Housing assembly, power storage apparatus, and electric device

Abstract

Provided are a housing assembly, a power storage apparatus, and an electric device. The housing assembly comprises a housing and an electrical connector that are fixedly connected to each other. The electrical connector comprises a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion that are sequentially arranged in the length direction thereof. At least part of the first portion is located in an external space of the housing, and at least part of the third portion is located in an internal space of the housing. A wall of the housing is provided with a channel extending from the internal space to the external space. The second portion is embedded within the channel, and an inner surface of the channel covers an outer surface of the second portion. A bonding body is disposed between the outer surface of the second portion and the inner surface of the channel; the bonding body is bonded to the outer surface of the second portion and the inner surface of the channel. The bonding body bonded to the outer surface of the second portion and the inner surface of the channel utilizes its own elastic deformation to compensate for a difference in degree of deformation between the electrical connector and the housing, preventing the formation of micro gaps, and thereby preventing the formation of leakage paths, improving the sealing performance of the power storage apparatus.

Description

Housing components, energy storage devices and electrical appliances

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on December 31, 2024, application number 202423320166X, entitled "Housing Assembly, Energy Storage Device and Electrical Equipment", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure relates to the field of batteries, and in particular to a housing assembly for an energy storage device, an energy storage device having the housing assembly, and an electrical device having the energy storage device. Background Technology

[0003] An energy storage device (also known as a battery pack) is a device capable of storing and releasing electrical energy. An energy storage device typically consists of a housing, battery modules, and electrical connectors. The battery modules are the core component of the energy storage device; they store and release electrical energy through an electrochemical reaction. The housing houses the battery modules, providing protection and support. The housing is usually composed of multiple housings assembled together. In some cases, the housing may also consist of a single, integrally formed housing. Electrical connectors, also known as terminals, extend from the inside of the housing to the outside to electrically connect the battery modules to a power source or electrical device. The housing can be fixedly connected (e.g., by molding) to the electrical connectors, forming a single unit called a housing assembly.

[0004] However, sealing the junction between the electrical connector and the housing is difficult, and there is a risk that contaminants such as liquids may seep into the housing through the junction and damage the energy storage device. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the present disclosure improves the construction of the housing assembly to reduce the risk of contaminants such as liquids seeping into the housing through the joint between the housing and the electrical connectors and damaging the energy storage device.

[0006] On the one hand, this disclosure provides a housing assembly for an energy storage device.

[0007] The housing assembly includes a housing and an electrical connector that are fixedly connected. The electrical connector includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion arranged sequentially along its length. The first portion is at least partially located in the outer space of the housing, and the third portion is at least partially located in the inner space of the housing. The wall of the housing has a channel extending from the inner space to the outer space. The second portion is embedded in the channel, the inner surface of the channel covers the outer surface of the second portion, and an adhesive is provided between the outer surface of the second portion and the inner surface of the channel, the adhesive being bonded to both the outer surface of the second portion and the inner surface of the channel.

[0008] This disclosure provides an adhesive between the housing and the electrical connector. The adhesive maintains adhesion to the inner surface of the channel and the outer surface of the second part, and uses its own elastic deformation to compensate for the deformation difference between the electrical connector and the housing, thereby avoiding the formation of micro gaps and thus avoiding the occurrence of leakage paths, improving the sealing performance of the energy storage device.

[0009] Alternatively or supplementally, the adhesive extends along the width direction of the electrical connector on the outer surface of the second part, i.e., the adhesive extends continuously around the outer periphery of the second part.

[0010] The adhesive forms a complete seal in the circumferential direction of the electrical connector, preventing leakage paths from bypassing the adhesive.

[0011] Alternatively or supplementally, the adhesive is continuously wound around the outer surface of the second part, with the number of turns of the adhesive being N, where 2 ≤ N ≤ 10.

[0012] The process of winding a layered adhesive onto an electrical connector is simple and easy to implement. Multiple turns of the adhesive increase its thickness while maintaining good adhesion, resulting in a better seal.

[0013] Alternatively or supplementally, the adhesive includes a substrate and an adhesive adhered to the substrate.

[0014] The substrate can keep the adhesive attached to it in a predetermined position and shape, preventing the adhesive from leaving the preset position or even being washed away and scattered, thus affecting the sealing effect.

[0015] Alternatively or supplementally, the substrate is configured as a substrate layer, and the adhesive is configured as a first adhesive layer and a second adhesive layer, wherein the first adhesive layer, the substrate layer, and the second adhesive layer are sequentially stacked in the thickness direction of the adhesive.

[0016] The layered structure provides a large contact area between the substrate and the adhesive, which can improve the substrate layer's ability to maintain the position and state of the adhesive.

[0017] Alternatively or supplementally, the adhesive is an acrylic adhesive layer and the substrate is a non-woven fabric.

[0018] The acrylic adhesive layer possesses superior adhesion, stability, and temperature resistance, providing better bonding results. The nonwoven fabric exhibits excellent flexibility, temperature resistance, and resilience, allowing it to maintain the shape of the bonded structure.

[0019] Alternatively or supplementally, the second part is provided with a recess, in which at least a portion of the adhesive is embedded.

[0020] This recess helps operators or machines position the wound adhesive, allowing the adhesive within the recess to remain in the predetermined position during the molding process.

[0021] Alternatively or supplementally, the recess is a notch formed on any one edge of the second part in the width direction of the electrical connector.

[0022] This notch allows the adhesive to remain in the predetermined position during molding while minimizing the impact on the current-carrying capacity of the electrical connector.

[0023] Alternatively or supplementally, the beginning and end of the adhesive are set in a notch.

