Connection assembly, battery and vehicle

Abstract

Provided in the embodiments of the present application are a connection assembly, a battery and a vehicle. The connection assembly comprises a body and a terminal post; the body is used for connecting to two housings and closing two battery cells; one side of the body is used for connecting to a positive electrode tab of one battery cell, and the other side of the body is used for connecting to a negative electrode tab of the other adjacent battery cell; the body is provided with a through hole; the terminal post passes through the through hole, and two ends of the terminal post are respectively and electrically connected to the positive electrode tab and the negative electrode tab.

Description

Connectivity components, batteries and vehicles

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202421228232.8, filed on May 30, 2024, entitled "Connection Components, Battery and Vehicle", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application belongs to the field of battery manufacturing technology, specifically, this application relates to a connection component, a battery, and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0003] In electric vehicles, smart grid energy storage systems, and other applications requiring high energy density, the performance and safety of power batteries are crucial. Currently, most power battery series structure designs focus on the battery pack level. That is, after the production of multiple individual battery cells, they are connected in series to form a battery pack.

[0004] Traditional series structures require the use of connecting plates, bolts, and other connection structures. These connection structures not only increase costs but may also lead to problems such as increased resistance and poor contact, thereby affecting the overall performance and safety of the battery pack. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One object of this application is to provide a new solution for connecting components, batteries, and vehicles.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present application, a connecting assembly is provided for connecting two individual battery cells, each individual battery cell including a housing and a cell disposed within the housing, the connecting assembly comprising:

[0007] The battery body and the terminal post are provided. The body is used to connect to and enclose the two individual battery cells with the two housings. One side of the body is used to connect to the positive electrode tab of one of the battery cells, and the other side of the body is used to connect to the negative electrode tab of the other battery cell. The body has a through hole, and the terminal post passes through the through hole. The two ends of the terminal post are electrically connected to the positive electrode tab and the negative electrode tab, respectively.

[0008] Optionally, the through hole is provided in the middle of the body.

[0009] Optionally, the body includes a first cover plate and a second cover plate, the first cover plate and the second cover plate are insulated from each other, the first cover plate is used to connect with and enclose one of the single cells of a housing, the second cover plate is used to connect with and enclose another single cell of a housing, and the through hole penetrates through the first cover plate and the second cover plate.

[0010] Optionally, the body further includes a first insulating plate, which is sandwiched between the first cover plate and the second cover plate, and the through hole penetrates the first cover plate, the first insulating plate and the second cover plate.

[0011] Optionally, along the connection direction perpendicular to the plurality of said cells, the size of the first insulating plate is between 0.7 and 1 times the size of the first cover plate.

[0012] Optionally, the body further includes a first connecting plate and a second connecting plate. The first connecting plate is located on the side of the first cover plate away from the second cover plate, and the second connecting plate is located on the side of the second cover plate away from the first cover plate. The first connecting plate and the first cover plate, and the second connecting plate and the second cover plate are respectively insulated from each other. One of the first connecting plate and the second connecting plate is connected to the positive electrode tab of one of the battery cells, and the other of the first connecting plate and the second connecting plate is connected to the negative electrode tab of an adjacent battery cell.

[0013] Optionally, the body further includes a second insulating plate, wherein the second insulating plate is provided between the first connecting plate and the first cover plate, and between the second connecting plate and the second cover plate.

[0014] Optionally, along the connection direction perpendicular to the plurality of battery cells, the size of the second insulating plate is larger than the size of the first connecting plate, and the size of the second insulating plate is smaller than the size of the first cover plate.

[0015] According to a second aspect of the present application, a battery is provided, including at least one connection component as described in the first aspect, the battery further including at least two individual cells, each individual cell including a housing and a cell disposed within the housing, the body being connected to and enclosing the two individual cells with the two housings.

[0016] Optionally, the housing has a receiving cavity, the battery cell is located in the receiving cavity, and the body is connected to the inner wall of the housing.

[0017] According to a third aspect of the embodiments of this application, a vehicle is provided, including the battery described in the second aspect.

[0018] One technical advantage of this application is:

[0019] This application provides a connection assembly for connecting two individual battery cells. Each individual battery cell includes a housing and a cell disposed within the housing. The connection assembly includes a body and terminals. The body connects to the two housings and seals the two individual battery cells. One side of the body connects to the positive electrode tab of one cell, and the other side connects to the negative electrode tab of the other cell. A through hole is formed in the body, and the terminals pass through the through hole, with both ends electrically connected to the positive and negative electrodes, respectively. By inserting the terminals through the through hole in the body and directly connecting their ends to the positive and negative electrodes, the current transmission path and contact resistance are reduced, thereby reducing battery resistance loss and improving energy conversion efficiency. Since the terminals directly connect to the positive and negative electrodes through the through hole, the number of connection points is reduced, lowering the risk of connection failure and improving battery safety. Furthermore, by connecting the body to the two housings, the two individual battery cells can be sealed, forming a battery with good sealing performance.

