Battery and electric device

Abstract

A battery and an electric device. The battery (100) comprises: a case (10), comprising a first beam (13); battery cell groups (30), including first battery cell groups (31) and second battery cell groups (32) that are arranged adjacent to each other in a first direction, wherein each battery cell group among the first battery cell groups and the second battery cell groups comprises multiple battery cells (20) that are stacked in a second direction, each first battery cell group comprises a first surface (311), each second battery cell group comprises a second surface (321), and the first surface and the second surface are adjacent to each other in the first direction and are both perpendicular to a third direction; and crimping members (40), wherein each crimping member is arranged at the abutment between a corresponding first surface and a corresponding second surface so as to be connected to both the first surface and the second surface. The first beam is located at one end of the first battery cell groups and the second battery cell groups in the second direction, and the crimping members extend in the second direction and are arranged spaced from the first beam. The battery further comprises first electrical connectors (50), wherein each first electrical connector is used for electrically connecting a corresponding first battery cell group and a corresponding second battery cell group, and at least a portion of each first electrical connector is located at a gap between a corresponding crimping member and the first beam.

Description

Batteries and electrical devices

[0001] Cross-references

[0002] This application refers to Chinese patent application No. 202420685601.X, filed on April 3, 2024, entitled “Battery and Electrical Device,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

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

[0004] At present, in order to simplify the battery pack structure, a module-free battery pack has emerged. Among them, since the module-free battery pack eliminates the module end plate, side plate and other structures, when the battery cell expands, the battery cell is only limited and supported by the box beam, which can easily cause the box to fail.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of the problem, the present application provides a battery and an electrical device, which can alleviate the problem that when the battery cell expands, the battery cell is easily caused to fail due to the box beams being used to limit the support of the battery cell.

[0007] In a first aspect, the present application provides a battery, comprising:

[0008] The box body includes a first beam;

[0009] a battery cell group comprising a first battery cell group and a second battery cell group adjacently arranged along a first direction, the first battery cell group and the second battery cell group each comprising a plurality of battery cells stacked along a second direction, the first battery cell group comprising a first surface, the second battery cell group comprising a second surface, the first surface and the second surface being adjacently arranged along the first direction and both perpendicular to a third direction, and the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction being perpendicular to each other; and

[0010] a crimping member disposed at a location adjacent to the first surface and the second surface to simultaneously connect to the first surface and the second surface;

[0011] In which, the first beam is located at one end of the first battery cell group and the second battery cell group along the second direction, the crimping piece extends along the second direction and is spaced apart from the first beam, and the battery also includes a first electrical connector, which is used to electrically connect the first battery cell group and the second battery cell group, and at least a portion of the first electrical connector is located at the gap between the crimping piece and the first beam.

[0012] By arranging at least a portion of the first electrical connector to be located at the gap between the crimping member and the first beam, the crimping member can avoid the first electrical connector and is not interfered with by the position of the first electrical connector; and, by arranging the crimping member to be connected to the first surface of the adjacent first battery cell group and the second surface of the second battery cell group at the same time, the connection of the battery cells of the two adjacent battery cell groups can be achieved, and each battery cell can be fixed and limited, so that when the battery cell expands and exerts pressure on the box body, the deformation of the box body is reduced due to the restraint of the crimping member, the requirements for the structural strength of the box body beam are reduced, and the risk of box body failure is also reduced.

[0013] In some embodiments, the battery cell group further includes a third battery cell group and a fourth battery cell group, the battery further includes a separator, the third battery cell group and the first battery cell group are relatively arranged on both sides of the separator along the second direction, the fourth battery cell group and the second battery cell group are relatively arranged on both sides of the separator along the second direction, the third battery cell group includes a third surface, the fourth battery cell group includes a fourth surface, the third surface and the fourth surface are adjacent along the first direction and are both perpendicular to the third direction, and the crimping piece extends along the second direction and crosses the separator to connect to the third surface and the fourth surface.

[0014] Since the crimping piece can span the separator, the extension of the crimping piece is not affected by the position of the separator. The crimping piece can simultaneously compress and connect four adjacent battery cell groups, thereby improving the crimping efficiency.

[0015] In some embodiments, the box body also includes a carrier, which is used to support the battery cell group. The partition includes a first wall away from the carrier along a third direction, and the minimum distance between the third surface and / or the fourth surface and the carrier is greater than or equal to the minimum distance between the first wall and the carrier.

[0016] In this way, the third surface and / or the fourth surface can be higher than or equal to the first wall surface of the partition. When the crimping piece extends along the second direction and crosses the partition, the crimping piece is bent and can directly cross the top of the partition in a straight line, thereby simplifying the overall structure of the crimping piece.

[0017] In some embodiments, the separator includes an avoidance groove opening toward the third direction, and at least a portion of the crimping member is located in the avoidance groove.

[0018] When the crimping piece extends along the second direction and crosses over the partition, since the crimping piece is provided with an avoidance groove, the crimping piece can be directly partially located in the avoidance groove in a straight line to cross over, thereby simplifying the overall structure of the crimping piece.

[0019] In some embodiments, the battery cell group also includes a third battery cell group and a fourth battery cell group, and the box body also includes a second beam and a third beam, the third battery cell group and the first battery cell group are arranged on both sides of the second beam relative to each other along the second direction, the fourth battery cell group and the second battery cell group are arranged on both sides of the second beam relative to each other along the second direction, and the third beam is located on the side of the third battery cell group and the fourth battery cell group away from the second beam along the second direction.

[0020] By providing second beams between the third battery cell group and the first battery cell group, and between the fourth battery cell group and the second battery cell group, the structural strength of the box can be improved when the number of battery cells is large, thereby improving the anti-expansion effect of the box.