[0024] Micro-gaps are not easily formed within this notch, and the resulting structure helps improve sealing performance.

[0025] Alternatively or supplementally, the depth of the notch is greater than the thickness of the portion of the adhesive located within the notch.

[0026] The increased contact area between the housing and the electrical connector also allows for a snap-fit ​​connection, enhancing the strength of the connection between the electrical connector and the housing.

[0027] Alternatively or supplementally, the second part is larger in length than the adhesive body.

[0028] At least part of the housing is in direct contact with the second part to achieve a fixed connection between the housing and the electrical connector and to ensure a certain connection strength.

[0029] Alternatively or supplementally, the second part includes a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment arranged sequentially along the length direction, the second segment being covered by an adhesive, and the first and third segments being directly covered by a shell.

[0030] This design provides superior sealing at the junction of the housing and the electrical connector. Furthermore, this superior sealing performance is maintained even after extended use. This is because the second segment, encased in the adhesive, is located between the first and third segments, thus placing it neither within the internal nor external space. The fit between the first segment and the housing prevents or reduces the entry of contaminants such as dust and debris into the adhesive from the internal space, while the fit between the third segment and the housing prevents or reduces the entry of contaminants such as dust and debris into the adhesive from the external space. This minimizes or prevents direct contact between dust and debris and the adhesive, avoiding loss of adhesion due to contamination. Loss of adhesion deteriorates the sealing performance at the junction of the housing and the electrical connector, especially after prolonged use.

[0031] Alternatively or supplementarily, the second part has a length dimension of D, where D ≥ 2 mm; and / or, the first segment has a length dimension of D1, where 0.1 ≤ D1 / D ≤ 0.4; and / or, the second segment has a length dimension of D2, where 0.3 ≤ D2 / D ≤ 0.7; and / or, the third segment has a length dimension of D3 in the first direction, where 0.1 ≤ D3 / D ≤ 0.4.

[0032] With these parameter settings, the housing assembly can ensure good waterproof and dustproof performance and connection strength.

[0033] Alternatively or supplementally, the second part is in the form of a flat sheet.

[0034] The shell portion covering the second part occupies less space, making it well-suited for space-constrained scenarios.

[0035] Alternatively or supplementarily, in the thickness direction of the electrical connector, the shortest distance from the second part to the housing surface is T, where 1mm ≤ T ≤ 10mm.

[0036] Leakage paths are less likely to form between electrical connectors and the housing, and the housing is less prone to warping.

[0037] Alternatively or supplementally, the second part is larger in length than the adhesive body.

[0038] Alternatively or supplementally, in the length direction, the size of the adhesive body accounts for 0.4-0.6 of the size of the second part.

[0039] With this structure, at least part of the housing can be in direct contact with the second part to achieve a fixed connection between the housing and the electrical connector, and to ensure a certain connection strength.

[0040] Alternatively or supplementally, the housing includes an upper housing and a lower housing, with electrical connections disposed on the upper housing.

[0041] Alternatively or supplementarily, the electrical connector is in the form of a flat plate. The first portion has a first surface portion and a second surface portion, which are respectively located on opposite sides of the first portion in the thickness direction of the electrical connector. The first surface portion is located in the outer space of the housing, and the second surface portion is covered by the housing. The third portion has a third surface portion and a fourth surface portion, which are respectively located on opposite sides of the second portion in the thickness direction. The third surface portion is located in the inner space of the housing, and the fourth surface portion is covered by the housing. The first surface portion and the third surface portion are located on different sides of the electrical connector in the thickness direction.

[0042] The shortest leakage path needs to be around the outer periphery of the second part, which increases the length of the leakage path, reduces the risk of leakage, and improves the sealing effect.

[0043] On the other hand, this disclosure also provides an energy storage device. The energy storage device includes the aforementioned housing assembly.

[0044] On the other hand, this disclosure also provides an electrical appliance. The electrical appliance includes the aforementioned energy storage device. Attached Figure Description

[0045] It should be understood that the following figures only illustrate certain embodiments of this disclosure and should not be construed as limiting the scope.

[0046] It should be understood that the same or similar reference numerals are used in the accompanying drawings to denote the same or similar elements.

[0047] It should be understood that the accompanying drawings are only schematic, and the dimensions and scales of the elements in the drawings are not necessarily precise.

[0048] It should be understood that the following figures only illustrate certain embodiments of this disclosure and should not be construed as limiting the scope.

[0049] It should be understood that the same or similar reference numerals are used in the accompanying drawings to denote the same or similar elements.

[0050] It should be understood that the accompanying drawings are only schematic, and the dimensions and scales of the elements in the drawings are not necessarily precise.

[0051] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an energy storage device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0052] Figure 2 shows an exploded schematic diagram of the energy storage device in Figure 1.

[0053] Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Figure 1.

[0054] Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Figure 1.

[0055] Figure 5 is a partially enlarged schematic diagram of part P in Figure 4.

[0056] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the electrical connector in Figure 2.

[0057] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the electrical connector in Figure 6 with an adhesive body.

[0058] Figure 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line CC in Figure 7.

[0059] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the adhesive in Figure 7.

[0060] Figure 10 is a structural schematic diagram of an electrical connector according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0061] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the electrical connector in Figure 10 with an adhesive.

[0062] Figure 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line DD in Figure 10.

