Battery Cell, Battery, Power Consumption Device, and Battery Cell Manufacturing Device and Method

A battery cell includes a shell, an electrode assembly, and an insulator; the shell includes a bottom wall and a side wall disposed at a periphery of the bottom wall; the electrode assembly is accommodated in the shell; the insulator includes a first insulating portion and a second insulating portion that are connected, the first insulating portion is used for separating the electrode assembly from the bottom wall, the first insulating portion is provided with a through hole, and the second insulating portion is used for separating the electrode assembly from the side wall; and the insulator further includes a folding portion, which is disposed on the first insulating portion in a foldable manner, and is configured to be stacked with the first insulating portion to cover the through hole.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to the field of battery technology, and particularly to a battery cell, a battery, a power consumption device, and a battery cell manufacturing device and method.

BACKGROUND ART

At present, with the rapid development of smart phones, tablet computers, electric vehicles, and the like, the application of lithium-ion batteries is increasingly widespread, which puts forward higher requirements for lithium-ion batteries. For example, batteries are required to have better safety performance, and internal short circuits in batteries are one of the main reasons for power safety issues.

The short circuits in batteries may generate excessive electric heat and high temperatures, and may cause fires or burnout of electrical appliances, so that property and life safety are threatened. Therefore, how to reduce the risk of short circuits in batteries has become an urgent problem to be solved in the field of battery technology.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present application provide a battery cell, a battery, a power consumption device, and a battery cell manufacturing device and method to reduce the risk of internal short circuits in battery cells.

First, an embodiment of the present application provides a battery cell, including a shell, an electrode assembly, and an insulator; the shell includes a bottom wall and a side wall disposed at a periphery of the bottom wall; the electrode assembly is accommodated in the shell; the insulator includes a first insulating portion and a second insulating portion that are connected, the first insulating portion is used for separating the electrode assembly from the bottom wall, the first insulating portion is provided with a through hole, and the second insulating portion is used for separating the electrode assembly from the side wall; and the insulator further includes a folding portion, the folding portion is disposed on the first insulating portion in a foldable manner, and the folding portion is configured to be stacked with the first insulating portion to cover the through hole.

In the foregoing technical solution, the folding portion is disposed on the first insulating portion in the foldable manner, where the folding portion folded relative to the first insulating portion may be in an unfolded state relative to the first insulating portion and in a stacked state relative to the first insulating portion. When the folding portion is in the unfolded state relative to the first insulating portion, the insulator may be positioned through the through hole to achieve cooperation and positioning with an assembly apparatus for assembling the battery cell, so as to position the insulator onto the assembly apparatus to improve assembly quality of the battery cell. When the folding portion is in the stacked state relative to the first insulating portion, the folding portion can cover the through hole, so that ions of the electrode assembly cannot arrive at the shell via the through hole, which reduces the risk of a short circuit inside the battery cell.

In some embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, the insulator includes a plurality of folding portions, which are stacked or arranged side by side.

In the foregoing technical solution, the insulator includes the plurality of folding portions stacked or arranged side by side. If the plurality of folding portions are stacked, a distance between the electrode assembly and the bottom wall can be increased, and the ions can be better prevented from arriving at the shell via the through hole, thereby reducing the risk of a short circuit inside the battery cell. If the plurality of folding portions are arranged side by side, coverage of the first insulator by the folding portions can be increased in the same plane to better prevent the ions from arriving at the shell via the through hole, thereby reducing the risk of a short circuit inside the battery cell.

In some embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, the first insulator is provided with a plurality of through holes, and each folding portion covers each through hole.

In the foregoing technical solution, each folding portion covers each through hole, so ions cannot arrive at the shell via any through hole, and the risk of a short circuit inside the battery cell is reduced. In addition, a quantity of the folding portions may be reduced to facilitate manufacturing of the insulator. If there is a plurality of folding portions, each through hole can be covered multiple times, which can further reduce the risk of arrival of the ions at the shell via the through holes.

In some embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, in a first direction, some of the plurality of folding portions are located on one side of the first insulating portion, the other of the plurality of folding portions are located on the other side of the first insulating portion, and the first direction is a thickness direction of the first insulating portion.

In the foregoing technical solution, some of the plurality of folding portions are located on one side of the first insulating portion in the thickness direction, the other of the plurality of folding portions are located on the other side of the first insulating portion in the thickness direction, and the plurality of folding portions can cover the through holes from two axial sides of the through holes, which can better prevent ions from arriving at the shell via the through holes, thereby reducing the risk of a short circuit inside the battery cell.

In some embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, the insulator includes two folding portions, the first insulating portion has two first edge portions arranged opposite in a second direction, one ends of the two folding portions in the second direction are separately connected to the two first edge portions in a foldable manner, and the second direction is perpendicular to the thickness direction of the first insulating portion.

In the foregoing technical solution, the two folding portions may be separately connected to the two first edge portions in the foldable manner, which facilitates folding of the folding portions relative to the first insulating portion and avoids mutual interference when the two folding portions are folded relative to the first insulating portion.

In some embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, the electrode assembly has two first side surfaces disposed opposite in the second direction; the second insulating portion includes two first separation portions, the two first separation portions are used for covering the two first side surfaces separately, the two first separation portions are connected to the two folding portions separately, a first end of the folding portion is connected to the first insulating portion in a foldable manner, and a second end, opposite to the first end, of the folding portion is connected to the first separation portion.

In the foregoing technical solution, the second insulating portion includes the two first separation portions connected to the folding portions separately, the first end of the folding portion is connected to the first insulating portion in the foldable manner, the second end of the folding portion is connected to the first separation portion, and the first end and the second end are opposite, whereby folding of the first separation portions relative to the folding portions is facilitated to separate the first side surfaces of the electrode assembly from the shell.

In some embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, a first crease is formed at a connection position between the folding portion and the first edge portion, and/or a second crease is formed at a connection position between the first separation portion and the folding portion; the first crease and the second crease extend in a third direction; and the thickness direction of the first insulating portion, the second direction, and the third direction are perpendicular to each other.