[0020] Other features and advantages of this application will become clear from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present application and, together with their description, serve to explain the principles of the present application.

[0022] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a battery provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0023] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a battery provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0024] Figure 3 is an exploded view of a connection component provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0025] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a connection component provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0026] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a connection component provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0027] Figure 6 is another schematic diagram of a connection component provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0028] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0029] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 100, vehicle; 10, battery; 20, single cell; 1, cell; 11, positive electrode tab; 12, negative electrode tab; 2, connecting assembly; 21, body; 211, first cover plate; 212, second cover plate; 213, first insulating plate; 214, first connecting plate; 215, second connecting plate; 216, second insulating plate; 217, through hole; 22, terminal post; 3, housing; 31, receiving cavity; 4, end cap. Detailed Implementation

[0030] Various exemplary embodiments of the present application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement, numerical expressions, and values ​​of the components and steps set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present application.

[0031] The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative and is in no way intended to limit the scope of this application and its application or use.

[0032] Techniques, methods, and equipment known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, such techniques, methods, and equipment should be considered part of the specification.

[0033] In all the examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values ​​should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not as limitations. Therefore, other examples of exemplary embodiments may have different values.

[0034] It should be noted that similar labels and letters in the following figures indicate similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be discussed further in subsequent figures.

[0035] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "height", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "middle", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0036] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cell structure provided in this embodiment can be used to form a battery 10. The cell structure can be disposed in the receiving cavity 31 of the housing 3 and filled with electrolyte to form a battery 10, which can be a lithium-ion battery 10 or a sodium-ion battery 10.

[0037] As shown in Figure 2, the connecting component 2 provided in this embodiment is used to connect two individual battery cells 20. Each individual battery cell 20 includes a housing 3 and a cell 1 disposed within the housing 3. The connecting component 2 includes a body 21 and a terminal post 22. The body 21 is used to connect to and enclose the two individual battery cells 20 with the two housings 3. One side of the body 21 is used to connect to the positive electrode tab 11 of one cell 1, and the other side of the body 21 is used to connect to the negative electrode tab 12 of the other cell 1. A through hole 217 is provided on the body 21, and the terminal post 22 passes through the through hole 217. The two ends of the terminal post 22 are electrically connected to the positive electrode tab 11 and the negative electrode tab 12, respectively.

[0038] As shown in Figure 2, the main body 21 can be connected to two housings 3 and enclose two individual battery cells 20. Specifically, the two ends of the battery 10 can also have end caps 4, with the two end caps 4 located at the electrode tabs. The two end caps 4, the first cover plate 211 and the second cover plate 212 in the main body 21 are welded and sealed to the inner wall of the housing 3, thereby forming the battery 10.

[0039] In this embodiment, the battery 10 may include two individual battery cells 20 and a connecting assembly 2. One side of the body 21 is fixedly connected to the positive electrode tab 11 of one battery cell 1 by welding, riveting, or other suitable connection methods, and the other side of the body 21 is fixedly connected to the negative electrode tab 12 of another adjacent battery cell 1 by welding, riveting, or other suitable connection methods, thereby realizing the series connection of the two individual battery cells 20. A through hole 217 is provided on the body 21, and the electrode post 22 passes through the through hole 217. The two ends of the electrode post 22 are electrically connected to the positive electrode tab 11 and the negative electrode tab 12, respectively, thereby ensuring that the current flows smoothly from one battery cell 1 to another battery cell 1.

[0040] In another embodiment, the battery 10 may include three individual cells 20 and two connecting components 2. The connection method of each connecting component 2 is the same as in the previous embodiment, that is, one side of the body 21 is connected to the positive electrode tab 11 of one cell 1, and the other side is connected to the negative electrode tab 12 of another adjacent cell 1. The terminal post 22 passes through the through hole 217 of the body 21, thereby realizing the series connection and electrical connection of the three individual cells 20.

[0041] In another embodiment, more individual battery cells 20 can be connected in series. The connection method of each connecting component 2 is the same as in the previous embodiment. By using multiple connecting components 2, multiple individual battery cells 20 can be connected in series, enabling flexible combination and expansion of the battery 10 to meet the needs of different application scenarios.