[0063] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electrical device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0064] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 100, energy storage device; 10, outer casing; 11, upper casing; 12, lower casing; 13, inner surface of the channel; 20, battery module; 21, tab bracket; 30, BMS protection board; 31, main positive terminal; 32, main negative terminal; 33, second hole; 40, electrical connector; 41, first part; 411, first surface part; 412, second surface part; 413, first hole; 42, second part; 421, first section; 422, second section; 423, third section ; 43. Third part; 431. Third surface part; 432. Fourth surface part; 433. Third hole; 44. Notch; 45. Groove; 46. Outer surface of the second part; 50. Pole post; 501. Cap part; 502. Columnar part; 51. Bolt; 52. Connecting sleeve; 60. Adhesive body; 61. Substrate layer; 62. First adhesive layer; 63. Second adhesive layer; 64. Head end; 65. Tail end; x. Length direction; y. Thickness direction; z. Width direction; 200. Electrical equipment. Detailed Implementation

[0065] Some energy storage devices include electrical connectors and a housing molded together. For these types of devices, there is a problem of contaminants seeping into the housing through the joint between the electrical connectors and the housing, potentially damaging the energy storage device.

[0066] The inventors discovered that the cause of this technical problem lies in the different cooling rates of the housing and the electrical connectors during the cooling process after molding. Furthermore, their coefficients of thermal expansion also differ, resulting in a slight difference in their deformation. This difference leads to the formation of tiny gaps at the junction of the electrical connectors and the housing—that is, between the outer surface of the electrical connectors and the inner surface of the channel through which the power supply connectors pass through the housing. These tiny gaps can form leakage paths. Liquids and other contaminants can enter the housing through these leakage paths, contaminating the BMS protection board and battery modules, causing damage to the energy storage device (also known as a battery pack, start-stop battery pack, power battery pack, or energy storage module, etc.).

[0067] As an attempt to improve the sealing performance at the joint, the portion of the electrical connector encased in the housing can have a bent or folded structure. The aim is to increase the surface area of ​​the outer surface of this second part of the electrical connector, lengthening the leakage path and thus reducing the risk of leakage. However, this approach results in the housing-encased portion of the electrical connector occupying a large space. In space-constrained scenarios, where the housing-encased portion of the electrical connector needs to be small, this approach is difficult to implement.

[0068] As another attempt to improve the sealing performance at the joint, the outer surface of the electrical connector can be machined. For example, the surface roughness can be increased by methods such as sandblasting or grinding. The purpose of this is to help the electrical connector and the housing fit together more tightly. However, studies have found that this method has little effect on the sealing performance at the joint and is often insufficient to eliminate the risk of leakage, especially when the outer surface area of ​​the second part of the electrical connector is small.

[0069] As another attempt to improve the sealing performance at the joint, additives such as polyurethane can be applied to the outer surface of the second part of the electrical connector, and then molded after curing. However, this attempt did not achieve the expected results; the sealing performance at the joint between the electrical connector and the housing was not significantly improved, and the risk of leakage remained, especially when the outer surface area of ​​the second part of the electrical connector was small.

[0070] As another attempt to improve the sealing performance at the joint, an elastic seal (such as a rubber sealing ring) can be fitted onto the electrical connector and molded within the housing. In this approach, the elastic seal is expected to deform under pressure between the inner surface of the channel and the outer surface of the second part of the electrical connector, thereby achieving a seal. However, studies have found that this method does not significantly improve the sealing performance at the joint. One reason is that after molding and curing, the housing and electrical connector cannot provide sufficient pressure to the elastic seal to allow it to deform adequately. Another reason is that the cross-sectional shape of the electrical connector is typically polygonal (e.g., rectangular), which causes the pressure on the elastic seal to concentrate at the edges of the electrical connector, while insufficient pressure is applied to the plane of the electrical connector. Furthermore, the elastic seal occupies additional space, increasing the volume of the housing's enclosed portion, making it difficult to implement in space-constrained scenarios.

[0071] How to improve the sealing performance at the junction of the electrical connector and the housing to prevent contaminants from seeping into the housing through the junction and damaging the energy storage device, especially when the outer surface area of ​​the second part of the electrical connector is small, is a problem that has troubled technicians in the relevant field.

[0072] To address this issue, after implementing various attempts, including those described above, the inventors creatively proposed a solution involving an adhesive between the inner surface of the channel and the outer surface of the second part of the electrical connector. The addition of the adhesive improves the sealing performance at the junction of the housing and the electrical connector, reducing the risk of contaminants entering the housing through the junction. Furthermore, this method does not require a large area for the covered portion of the electrical connector, thus enabling its application in space-constrained scenarios.

[0073] The following will illustrate this solution provided in conjunction with specific embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0074] Numerous specific details are set forth below to provide an understanding of the structure, function, and use of the embodiments described and illustrated in the specification and figures. It is to be understood that the embodiments described and illustrated herein are non-limiting examples, and thus it will be appreciated that the particular structural and functional details disclosed herein are representative and exemplary. Variations and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims.

[0075] <Example Energy Storage Device>

[0076] This disclosure provides an energy storage device. For ease of understanding, the overall structure of the energy storage device according to this disclosure will be described below by way of example. It should be understood that the structure of the energy storage device is not limited to the following description. For example, one or more elements introduced below may be omitted or replaced, and their layout relationships may be changed.

[0077] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the energy storage device 100 may include a housing 10, a battery module 20, and a BMS protection board 30.

[0078] The outer casing 10 may include multiple housings 11 and 12. These housings 11 and 12 can be assembled together to form a cavity. The battery module 20 and BMS protection board 30, etc., can be housed within this cavity for support and protection by the outer casing 10. For example, the multiple housings 11 and 12 may include housing 11 and housing 12. Housing 11 may be referred to as the upper housing, and housing 12 may be referred to as the lower housing.