[0021] In some embodiments, the third battery cell group includes a third surface, the fourth battery cell group includes a fourth surface, the third surface and the fourth surface are adjacent along the first direction and are both perpendicular to the third direction, and the battery also includes a locking crimping piece, which is arranged at the junction of the third surface and the fourth surface to be simultaneously connected to the third surface and the fourth surface, and the two ends of the locking crimping piece are respectively connected to the second beam and the third beam.

[0022] Since it is no longer affected by the first electrical connection part, the locking crimping part does not need to be avoided. In this way, the two ends of the locking crimping part can be connected to the second beam and the third beam respectively without forming a gap between the third beam and the third beam. When the battery cells of the third battery cell group and the fourth battery cell group expand and exert pressure on the second beam and the third beam of the box, the deformation of the second beam and the third beam is reduced due to the restraint of the locking crimping part, which reduces the requirements for the structural strength of the box beam and also reduces the risk of box failure.

[0023] In some embodiments, the locking crimp includes a metal connector and an insulating connector, the metal connector is connected to the second beam and the third beam, a portion of the insulating connector is located between the third surface and the metal connector, and a portion of the insulating connector is located between the fourth surface and the metal connector.

[0024] Because metal connectors offer greater structural strength, connecting them to the second and third beams can further enhance the structural strength of the box, thereby improving its anti-expansion properties. Furthermore, by providing insulating connectors between the third surface of the third battery cell group and the metal connectors, and between the fourth surface of the fourth battery cell group and the metal connectors, insulation can be achieved between the metal connectors and the battery cells, thereby improving battery reliability.

[0025] In some embodiments, the insulating connector is bonded to the third surface and the fourth surface.

[0026] By providing insulating connectors bonded to the third and fourth surfaces, the locking crimping members can be in closer contact with the third and fourth battery cell groups, thereby fixing and limiting each battery cell and improving the pressing reliability.

[0027] In some embodiments, the metal connector is bonded to the insulating connector.

[0028] By bonding, the metal connector and the insulating connector can be connected more tightly, thereby improving insulation reliability.

[0029] In some embodiments, the insulating connector covers at least a portion of the metal connector.

[0030] By providing an insulating connector to cover at least a portion of the metal connector, the position reliability between the insulating connector and the metal connector can be improved, thereby improving the insulation effect between the metal connector and the battery cell.

[0031] In some embodiments, the crimping member is bonded to the first surface and the second surface.

[0032] Since the pressing member is bonded to the first surface and the second surface, the bonding operation is simple and reliable, and is also beneficial for fixing and limiting the battery cells.

[0033] In some embodiments, the first battery cell group includes a first battery cell directly connected to the first electrical connector, the second battery cell group includes a second battery cell directly connected to the first electrical connector, and projected along the third direction, the crimping piece is completely misaligned with the first battery cell and / or the second battery cell.

[0034] The crimping piece is not located above the first battery cell and / or the second battery cell along the third direction, thereby providing sufficient spacing space between the crimping piece and the first beam for the placement of the first electrical connector, so that the first battery cell and / or the second battery cell have a larger contact area with the first electrical connector, thereby improving the reliability of the electrical connection.

[0035] In some embodiments, the crimping member is made of epoxy resin fiberglass composite material.

[0036] The crimping parts made of epoxy resin glass fiber composite material have insulating properties and can maintain insulation between battery cells, thereby improving the reliability of the battery. In addition, the crimping parts made of epoxy resin glass fiber composite material have high strength and toughness, thereby improving the crimping effect.

[0037] In a second aspect, an electrical device is provided, comprising the battery in any of the above embodiments, wherein the battery is used to provide electrical energy.

[0038] By arranging at least a portion of the first electrical connector to be located at the gap between the crimping member and the first beam, the crimping member can avoid the first electrical connector and is not interfered with by the position of the first electrical connector; and, by arranging the crimping member to be connected to the first surface of the adjacent first battery cell group and the second surface of the second battery cell group at the same time, the connection of the battery cells of the two adjacent battery cell groups can be achieved, and each battery cell can be fixed and limited, so that when the battery cell expands and exerts pressure on the box body, the deformation of the box body is reduced due to the restraint of the crimping member, the requirements for the structural strength of the box body beam are reduced, and the risk of box body failure is also reduced.

[0039] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of the present application. In order to more clearly understand the technical means of the present application, it can be implemented in accordance with the contents of the specification. In order to make the above and other purposes, features and advantages of the present application more obvious and easy to understand, the specific implementation methods of the present application are listed below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the drawings without inventive work. In the drawings:

[0041] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of a vehicle according to one or more embodiments.

[0042] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of an exploded structure of a battery according to one or more embodiments.

[0043] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of an exploded structure of a battery cell according to one or more embodiments.

[0044] FIG4 is a schematic structural diagram of a battery according to one or more embodiments.

[0045] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of the top view of the battery structure shown in FIG4 .

[0046] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of the AA cross-sectional structure of the battery shown in FIG5 .

[0047] FIG7 is a partial enlarged schematic diagram of point A in the battery shown in FIG6 .

[0048] FIG8 is a partial enlarged schematic diagram of point B in the battery shown in FIG6 .

[0049] The figure numbers in the specific implementation scheme are as follows: vehicle 1000, battery 100, box 10, first part 11, second part 12, first beam 13, second beam 15, third beam 16, battery cell 20, end cover 21, electrode terminal 211, shell 22, battery cell assembly 23, battery cell group 30, first battery cell group 31, first surface 311, second battery cell group 32, second surface 321, third battery cell group 33, third surface 331, fourth battery cell group 34, fourth surface 341, crimping part 40, first crimping part 41, second crimping part 42, first electrical connection part 50, locking crimping part 60, metal connector 61, insulating connector 62, controller 200, motor 300. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of this application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0051] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the technical terms "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish different objects and should not be understood to indicate or imply relative importance or implicitly specify the quantity, specific order, or primary and secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. In the description of the embodiments of this application, the meaning of "plurality" is more than two, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0052] References herein to "embodiments" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it constitute an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive of other embodiments. It is understood, both explicitly and implicitly, by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

[0053] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the association relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, 1 and / or 2 can represent: 1 exists alone, 1 and 2 exist simultaneously, and 2 exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0054] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the term "multiple" refers to more than two (including two). Similarly, "multiple groups" refers to more than two groups (including two groups), and "multiple pieces" refers to more than two pieces (including two pieces).

