Liquid cooling assembly and battery pack

Abstract

Provided in the present application are a liquid cooling assembly and a battery pack. The liquid cooling assembly comprises a plurality of liquid cooling plates arranged at intervals and a first main pipe; each liquid cooling plate is provided with a first liquid guide joint; the first main pipe is provided with first joints; first clamping jaws are provided on the outer walls of the first joints; first flanges are provided on the outer walls of the first liquid guide joints; the first clamping jaws are engaged with the first flanges; the distance between a first flange and a first clamping jaw in the connection direction is 1-10 mm; each first joint mates with a first liquid guide joint.

Description

Liquid cooling components and battery pack

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202423220498.0, filed with the Chinese Patent Office on December 25, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of battery technology, specifically to a liquid cooling component and battery pack. Background Technology

[0003] In related technologies, liquid cooling components can be applied between heat-generating elements to reduce their temperature. These heat-generating elements can be batteries, etc. A liquid cooling component includes a liquid cooling plate and pipes connected to the liquid cooling plate. Due to the compact structure between two adjacent liquid cooling plates, the connection between the pipes and the liquid cooling plate is relatively difficult to configure. Invention Overview

[0004] In liquid cooling assemblies, corrugated pipes are typically used to connect the pipes to the liquid cooling plates. However, due to the material tolerances of the pipes, corrugated pipes, and liquid cooling plates, as well as the assembly tolerances after assembly, the connection and assembly of the pipes and liquid cooling plates is difficult and the grouping efficiency is low.

[0005] The embodiments of this application provide a liquid cooling component and battery pack, which can improve the technical problems of difficult connection and assembly of pipes and liquid cooling plates and low assembly efficiency.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a liquid cooling assembly, the liquid cooling assembly comprising:

[0007] Multiple spaced liquid cooling plates are provided, with an installation space for mounting a heating element formed between two adjacent liquid cooling plates. Each liquid cooling plate has a flow channel and a first liquid guide joint communicating with the flow channel.

[0008] The first main pipe has multiple first connectors. The outer wall of the first connector is provided with a first claw. The outer wall of the first liquid guide connector is provided with a first flange. The first claw engages with the first flange. The distance between the first flange and the first claw in the connection direction between the first connector and the first liquid guide connector is 1 mm to 10 mm. The first connector is inserted into the first liquid guide connector.

[0009] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a battery pack, the battery pack including the above-mentioned liquid cooling component, and the heating element being a battery. Beneficial effects

[0010] The liquid cooling assembly provided in this application, by inserting the first connector into the first liquid guide connector, and the distance between the first flange and the first claw in the connection direction between the first connector and the first liquid guide connector is 1 mm to 10 mm, allows for a visually intuitive observation of the relative positional relationship between the first claw and the first flange, facilitating the determination of whether the first connector and the first liquid guide connector are properly connected. Furthermore, the distance between the first main pipe and the liquid cooling plate can be adjusted within this range, thereby enabling better alignment of the first connector with the two first liquid guide connectors, absorbing assembly tolerances, reducing assembly difficulty, and improving assembly efficiency. This addresses the technical problems of high assembly difficulty and low assembly efficiency in liquid cooling assemblies.

[0011] The battery pack provided in this application, by inserting the first connector into the first liquid guide connector, and the distance between the first flange and the first claw in the connection direction between the first connector and the first liquid guide connector is 1 mm to 10 mm, allows for a visually intuitive observation of the relative positional relationship between the first claw and the first flange, facilitating the determination of whether the first connector and the first liquid guide connector are properly connected. Furthermore, the distance between the first main pipe and the liquid cooling plate can be adjusted within this range, thereby enabling better alignment of the first connector with the two first liquid guide connectors, absorbing assembly tolerances, reducing assembly difficulty, and improving assembly efficiency. This addresses the technical problems of high assembly difficulty and low assembly efficiency in battery packs. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a liquid cooling component provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0013] Figure 2 is a top view of the liquid cooling assembly in Figure 1.

[0014] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the disassembled structure of the first connector and the first liquid guiding connector in Figure 1;

[0015] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the first connector and the first liquid guiding connector in Figure 1;

[0016] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure in Figure 4;

[0017] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the disassembled structure of two adjacent first sub-tubes in Figure 1;

[0018] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between two adjacent first sub-tubes in Figure 1;

[0019] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure in Figure 7;

[0020] Figure 9 is a side view of the liquid cooling plate in Figure 1.