[0079] It is understood that "up" and "down" here do not necessarily imply a positional relationship in the usage scenario; shell 11 is higher than shell 12 in the direction of gravity. It is also understood that in other examples, shell 10 may consist of three or more shells assembled together, or shell 10 may consist of only one integrally formed shell.

[0080] The battery module 20 can be understood as a device where an electrochemical reaction occurs, and it can be composed of multiple battery cells connected in series and parallel. Multiple battery cells can be stacked in one direction. The battery cells can be packaged in a pouch, a square hard-shell, or a cylindrical shape. The battery cells can be lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride, lithium-ion, etc.

[0081] The battery module 20 may also include a tab support 21. Tabs are metallic conductors extending from the positive and negative terminals of the battery cell. The tab support 21 can limit, guide, and support multiple tabs, simplifying the assembly process of the energy storage device 100 and improving assembly efficiency. The tab support 21 can also fix and protect the tabs, preventing them from moving or falling off during use. The tab support 21 can be located on the side of the battery cell where the tabs are located. Electrical connections between the tab support 21 and multiple tabs can be achieved through welding, riveting, screws, or connectors, thereby forming a total positive and negative terminal on the tab support 21. The tab support 21 is not mandatory; without it, the tabs of multiple battery cells can be welded together by overlapping to form a total positive and negative terminal for the multiple cells.

[0082] The BMS protection board 30 may include a total positive terminal 31 and a total negative terminal 32, and may also include a control chip, voltage detection circuit, current detection circuit, temperature detection circuit, etc. The BMS protection board 30 can be used to improve the utilization rate of the energy storage device, prevent overcharging and over-discharging, extend the service life of the energy storage device, and monitor the status of the energy storage device, ensuring its safe, stable, and efficient operation. The BMS protection board 30 can be located on the side of the tab bracket 21 away from the battery cell. The BMS protection board 30 can be electrically connected to the total positive and total negative terminals of the tab bracket 21 through methods such as plugging, welding, or riveting. In the case where the tab bracket 21 is not present, the BMS protection board 30 can be electrically connected to the total positive and total negative terminals of multiple battery cells through the above methods.

[0083] <Exemplary housing component>

[0084] The energy storage device 100 may further include an electrical connector 40. The electrical connector 40 is used for electrical connection to internal components of the energy storage device and to external conductors. For example, it can be electrically connected to the main positive terminal 31 and main negative terminal 32 of the BMS protection board 30 inside the energy storage device, and can be electrically connected to electrical connectors of external electrical equipment or power sources. There may be two electrical connectors 40, one serving as the positive terminal and the other as the negative terminal of the energy storage device.

[0085] As described above, the electrical connector 40 can be fixedly connected to the housing, for example, by molding (e.g., injection molding) to form a housing assembly. That is, when the housing 10 includes an upper housing 11 and a lower housing 12, the electrical connector can be disposed on the upper housing 11.

[0086] As shown in Figures 3 to 6, the electrical connector 40 includes a first portion 41, a second portion 42, and a third portion 43 arranged sequentially along its length. The first portion 41 is at least partially located in the external space of the housing 11, the third portion 43 is at least partially located in the internal space of the housing 11, and the second portion 42 between them is covered by the housing 11. In this document, the internal space of the housing 11 refers to the side where the cavity is located, and the external space of the housing 11 refers to the side where the external space of the energy storage device 100 is located.

[0087] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the wall of the housing 11 has a channel extending from the internal space to the external space. The second part 42 can be embedded in this channel, and the inner surface 13 of the channel covers the outer surface 46 of the second part 42. An adhesive 60 is provided between the outer surface 46 of the second part 42 and the inner surface 13 of the channel. The adhesive 60 is bonded to both the outer surface 26 of the second part and the inner surface 13 of the channel. That is, after the molding process, i.e., after the housing 11 has cured, the adhesive 60 still has adhesiveness, or viscousness, and it is bonded to both the inner surface 13 of the channel and the outer surface 46 of the second part 42. For example, in the disassembly experiment after curing, the adhesive 60 exhibits viscousness, adhering to the inner surface 13 of the channel and the outer surface 46 of the second part 42 through adhesiveness.

[0088] The adhesive 60 can penetrate and fill the tiny pores and depressions between the inner surface 13 of the channel and the outer surface 46 of the second part 42, adhering to the inner surface 13 of the channel and the outer surface 46 of the second part 42 through adhesiveness. Furthermore, the adhesive 60 possesses a certain degree of elasticity. During the curing process after molding, although the inner surface 13 of the channel and the outer surface 46 of the second part 42 may partially move away due to the different deformations of the electrical connector 40 and the housing 11, the adhesive 60 will maintain its adhesion to the inner surface 13 of the channel and the outer surface 46 of the second part 42, and use its own elastic deformation to compensate for the deformation difference between the electrical connector 40 and the housing 11, thereby avoiding the formation of tiny gaps and thus preventing the occurrence of leakage paths. Studies have found that, using this method, even when the area of ​​the outer surface 46 of the second part 42 of the electrical connector 40 is small, i.e., when the second part 42 is short, the junction between the electrical connector 40 and the housing 11 exhibits excellent sealing performance. Furthermore, this method does not require the portion of the housing 11 covering the electrical connector 40 to be large. Therefore, this method is well-suited for space-constrained scenarios.

[0089] For ease of understanding, the length direction of the electrical connector 40 is indicated by arrow x in the accompanying drawings of this disclosure. Additionally, the width and thickness directions of the electrical connector 40, which will be mentioned hereinafter, are also indicated by arrows y and z, respectively, in the drawings. It is to be understood that, herein, the dimension of the electrical connector 40 in the length direction is not necessarily smaller than its dimension in the width direction.