In the foregoing technical solution, the folding portion can be folded around the first crease relative to the first insulating portion, the first separation portion can be folded around the second crease relative to the folding portion, and extension directions of the first crease and the second crease are the same, which can avoid mutual interference between the folding action of the folding portion relative to the first insulating portion and the folding action of the first separation portion relative to the folding portion.

In some embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, the electrode assembly includes two second side surfaces arranged opposite in the third direction; the second insulating portion further includes second separation portions, two ends of each first separation portion in the third direction are connected with the second separation portions, and the second separation portions are used for covering the second side surfaces; and the thickness direction of the first insulating portion, the second direction, and the third direction are perpendicular to each other.

In the foregoing technical solution, the second insulator further includes second separation portions, and the second separation portions are used for separating the second side surfaces from the shell, so that the second insulating portion separates the side wall of the electrode assembly from the shell to reduce the risk of a short circuit inside the battery cell.

In some embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, the electrode assembly has two first side surfaces disposed opposite in the third direction; the second insulating portion includes two first separation portions, and the two first separation portions are used for covering the two first side surfaces separately; and the two first separation portions are separately connected to two opposite second edge portions of the first insulating portion in the third direction, and the thickness direction of the first insulating portion, the second direction, and the third direction are perpendicular to each other.

In the foregoing technical solution, the two folding portions are separately connected to the two first edge portions of the first insulator in the second direction in the foldable manner, and the two first separation portions are separately connected to the two opposite second edge portions of the first insulating portion in the third direction, which can reduce folding difficulty of the folding portions and the risk of mutual interference when the folding portions and the first separation portions are folded.

In some embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, the electrode assembly includes two second side surfaces arranged opposite in the second direction; the second insulating portion further includes second separation portions, two ends of each first separation portion in the second direction are connected with the second separation portions, and the second separation portions are used for covering the second side surfaces; and the thickness direction of the first insulating portion, the second direction, and the third direction are perpendicular to each other.

In the foregoing technical solution, the second insulator further includes second separation portions, and the second separation portions are used for separating the second side surfaces from the side wall of the shell, so that the second insulating portion separates the side wall of the electrode assembly from the shell to reduce the risk of a short circuit inside the battery cell.

In some embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, an inner surface of the side wall and an inner surface of the bottom wall are connected by an arc-shaped transition surface; and the first insulating portion and the folding portion are configured to change a height position of the electrode assembly relative to the bottom wall, so as to prevent the arc-shaped transition surface from extruding the electrode assembly.

In the foregoing technical solution, the first insulating portion is disposed between the bottom wall of the shell and the electrode assembly, which can not only separate the bottom wall from the electrode assembly to reduce the risk of a short circuit inside the battery cell, but also can change the height position of the electrode assembly relative to the bottom wall to prevent the arc-shaped transition surface from extruding the electrode assembly and reduce the risk of wrinkling of electrode plates due to interference between the electrode assembly and the arc-shaped transition surface.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a battery, including the battery cell provided in any embodiment of the first aspect.

In the foregoing technical solution, the through hole of the insulator of the battery cell is covered by the folding portion, and ions of the electrode assembly cannot arrive at the shell via the through hole, which reduces the risk of a short circuit inside the battery cell, thereby improving safety performance of the battery.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a power consumption device, including the battery provided in the embodiment of the second aspect.

In the foregoing technical solution, the power consumption device includes the battery provided in the embodiment of the second aspect, where the battery has low risk of internal short circuits and high safety performance, which can improve electrical safety of the power consumption device.

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a battery cell manufacturing device, including a provision apparatus and an assembly apparatus; the provision apparatus is configured to provide a shell, an electrode assembly, and an insulator, where the shell includes a bottom wall and a side wall disposed at a periphery of the bottom wall, the insulator includes a first insulating portion and a second insulating portion that are connected, and the first insulating portion is provided with a through hole; and the assembly apparatus is configured to wrap the insulator at a periphery of the electrode assembly and dispose the electrode assembly inside the shell, so that the first insulating portion separates the electrode assembly from the bottom wall and the second insulating portion separates the electrode assembly from the side wall, where the insulator further includes a folding portion, the folding portion is disposed on the first insulating portion in a foldable manner, and the folding portion is configured to be stacked with the first insulating portion to cover the through hole.

In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a battery cell manufacturing method, including:providing a shell, an electrode assembly, and an insulator, where the shell includes a bottom wall and a side wall disposed at a periphery of the bottom wall, the insulator includes a first insulating portion and a second insulating portion that are connected, and the first insulating portion is provided with a through hole;wrapping the insulator at a periphery of the electrode assembly; anddisposing the electrode assembly inside the shell, so that the first insulating portion separates the electrode assembly from the bottom wall and the second insulating portion separates the electrode assembly from the side wall, wherethe insulator further includes a folding portion, the folding portion is disposed on the first insulating portion in a foldable manner, and the folding portion is configured to be stacked with the first insulating portion to cover the through hole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Apparently, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of them. Components in the embodiments of the present application, typically described and shown in the drawings, may be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

Therefore, detailed descriptions of the embodiments of the present application provided in the drawings below are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application, but only to represent the selected embodiments of the present application. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present application without creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

It should be noted that the embodiments in the present application and the features of the embodiments may be combined with each other on a non-conflict basis.

It should be noted that similar reference signs and letters in the following drawings represent similar terms, so once a term is defined in a drawing, further discussion on this term is not required in the follow-up drawings.

In the description of the embodiments of the present application, it should be noted that indicated orientations or positional relationships are based on orientations or positional relationships shown in the drawings, or commonly placed orientations or positional relationships during the use of products in the present application, or orientations or positional relationships commonly understood by those skilled in the art, are merely for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the apparatus or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limitations on the present application. In addition, the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, and the like are merely for the sake of distinguishing the description, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

At present, based on the development of the market situation, the application of power batteries is increasingly widespread. Power batteries are not only used in energy storage power systems of water power, firepower, wind power and solar power plants and the like, but also widely used in many fields of electric vehicles such as electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, and electric vehicles, military equipment, aerospace, and the like. With the continuous expansion of the application field of power batteries, their market demand is also constantly expanding.