[0021] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery pack provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0022] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0023] Liquid cooling component 1;

[0024] Heating element 2;

[0025] Liquid cooling plate 10, first liquid guiding connector 12, first insertion hole 121, first flange 122, second liquid guiding connector 13;

[0026] First main tube 20, first connector 21, first groove 211, first sealing ring 212, first claw 213, first daughter tube 22, first male connector 221, second groove 2211, second sealing ring 2212, second claw 2213, first female connector 222, second flange 2221;

[0027] The distance L1 between the first connector 21 and the first liquid guide connector 12 in the connection direction, and the distance L2 between the end of the first female connector 222 and the root of the second claw 2213.

[0028] Second main pipe 30, second connector 31, second sub-pipe 32;

[0029] Battery pack 3. Embodiments of the present invention

[0030] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application. In addition, it should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only for illustration and explanation of this application and are not intended to limit this application. In this application, unless otherwise stated, directional terms such as "upper" and "lower" generally refer to the upper and lower positions of the device in actual use or operation, specifically the drawing directions in the accompanying drawings; while "inner" and "outer" refer to the outline of the device.

[0031] In a first aspect, as shown in Figures 1 to 9, an embodiment of this application provides a liquid cooling assembly 1. The liquid cooling assembly 1 includes a plurality of spaced liquid cooling plates 10 and a first main pipe 20. An installation space for mounting a heating element 2 is formed between two adjacent liquid cooling plates 10. Each liquid cooling plate 10 has a flow channel and a first liquid guiding connector 12 communicating with the flow channel. The first main pipe 20 has a plurality of first connectors 21. The outer wall of the first connector 21 is provided with a first claw 213. The outer wall of the first liquid guiding connector 12 is provided with a first flange 122. The first claw 213 engages with the first flange 122. The distance L1 between the first flange 122 and the first claw 213 in the connection direction between the first connector 21 and the first liquid guiding connector 12 is 1 mm to 10 mm. The first connector 21 is inserted into the first liquid guiding connector 12.

[0032] The shape of the liquid cooling plate 10 can be adaptively adjusted according to the shape of the heating element 2. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, when the heating element 2 is a cylindrical battery, the liquid cooling plate 10 can be a serpentine plate, which includes multiple connected arc surfaces. One arc surface can match the outer surface of a cylindrical battery, thereby increasing the contact area between the serpentine plate and the cylindrical battery and improving the cooling effect. When the heating element 2 is a square electrode, the shape of the liquid cooling plate 10 can be a flat plate, which has a plane, thereby matching the surface of the square electrode and increasing the contact area between the flat plate and the square battery. When the heating element 2 has other shapes, the shape of the liquid cooling plate 10 can also match the outer surface of the heating element 2. This application does not limit the shape of the liquid cooling plate 10.

[0033] The liquid cooling plate 10 has a flow channel inside, and the coolant can flow along the channel to carry away the heat generated by the heating element 2, thereby achieving temperature uniformity and cooling effect.

[0034] As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 9, one end of the liquid cooling plate 10 may have a first liquid guide connector 12 communicating with the flow channel. The first liquid guide connector 12 is a hollow tubular structure, through which coolant can flow into the flow channel. The first main pipe 20 may be at least one of an inlet pipe or a return pipe.

[0035] As shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4, the first main pipe 20 has multiple first connectors 21, with each first connector 21 corresponding to a first liquid guiding connector 12. The number of first connectors 21 is equal to the number of first liquid guiding connectors 12. The first connector 21 is also a hollow tubular structure, through which coolant flows via the pipes inside the first connector 21, the pipes inside the first liquid guiding connector 12, and the flow channel.

[0036] The first connector 21 is inserted into the first liquid guide connector 12, which means that at the insertion point, the first connector 21 is located inside the first liquid guide connector 12.

[0037] The first connector 21 and the first liquid-conducting connector 12 are expanded together. Expansion refers to applying radial pressure to the first connector 21 and the first liquid-conducting connector 12 through plastic deformation, thereby achieving sufficient connection strength and sealing reliability. For example, one of the first connector 21 and the first liquid-conducting connector 12 may include a flexible material that is flexible and can undergo plastic deformation under stress. The first connector 21 and the first liquid-conducting connector 12 can be interference-fitted, causing the flexible material to be compressed, thereby achieving sufficient connection strength and sealing reliability.

[0038] As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the outer wall of the first connector 21 is provided with a first claw 213, and the outer wall of the first liquid guide connector 12 is provided with a first flange 122. The first claw 213 engages with the first flange 122. After the first claw 213 engages with the first flange 122, it can prevent the first connector 21 and the first liquid guide connector 12 from falling off along the connection direction. At the same time, the relative positional relationship between the first claw 213 and the first flange 122 can be directly seen by visual inspection, which is convenient for judging whether the first connector 21 and the first liquid guide connector 12 are properly connected.