[0042] In this way, multiple individual battery cells 20 can be efficiently connected in series using one or more connecting components 2, thereby increasing the energy density of the battery 10 without increasing its overall volume. By adjusting the number and layout of the connecting components 2, diverse designs of the battery 10 can be achieved to meet the needs of different application scenarios. For example, in scenarios requiring high energy density, the number of connecting components 2 can be increased to connect more individual battery cells 20 in series.

[0043] The connection component 2 body 21 is tightly connected to the positive and negative tabs of the battery cell 1 on both sides, which ensures that the connection component 2 can maintain a stable electrical connection when it is in operation for a long time or when it is affected by external environment such as vibration and impact, thus avoiding performance degradation or safety hazards caused by loose or broken connection.

[0044] Furthermore, by inserting the terminal post 22 of the connecting assembly 2 through the through hole 217 of the body 21 and directly electrically connecting both ends of the terminal post 22 to the positive and negative tabs, the current transmission path and contact resistance can be reduced, thereby reducing the resistance loss of the battery 10 and improving the energy conversion efficiency of the battery 10. Since the terminal post 22 directly passes through the through hole 217 and connects to the positive and negative tabs, the number of connection points is reduced, and the risk of connection failure is also reduced. The through hole 217 on the body 21 can also be easily manufactured, making the connection between the terminal post 22 and the body 21 easier and more reliable, thus reducing the manufacturing difficulty and production time of the battery 10.

[0045] Optionally, the through hole 217 is provided in the middle of the body 21.

[0046] As shown in Figures 2 to 6, the through hole 217 can be opened in the middle of the body 21, which makes the structure of the connecting component 2 more compact. This not only reduces the use of materials and the overall weight, but also makes the battery 10 lighter and easier to integrate and use in various devices.

[0047] Furthermore, the through hole 217 in the middle allows the electrode post 22 to pass through, and its two ends are connected to the positive electrode tab 11 and the negative electrode tab 12 respectively. This helps the current to be evenly distributed inside the battery 10, reduces the thermal effect and potential damage risk caused by current concentration, and improves the stability and safety of the battery 10.

[0048] Optionally, the body 21 includes a first cover plate 211 and a second cover plate 212, the first cover plate 211 and the second cover plate 212 are insulated from each other, the first cover plate 211 is used to connect with and enclose one of the single cells 20 to a housing 3, the second cover plate 212 is used to connect with and enclose another single cell 20 to another housing 3, and the through hole 217 penetrates the first cover plate 211 and the second cover plate 212.

[0049] Specifically, the first cover plate 211 and the second cover plate 212 are respectively connected to the inner wall of the housing 3 to connect the body 21 to the housing 3. The insulation design between the first cover plate 211 and the second cover plate 212 ensures that no accidental electrical contact occurs between the positive and negative terminals of the connecting assembly 2, thereby avoiding short circuits and potential damage risks. This design significantly improves the safety performance of the battery 10 and reduces the possibility of safety accidents caused by electrical faults.

[0050] In addition, the design of the first cover plate 211 and the second cover plate 212 can also increase the overall strength of the connecting component 2, so that the connecting component 2 can maintain stable performance when subjected to external impact or vibration, thereby improving the reliability and durability of the connecting component 2.

[0051] Optionally, the body 21 further includes a first insulating plate 213, which is sandwiched between the first cover plate 211 and the second cover plate 212, and the through hole 217 penetrates the first cover plate 211, the first insulating plate 213 and the second cover plate 212.

[0052] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the first insulating plate 213 provides an electrical isolation layer between the first cover plate 211 and the second cover plate 212, reducing the risk of accidental electrical contact between the positive and negative electrodes and greatly enhancing the safety performance of the connection assembly 2. The first insulating plate 213 is typically made of a material with high thermal resistance, which helps to form a thermal isolation layer inside the connection assembly 2, preventing heat from being transferred too quickly to other parts of the connection assembly 2.

[0053] In addition, the first insulating plate 213 can also serve as a structural support layer, enhancing the overall structural stability of the connecting assembly 2 and helping to prevent the first cover plate 211 and the second cover plate 212 from deforming or displacing when subjected to external pressure or vibration, thereby maintaining the stability and reliability of the connecting assembly 2.

[0054] Optionally, along the connection direction perpendicular to the plurality of said cells 1, the size L4 of the first insulating plate 213 is between 0.7 and 1 times the size L3 of the first cover plate 211.

[0055] Specifically, by setting the size of the first insulating plate 213 to between 0.7 and 1 times the size of the first cover plate 211 and the second cover plate 212, sufficient electrical isolation space can be ensured to effectively prevent accidental contact between the positive and negative electrodes. This significantly improves the safety of the connection assembly 2 while avoiding the impact of an excessively large size of the first insulating plate 213 on the connection between the first cover plate 211, the second cover plate 212 and the housing 3. This makes it easier to manufacture and assemble the battery 10, reduces production costs, improves production efficiency, and reduces possible errors and defects during manufacturing and assembly.