A battery cell includes a shell, an electrode assembly, and an insulator, where the insulator is used for separating the electrode assembly from the shell to avoid a contact short circuit between the electrode assembly and the shell. In order to facilitate assembly of the battery cell, a portion, used for separating the electrode assembly from a bottom wall of the shell, of the insulator is provided with a through hole, and the through hole is used for cooperating and positioning with an assembly apparatus for assembling the battery cell to position the insulator onto the assembly apparatus, so as to improve assembly quality.

The inventor discovered that ions of the electrode assembly may arrive at the shell via the through hole, leading to a short circuit inside the battery cell and causing safety issues. To prevent the ions from arriving at the shell via the through hole, the through hole may be sealed by pasting a tape on the insulator. However, the tape immersed in an electrolyte for a long term may fall off to cause sealing failure.

Based on the foregoing considerations, in order to reduce the risk of ions passing through the through hole, the inventor designed a battery cell through in-depth research. An insulator of the battery cell includes a first insulating portion and a second insulating portion that are connected, the first insulating portion is used for separating an electrode assembly from a bottom wall of a shell, the first insulating portion is provided with a through hole, and the second insulating portion is used for separating the electrode assembly from a side wall of the shell. The insulator further includes a folding portion, the folding portion is disposed on the first insulating portion in a foldable manner, and the folding portion is configured to be stacked with the first insulating portion to cover the through hole.

The battery cell disclosed in the embodiments of the present application may be used, but is not limited to, in a power consumption device such as a vehicle, a ship or an aircraft. A power system of the power consumption device may be composed of the battery cell, the battery, and the like disclosed in the present application. In this case, the risk of ions passing through the through hole is reduced, the risk of internal short circuit in the battery is reduced, and the safety performance of the battery cell is thereby improved.

Technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present application are applicable to batteries and power consumption devices using the batteries.

The power consumption devices may be vehicles, mobile phones, portable devices, notebook computers, ships, spacecrafts, electric toys, electric tools, and the like. The vehicles may be oil-fueled vehicles, gas-fueled vehicles, or new energy vehicles, and the new energy vehicles may be pure electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, extended range vehicles, or the like; the spacecrafts include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, spaceships, and the like; the electric toys include fixed or mobile electric toys, such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric boat toys, and electric plane toys; and the electric tools include electric metal cutting tools, electric grinding tools, electric assembly tools, and railway electric tools, such as electric drills, electric grinders, electric wrenches, electric screwdrivers, electric hammers, electric impact drills, concrete vibrators, and electric planers. The embodiments of the present application do not impose special limitations on the foregoing power consumption devices.

For convenient description, the following embodiments are described by an example of a vehicle1000as a power consumption device.

With reference toFIG.1, a battery100is provided inside the vehicle1000. The battery100may be disposed at a bottom, head or tail of the vehicle1000. The battery100may be used for supplying power to the vehicle1000. For example, the battery100may be used as an operation power supply of the vehicle1000.

The vehicle1000may further include a controller200and a motor300. The controller200is used for controlling the battery100to supply power to the motor300, for example, for the working power demand of the vehicle1000during startup, navigation and running.

In some embodiments of the present application, the battery100may be used not only as an operation power supply of the vehicle1000, but also as a driving power supply of the vehicle1000to replace or partially replace fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle1000.

With reference toFIG.2, the battery100includes a box body10and a battery cell20, where the battery cell20is accommodated in the box body10.

The box body10is used for providing a mounting space11for the battery cell20. In some embodiments, the box body10may include a first portion12and a second portion13, and the first portion12and the second portion13cover each other to confine the mounting space11for accommodating the battery cell20. Of course, the junction between the first portion12and the second portion13may be sealed by a sealing element (not shown), which may be a sealing ring, a sealant, or the like.

The first portion12and the second portion13may be in various shapes, such as cuboid or cylindrical. The first portion12may be opened on one side to form a hollow structure with an accommodating cavity for accommodating the battery cell20, the second portion13may also be opened on one side to form a hollow structure with an accommodating cavity for accommodating the battery cell20, and the opening side of the second portion13covers the opening side of the first portion12to form the box body10with the mounting space11. Alternatively, the first portion12is opened on one side to form a hollow structure with an accommodating cavity for accommodating the battery cell20, the second portion13is of a plate-like structure, and the second portion13covers the opening side of the first portion12to form the box body10with the mounting space11.

There may be one or more battery cells20in the battery100. If there is a plurality of battery cells20, the plurality of battery cells20may be connected in series, parallel, or series and parallel. The series and parallel connection refers to both series and parallel connection in the plurality of battery cells20. The plurality of battery cells20may be directly connected in series, parallel, or series and parallel together, and then the whole composed of the plurality of battery cells20is accommodated in the box body10. Alternatively, the plurality of battery cells20may be first connected in series, parallel, or series and parallel to form a battery module, and then a plurality of battery modules may be connected in series, parallel, or series and parallel to form a whole accommodated in the box body10. The battery cell20may be cylindrical, flat, cuboid, or in other shapes.FIG.2illustrates that the battery cell20is square.

In some embodiments, the battery100may further include a current collecting component (not shown), and the plurality of battery cells20may be electrically connected through the current collecting component to implement the series, parallel, or series and parallel connection of the plurality of battery cells20.

With reference toFIG.3, the battery cell20may include a shell21, an electrode assembly22, and an end cover assembly23. The shell21has an opening211, the electrode assembly22is accommodated in the shell21, and the end cover assembly23is used for covering the opening211.

The shell21may be in various shapes, such as cylindrical or cuboid. The shape of the shell21may be determined according to a specific shape of the electrode assembly22. For example, if the electrode assembly22is of a cylindrical structure, the shell21may be of a cylindrical structure; or if the electrode assembly22is of a cuboid structure, the shell21may be of a cuboid structure.FIG.3illustrates that the shell21and the electrode assembly22are square.