[0039] The distance L1 between the first flange 122 and the first claw 213 in the connection direction between the first connector 21 and the first liquid guide connector 12 is 1 mm to 10 mm. The connection direction between the first connector 21 and the first liquid guide connector 12 refers to the axial direction of the first connector 21. Since the distance between the first connector 21 and the first liquid guide connector 12 in the connection direction is 1 mm to 10 mm, the distance between the first main pipe 20 and the liquid cooling plate can be adjusted within this range, thereby allowing the first connector 21 to be better aligned with the two first liquid guide connectors 12, absorbing assembly tolerances, reducing assembly difficulty, and improving assembly efficiency.

[0040] In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, the first liquid guide connector 12 has a first insertion hole 121, the outer wall of the first connector 21 is provided with a first groove 211, a first sealing ring 212 is provided in the first groove 211, and the side wall of the first insertion hole 121 is in contact with the first sealing ring 212.

[0041] A first groove 211 is provided on the outer wall of the first connector 21. The first groove 211 is coaxially arranged with the first connector 21, that is, the first groove 211 is annular. The depth of the first groove 211 is less than the thickness of the outer wall of the first connector 21. A first sealing ring 212 is provided inside the first groove 211. The first sealing ring 212 is sleeved on the outside of the first connector 21.

[0042] The first sealing ring 212 is separately disposed from both the first connector 21 and the first liquid guiding connector 12. The material of the first sealing ring 212 is different from that of the first connector 21 and the first liquid guiding connector 12. The material of the first sealing ring 212 can be an elastic material, such as rubber. The elastic modulus of the material of the first sealing ring 212 is lower than that of the materials of the first connector 21 and the first liquid guiding connector 12, meaning that the material of the first sealing ring 212 is more easily deformed under stress.

[0043] The inner wall of the first liquid guide connector 12 contacts the first sealing ring 212. This means that the first sealing ring 212 is located between the side walls of the first connector 21 and the first liquid guide connector 12. After the first connector 21 and the first liquid guide connector 12 are inserted, the first sealing ring 212 is under compression. The first sealing ring 212 can absorb the tolerance between the first connector 21 and the first liquid guide connector 12, ensuring connection strength and sealing reliability.

[0044] In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 1, 5 to 8, the first main pipe 20 includes multiple separately arranged first sub-pipes 22, which are connected in sequence; at least some of the first sub-pipes 22 have a first connector 21.

[0045] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the first main pipe 20 includes multiple separately arranged first sub-pipes 22, which can be connected sequentially to form the first main pipe 20. Specifically, each first sub-pipe 22 has a pipe inside, and the pipes inside the multiple first sub-pipes 22 are connected sequentially to form a continuous channel. At least some of the first sub-pipes 22 may have a first connector 21 on their sidewalls.

[0046] To reduce the variety of materials used in the first main pipe 20, the first main pipe 20 can be formed from multiple first sub-pipes 22 with identical structures. This reduces the variety of first sub-pipes 22, facilitates material standardization, and lowers production management costs. For example, each first sub-pipe 22 can have the same number of first connectors 21. For example, each first sub-pipe 22 can have two spaced first connectors 21, in which case the first sub-pipe 22 is a four-way connector. The first sub-pipe 22 can also have other numbers of first connectors 21, such as three, four, five, or six, etc., and this application does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0047] When a first sub-tube 22 has two first connectors 21, the structure of the first sub-tube 22 is easier to process, which can reduce the manufacturing cost of the first sub-tube 22. Moreover, when the first sub-tube 22 has fewer first connectors 21, it is easier to absorb the positional deviation between multiple liquid cooling plates 10 connected to the same first sub-tube 22, reducing the assembly difficulty.

[0048] Specifically, multiple liquid cooling plates 10 can be stacked with heating element 2, and then multiple first sub-tubes 22 can be aligned with liquid cooling plates 10 using tooling, and then the multiple first sub-tubes 22 can be synchronously inserted with multiple liquid cooling plates 10.

[0049] In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 5 to 8, each first sub-tube 22 is provided with a first male connector 221 at one end and a first female connector 222 at the other end; the first male connector 221 of one first sub-tube 22 is connected to the first female connector 222 of the adjacent first sub-tube 22.