[0056] Additionally, limiting the size of the first insulating plate 213 helps maintain the compactness of the connecting assembly 2. This reduces the size and weight of the connecting assembly 2, making it easier to integrate into the device.

[0057] Optionally, the body 21 further includes a first connecting plate 214 and a second connecting plate 215. The first connecting plate 214 is located on the side of the first cover plate 211 away from the second cover plate 212, and the second connecting plate 215 is located on the side of the second cover plate 212 away from the first cover plate 211. The first connecting plate 214 and the first cover plate 211, and the second connecting plate 215 and the second cover plate 212 are respectively insulated. One of the first connecting plate 214 and the second connecting plate 215 is connected to the positive electrode tab 11 of one of the battery cells 1, and the other of the first connecting plate 214 and the second connecting plate 215 is connected to the negative electrode tab 12 of the adjacent battery cell 1.

[0058] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the first connecting plate 214 and the second connecting plate 215 are used to connect to the opposite electrodes respectively. For example, the first connecting plate 214 is connected to the negative electrode 12 of one cell 1, and the second connecting plate 215 is connected to the positive electrode 11 of another cell 1. This optimizes the current path, reduces the transmission distance of the current inside the battery 10, reduces the internal resistance, and improves the energy conversion efficiency of the battery 10.

[0059] Furthermore, by designing the first connecting plate 214 and the second connecting plate 215 to connect the tabs, the use of external connectors can be eliminated, improving the integration of the battery 10, simplifying the assembly process of the battery 10, and improving production efficiency.

[0060] Furthermore, by providing insulation between the first connecting plate 214 and the first cover plate 211, and between the second connecting plate 215 and the second cover plate 212, the electrical isolation performance of the connecting assembly 2 can be further enhanced, preventing current from flowing in unwanted paths, reducing the risk of short circuits, and improving the safety of the battery 10.

[0061] In one embodiment, when the power battery 10 formed by the battery 10 is a sodium-ion battery 10, the electrode post 22 can be made of pure aluminum or aluminum alloy, and the first connecting plate 214 and the second connecting plate 215 can be made of pure aluminum or aluminum alloy respectively.

[0062] In another embodiment, when the power battery 10 formed by the battery 10 is a lithium-ion battery 10, the terminal post 22 can be made of copper-aluminum composite material, the first connecting plate 214 is made of aluminum, aluminum alloy, or pure copper, and the second connecting plate 215 is made of pure copper, aluminum, or aluminum alloy. When the first connecting plate 214 is made of aluminum or aluminum alloy, the first connecting plate 214 is connected to the aluminum end of the terminal post 22. In this case, the second connecting plate 215 is made of pure copper and is connected to the copper end of the terminal post 22, and vice versa.

[0063] Optionally, the body 21 further includes a second insulating plate 216, with the second insulating plate 216 provided between the first connecting plate 214 and the first cover plate 211, and between the second connecting plate 215 and the second cover plate 212.

[0064] Specifically, the second insulating plate 216 provides electrical isolation layers between the first connecting plate 214 and the first cover plate 211, and between the second connecting plate 215 and the second cover plate 212, respectively. This further reduces the risk of short circuits caused by accidental contact and significantly enhances the safety performance of the battery 10. Even under extreme conditions, such as vibration or impact, it can effectively prevent electrical connection failure or short circuits.

[0065] The second insulating plate 216 also provides structural support, enhancing the connection between the connecting plate and the cover plate and improving the overall stability of the battery 10. During long-term use, this design maintains the stability and reliability of the battery 10, reducing performance degradation caused by structural deformation or loosening.

[0066] Optionally, along the connection direction perpendicular to the plurality of battery cells 1, the size L2 of the second insulating plate 216 is larger than the size L1 of the first connecting plate 214, and the size L2 of the second insulating plate 216 is smaller than the size L3 of the first cover plate 211.

[0067] As shown in Figure 6, the size L2 of the second insulating plate 216 is set between the size L1 of the first connecting plate 214 and the size L3 of the first cover plate 211. This allows the second insulating plate 216 to fully isolate the first connecting plate 214 while also preventing the second insulating plate 216 from being too large and affecting the connection between the first cover plate 211 and the housing 3.

[0068] This application also provides a battery 10, including at least one of the above-described connection components 2. The battery 10 further includes at least two individual cells 20. Each individual cell 20 includes a housing 3 and a cell 1 disposed within the housing 3. The body 21 is connected to the two housings 3 and encloses the two individual cells 20.