A material of the shell21may be various, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, or aluminum alloy, and is not specially limited by the embodiments of the present application.

In some embodiments, a protective film24is further disposed on an outer surface of the shell21, and the protective film24wraps the outer surface of the shell21. The protective film24can achieve functions of insulation, high temperature resistance, and the like. The protective film24may be a blue film.

The electrode assembly22may include a positive plate (not shown), a negative plate (not shown), and a separator (not shown). The electrode assembly22may be of a winding structure formed by winding the positive plate, the separator, and the negative plate, or a stacked structure formed by stacking the positive plate, the separator, and the negative plate. The electrode assembly22further includes a positive tab (not shown) and a negative tab (not shown), a positive current collector not coated with a positive active material layer in the positive plate may be used as the positive tab, and a negative current collector not coated with a negative active material layer in the negative plate may be used as the negative tab.

The end cover assembly23includes an end cover231and an electrode terminal232, where the electrode terminal232is disposed on the end cover231. The end cover231is used for sealing the opening211of the shell21to form a closed accommodating space (not shown), which is used for accommodating the electrode assembly22. The accommodating space is also used for accommodating an electrolyte, such as an electrolyte solution. The end cover assembly23serves as a component for outputting electrical energy of the electrode assembly22. The electrode terminal232in the end cover assembly23is used for electrical connection with the electrode assembly22, that is, the electrode terminal232is electrically connected to a tab of the electrode assembly22. For example, the electrode terminal232is connected to the tab through a current collecting member25to achieve the electrical connection between the electrode terminal232and the tab.

It should be noted that the shell21may have one or two openings211. If the shell21has one opening211, there may also be one end cover assembly23, two electrode terminals232may be disposed in the end cover assembly23, the two electrode terminals232are used for electrical connection with the positive tab and negative tab of the electrode assembly22separately, and the two electrode terminals232in the end cover assembly23are a positive electrode terminal232and a negative electrode terminal232separately. If the shell21has two openings211, for example, two openings211are disposed on two opposite sides of the shell21, there may also be two end cover assemblies23, and the two end cover assemblies23cover the two openings211of the shell21separately. In this case, the electrode terminal232in one of the end cover assemblies23may be used as a positive electrode terminal for electrical connection with the positive tab of the electrode assembly22; and the electrode terminal232in the other end cover assembly23may be used as a negative electrode terminal used for electrical connection with the negative plate of the electrode assembly22.

In some embodiments, the end cover assembly23further includes an end cover protector233, and the end cover protector233is mounted on a surface of the end cover231to protect the end cover231.

Referring toFIGS.3,4,5, and6, in some embodiments, the battery cell20includes a shell21, an electrode assembly22, and an insulator26; the shell21includes a bottom wall212and a side wall213disposed at a periphery of the bottom wall212; the electrode assembly22is accommodated in the shell21; the insulator26includes a first insulating portion261and a second insulating portion262that are connected, the first insulating portion261is used for separating the electrode assembly22from the bottom wall212, the first insulating portion261is provided with a through hole2611, and the second insulating portion262is used for separating the electrode assembly22from the side wall213; and the insulator26further includes a folding portion263, the folding portion263is disposed on the first insulating portion261in a foldable manner, and the folding portion263is configured to be stacked with the first insulating portion261to cover the through hole2611.

The opening211of the shell21is disposed opposite to the bottom wall212. The first insulating portion261is located between the electrode assembly22and the bottom wall212to separate the electrode assembly22from the bottom wall212, so as to avoid a short circuit inside the battery cell20due to contact between the electrode assembly22and the bottom wall212.

The folding portion263may be disposed on the first insulating portion261in a foldable manner, indicating that the folding portion263can rotate and be folded around a crease relative to the first insulating portion261. The folding portion263can be folded relative to the first insulating portion261to ensure that the first insulating portion261and the folding portion263are in a stacked state and unfolded state. The stacked state indicates that both the folding portion263and the first insulating portion261are located between the electrode assembly22and the bottom wall212, and the folding portion263is located on a side, away from the electrode assembly22, of the first insulating portion261and/or on a side, facing the electrode assembly22, of the first insulating portion261. The unfolded state refers to another state of the folding portion263and the first insulating portion261except the stacked state, including a coplanar state of the folding portion263and the first insulating portion261.

The first insulating portion261and the folding portion263are both of flat structures. In other embodiments, the folding portion263may alternatively be in other structural forms, for example, the folding portion263is in a latch form, and after being folded relative to the first insulating portion261, the folding portion263can be located on the side, facing or away from the electrode assembly22, of the first insulating portion261and inserted into the through hole2611.

After the folding portion263is stacked with the first insulating portion261, the folding portion263and the first insulating portion261may be fixed, for example, the folding portion263and the first insulating portion261are bonded together by an adhesive to maintain the folding portion263and the first insulating portion261in the stacked state; or the folding portion263and the first insulating portion261may not be fixed, and the folding portion263and the first insulating portion261may be maintained in the stacked state by means of gravity of the electrode assembly22.

The first insulating portion261and the second insulating portion262may be integrally formed, or separated and then connected into an integral structure. The folding portion263and the first insulating portion261may be integrally formed, or separated and then connected into an integral structure.

The folding portion263is disposed on the first insulating portion261in the foldable manner, where the folding portion263folded relative to the first insulating portion261may be in the unfolded state relative to the first insulating portion261and in the stacked state relative to the first insulating portion261. When the folding portion263is in the unfolded state relative to the first insulating portion261, the insulator26may be positioned through the through hole2611to achieve cooperation and positioning with the assembly apparatus2200for assembling the battery cell20, so as to position the insulator26onto the assembly apparatus2200to improve the assembly quality of the battery cell20. When the folding portion263is in the stacked state relative to the first insulating portion261, the folding portion263can cover the through hole2611, so that ions of the electrode assembly22cannot arrive at the shell21via the through hole2611, which reduces the risk of a short circuit Inside the battery cell20.

Referring toFIGS.4,5, and6, in some embodiments, the insulator26includes a plurality of folding portions263, and the plurality of folding portions263are stacked or arranged side by side.