[0090] By way of example only, to achieve electrical connection with an external electrical device or power source, as shown in Figures 3 and 6, the energy storage device 100 may further include a terminal post 50. The cap 501 of the terminal post 50 may be molded between the housing 11 and the first portion 41, while the columnar portion 502 of the terminal post 50 may extend through a first hole 413 on the first portion 41 into the external space of the housing 11. An electrical connector for the external electrical device or power source may pass through the terminal post 50 and be stacked with the first portion 41. The terminal post 50 may have threads, and a nut may be screwed into the threads of the terminal post 50 to press the first portion 41 and the electrical connector for the external electrical device or power source together, achieving both mechanical and electrical connection.

[0091] As an example, to achieve electrical connection between the electrical connector 40 and the BMS protection board 30, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, the main positive terminal 31 (or main negative terminal 32) on the BMS protection board 30 can be stacked with the third part 43. The main positive terminal 31 (or main negative terminal 32) and the third part 43 can be fixedly connected by bolts 51. Specifically, a connecting sleeve 52 can be provided inside the housing 11 (for example, the connecting sleeve 52 is embedded in the housing 11 by molding), and the inner surface of the connecting sleeve 52 can be provided with threads. The main positive terminal 31 (or main negative terminal 32) is provided with a second hole 33, and the third part 43 is provided with a third hole 433. The bolt passes through the second hole 33 of the main positive terminal 31 and the third hole 433 of the third part 43 in sequence, and extends into the connecting sleeve 52 inside the housing 11. A tool such as a screwdriver can be used to tighten the bolt 51 by passing through the hole on the housing 11 that is opposite to the connecting sleeve 52. After removing the screwdriver, the hole can be sealed with a plug, and the plug can be covered with sealant to seal the housing 11. It is understood that the connection methods between the electrical connector 40 and the BMS protection board 30, and between the electrical connector 40 and external electrical equipment or power supply, are not limited to the methods described above. Other methods, such as welding, plugging, riveting, etc., are acceptable as long as they achieve electrical connection between the electrical connector 40 and the BMS protection board 30, and between the electrical connector 40 and external electrical equipment or power supply.

[0092] As shown in Figure 7, the adhesive 60 extends along the width direction of the electrical connector on the outer surface of the second part 42, meaning the adhesive 60 continuously extends around the outer periphery of the second part 42. In other words, the adhesive 60 forms a closed shape between the housing 11 and the second part 42. This means that the adhesive 60 forms a complete seal in the circumferential direction of the electrical connector 40, preventing contaminants such as liquids from leaking into the housing by bypassing the adhesive 60. Therefore, this configuration helps to further improve the sealing performance at the joint.

[0093] In the molding process of the above embodiment, the shell 11 is molded onto the second part 42 to cover the second part 42. The material temperature of the shell 11 is very high, and a certain pressure is also applied to the shell 11 and the second part 42 to ensure that the material of the shell 11 is tightly bonded to the second part 42. During this process, the adhesive 60 is easily deformed, moved away from the preset position, or even washed away and dispersed by the temperature and pressure of the shell 11 material, affecting the sealing effect.

[0094] To avoid this situation, the adhesive 60 may include a substrate and an adhesive adhered to the substrate. The substrate can hold the adhesive adhered to it in a predetermined position and shape. Furthermore, the substrate may have a certain degree of elasticity, thereby improving the overall elasticity of the adhesive 60, which allows the adhesive 60 to fill the gaps created by the shrinkage of the housing 11 during cooling.

[0095] This disclosure does not impose any particular limitation on the material of the adhesive, as long as it can maintain its tackiness and possess appropriate elasticity after the housing 11 has cured. In other words, the adhesive can be a combination of tackiness and elasticity. As an example, the adhesive can be a pressure-sensitive adhesive, which is a viscoelastic material possessing both the viscous properties of a liquid and the elastic properties of a solid. This viscoelastic material possesses the properties to withstand both the contact and failure processes of bonding, thus significantly contributing to the sealing performance at the junction of the housing 11 and the electrical connector 40. As a further example, the adhesive can be an acrylic adhesive layer, which has superior tackiness, stability, and temperature resistance, providing better bonding performance. In this disclosure, the adhesive can be, but is not limited to, one or more selected from rubber-based adhesives, acrylic adhesives, acrylate-based adhesives, silicone-based adhesives, or polyvinyl ether-based adhesives.

[0096] This disclosure does not impose any particular limitation on the material of the substrate, as long as it can help maintain the position and shape of the adhesive. In one example, the substrate can be a nonwoven fabric, which has good flexibility, temperature resistance, and resilience to maintain the position and shape of the adhesive. In other examples, the substrate may also be, but is not limited to, one or more of paper, plastic film, or nonwoven fabric.

[0097] Further, as shown in Figure 9, the substrate is constructed as a substrate layer 61, and the adhesive is constructed as a first adhesive layer 62 and a second adhesive layer 63. The first adhesive layer 62, the substrate layer 61, and the second adhesive layer 63 are sequentially stacked in the thickness direction of the adhesive body 60. Dividing the adhesive into two layers allows each adhesive layer to have a smaller thickness, enabling the adhesive layer to better maintain its shape. The first adhesive layer 62 can be bonded between the electrical connector 40 and the substrate layer 61, and the first adhesive layer 62 can be bonded between the housing 11 and the substrate layer 61. The layered structure provides a larger contact area between the substrate and the adhesive, improving the substrate layer 61's ability to maintain the position and state of the adhesive. The layered structure also provides a larger contact area between the adhesive and the housing 11 and the electrical connector 40, achieving better adhesion.