[0069] Optionally, the housing 3 has a receiving cavity 31, the battery cell 1 is located in the receiving cavity 31, and the body 21 is connected to the inner wall of the housing 3.

[0070] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the battery cell 1 is placed inside the receiving cavity 31, which provides protection for the battery cell 1. The body 21 is connected to the inner wall of the housing 3, enabling the assembly of the connecting component 2 and the housing 3. Specifically, the battery 10 also has end caps 4 at both ends. The two end caps 4 are located at the electrode tabs, and the two end caps 4, the first cover plate 211, and the second cover plate 212 are welded and sealed to the inner wall of the housing 3, thereby forming the battery 10.

[0071] Furthermore, for longer batteries 10, the length of battery 10 can be increased by increasing the number of connecting components 2. This can effectively reduce the impedance at both ends of the individual battery cells 20 and the temperature of the terminals during fast charging, thereby improving fast charging performance. At the same time, it shortens the overall length of the battery 10 casing, reducing the manufacturing difficulty and cost of structural components and battery 10.

[0072] As shown in Figure 7, this application also provides a vehicle 100, which includes the battery 10 described above.

[0073] While specific embodiments of this application have been described in detail by way of examples, those skilled in the art should understand that the above examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can be made to the above embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of this application. The scope of this application is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A connection assembly (2) for connecting two unit cells (20), each of the unit cells (20) comprising a housing (3) and an electrode core (1) provided in the housing (3), characterized in that, The connection component (2) includes: The body (21) and the terminal (22) are used to connect and seal the two single cells (20) to the two housings (3). One side of the body (21) is used to connect to the positive electrode tab (11) of one of the cells (1), and the other side of the body (21) is used to connect to the negative electrode tab (12) of the other cell (1). The body (21) has a through hole (217), and the terminal (22) passes through the through hole (217). The two ends of the terminal (22) are electrically connected to the positive electrode tab (11) and the negative electrode tab (12) respectively.

2. The connecting component (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The through hole (217) is provided in the middle of the body (21).

3. The connecting component (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The body (21) includes a first cover plate (211) and a second cover plate (212). The first cover plate (211) and the second cover plate (212) are insulated from each other. The first cover plate (211) is used to connect with and enclose one of the single cells (20) to a housing (3). The second cover plate (212) is used to connect with and enclose another single cell (20) to another housing (3). The through hole (217) passes through the first cover plate (211) and the second cover plate (212).

4. The connecting component (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The main body (21) also includes a first insulating plate (213), which is sandwiched between the first cover plate (211) and the second cover plate (212), and the through hole (217) penetrates the first cover plate (211), the first insulating plate (213) and the second cover plate (212).

5. The connecting component (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that, Along the connection direction perpendicular to the plurality of said cells (1), the size of the first insulating plate (213) is between 0.7 times and 1 times the size of the first cover plate (211).

6. The connecting component (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The main body (21) further includes a first connecting plate (214) and a second connecting plate (215). The first connecting plate (214) is located on the side of the first cover plate (211) away from the second cover plate (212). The second connecting plate (215) is located on the side of the second cover plate (212) away from the first cover plate (211). The first connecting plate (214) is insulated from the first cover plate (211), and the second connecting plate (215) is insulated from the second cover plate (212). One of the first connecting plate (214) and the second connecting plate (215) is connected to the positive electrode tab (11) of one of the battery cells (1). The other of the first connecting plate (214) and the second connecting plate (215) is connected to the negative electrode tab (12) of another adjacent battery cell (1).

7. The connecting component (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The main body (21) also includes a second insulating plate (216), and the second insulating plate (216) is provided between the first connecting plate (214) and the first cover plate (211), and between the second connecting plate (215) and the second cover plate (212).

8. The connecting component (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that, Along the connection direction perpendicular to the plurality of said cells (1), the size of the second insulating plate (216) is larger than the size of the first connecting plate (214), and the size of the second insulating plate (216) is smaller than the size of the first cover plate (211).

9. A battery (10), characterized in that, The battery (10) includes at least one connection component (2) as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, and further includes at least two individual cells (20), each of the individual cells (20) including a housing (3) and a cell (1) disposed within the housing (3), the body (21) being connected to and enclosing the two individual cells (20) of the two housings (3).

10. The battery (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The housing (3) has a receiving cavity (31), the battery cell (1) is located in the receiving cavity (31), and the body (21) is connected to the inner wall of the housing (3).

11. A vehicle (100), characterized in that, Includes the battery (10) as described in claim 9 or claim 10.

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