[0055] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the technical terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or position relationship, are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the embodiments of the present application.

[0056] 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.

[0057] Currently, to simplify battery pack structures, improve space utilization, streamline installation processes, and reduce production costs, the widely used CTP technology is undergoing continuous innovation and development. CTP, or CellToPACK (battery-to-battery-pack), integrates batteries directly into the pack, eliminating the intermediate module architecture, simplifying the pack structure, and improving space utilization.

[0058] However, with the removal of the module structure, some limiting structures for the battery cells are also cancelled. When the battery cells expand, the battery cells are only supported by the box beams, which can easily cause the box to fail.

[0059] Normally, multiple battery cells are arranged into groups and then placed side by side in a battery box. In order to improve the structural strength of the box beam and reduce the risk of box failure, a steel strip is set above the battery cell group. The steel strip can be crimped onto the end cover of the battery cell, and both ends of the steel strip are also locked onto the box beam for connection. In this way, when the battery cell expands and puts pressure on the box beams at both ends, the deformation of the box beam is reduced due to the restraint of the steel strip, which reduces the requirements for the structural strength of the box beam and reduces the risk of box failure.

[0060] However, since adjacent battery cell groups need to be connected in series or in parallel, a bar is used to connect one end of the adjacent battery cell groups. At this time, if a steel pressure strip is used to cross the bar and connect to the box beam, the steel pressure strip will be lifted, causing the gap between the steel pressure strip and the battery cell to become larger, and it will not be able to be crimped onto the end cover of the battery cell. If the steel pressure strip is not allowed to cross the bar, the two ends of the steel pressure strip will not be able to be locked on the box beam at the same time for connection.

[0061] In some embodiments, in order to alleviate the problem that the steel bead is inconvenient to set up due to the connection of the bar, thereby being unable to effectively reduce the deformation of the box beam, reduce the requirements for the structural strength of the box beam, and reduce the risk of box failure, the present application designs a battery, including a box, a battery cell group, and a crimping piece. The box includes a first beam, the battery cell group includes a first battery cell group and a second battery cell group adjacently arranged along a first direction, the first battery cell group and the second battery cell group each include a plurality of battery cells stacked along a second direction, the first battery cell group includes a first surface, the second battery cell group includes a second surface, the first surface and the second surface are adjacent along the first direction and are both perpendicular to the third direction, and the first direction, the second direction and the third direction are perpendicular to each other. The crimping piece is arranged at the junction of the first surface and the second surface to simultaneously connect to the first surface and the second surface. The first beam is located at one end of the first battery cell group and the second battery cell group along the second direction, and the crimping piece extends along the second direction and is spaced apart from the first beam. The battery further includes a first electrical connector for electrically connecting the first battery cell group and the second battery cell group. At least a portion of the first electrical connector is located at a gap between the crimping member and the first beam.

[0062] In this way, by arranging at least a part of the first electrical connector to be located in the gap between the crimping piece and the first beam, the crimping piece can avoid the first electrical connector and is not interfered with by the position of the first electrical connector; and, by arranging the crimping piece to be connected to the first surface of the adjacent first battery cell group and the second surface of the second battery cell group at the same time, the connection of the battery cells of the two adjacent battery cell groups can be achieved, so that when the battery cells expand and exert pressure on the box body, the deformation of the box body is reduced due to the restraint of the crimping piece, the requirements for the structural strength of the box body beam are reduced, and the risk of box body failure is also reduced.

[0063] The battery of the present application is used in electrical devices to alleviate the inconvenience of setting up steel strips due to the connection of the bars, thereby being unable to effectively reduce the deformation of the box beam, reducing the requirements for the structural strength of the box beam, and reducing the risk of box failure.

[0064] The battery disclosed in the embodiments of the present application can be used in, but is not limited to, electrical devices such as vehicles, ships, or aircraft.

[0065] For the convenience of description, the following embodiments are described by taking a vehicle 1000 as an example of an electrical device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0066] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic structural diagram of a vehicle 1000 provided in some embodiments of the present application. The vehicle 1000 can be a fuel vehicle, a gas vehicle or a new energy vehicle. The new energy vehicle can be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle or an extended-range vehicle, etc. A battery 100 is provided inside the vehicle 1000, and the battery 100 can be provided at the bottom, head or tail of the vehicle 1000. The battery 100 can be used to power the vehicle 1000. For example, the battery 100 can serve as an operating power source for the vehicle 1000. The vehicle 1000 may also include a controller 200 and a motor 300. The controller 200 is used to control the battery 100 to power the motor 300, for example, for starting, navigating and driving the vehicle 1000.

[0067] In some embodiments of the present application, the battery 100 can serve not only as an operating power source for the vehicle 1000, but also as a driving power source for the vehicle 1000, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle 1000.

[0068] Please refer to Figure 2, which is an exploded view of a battery 100 provided in some embodiments of the present application. The battery 100 includes a housing 10 and a battery cell 20, with the battery cell 20 housed within the housing 10. The housing 10 provides a storage space for the battery cell 20 and can have various structures. In some embodiments, the housing 10 can include a first portion 11 and a second portion 12, which overlap each other and together define a storage space for the battery cell 20. The second portion 12 can be a hollow structure with one end open. The first portion 11 can be a plate-like structure, with the first portion 11 overlapping the open side of the second portion 12, so that the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 together define a storage space. Alternatively, the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 can each be a hollow structure with one end open, with the open side of the first portion 11 overlapping the open side of the second portion 12. Of course, the housing 10 formed by the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 can have various shapes, such as a cylinder, a rectangular parallelepiped, etc.