[0050] For ease of description, the connectors at both ends of the first sub-tube 22 are named the first male connector 221 and the first female connector 222, respectively. The first male connector 221 and the first female connector 222 have different structures. The first male connector 221 of one first sub-tube 22 can be inserted into the first female connector 222 of the adjacent first sub-tube 22. The first male connector 221 is inserted into the first female connector 222.

[0051] As shown in Figure 5, after insertion, the end of the first male connector 221 is located in the insertion hole of the first female connector 222. That is, the outer sidewall of the first male connector 221 is in contact with the inner sidewall of the first female connector 222. The first male connector 221 and the first female connector 222 are interference-fitted, thereby ensuring connection strength and sealing reliability.

[0052] In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, a second groove 2211 is provided on the outer wall of the first male connector 221. The second groove 2211 is coaxially arranged with the first male connector 221, that is, the second groove 2211 is annular. The depth of the second groove 2211 is less than the thickness of the outer wall of the first male connector 221. A second sealing ring 2212 is provided inside the second groove 2211. The material of the second sealing ring 2212 can be an elastic material, such as rubber. The second sealing ring 2212 is sleeved on the outside of the first male connector 221.

[0053] The inner wall of the first female connector 222 contacts the second sealing ring 2212. This means that the second sealing ring 2212 is located between the side walls of the first male connector 221 and the first female connector 222. After the first male connector 221 and the first female connector 222 are inserted, the second sealing ring 2212 is under compression. The second sealing ring 2212 can absorb the tolerance between the first male connector 221 and the first female connector, ensuring connection strength and sealing reliability.

[0054] In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7, the outer wall of the first male connector 221 is provided with a second claw 2213, and the outer wall of the first female connector 222 is provided with a second flange 2221. The second claw 2213 engages with the second flange 2221. Two adjacent first female tubes 22 are quickly connected to the second flange 2221 via the second claw 2213. After the second claw 2213 engages with the second flange 2221, it can prevent the first female connector 222 and the first male connector 221 from falling off along the connection direction.

[0055] At the same time, the relative positional relationship between the second claw 2213 and the second flange 2221 can be seen visually, which makes it easier to determine whether the first male connector 221 and the first female connector 222 are properly connected.

[0056] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG5, the distance L2 between the end of the first female connector 222 and the root of the second claw 2213 in the connection direction of the first female connector 222 and the first male connector 221 is 1 mm to 10 mm. The connection direction of the first female connector 222 and the first male connector 221 refers to the axial direction of the first female connector 222. Since the distance L2 between the first male connector 221 and the first female connector 222 in the connection direction is 1 mm to 10 mm, the distance L2 between the centers of two adjacent first daughter tubes 22 can be adjusted within this range, thereby enabling the first connector 21 to better align with the two first liquid guide connectors 12, absorbing assembly tolerances, reducing assembly difficulty, and improving assembly efficiency.

[0057] It should be understood that when the distance L2 between the end of the first female connector 222 and the root of the second claw 2213 in the connection direction between the first female connector 222 and the first male connector 221 is 1 mm to 10 mm, the second claw 2213 and the second flange 2221 are in an engaged state, and the distance between the second claw 2213 and the second flange 2221 is greater than or equal to 0 mm.

[0058] In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the liquid cooling assembly 1 includes a second main pipe 30, which includes a second connector 31. Each liquid cooling plate 10 has a second liquid guiding connector 13 communicating with a flow channel. Multiple second connectors 31 and multiple second liquid guiding connectors 13 are connected in a one-to-one expansion joint. A first liquid guiding connector 12 and a second liquid guiding connector 13 are located at the same end of the liquid cooling plate 10. A first main pipe 20 and a second main pipe 30 are located on the same side of the liquid cooling plate 10. One of the first main pipe 20 and the second main pipe 30 is a liquid inlet pipe, and the other is a liquid return pipe.

[0059] The second main pipe 30 can have the same structure as the first main pipe 20, except that the second main pipe 30 is connected to the second liquid guide connector 13 of the liquid cooling plate 10. The second main pipe 30 includes multiple second connectors 31, the arrangement of which is similar to that of the first connector 21, and will not be repeated here. The second main pipe 30 also includes multiple second sub-pipes 32, the arrangement of which is similar to that of the first sub-pipes 22, and will not be repeated here. In Figure 2, the second main pipe 30 is obscured by the first main pipe 20.

[0060] In some embodiments, the second main pipe 30 and the first main pipe 20 are disposed on different sides of the liquid cooling plate 10. That is, a first liquid guide connector 12 is provided at one end of the liquid cooling plate 10, and a second liquid guide connector 13 is provided at the other end. The path between the first liquid guide connector 12 and the second liquid guide connector 13 of the liquid cooling plate 10 is a unidirectional line along the length direction of the liquid cooling plate 10.