The plurality refers to two or more.

For example, the insulator26includes two folding portions263. As shown inFIG.4, the two folding portions263are arranged side by side, indicating that the two folding portions263are arranged on the same side of the first insulating portion261in a direction from the bottom wall212to the electrode assembly22(namely, a first direction X), and the two folding portions263are in contact with a surface, facing the electrode assembly22, of the first insulating portion261or the two folding portions263are in contact with a surface, away from the electrode assembly22, of the first insulating portion261. In the side-by-side direction of the two folding portions263, there may be a gap264or may not be a gap264between the two folding portions263.FIG.4shows a gap264in the side-by-side direction of the two folding portions263.

As shown inFIG.5andFIG.6, the two folding portions263are stacked, indicating that the two folding portions263are stacked in the direction from the bottom wall212to the electrode assembly22(namely, the first direction X), and one of the two folding portions263is closer to the electrode assembly22than the other. For example, the two folding portions263are stacked on the side, facing the electrode assembly22, of the first insulating portion261, or the two folding portions263are stacked on the side, away from the electrode assembly22, of the first insulating portion261, or one of the two folding portions263is located on the side, facing the electrode assembly22, of the first insulating portion261and the other is located on the side, away from the electrode assembly22, of the first insulating portion261.FIG.5andFIG.6show that the two folding portions263are located on two opposite sides of the first insulating portion261separately. Relevant circumstances of the present application will be described below by an example of two stacked folding portions263.

Of course, in the embodiments where the insulator26includes two or more folding portions263, some folding portions263among the plurality of folding portions263may be stacked, and the stacked folding portions263are arranged side by side with the other folding portions263.

The insulator26includes a plurality of folding portions263stacked or arranged side by side. If the plurality of folding portions263are stacked, a distance between the electrode assembly22and the bottom wall212can be increased, and the ions can be better prevented from arriving at the shell21via the through hole2611, thereby reducing the risk of a short circuit inside the battery cell20. If the plurality of folding portions263are arranged side by side, coverage of the first insulator26by the folding portions263can be increased in the same plane to better prevent the ions from arriving at the shell21via the through hole2611, thereby reducing the risk of a short circuit inside the battery cell20.

Referring toFIG.5andFIG.6, in some embodiments, the first insulating portion261is provided with a plurality of through holes2611, and each folding portion263covers each through hole2611.

The plurality refers to two or more. The area of a surface, facing the first insulating portion261, of the folding portion263should be large enough, so that the folding portion263can cover each through hole2611simultaneously. In other embodiments, some through holes2611among the plurality of through holes2611are covered by one folding portion263, and the other through holes2611among the plurality of through holes2611are covered by the other folding portion263. Of course, a quantity of the folding portions263may alternatively be set according to a quantity of the through holes2611, the folding portions263and the through holes2611correspond one to one, and each folding portion263is used for covering the corresponding through hole2611.

In other embodiments, there may alternatively be one through hole2611.

Each folding portion263covers each through hole2611, so ions cannot arrive at the shell21via any through hole2611, and the risk of a short circuit inside the battery cell20is reduced. In addition, the quantity of the folding portions263may be reduced to facilitate manufacturing of the insulator26. If there is a plurality of folding portions263, each through hole2611can be covered multiple times, which can further reduce the risk of arrival of the ions at the shell21via the through holes2611.

Referring toFIG.5andFIG.6, in some embodiments, in the first direction X, some of the plurality of folding portions263are located on one side of the first insulating portion261, the other of the plurality of folding portions263are located on the other side of the first insulating portion261, and the first direction X is a thickness direction of the first insulating portion261.

The first direction X is consistent with the thickness direction of the first insulating portion261. When the folding portion263and the first insulating portion261are in the stacked state, a stacking direction of the folding portion263and the first insulating portion261is the first direction X. For example, the insulator26includes two folding portions263, and the first insulating portion261is located between the two folding portions263. That is, when the folding portion263and the first insulating portion261are in the stacked state, the two folding portions263are located on two sides of the first insulating portion261in the first direction X separately. In other embodiments, the two folding portions263may alternatively be located on the same side of the first insulating portion261in the first direction X.

In an embodiment where the insulator26includes two or more folding portions263, the first insulating portion261may have at least two folding portions263on at least one side in the first direction X, and the folding portions263on the same side of the first insulating portion261may be stacked or arranged side by side.

Some of the plurality of folding portions263are located on one side of the first insulating portion261in the thickness direction, the other of the plurality of folding portions263are located on the other side of the first insulating portion261in the thickness direction, and the two folding portions263can cover the through hole2611from two axial sides of the through hole2611, which can better prevent ions from arriving at the shell21via the through hole2611, thereby reducing the risk of a short circuit inside the battery cell20.

As shown inFIG.7, in some embodiments, the insulator26includes two folding portions263, the first insulating portion261has two first edge portions2612arranged opposite in a second direction Y, one ends of the two folding portions263in the second direction Y are separately connected to the two first edge portions2612in a foldable manner, and the second direction Y is perpendicular to the thickness direction of the first insulating portion261.

One ends of the two folding portions263in the second direction Y are separately connected to the two first edge portions2612in a foldable manner, indicating that one ends of the folding portions263in the second direction Y are connected to the first edge portions2612when the folding portions263are stacked with the first insulating portion261.

In order to ensure that the two folding portions263are separately located on the two sides of the first insulating portion261in the first direction X, folding directions of the two folding portions263relative to the first insulating portion261are opposite. As shown inFIG.8, one folding portion263in the two folding portions263is located on one side of the first insulating portion261in the first direction X after being folded relative to the first insulating portion261in a first folding direction. As shown inFIG.9, the other folding portion263in the two folding portions263is located on the other side of the first insulating portion261in the first direction X after being folded relative to the first insulating portion261in a second folding direction. The first folding direction is opposite to the second folding direction, for example, the first folding direction is clockwise, and the second folding direction is counterclockwise.