[0098] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the adhesive 60 is wound around the outer periphery of the second part 42, meaning that the first end 64 and the last end 65 of the adhesive 60 are not connected together. If the adhesive 60 itself were a closed structure, i.e., the first end 64 and the last end 65 were connected together, a more complex process would be required to fit the adhesive 60 onto the electrical connector 40. Alternatively, forming a closed adhesive 60 on the electrical connector 40 would also require a relatively complex process. Therefore, winding the layered adhesive 60 onto the electrical connector by means of winding is a simple and easy-to-implement process.

[0099] Furthermore, the adhesive 60 is continuously wound around the outer surface of the second part, with the number of turns of the adhesive 60 being N, where 2 ≤ N ≤ 10. The adhesive 60 needs to have a certain thickness. If only one turn is wound, the adhesive layer would need to be too thick to meet the thickness requirement, which would weaken the ability of the substrate layer 61 to retain the adhesive. In addition, multiple turns would provide better elasticity. If there are too many turns, the substrate and adhesive layer would become too thin. The problem with an excessively thin adhesive layer is insufficient adhesion. The advantage of winding 2 to 4 turns is that the adhesive layer thickness is neither too thick nor too thin, achieving a moderate thickness, while the adhesive 60 as a whole has sufficient thickness, resulting in good sealing. The adhesive 60 wound on the outer layer can provide some protection for the inner layer adhesive 60, preventing it from affecting the state and position of the inner layer adhesive 60 during molding, thereby keeping the adhesive in the predetermined position and shape. Meanwhile, the adhesive 60, wound 2 to 4 turns, has multiple substrate layers 61, which can improve the overall structural elasticity of the adhesive 60 and enhance the sealing effect. The multiple turns of the adhesive 60 increase its thickness while maintaining good adhesive retention, resulting in a better sealing effect.

[0100] Furthermore, the second part 42 is provided with a recess, in which at least a portion of the adhesive 60 is embedded. This recess helps the operator or machine to position the wound adhesive 60. Simultaneously, the recess allows the adhesive 60 within the recess to remain in a predetermined position during molding, preventing it from leaving the predetermined position under the impact of high-temperature, high-pressure fluid.

[0101] As one embodiment, as shown in FIG6, the recess is a notch 44 formed on any edge of the second portion 42 in the width direction of the electrical connector 40. This notch 44 allows the adhesive 60 to remain in a predetermined position during molding while minimizing the impact on the current-carrying capacity of the electrical connector 40, where current-carrying capacity is the ability of the electrical connector 40 to transmit current. This is because the current-carrying capacity of the electrical connector 40 is positively correlated with the minimum cross-sectional area of ​​the electrical connector 40, and the notch 44 in the width direction has a relatively small impact on the cross-sectional area. However, this disclosure does not limit the recess to a notch 44 in the width direction. In a variation, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the recess is a groove 45 formed in the thickness direction of the electrical connector 40, and the adhesive 60 is disposed in the groove 45.

[0102] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8, the first end 64 and the last end 65 of the adhesive 60 are disposed in a notch 44. This configuration helps improve sealing performance. If the first end 64 and / or the last end 65 of the adhesive 60 were disposed on one side of the second portion 42 in the thickness direction, a bulge would be formed on that side. This bulge could cause a small gap between the adhesive 60 and the inner surface 13 of the channel, which would increase the risk of leakage. With regard to the notch 44, the housing 11 extends into it, so even if the first end 64 and / or the last end 65 of the adhesive 60 are placed therein, it is not easy for a small gap to form. Therefore, disposing the first end 64 and the last end 65 in the notch 44 helps to improve the sealing effect. In some variations, the first end 64 and the last end 65 can be disposed in different notches 44 to avoid the two ends overlapping and causing a large bulge, further improving the sealing effect.

[0103] As shown in Figure 7, the depth of the notch 44 is greater than the thickness of the portion of the adhesive 60 located within the notch 44. In other words, the adhesive 60 does not completely fill the notch 44. Specifically, when the adhesive 60 is embedded in the notch 44, it does not completely fill it. During the molding process, the housing 11 can be injected into the notch 44, thereby increasing the contact area between the housing 11 and the electrical connector, and also forming a snap-fit ​​to enhance the connection strength between the electrical connector and the housing 11. In other words, according to this structure, the contact area between the housing 11 and the electrical connector 40 is increased, and a snap-fit ​​is formed to enhance the connection strength between the electrical connector 40 and the housing 11.

[0104] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the dimension of the second part 42 in the length direction can be larger than the dimension of the adhesive 60 in the length direction. For example, the dimension of the adhesive 60 in the length direction accounts for only 0.4-0.6 of the dimension of the second part 42 in the length direction. That is, at least a portion of the housing 11 is in direct contact with the second part 42 to achieve a fixed connection between the housing 11 and the electrical connector and to ensure a certain connection strength. Preferably, the dimension of the adhesive 60 in the length direction accounts for 0.5 of the dimension of the second part 42 in the length direction, which has the advantage of simultaneously ensuring connection strength and sealing effect. Alternatively, the dimension of the adhesive 60 in the length direction accounts for 0.45 or 0.55 of the dimension of the second part 42 in the length direction.