[0069] In the battery 100, there may be multiple battery cells 20. The multiple battery cells 20 may be connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection. A hybrid connection refers to a combination of series and parallel connections among the multiple battery cells 20. The multiple battery cells 20 may be directly connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection, and then the entire battery cell 20 is housed in the housing 10.

[0070] Each battery cell 20 may be a secondary battery or a primary battery, and may also be a lithium-sulfur battery, a sodium-ion battery, or a magnesium-ion battery, but is not limited thereto. The battery cell 20 may be cylindrical, flat, rectangular, or in other shapes.

[0071] Please refer to Figure 3, which is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of a battery cell 20 provided in some embodiments of the present application. A battery cell 20 is the smallest unit that makes up a battery. As shown in Figure 3, a battery cell 20 includes an end cap 21, a housing 22, a cell assembly 23, and other functional components.

[0072] The end cap 21 is a component that covers the opening of the housing 22 to isolate the internal environment of the battery cell 20 from the external environment. Without limitation, the shape of the end cap 21 can be adapted to the shape of the housing 22 to match the housing 22. In some embodiments, the end cap 21 can be made of a material with a certain hardness and strength (such as an aluminum alloy). This prevents the end cap 21 from deforming when subjected to compression or collision, allowing the battery cell 20 to have higher structural strength and improved safety. Functional components such as electrode terminals 211 can be provided on the end cap 21. The electrode terminals 211 can be used to electrically connect to the battery cell assembly 23 for outputting or inputting electrical energy into or out of the battery cell 20. In some embodiments, the end cap 21 can also be provided with a pressure relief mechanism for relieving internal pressure when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell 20 reaches a threshold. The end cap 21 can also be made of a variety of materials, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, plastic, etc., and the embodiments of the present application are not particularly limited in this regard. In some embodiments, an insulating member may be provided inside the end cap 21 to isolate the electrical connection components in the housing 22 from the end cap 21 to reduce the risk of short circuit. For example, the insulating member may be made of plastic, rubber, or the like.

[0073] The housing 22 is a component that cooperates with the end cap 21 to form the internal environment of the battery cell 20. This internal environment can be used to accommodate the battery cell assembly 23, electrolyte, and other components. The housing 22 and end cap 21 can be separate components. An opening can be provided in the housing 22, and the end cap 21 is placed over the opening to form the internal environment of the battery cell 20. Alternatively, the end cap 21 and housing 22 can be integrated. In some embodiments, the end cap 21 and housing 22 can form a common connection surface before other components are inserted into the housing. When the interior of the housing 22 needs to be enclosed, the end cap 21 is placed over the housing 22. The housing 22 can have a variety of shapes and sizes, such as a rectangular parallelepiped, a cylindrical shape, a hexagonal prism, etc. In some embodiments, the shape of the housing 22 can be determined based on the specific shape and size of the battery cell assembly 23. The housing 22 can be made of a variety of materials, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, plastic, etc., and this embodiment of the present application does not impose any specific limitations on this.

[0074] The cell assembly 23 is the component where the electrochemical reaction occurs in the battery cell 20. One or more cell assemblies 23 may be contained in the housing 22. The cell assembly 23 is mainly composed of positive and negative electrode materials, a separator, and a current collector 231. In some embodiments, the positive electrode material is coated on the battery output terminal connector to form a positive electrode sheet, and the negative electrode material is coated on the battery output terminal connector to form a negative electrode sheet. The positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet are wound or stacked, and the separator is arranged between the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet to form the cell assembly 23. The parts of the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet with active materials constitute the main body of the cell assembly, and the parts of the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet without active materials each constitute the tab. The positive electrode tab and the negative electrode tab can be located together at one end of the main body or respectively at both ends of the main body. During the charge and discharge process of the battery, the positive electrode active material and the negative electrode active material react with the electrolyte, and the tabs connect the electrode terminals to form a current circuit.

[0075] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery according to one or more embodiments, and FIG5 is a schematic diagram of the battery structure shown in FIG4 from above. Referring to FIG4 and FIG5 , an embodiment of the present application provides a battery 100 comprising a housing 10, a battery cell group 30, and a crimping member 40. The housing 10 comprises a first beam 13. The battery cell group 30 comprises a first battery cell group 31 and a second battery cell group 32 adjacently arranged along a first direction. The first battery cell group 31 and the second battery cell group 32 each comprise a plurality of battery cells 20 stacked along a second direction. The first battery cell group 31 comprises a first surface 311, and the second battery cell group 32 comprises a second surface 321. The first surface 311 and the second surface 321 are adjacently arranged along the first direction and are both perpendicular to a third direction. The first, second, and third directions are mutually perpendicular. The crimping member 40 is disposed at the junction of the first and second surfaces 311, 321 to simultaneously connect to the first and second surfaces 311, 321. The first beam 13 is located at one end of the first battery cell group 31 and the second battery cell group 32 along the second direction. The crimping member 40 extends along the second direction and is spaced apart from the first beam 13. The battery 100 also includes a first electrical connector 50, which is used to electrically connect the first battery cell group 31 and the second battery cell group 32. At least a portion of the first electrical connector 50 is located between the crimping member 40 and the first beam 13.

[0076] In some embodiments, the first direction is the Y direction shown in FIG. 4 , the second direction is the X direction shown in FIG. 4 , and the third direction is the Z direction shown in FIG. 4 .

[0077] The first surface 311 of the first battery cell group 31 may be the upper surface of the first battery cell group 31 along the third direction. The first surface 311 may be formed by combining the upper surfaces of each battery cell 20 in the third direction in the first battery cell group 31. The upper surface of each battery cell 20 in the third direction may be the top surface of the end cap 21 of the battery cell 20. Similarly, the second surface 321 of the second battery cell group 32 may be the upper surface of the second battery cell group 32 along the third direction. The second surface 321 may be formed by combining the upper surfaces of each battery cell 20 in the third direction in the second battery cell group 32.