Of course, the two folding portions263may alternatively be connected to the same first edge portion2612in a foldable manner.

The two folding portions263may be separately connected to the two first edge portions2612in the foldable manner, which facilitates folding of the folding portions263relative to the first insulating portion261and avoids mutual interference when the two folding portions263are folded relative to the first insulating portion261.

Referring toFIGS.7,8, and9, in some embodiments, the electrode assembly22has two first side surfaces221(shown inFIG.3) disposed opposite in the second direction Y; the second insulating portion262includes two first separation portions2621, the two first separation portions2621are used for covering the two first side surfaces221separately, the two first separation portions2621are connected to the two folding portions263separately, a first end2631of the folding portion263is connected to the first insulating portion261in a foldable manner, and a second end2632, opposite to the first end2631, of the folding portion263is connected to the first separation portion2621.

In this embodiment, the first separation portion2621is connected to the second end2632of the folding portion263in a foldable manner, so that the first separation portion2621can rotate and be folded around a crease relative to the folding portion263.

In an embodiment where the electrode assembly22is square, the electrode assembly22includes a straight portion I and two bent portions II, where the two bent portions II are connected to two ends of the straight portion I separately. The straight portion I has two opposite outer side surfaces in the thickness direction of electrode assembly22. The thickness direction of the electrode assembly22is perpendicular to an opposite arrangement direction of the two bent portions II. The two first side surfaces221may be the two outer side surfaces of the straight portion I or outer side surfaces of the two bent portions II. For example, the two first side surfaces221may be the two outer side surfaces of the straight portion I. When the two first separation portions2621are folded relative to the first insulating portion261, the first separation portions2621can be folded to parallel to the two outer side surfaces of the straight portion I, and the two first separation portions2621can cover the two outer side surfaces of the straight portion I separately to separate the first side surfaces221from the side wall213of the shell21, thereby avoiding a short circuit inside the battery cell20due to contact between the first side surfaces221and the side wall213.

In this embodiment, two ends of the first insulating portion261may be flush or not flush with two ends of the folding portion263in a third direction Z. For example, as shown inFIG.7toFIG.9, in the third direction Z, the two ends of the first insulating portion261are not flush, and the two ends of the first insulating portion261extend the two ends of the folding portion263.

The second insulating portion262includes the two first separation portions2621connected to the folding portions263separately, the first end2631of the folding portion263is connected to the first insulating portion261in the foldable manner, the second end2632of the folding portion263is connected to the first separation portion2621, and the first end2631and the second end2632are opposite, whereby folding of the first separation portions2621relative to the folding portions263is facilitated to separate the first side surfaces221of the electrode assembly22from the shell21.

Referring toFIGS.7,8, and9, in some embodiments, a first crease265is formed at a connection position between the folding portion263and the first edge portion2612, and/or a second crease266is formed at a connection position between the first separation portion2621and the folding portion263; the first crease265and the second crease266extend in the third direction Z; and the thickness direction of the first insulating portion261, the second direction Y, and the third direction Z are perpendicular to each other.

Alternatively, only the first crease265is formed at the connection position between the folding portion263and the first edge portion2612, the second crease266is not formed at the connection position between the first separation portion2621and the folding portion263, and when the first separation portion2621is required to be folded relative to the folding portion263, a folding position is determined according to actual needs, and a crease is formed after folding. Alternatively, only the second crease266is formed at the connection position between the first separation portion2621and the folding portion263, the first crease265is formed at the connection position between the folding portion263and the first edge portion2612, and when the folding portion263is required to be folded relative to the first edge portion2612, a folding position is determined according to actual needs, and a crease is formed after folding. Alternatively, the first crease265is formed at the connection position between the folding portion263and the first edge portion2612, the second crease266is formed at the connection position between the first separation portion2621and the folding portion263, the folding portion263may be folded around the first crease265relative to the first insulating portion261, and the first separation portion2621may be folded around the second crease266relative to the folding portion263.

As shown inFIG.8andFIG.9, a width of the folding portion263in the second direction Y is the same as that of the first insulating portion261in the second direction Y. After the folding portion263is stacked with the first insulating portion261, a projection of the second crease266formed at the connection position between the folding portion263and the first separation portion2621overlaps with a projection of the first crease265formed at the connection position between the folding portion263and the first insulating portion261in the first direction X.

The first crease265and the second crease266are formed before folding, so the folding positions can be clearly and accurately known and the folding is easier. The folding portion263can be folded around the first crease265relative to the first insulating portion261, the first separation portion2621can be folded around the second crease266relative to the folding portion263, and extension directions of the first crease265and the second crease266are the same, which can avoid mutual interference between the folding action of the folding portion263relative to the first insulating portion261and the folding action of the first separation portion2621relative to the folding portion263.

Referring toFIG.9andFIG.10, in some embodiments, the electrode assembly22includes two second side surfaces222arranged opposite in the third direction Z (as shown inFIG.3); the second insulating portion262further includes second separation portions2622, two ends of each first separation portion2621in the third direction Z are connected with the second separation portions2622, and the second separation portions2622are used for covering the second side surfaces222; and the thickness direction of the first insulating portion261, the second direction Y, and the third direction Z are perpendicular to each other.

In this embodiment, the second separation portion2622is connected to the first separation portion2621in a foldable manner, so that the second separation portion2622can rotate and be folded around a crease relative to the first separation portion2621.

In the embodiment where the electrode assembly22is square and the two first side surfaces221are the two outer side surfaces of the straight portion I, the two second side surfaces222are the outer side surfaces of the two bent portions II. The second separation portions2622are used for covering surfaces of the bent portions II. In the third direction Z, the two second separation portions2622located on the same side as the two first separation portions2621jointly cover the same second side surface222, and the two second separation portions2622covering the same second side surface222overlap with each other in the second direction Y to fully cover the second side surface222. The two second separation portions2622covering the same second side surface222may be fixed or not fixed.