[0105] As shown in Figure 5, the second part 42 includes a first segment 421, a second segment 422, and a third segment 423 arranged sequentially along its length. The second segment 422 is covered by the adhesive body 60, while the first segment 421 and the third segment 423 are directly covered by the housing 11. With this configuration, the joint between the housing 11 and the electrical connector 40 will have superior sealing performance. Furthermore, with this configuration, the joint can maintain this superior sealing performance even after a long period of use. This is because the second segment 422, covered by the adhesive body 60, is located between the first segment 421 and the third segment 423, thus it is neither located in the internal space nor in the external space. The cooperation between the first segment 421 and the housing 11 helps to prevent or reduce contaminants such as dust from reaching the adhesive body 60 from the internal space, while the cooperation between the third segment 423 and the housing 11 helps to prevent or reduce contaminants such as dust from reaching the adhesive body 60 from the external space. In this way, dust and other contaminants will have difficulty or less direct contact with the adhesive 60, preventing the adhesive 60 from losing its adhesiveness due to contamination by dust and other contaminants. Loss of adhesiveness in the adhesive 60 will deteriorate the sealing performance at the junction of the housing 11 and the electrical connector 60, especially after prolonged use. Although the tiny channels between the housing 11 and the second part 42 on both sides of the adhesive 60 cannot prevent the inflow of liquid, they can prevent dust. With this arrangement, the housing 11 covering the first section 421 and the third section 423 can act as a dust barrier, while the adhesive 60 covering the second section 422 can act as a liquid barrier.

[0106] As shown in Figure 5, the dimension of the second part 42 in the length direction is D, which should preferably satisfy D≥3mm, that is, D should not be less than 3mm. A sufficiently large D, that is, greater than or equal to 3mm, can ensure good dustproof and waterproof effects and bonding strength.

[0107] The first segment 421 has a length dimension of D1, the second segment 422 has a length dimension of D2, and the third segment 423 has a length dimension of D3. The ratios D1 / D, D2 / D, and D3 / D should all be within an appropriate range. If D2 / D is too low, the waterproofing effect will be poor; if D1 / D and D3 / D are too low, the dustproofing effect will be poor, and the connection strength will also decrease. Specifically, 0.1 ≤ D1 / D ≤ 0.4, 0.3 ≤ D2 / D ≤ 0.7, and 0.1 ≤ D3 / D ≤ 0.4. Preferably, D1 / D = 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, or 0.4; D2 / D = 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 0.55, 0.6, 0.65, or 0.7; and D3 / D = 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, or 0.4. These parameter settings ensure good waterproofing, dustproofing, and connection strength. For example, D1 / D = 0.23, D2 / D = 0.54, and D3 / D = 0.23.

[0108] As shown in Figure 5, the second part 42 is a flat sheet, allowing the housing 11 to have a smaller thickness dimension to enclose it, thus reducing cost and weight. Due to the presence of the adhesive 60, the seal at the joint is guaranteed, eliminating the need for the enclosed portion to have a curved or folded shape. The flat sheet-like second part 42 achieves better sealing performance at the joint with the housing 11. Compared to curved or folded shapes, the flat sheet-like second part 42 occupies less space, and the space occupied by the housing 11 enclosing it is also smaller, making it well-suited for space-constrained scenarios.

[0109] Furthermore, the thickness dimension of the housing 11 should not be too large or too small, and can be limited to a certain range. If the thickness dimension of the housing 11 is too large, it will increase cost and weight, and shrinkage will be more pronounced because the outer part of the housing 11 cools first and the inner part cools later, resulting in more severe deformation and making it easier to form leakage paths. If the thickness dimension of the housing 11 is too small, warping is likely to occur at the edges of the housing 11. Therefore, in some embodiments, as shown in FIG5, the shortest distance from the second part 42 to the surface of the housing 11 in the thickness direction is T, 1mm≤T≤5mm, where T is the smaller of T1 and T2. The surface of the housing 11 is the outer surface of the housing 11, that is, the surface away from the second part 42. Preferably, T = 3mm, which has the advantage of making it less likely to form leakage paths and less likely to warp the housing 11. Optionally, T = 2mm or T = 4mm.

[0110] As shown in Figures 4 and 6, the electrical connector 40 is generally in the shape of a flat plate. The first portion 41 has a first surface portion 411 and a second surface portion 412. The first surface portion 411 and the second surface portion 412 are located on opposite sides of the first portion 41 in the thickness direction of the electrical connector 40. The first surface portion 411 is located in the external space of the housing 11, and the second surface portion 412 is covered by the housing 11. The third portion 43 has a third surface portion 431 and a fourth surface portion 432. The third surface portion 431 and the fourth surface portion 432 are located on opposite sides of the second portion 42 in the thickness direction. The third surface portion 431 is located in the internal space of the housing 11, and the fourth surface portion 432 is covered by the housing 11. The first surface portion 411 and the third surface portion 431 are located on different sides of the electrical connector 40 in the thickness direction. That is, the first surface portion 411 located in the external space of the housing 11 and the third surface portion 431 located in the internal space of the housing 11 are located on opposite sides of the electrical connector 40 in the thickness direction. This means that when contaminants outside the housing 11 enter the interior of the housing 11, they need to travel from the first surface portion 411 across the electrical connector 40 to the third surface portion 431 on the other side. The shortest leakage path needs to go around the outer periphery of the second portion 42, which increases the length of the leakage path, reduces the risk of leakage, and improves the sealing effect.

[0111] The outer shell 10 can be made of plastic, fiber, etc. For example, the plastic can be nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, etc. The nylon can be nylon 6. The fiber can be man-made fiber, synthetic fiber, glass fiber, etc. Furthermore, the outer shell 10 can be plastic + fiber, for example, nylon 6 + glass fiber.

[0112] The electrical connector 40 is made of a conductor, which can be a metal or an alloy. For example, copper and its alloys, aluminum and its alloys, nickel and its alloys. If extremely high current carrying capacity is required, the conductor can be silver. There can be two electrical connectors 40, one serving as the positive terminal of the energy storage device 100 and the other as the negative terminal of the energy storage device 100.