[0078] The crimping member 40 is a structure that can provide a compressive force to an object. In the present application, the crimping member 40 is disposed adjacent to the first surface 311 and the second surface 321 to simultaneously connect to the first surface 311 and the second surface 321, thereby providing a compressive force between the first battery cell group 31 and the second battery cell group 32. The crimping member 40 can be pressed against the first surface 311 and the second surface 321 along a third direction and connected to the first surface 311 and the second surface 321.

[0079] The connection between the crimping part 40 and the first surface 311 and the second surface 321 can be a connection to the entire surface of the first surface 311 and the second surface 321, or a connection to a partial surface of the first surface 311 and the second surface 321. For example, the crimping part 40 is only connected to the partial surface at both ends and the partial surface in the middle of the first surface 311 and the second surface 321 along the second direction.

[0080] The first beam 13 is a part of the box body 10 and can serve as a side wall of the box body 10 or as a middle beam inside the box body 10 .

[0081] The crimping member 40 is spaced apart from the first beam 13 along the second direction, which means that the crimping member 40 is spaced apart from the first beam 13 along the second direction to form a spacing space.

[0082] The first electrical connector 50 may be a connecting tab, configured to connect adjacent first and second battery cell groups 31, 32 in series or in parallel. In some embodiments, the first electrical connector 50 electrically connects the battery cell 20 of the first battery cell group 31 closest to the first beam 13 along the second direction with the battery cell 20 of the second battery cell group 32 closest to the first beam 13 along the second direction. At least a portion of the first electrical connector 50 is located within the aforementioned separation space.

[0083] In this way, by arranging at least a portion of the first electrical connector 50 to be located at the gap between the crimping member 40 and the first beam 13, the crimping member 40 can avoid the first electrical connector 50, so that the crimping member 40 is not interfered with by the position of the first electrical connector 50; and, by arranging the crimping member 40 to be connected to the first surface 311 of the adjacent first battery cell group 31 and the second surface 321 of the second battery cell group 32 at the same time, the connection of each battery cell 20 of the two adjacent battery cell groups 30 can be achieved, and each battery cell 20 can be fixed and limited, so that when the battery cell 20 expands and applies pressure to the box body 10, the deformation of the box body 10 is reduced due to the restraint of the crimping member 40, the requirements for the structural strength of the box body beam are reduced, and the risk of failure of the box body 10 is reduced.

[0084] 6 and 7 , according to some embodiments of the present application, the crimping member 40 is bonded to the first surface 311 and the second surface 321 .

[0085] The crimping member 40 can be bonded to the first surface 311 and the second surface 321 using an adhesive or adhesive. It should be noted that the adhesive and adhesive should be made of insulating materials, and the adhesive can be double-sided tape. In this way, the crimping member 40 can be insulated from the battery cell 20 using the adhesive, thereby improving the reliability of the battery 100.

[0086] Since the pressing member 40 is bonded to the first surface 311 and the second surface 321 , the bonding operation is simple and reliable, and is also beneficial for fixing and limiting the battery cells 20 .

[0087] According to some embodiments of the present application, the first battery cell group 31 includes a first battery cell directly connected to the first electrical connector 50, and the second battery cell group 32 includes a second battery cell directly connected to the first electrical connector 50. Projected along the third direction, the crimping member 40 is completely misaligned with the first battery cell and / or the second battery cell.

[0088] The projection of the crimping member 40 and the first battery cell and / or the second battery cell along the third direction may refer to a projection toward the box body 10 along the third direction.

[0089] Projected along the third direction, the crimping member 40 is completely misaligned with the first battery cell and / or the second battery cell, which means that the first projection area formed by the crimping member 40 is staggered with the second projection area formed by the first battery cell and / or the third projection area formed by the second battery cell without overlapping.

[0090] That is, the crimping member 40 is not located above the first battery cell and / or the second battery cell along the third direction, so that sufficient spacing space is provided between the crimping member 40 and the first beam 13 for the placement of the first electrical connector 50, so that the first battery cell and / or the second battery cell have a larger contact area with the first electrical connector 50, thereby improving the reliability of the electrical connection.

[0091] According to some embodiments of the present application, the crimping member 40 is made of epoxy resin and glass fiber composite material.

[0092] The crimping piece 40 made of epoxy resin glass fiber composite material has insulating properties and can maintain insulation between the battery cell 20, thereby improving the reliability of the battery 100. In addition, the crimping piece 40 made of epoxy resin glass fiber composite material has high strength and toughness, thereby improving the crimping effect.

[0093] According to some embodiments of the present application, the battery cell group 30 further includes a third battery cell group 33 and a fourth battery cell group 34. The battery 100 further includes a separator. The third battery cell group 33 and the first battery cell group 31 are disposed on opposite sides of the separator along the second direction. The fourth battery cell group 34 and the second battery cell group 32 are disposed on opposite sides of the separator along the second direction. The third battery cell group 33 includes a third surface 331, and the fourth battery cell group 34 includes a fourth surface 341. The third surface 331 and the fourth surface 341 are adjacent to each other along the first direction and are both perpendicular to the third direction. The crimping member 40 extends along the second direction and spans the separator to connect to the third surface 331 and the fourth surface 341.

[0094] A separator is a component used to separate at least two objects. In the embodiments of the present application, the separator may be part of the housing 10. For example, the separator may be a beam structure within the housing 10 that strengthens the structural strength of the housing 10, such as the second beam 15 described in the following embodiments. Alternatively, the separator may have other functions, such as electrical separation or thermal insulation to ensure the operational reliability of the battery 100.