A third crease267is formed at the connection position between the second separation portion2622and the first separation portion2621. The second separation portion2622may be folded around the third crease267relative to the second separation portion2622. The third crease267is formed before folding, so the folding position can be clearly and accurately known and the folding is easier. Of course, the third crease267may not be formed between the second separation portion2622and the first separation portion2621, and when the second separation portion2622is required to be folded relative to the first separation portion2621, a folding position is determined according to actual needs, and a crease is formed after folding.FIG.10shows a state after the second separation portion2622is folded relative to the first separation portion2621.

Of course, if the two first side surfaces221are the outer side surfaces of the two bent portions II, the two first side surfaces221are the two outer side surfaces of the straight portion I.

The second insulator26further includes second separation portions2622, the second separation portions2622are used for separating the second side surfaces222from the shell21, so that the second insulating portion262separates the side wall213of the electrode assembly22from the shell21to reduce the risk of a short circuit inside the battery cell20.

Of course, in other embodiments, the first insulating portion261, the folding portion263, the first partition portion2621, and the second partition portion2622may alternatively have other arrangement relationships.

For example, as shown inFIG.11, the electrode assembly22has two first side surfaces221disposed opposite in the third direction Z; the second insulating portion262includes two first separation portions2621, and the two first separation portions2621are used for covering the two first side surfaces221separately; the two first separation portions2621are separately connected to two opposite second edge portions2613of the first insulating portion261in the third direction Z; and the thickness direction of the first insulating portion261, the second direction Y, and the third direction Z are perpendicular to each other.

The two folding portions263are separately connected to the two opposite first edge portions2612of the first insulating portion261in the second direction Y in a foldable manner, and the first crease265formed at the connection position between the folding portion263and the first edge portion2612extends in the third direction Z. The two first separation portions2621are separately connected to the two opposite second edge portions2613of the first insulating portion261in the third direction Z, a fourth crease268is formed at the connection position between the first separation portion2621and the second edge portion2613, and the fourth crease268extends in the second direction Y when the insulator26is in the unfolded state.

The third direction Z is perpendicular to the second direction Y, and the folding portion263and the first separation portion2621are connected to different directions and positions of the first insulating portion261separately, which can reduce folding difficulty of the folding portion263and a risk of mutual interference when the folding portion263and the first separation portion2621are folded.

With continued reference toFIG.11, the electrode assembly22includes two second side surfaces222arranged opposite in the second direction Y; the second insulating portion262further includes second separation portions2622, two ends of each first separation portion2621in the second direction Y are connected with the second separation portions2622, and the second separation portions2622are used for covering the second side surfaces222; and the thickness direction of the first insulating portion261, the second direction Y, and the third direction Z are perpendicular to each other.

A crease (the third crease267inFIG.11) is formed at the connection position between the second separation portion2622and the first separation portion2621. The second separation portion2622may be folded around the crease relative to the second separation portion2622. After the second separation portion2622can cover the second side surface222, the crease extends in the first direction X. The creases of the first separation portion2621and the second separation portion2622are formed before folding, so the folding positions can be clearly and accurately known and the folding is easier. Of course, the third crease267may not be formed between the second separation portion2622and the first separation portion2621, and when the second separation portion2622is required to be folded relative to the first separation portion2621, a folding position is determined according to actual needs, and a crease is formed after folding.

It should be noted that the first crease265, the second crease266, the third crease267, and the fourth crease268involved in the embodiments of the present application may be in various forms. For example, the fourth crease268is a groove formed at the connection position between the first separation portion2621and the second separation portion2622. For another example, as shown inFIG.12, a plurality of perforations269arranged at intervals are formed at the connection position between the first separation portion2621and the second separation portion2622, where the plurality of perforations269may be arranged at intervals in the extension direction of the third crease267as needed. InFIG.11, when the insulator26is in the unfolded state, the third crease267extends in the third direction Z. Therefore, when the insulator26is in the unfolded state, the plurality of perforations269may be arranged at intervals in the third direction Z. The forms of the first crease265, the second crease266, and the fourth crease268may refer to the design of the third crease267.

The second insulator26further includes second separation portions2622, and the second separation portions2622are used for separating the second side surfaces222from the side wall213of the shell21, so that the second insulating portion262separates the side wall213of the electrode assembly22from the shell21to reduce the risk of a short circuit inside the battery cell20.

There is a transition surface214(shown inFIG.5) at the connection position between the side wall213and bottom wall212of the shell21. Specifically, an inner surface of the side wall213and an inner surface of the bottom wall212are connected through the transition surface214to increase the strength of the connection position between the side wall213and the bottom wall212. The transition surface214may be an inclined or arc-shaped surface. In the presence of the transition surface214, an area, opposite to the transition surface214, of the electrode assembly22will be folded by extrusion of the transition surface214, resulting in a short circuit inside the battery cell20.

On this basis, with reference toFIG.5, in some embodiments, the inner surface of the side wall213and the inner surface of the bottom wall212are connected by the arc-shaped transition surface214; and the first insulating portion261and the folding portion263are configured to change a height position of the electrode assembly22relative to the bottom wall212, so as to prevent the arc-shaped transition surface214from extruding the electrode assembly22.

The height position of the electrode assembly22relative to the bottom wall212refers to a position corresponding to the difference in distance between the electrode assembly22and the bottom wall212in the first direction X. The first insulating portion261is disposed between the electrode assembly22and the bottom wall212, so that the electrode assembly22is further from the bottom wall212, and the electrode assembly22may be separated from the arc-shaped transition surface214to prevent the arc-shaped transition surface214from extruding the electrode assembly22.

In some embodiments, in the first direction X, both the folding portion263and the first insulating portion261are located between the electrode assembly22and the bottom wall212, and the distance between the electrode assembly22and the bottom wall212in the first direction X is a sum of sizes of the folding portion263and the first insulating portion261in the first direction X. In other embodiments, in the first direction X, only the first insulating portion261is located between the electrode assembly22and the bottom wall212, the folding portion263is not located between the electrode assembly22and the bottom wall212, and the distance between the electrode assembly22and the bottom wall212in the first direction X is the size of the first insulating portion261in the first direction X.