[0113] <Example Electrical Equipment>

[0114] As shown in Figure 13, the electrical equipment 200 includes an energy storage device 100. The electrical equipment can be a vehicle, household appliance, industrial equipment, etc. The vehicle can be a car, truck, excavator, etc. The energy storage device 100 can be used as a power battery or a start-stop battery in the vehicle. A start-stop battery is a type of battery specifically designed for automotive start-stop systems. It can shut off the engine when the vehicle is idling and quickly start the engine when needed, thereby effectively reducing fuel consumption and emissions during idling.

[0115] It should be noted that the elements described in the above specific embodiments can be combined in any suitable manner without contradiction. To avoid unnecessary repetition, this disclosure will not describe the various possible combinations separately.

[0116] It should be understood that multiple components and / or parts can be provided by a single integrated component or part. Alternatively, a single integrated component or part can be divided into multiple separate components and / or parts. The use of the public designation "a" or "an" to describe a component or part is not intended to exclude other components or parts.

[0117] It should be understood that although terms such as “first” or “second” may be used in this disclosure to describe various elements (such as Part 1 and Part 2), these elements are not defined by these terms, which are only used to distinguish one element from another.

[0118] The basic principles of this disclosure have been described above with reference to specific embodiments. However, it should be noted that the advantages, benefits, and effects mentioned in this disclosure are merely examples and not limitations, and should not be considered as essential features of each embodiment of this disclosure. Furthermore, the specific details disclosed above are for illustrative and facilitative purposes only, and are not limitations. These details do not limit the scope of this disclosure to the necessity of employing the aforementioned specific details for implementation.

[0119] The above are merely specific embodiments of this disclosure, but the scope of protection of this disclosure is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this disclosure should be included within the scope of protection of this disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection of this disclosure should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A housing assembly, characterized by, Includes a fixed housing and electrical connections; The electrical connector includes a first part, a second part, and a third part arranged sequentially along its length, wherein the first part is at least partially located in the outer space of the housing, and the third part is at least partially located in the inner space of the housing; The wall of the housing has a channel extending from the internal space to the external space. The second part is embedded in the channel. The inner surface of the channel covers the outer surface of the second part. An adhesive is provided between the outer surface of the second part and the inner surface of the channel. The adhesive is bonded to the outer surface of the second part and the inner surface of the channel.

2. The housing assembly of claim 1, wherein, The adhesive extends along the width direction of the electrical connector on the outer surface of the second portion.

3. The housing assembly of claim 2, wherein, The adhesive is continuously wound around the outer surface of the second part, and the number of turns of the adhesive is N, where 2≤N≤10.

4. The housing assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The adhesive comprises a substrate and an adhesive attached to the substrate. The substrate is configured as a substrate layer, and the adhesive is configured as a first adhesive layer and a second adhesive layer. The first adhesive layer, the substrate layer, and the second adhesive layer are sequentially stacked in the thickness direction of the adhesive.

5. The housing assembly of claim 4, wherein, The adhesive is an acrylic adhesive layer, and the substrate is a non-woven fabric.

6. The housing assembly of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The second part has a recess, and at least a portion of the adhesive is embedded in the recess; The recess is a notch formed on any one edge of the second part in the width direction of the electrical connector.

7. The housing assembly of claim 6, wherein, The depth of the notch is greater than the thickness of the portion of the adhesive located within the notch.

8. The housing assembly of claim 6, wherein, The first and last ends of the adhesive are disposed in a notch.

9. The housing assembly of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The second portion is larger in the length direction than the adhesive in the length direction; and / or The second part includes a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment arranged sequentially along the length direction. The second segment is covered by the adhesive, and the first segment and the third segment are covered by the shell.

10. The housing assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that: The second part has a dimension D in the length direction, where D ≥ 2 mm.

11. The housing assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that: The first segment has a dimension D1 in the length direction, where 0.1 ≤ D1 / D ≤ 0.4; and / or The second segment has a dimension of D2 in the length direction, where 0.3 ≤ D2 / D ≤ 0.7; and / or The dimension of the third segment in the length direction is D3, and 0.1≤D3 / D≤0.

4.

12. The housing assembly of claim 9, wherein, In the thickness direction of the electrical connector, the shortest distance from the second part to the surface of the housing is T, where 1mm ≤ T ≤ 10mm.

13. The housing assembly of claim 1, wherein, The second part has a larger dimension in the length direction than the adhesive in the length direction.

14. The housing assembly of claim 13, wherein, In the length direction, the size of the adhesive body accounts for 0.4-0.6 of the size of the second part.

15. The housing assembly of claim 1, wherein, The housing includes an upper housing and a lower housing, and the electrical connector is disposed on the upper housing.

16. The housing assembly of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein, The electrical connector is in the shape of a flat plate.

17. The housing assembly of any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein, The first portion has a first surface portion and a second surface portion, the first surface portion and the second surface portion being located on opposite sides of the first portion in the thickness direction of the electrical connector, the first surface portion being located in the outer space of the housing, and the second surface portion being covered by the housing; the third portion has a third surface portion and a fourth surface portion, the third surface portion and the fourth surface portion being located on opposite sides of the second portion in the thickness direction, the third surface portion being located in the inner space of the housing, and the fourth surface portion being covered by the housing, wherein the first surface portion and the third surface portion are located on different sides of the electrical connector in the thickness direction.

18. An electrical energy storage device, characterized by Includes the housing assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

19. An electrical device, comprising: Includes the energy storage device according to claim 18.

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