[0095] The third surface 331 of the third battery cell group 33 may be the upper surface of the third battery cell group 33 along the third direction. The third surface 331 may be formed by combining the upper surfaces of each battery cell 20 in the third battery cell group 33 along the third direction. The upper surface of each battery cell 20 in the third direction may be the top surface of the end cap 21 of the battery cell 20. Similarly, the fourth surface 341 of the fourth battery cell group 34 may be the upper surface of the fourth battery cell group 34 along the third direction. The fourth surface 341 may be formed by combining the upper surfaces of each battery cell 20 in the third direction.

[0096] The connection method between the crimping part 40 and the third surface 331 and the fourth surface 341 is not limited to bonding, and the connection between the crimping part 40 and the third surface 331 and the fourth surface 341 can be connected to the entire surface of the third surface 331 and the fourth surface 341, or can be connected to a partial surface of the third surface 331 and the fourth surface 341. For example, the crimping part 40 is only connected to the partial surface at both ends and the partial surface in the middle of the third surface 331 and the fourth surface 341 along the second direction.

[0097] In this embodiment, since the crimping member 40 can span the separator, the extension of the crimping member 40 is not affected by the position of the separator. The crimping member 40 can simultaneously compress and connect four adjacent battery cell groups 30, thereby improving the crimping efficiency.

[0098] Referring to Figure 6, in some embodiments, the box body 10 further includes a carrier, which is used to support the battery cell group 30. The partition includes a first wall away from the carrier along a third direction, and the minimum distance D1 between the third surface 331 and / or the fourth surface 341 and the carrier is greater than or equal to the minimum distance D2 between the first wall and the carrier.

[0099] The first wall surface of the partition may be an upper surface of the partition along the third direction.

[0100] In this way, the third surface 331 and / or the fourth surface 341 can be higher than or equal to the first wall surface of the partition. When the crimping member 40 extends along the second direction and crosses the partition, the crimping member 40 is bent and can directly cross the top of the partition in a straight line, thereby simplifying the overall structure of the crimping member 40.

[0101] In other embodiments, the partition may also include an avoidance groove with an opening facing the third direction, and at least a portion of the crimping member 40 is located in the avoidance groove.

[0102] In some embodiments, an avoidance groove may be formed on a surface of the partition that is located on the same side as the third surface 331 and the fourth surface 341 along the third direction.

[0103] When the crimping member 40 extends along the second direction and crosses over the partition, since the crimping member 40 is provided with an avoidance groove, the crimping member 40 can be directly partially located in the avoidance groove in a straight line to cross over, thereby simplifying the overall structure of the crimping member 40.

[0104] It should be noted that the avoidance grooves may be provided when the maximum distance between the third surface 331 and / or the fourth surface 341 and the supporting component is smaller than the minimum distance D2 between the first wall and the supporting component.

[0105] 5 , 6 and 8 , according to some embodiments of the present application, the battery cell group 30 further includes a third battery cell group 33 and a fourth battery cell group 34, the box body 10 further includes a second beam 15 and a third beam 16, the third battery cell group 33 and the first battery cell group 31 are arranged on both sides of the second beam 15 relative to each other along the second direction, the fourth battery cell group 34 and the second battery cell group 32 are arranged on both sides of the second beam 15 relative to each other along the second direction, and the third beam 16 is located at one end of the third battery cell group 33 and the fourth battery cell group 34 away from the second beam 15 along the second direction.

[0106] The second beam 15 is located between the first beam 13 and the third beam 16 along the second direction and can be used as the middle beam of the box body 10. The third beam 16 and the first beam 13 can be used as the side walls of the box body 10. Of course, in other embodiments, the third beam 16 and the first beam 13 can also be beam structures located inside the box body 10.

[0107] By providing the second beam 15 between the third battery cell group 33 and the first battery cell group 31 and between the fourth battery cell group 34 and the second battery cell group 32 , the structural strength of the box body 10 can be improved when the number of battery cells 20 in the battery 100 is large, thereby improving the anti-expansion effect of the box body 10 .

[0108] In some embodiments, the third battery cell group 33 includes a third surface 331, and the fourth battery cell group 34 includes a fourth surface 341. The third and fourth surfaces 331 and 341 are adjacent along a first direction and are both perpendicular to the third direction. The battery 100 also includes a locking crimping member 60. The locking crimping member 60 is disposed adjacent to the third and fourth surfaces 331 and 341 to simultaneously connect to the third and fourth surfaces 331 and 341. The ends of the locking crimping member 60 are respectively connected to the second beam 15 and the third beam 16.

[0109] The difference between the locking crimping member 60 and the crimping member 40 is that both ends of the locking crimping member 60 can be connected to the box body 10 to achieve locking. In some embodiments, the connection between the two ends of the locking crimping member 60 and the second beam 15 and the third beam 16 can be bolted, welded, etc.

[0110] Since the third battery cell group 33 and the fourth battery cell group 34 are arranged opposite to the first battery cell group 31 and the second battery cell group 32 respectively along the second direction, that is, the third battery cell group 33 and the first battery cell group 31 are in a row, and the fourth battery cell group 34 and the second battery cell group 32 are in an adjacent row, the first electrical connection portion 50 can be provided only at one end between the two rows of battery cell groups 24, that is, the first electrical connection portion 50 is provided at the end of the first battery cell group 31 and the second battery cell group 32 away from the third battery cell group 33 and the fourth battery cell group 34 along the second direction, and the first electrical connection portion 50 is not provided at the end of the third battery cell group 33 and the fourth battery cell group 34 along the second direction away from the first battery cell group 31 and the second battery cell group 32.

[0111] Since it is no longer affected by the first electrical connection part 50, the locking crimping part 60 does not need to be avoided. In this way, the two ends of the locking crimping part 60 can be connected to the second beam 15 and the third beam 16 respectively without forming a gap between the third beam 16. When the battery cells 20 of the third battery cell group 33 and the fourth battery cell group 34 expand and exert pressure on the second beam 15 and the third beam 16 of the box body 10, the deformation of the second beam 15 and the third beam 16 is reduced due to the restraint of the locking crimping part 60, the requirements for the structural strength of the box body beam are reduced, and the risk of failure of the box body 10 is reduced.