The first insulating portion261is disposed between the bottom wall212of the shell21and the electrode assembly22, which can not only separate the bottom wall212from the electrode assembly22to reduce the risk of a short circuit inside the battery cell20, but also can change the height position of the electrode assembly22relative to the bottom wall212to prevent the arc-shaped transition surface214from extruding the electrode assembly22and reduce the risk of wrinkling of electrode plates due to interference between the electrode assembly22and the arc-shaped transition surface214.

An embodiment of the present application provides a battery100, including the battery cell20provided by any of the foregoing embodiments.

The through hole2611of the insulator26of the battery cell20is covered by the folding portion263, and ions of the electrode assembly22cannot arrive at the shell21via the through hole2611, which reduces the risk of a short circuit inside the battery cell20, thereby improving safety performance of the battery100.

An embodiment of the present application provides a power consumption device, including the battery100provided in the foregoing embodiment.

The power consumption device includes the battery100provided in the foregoing embodiment, where the battery100has low risk of internal short circuits and high safety performance, which can improve electrical safety of the power consumption device.

As shown inFIG.13, an embodiment of the present application provides a battery cell manufacturing device2000. The battery cell manufacturing device2000includes a provision apparatus2100and an assembly apparatus2200; the provision apparatus2100is configured to provide a shell21, an electrode assembly22, and an insulator26, where the shell21includes a bottom wall212and a side wall213disposed at a periphery of the bottom wall212, the insulator26includes a first insulating portion261and a second insulating portion262that are connected, and the first insulating portion261is provided with a through hole2611; the assembly apparatus2200is configured to wrap the insulator26at a periphery of the electrode assembly22and dispose the electrode assembly22inside the shell21, so that the first insulating portion261separates the electrode assembly22from the bottom wall212and the second insulating portion262separates the electrode assembly22from the side wall213; and the insulator26further includes a folding portion263, the folding portion263may be disposed on the first insulating portion261in a foldable manner, and the folding portion263is configured to be stacked with the first insulating portion261to cover the through hole2611.

As shown inFIG.14, an embodiment of the present application further provides a manufacturing method for a battery cell20. The manufacturing method for the battery cell20includes:

Step S100: providing a shell21, an electrode assembly22, and an insulator26, where the shell21includes a bottom wall212and a side wall213disposed at a periphery of the bottom wall212, the insulator26includes a first insulating portion261and a second insulating portion262that are connected, and the first insulating portion261is provided with a through hole2611;

Step S200: wrapping the insulator26at a periphery of the electrode assembly22; and

Step S300: disposing the electrode assembly22inside the shell21, so that the first insulating portion261separates the electrode assembly22from the bottom wall212and the second insulating portion262separates the electrode assembly22from the side wall213.

The insulator26further includes a folding portion263, the folding portion263may be disposed on the first insulating portion261in a foldable manner, and the folding portion263is configured to be stacked with the first insulating portion261to cover the through hole2611.

Step S300is performed after step S200, and in step S300, disposing the electrode assembly22inside the shell21may be understood as disposing the electrode assembly22wrapped with the insulator26inside the shell21.

An embodiment of the present application provides a square shell battery. The square shell battery includes a shell21, an electrode assembly22, and an insulator26. The insulator26includes a first insulating portion261, a second insulating portion262, and two folding portions263, which are integrally formed. The first insulating portion261is provided with a through hole2611, first ends2631of the two folding portions263are separately connected to two opposite first edge portions2612of the first insulating portion261in a second direction Y, and the two folding portions263are separately folded in opposite directions relative to the first insulating portion261, so that the two folding portions263are separately located on two opposite sides of the first insulating portion261in a first direction X to cover the through hole2611.

The second insulating portion262includes two first separation portions2621and four second separation portions2622, where the two first separation portions2621are connected to second ends2632, opposite to the first ends2631, of the folding portions263in a foldable manner. The two first separation portions2621are separately used for covering two outer side surfaces of a straight portion I of the electrode assembly22. Two second separation portions2622among the four second separation portions2622are connected to two ends of one of the first separation portions2621in a third direction Z in a foldable manner, while the other two second separation portions2622among the four second separation portions2622are connected to two ends of the other first separation portion2621in the third direction Z in a foldable manner. The two second separation portions2622are separately used for covering outer side surfaces of two bent portions II of the electrode assembly22. In the third direction Z, the two second separation portions2622located on the same side as the two first separation portions2621jointly cover the outer side surface of the same bent portion II, and the two second separation portions2622covering the outer side surface of the same bent portion II overlap with each other in the second direction Y to fully cover a second side surface222. Every two of the first direction X, the second direction Y, and the third direction Z are perpendicular to each other.

Alternatively, the second insulating portion262includes two first separation portions2621and four second separation portions2622, where the two first separation portions2621are separately connected to two opposite second edge portions2613of the first insulating portion261in the third direction Z in a foldable manner. The two first separation portions2621are separately used for covering two outer side surfaces of a straight portion I of the electrode assembly22. Two second separation portions2622among the four second separation portions2622are connected to two ends of one of the first separation portions2621in the second direction Y in a foldable manner, while the other two second separation portions2622among the four second separation portions2622are connected to two ends of the other first separation portion2621in the second direction Y in a foldable manner. The two second separation portions2622are separately used for covering outer side surfaces of two bent portions II of the electrode assembly22. In the second direction Y, the two second separation portions2622located on the same side as the two first separation portions2621jointly cover the outer side surface of the same bent portion II, and the two second separation portions2622covering the outer side surface of the same bent portion II overlap with each other in the second direction Y to fully cover the second side surface222. Every two of the first direction X, the second direction Y, and the third direction Z are perpendicular to each other.

When the folding portion263is in the stacked state relative to the first insulating portion261, the folding portion263can cover the through hole2611, so that ions of the electrode assembly22cannot arrive at the shell21via the through hole2611, which reduces the risk of a short circuit inside the battery cell20.

Described above are merely some embodiments of the present application, and the present application is not limited thereto. Various modifications and variations may be made to the present application for those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, and the like made within the spirit and principle of the present application shall fall within the protection scope of the present application.