[0061] In some embodiments, the second main pipe 30 and the first main pipe 20 can be disposed on the same side of the liquid cooling plate 10. As shown in FIG9, a first liquid guide connector 12 and a second liquid guide connector 13 are simultaneously disposed at one end of the liquid cooling plate 10, and the path between the first liquid guide connector 12 and the second liquid guide connector 13 of the liquid cooling plate 10 is U-shaped. The arrows in FIG9 indicate the flow direction of the coolant. Through the above arrangement, the flow resistance in the liquid cooling assembly 1 can be reduced, saving the space occupied by the liquid cooling assembly 1. At the same time, a single liquid cooling plate 10 can achieve the effect of temperature neutralization, reducing the temperature difference of the corresponding heat-generating element 2 along the length direction of the same liquid cooling plate 10.

[0062] Secondly, as shown in Figure 10, an embodiment of this application provides a battery pack 3, which includes the liquid cooling component 1 described above and a battery as the heating element 2.

[0063] In this embodiment, please refer to Figures 1 and 10. The heating element 2 can be a battery, such as a circular battery or a square battery. The battery is disposed in the mounting space between two adjacent liquid cooling plates 10, which can cool the battery.

Claims

1. A liquid cooling assembly (1), comprising: Multiple spaced liquid cooling plates (10) are arranged at intervals, and an installation space for mounting a heating element (2) is formed between two adjacent liquid cooling plates (10). Each liquid cooling plate (10) has a flow channel and a first liquid guide joint (12) communicating with the flow channel. The first main pipe (20) has a plurality of first connectors (21). The outer wall of the first connector (21) is provided with a first claw (213). The outer wall of the first liquid guide connector (12) is provided with a first flange (122). The first claw (213) engages with the first flange (122). The distance between the first flange (122) and the first claw (213) in the connection direction between the first connector (21) and the first liquid guide connector (12) is 1 mm to 10 mm. The first connector (21) is inserted into the first liquid guide connector (12).

2. The liquid cooling assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The first liquid guide connector (12) has a first insertion hole (121), and the outer wall of the first connector (21) is provided with a first groove (211). A first sealing ring (212) is provided in the first groove (211), and the side wall of the first insertion hole (121) is in contact with the first sealing ring (212).

3. The liquid cooling assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The first main tube (20) includes multiple separately arranged first sub-tubes (22), and the multiple first sub-tubes (22) are connected in sequence; at least some of the first sub-tubes (22) have the first connector (21).

4. The liquid cooling assembly (1) according to claim 3, wherein, Each of the first sub-tubes (22) is provided with a first male connector (221) at one end and a first female connector (222) at the other end; the first male connector (221) of one of the first sub-tubes (22) is connected to the first female connector (222) of the adjacent first sub-tube (22), and the first male connector (221) is inserted into the first female connector (222).

5. The liquid cooling assembly (1) according to claim 4, wherein, The outer wall of the first male connector (221) is provided with a second groove (2211), and a second sealing ring (2212) is provided in the second groove (2211). The inner wall of the first female connector (222) is in contact with the second sealing ring (2212).

6. The liquid cooling assembly (1) according to claim 5, wherein, The outer wall of the first male connector (221) is provided with a second claw (2213), and the outer wall of the first female connector (222) is provided with a second flange (2221). The second claw (2213) engages with the second flange (2221).

7. The liquid cooling assembly (1) according to claim 6, wherein, The distance (L2) between the end of the first female connector (222) and the root of the second claw (2213) in the connection direction between the first female connector (222) and the first male connector (221) is 1 mm to 10 mm.

8. The liquid cooling assembly (1) according to claim 3, wherein, Each of the first sub-tubes (22) has two first connectors (21).

9. The liquid cooling assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, The liquid cooling assembly (1) includes a second main pipe (30), the second main pipe (30) includes a second connector (31), each of the liquid cooling plates (10) has a second liquid guide connector (13) communicating with the flow channel; a plurality of second connectors (31) and a plurality of second liquid guide connectors (13) are connected in a one-to-one expansion joint, the first liquid guide connector (12) and the second liquid guide connector (13) are disposed at the same end of the liquid cooling plate (10); the first main pipe (20) and the second main pipe (30) are located on the same side of the liquid cooling plate (10).

10. A battery pack (3) comprising a liquid cooling assembly (1) as described in any one of claims 1-9, wherein the heating element (2) is a battery.

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