[0112] According to some embodiments of the present application, the locking crimping part 60 includes a metal connector 61 and an insulating connector 62, the metal connector 61 is connected to the second beam 15 and the third beam 16, a portion of the insulating connector 62 is located between the third surface 331 and the metal connector 61, and a portion of the insulating connector 62 is located between the fourth surface 341 and the metal connector 61.

[0113] The metal connector 61 is a connector made of metal material, such as steel or aluminum alloy, etc. The insulating connector 62 is a connector made of insulating material, such as brass, polyurethane brass, plastic, etc.

[0114] Because the metal connector 61 has greater structural strength, connecting the metal connector 61 to the second beam 15 and the third beam 16 can further improve the structural strength of the box 10, thereby enhancing the anti-expansion effect. Furthermore, by providing the insulating connector 62 between the third surface 331 of the third battery cell group 33 and the metal connector 61, and between the fourth surface 341 of the fourth battery cell group 34 and the metal connector 61, the metal connector 61 can be insulated from the battery cells 20, thereby improving the reliability of the battery 100.

[0115] In some embodiments, the insulating connector 62 is bonded to the third surface 331 and the fourth surface 341 .

[0116] The insulating connector 62 can be bonded to the third surface 331 and the fourth surface 341 by an adhesive or an adhesive. It should be noted that the materials of the adhesive and the adhesive should also be insulating, and the adhesive can be a double-sided tape.

[0117] By providing the insulating connector 62 bonded to the third surface 331 and the fourth surface 341 , the locking crimping member 60 can be in closer contact with the third battery cell group 30 and the fourth battery cell group 34 , thereby fixing and limiting each battery cell 20 and improving the pressing reliability.

[0118] According to some embodiments of the present application, the metal connector 61 is bonded to the insulating connector 62 .

[0119] By bonding, the metal connector 61 and the insulating connector 62 can be more tightly connected, thereby improving insulation reliability.

[0120] According to some embodiments of the present application, the insulating connector 62 covers at least a portion of the metal connector 61 .

[0121] The insulating connector 62 covers at least a portion of the metal connector 61 , which means that the insulating connector 62 covers at least a portion of the metal connector 61 along the circumference of the metal connector 61 .

[0122] In some embodiments, the insulating connector 62 can be an insulating layer coated on the metal connector 61. For example, it can be coated on the periphery of the metal connector 61 through a heat shrink process, or the sheet-shaped insulating connector 62 can be bonded and coated on the periphery of the metal connector 61 through bonding.

[0123] By providing the insulating connector 62 to cover at least a portion of the metal connector 61 , the position reliability between the insulating connector 62 and the metal connector 61 can be improved, thereby improving the insulation effect between the metal connector 61 and the battery cell 20 .

[0124] Referring to Figures 5 to 8 , according to some embodiments of the present application, the battery cell group 30 includes a plurality of first battery cell groups 31, a plurality of second battery cell groups 32, a plurality of third battery cell groups 33, and a plurality of fourth battery cell groups 34, all of which are equal in number. The plurality of first battery cell groups 31 and the plurality of second battery cell groups 32 are arranged alternately along the first direction, while the plurality of third battery cell groups 33 and the plurality of fourth battery cell groups 34 are arranged alternately along the first direction. Each first battery cell group 31 and each third battery cell group 33 are arranged on opposite sides of the second beam 15 along the second direction, while each second battery cell group 32 and each fourth battery cell group 34 are arranged on opposite sides of the second beam 15 along the second direction. The first beam 13 is located at an end of all the first battery cell groups 31 and all the second battery cell groups 32 that is away from the second beam 15 along the second direction.

[0125] A first battery cell group 31 and a second battery cell group 32 adjacent to each other along a first direction, a third battery cell group 33 opposite to the first battery cell group 31 along a second direction, and a fourth battery cell group 33 opposite to the second battery cell group 32 along the second direction are combined to form a sub-battery cell group. The battery cell group 30 includes at least two sub-battery cell groups adjacent to each other along the first direction.

[0126] The crimping member 40 includes a first crimping member 41 and a second crimping member 42 . The first crimping member 41 is disposed on one of the sub-battery cell groups, and the second crimping member 42 and the locking crimping member 60 are disposed on the other sub-battery cell group.

[0127] The first crimping member 41 is disposed adjacent to the first surface 311 of the first battery cell group 31 and the second surface 321 of an adjacent second battery cell group 32, thereby connecting to both the first surface 311 and the second surface 321. The first crimping member 41 extends along the second direction and is spaced apart from the first beam 13. The first electrical connector 50 is used to electrically connect the first battery cell group 31 and the second battery cell group 32. At least a portion of the first electrical connector 50 is located between the crimping member 40 and the first beam 13. The first crimping member 41 extends along the second direction and spans the second beam 15 to connect to the third surface 331 and the fourth surface 341.

[0128] The second crimping member 42 is disposed adjacent to the first surface 311 of the first battery cell group 31 and the second surface 321 of a second battery cell group 32 adjacent thereto, thereby simultaneously connecting to the first surface 311 and the second surface 321. The first crimping member 41 extends along the second direction and is spaced apart from the first beam 13. The first electrical connector 50 is used to electrically connect the first battery cell group 31 and the second battery cell group 32. At least a portion of the first electrical connector 50 is located between the crimping member 40 and the first beam 13. The locking crimping member 60 is disposed adjacent to the third surface 331 and the fourth surface 341, thereby simultaneously connecting to the third surface 331 and the fourth surface 341. The two ends of the locking crimping member 60 are respectively connected to the second beam 15 and the third beam 16.

