiting member to pass through; An annular lower insulating member matching groove is formed on the edge of the opening of the avoidance hole of the lower insulating member, and the first matching portion is inserted into the lower insulating member matching groove.

7. The top cover assembly according to claim 6, wherein: The first matching portion presses against the end surface of the cover plate facing the second direction.

8. The top cover assembly according to claim 7, wherein: Among the relative surfaces of the lower insulating member and the cover plate, one is provided with a plurality of mounting protrusions, and the other is provided with a plurality of mounting grooves. The plurality of mounting protrusions are inserted into the plurality of mounting grooves in a one-to-one correspondence, and a group of corresponding mounting protrusions and mounting grooves are welded or interference fit.

9. The top cover assembly according to claim 6, wherein: The first matching portion is pressed against the end surface of the cover plate facing the second direction via a partial structure of the lower insulating member.

10. The top cover assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that: A first anti-rotation portion is provided at at least one circumferential position of the main body, and a second anti-rotation portion and a third anti-rotation portion are respectively provided on the position of the limiting member and the inner wall of the pole hole corresponding to the first anti-rotation portion. The first anti-rotation portion, the second anti-rotation portion and the third anti-rotation portion cooperate with each other to limit the relative rotation of the main body, the limiting member and the pole hole.

11. The top cover assembly according to claim 10, wherein: The end of the position-limiting member facing the flange portion is further provided with a third matching portion, and the third matching portion and the second anti-rotation portion are located at the same position in the circumferential direction of the pole; The third matching portion is blocked on the first surface of the cover plate to limit the displacement of the limiting member relative to the cover plate along the second direction.

12. The top cover assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that: The sealing ring includes an annular sealing ring base and an extension portion extending radially outward from an outer circumferential surface of the sealing ring base; the thickness of the extension portion is smaller than the thickness of the sealing ring base.

13. The top cover assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that: The pole comprises an inner conductive part and an anti-corrosion metal layer; The anti-corrosion metal layer at least covers the surface of the inner conductive component extending into the pole hole.

14. The top cover assembly according to claim 13, wherein: The inner conductive member includes a conductive member body and a conductive member flange portion connected to one end of the conductive member body; The conductive member body and the anti-corrosion metal layer covering the surface of the conductive member body form the main body, the conductive member flange portion and the anti-corrosion metal layer covering the end surface of the conductive member flange portion facing the second direction form the flange portion, and the second direction is from the first surface to the second surface; The outer contour edge of the flange portion of the conductive component is provided with a folded portion folded toward the conductive component body; the sealing ring is arranged at the junction position between the folded portion and the anti-corrosion metal layer.

15. The top cover assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that: The lower insulating member is provided with an avoidance hole for the pole and the limiting member to pass through; A countersunk hole structure is further provided at a position corresponding to each of the pole holes on the second surface, and a local area of the lower insulating member corresponding to the countersunk hole structure is bent toward the inside of the countersunk hole structure to form a bent portion, so that the pole extends from the avoidance hole.

16. A method for assembling a top cover assembly, characterized in that: The top cover assembly is the top cover assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 15, and the assembling method of the top cover assembly includes: Mounting the sealing ring and the pole to the cover plate so that the main body of each pole is inserted into the corresponding pole hole, and the flange of each pole is supported on the first surface of the cover plate via a sealing ring; Using a positioning tool to press the flange portion against the first surface of the cover plate, so that the sealing ring is in a compressed state; The limiting member is injection molded to fix the pole relative to the corresponding pole hole, and to insulate and isolate the limiting member between the main body of the pole and the corresponding pole hole.

17. The method for assembling a top cover assembly according to claim 16, wherein: Before the step of injection molding the limiting component, the step further includes: Installing the lower insulating member to the second surface of the cover plate, and allowing the pole to pass through the avoidance hole opened on the lower insulating member; The step of injection molding the limiting component specifically includes: The cavity defined by the limiter, the sealing ring, the inner wall of the pole hole and the inner wall of the avoidance hole is filled with injection molding material and cooled to form the limiter. At least part of the structure of the limiter is pressed against the end face of the cover plate facing the second direction through part of the structure of the lower insulating part, and the second direction is from the first surface to the second surface.

18. The method for assembling a top cover assembly according to claim 16, wherein: The step of injection molding the limiting component specifically includes: Filling an annular accommodating space defined by the limiting member, the sealing ring, and the inner wall of the pole hole with injection molding material and cooling the space to form the limiting member; The lower insulating member is mounted on the second surface of the cover plate by welding or clamping, and the pole is passed through the avoidance hole opened on the lower insulating member.

19. A battery cell, characterized in that: Comprising the top cover assembly according to any one of claims 1-15.

20. A battery, characterized in that: Comprising at least one battery cell as claimed in claim 19.

Images