[0129] In this way, a variety of crimping parts 40 and ways of cooperating between the crimping parts 40 and the locking crimping parts 60 can be set in the battery 100. In addition to avoiding the first electrical connector 50, on the one hand, the first crimping part 40 can be used to simultaneously compress and connect four adjacent battery cell groups 30, thereby improving the crimping efficiency. On the other hand, the cooperation between the second crimping part 40 and the locking crimping part 60 can reduce the deformation of the second beam 15 and the third beam 16, thereby reducing the requirements for the structural strength of the box beam and reducing the risk of failure of the box 10.

[0130] In some embodiments, the present application also provides an electrical device, comprising the battery 100 in any of the above embodiments. The battery 100 is used to provide electrical energy.

[0131] By arranging that at least a portion of the first electrical connector 50 is located at the gap between the crimping member 40 and the first beam 13, the crimping member 40 can avoid the first electrical connector 50, so that the crimping member 40 is not interfered with by the position of the first electrical connector 50; and, by arranging the crimping member 40 to be connected to the first surface 311 of the adjacent first battery cell group 31 and the second surface 321 of the second battery cell group 32 at the same time, the connection of each battery cell 20 of the two adjacent battery cell groups 30 can be achieved, and each battery cell 20 can be fixed and limited, so that when the battery cell 20 expands and applies pressure to the box body 10, the deformation of the box body 10 is reduced due to the restraint of the crimping member 40, the requirements for the structural strength of the box body beam are reduced, and the risk of failure of the box body 10 is reduced.

[0132] 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.

[0133] 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 patent application. It should be noted that a person of ordinary skill in the art may make various modifications and improvements without departing from the spirit of the present application, all of which fall within the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present patent application shall be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A battery comprising: The box body includes a first beam; A battery cell group, comprising a first battery cell group and a second battery cell group adjacently arranged along a first direction, wherein the first battery cell group and the second battery cell group each comprise a plurality of battery cells stacked along a second direction, the first battery cell group comprising a first surface, the second battery cell group comprising a second surface, the first surface and the second surface being adjacently arranged along the first direction and both perpendicular to a third direction, and the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction being perpendicular to each other; as well as a crimping member disposed at a location adjacent to the first surface and the second surface to simultaneously connect to the first surface and the second surface; In which, the first beam is located at one end of the first battery cell group and the second battery cell group along the second direction, the crimping piece extends along the second direction and is spaced apart from the first beam, and the battery also includes a first electrical connector, which is used to electrically connect the first battery cell group and the second battery cell group, and at least a portion of the first electrical connector is located at the gap between the crimping piece and the first beam.

2. The battery according to claim 1, wherein The battery cell group also includes a third battery cell group and a fourth battery cell group, and the battery also includes a separator. The third battery cell group and the first battery cell group are relatively arranged on both sides of the separator along the second direction, and the fourth battery cell group and the second battery cell group are relatively arranged on both sides of the separator along the second direction. The third battery cell group includes a third surface, and the fourth battery cell group includes a fourth surface. The third surface and the fourth surface are adjacent to each other along the first direction and are both perpendicular to the third direction. The crimping piece extends along the second direction and crosses the separator to be connected to the third surface and the fourth surface.

3. The battery according to claim 2, wherein The box body also includes a carrier for supporting the battery cell group, and the partition includes a first wall away from the carrier along the third direction, and the minimum distance between the third surface and the carrier is greater than or equal to the minimum distance between the first wall and the carrier.

4. The battery according to claim 2 or 3, wherein The box body also includes a carrier for supporting the battery cell group, the separator includes a first wall away from the carrier along the third direction, and the minimum distance between the fourth surface and the carrier is greater than or equal to the minimum distance between the first wall and the carrier.

5. The battery according to claim 2, wherein The partition comprises an escape groove opening toward the third direction, and at least a portion of the crimping member is located in the escape groove.

6. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein The battery cell group also includes a third battery cell group and a fourth battery cell group, and the box body also includes a second beam and a third beam. The third battery cell group and the first battery cell group are arranged on both sides of the second beam relatively along the second direction, and the fourth battery cell group and the second battery cell group are arranged on both sides of the second beam relatively along the second direction. The third beam is located on the side of the third battery cell group and the fourth battery cell group away from the second beam along the second direction.

7. The battery according to claim 6, wherein The third battery cell group includes a third surface, the fourth battery cell group includes a fourth surface, the third surface and the fourth surface are adjacent along the first direction and are both perpendicular to the third direction, the battery also includes a locking crimping piece, the locking crimping piece is arranged at the adjacent position of the third surface and the fourth surface to be simultaneously connected to the third surface and the fourth surface, and the two ends of the locking crimping piece are respectively connected to the second beam and the third beam.

8. The battery according to claim 7, wherein The locking crimping part includes a metal connector and an insulating connector, the metal connector is connected to the second beam and the third beam, a portion of the insulating connector is located between the third surface and the metal connector, and a portion of the insulating connector is located between the fourth surface and the metal connector.

9. The battery according to claim 8, wherein The insulating connector is bonded to the third surface and the fourth surface.

10. The battery according to claim 9, wherein The metal connecting piece is bonded to the insulating connecting piece.

11. The battery according to claim 9, wherein The insulating connector covers at least a portion of the metal connector.

12. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein The crimping member is bonded to the first surface and the second surface.

13. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein The first battery cell group includes a first battery cell directly connected to the first electrical connector, the second battery cell group includes a second battery cell directly connected to the first electrical connector, and the crimping member is completely misaligned with the first battery cell when projected along the third direction.

14. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein The first battery cell group includes a first battery cell directly connected to the first electrical connector, the second battery cell group includes a second battery cell directly connected to the first electrical connector, and the crimping member is completely misaligned with the second battery cell when projected along the third direction.

15. The battery according to claims 1 to 14, wherein The crimping piece is made of epoxy resin glass fiber composite material.

16. An electrical device comprising the battery according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the battery is used to provide electrical energy.

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