Patent Publication Number: US-2022221084-A1

Title: Heat Exchange Pipe Joint and Battery Pack

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to the technical field of batteries, and in particular, to a heat exchange pipe joint and a battery pack. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Currently, with an increasing requirement on energy density of battery pack, space arrangement is more and more compact. Conventionally, a heat exchange pipe joint of a heat exchange system is formed into one piece. In this case, when the heat exchange pipe joint needs to be repaired, the heat exchange pipe joint cannot be directly detached due to the narrow internal space inside a case of the battery pack. In this regard, the heat exchange pipe joint can be smoothly taken out only after detaching other components inside the case such as a battery module. Therefore, a process of detaching the one-piece heat exchange pipe joint is complicated, which causes a difficult maintenance. 
     SUMMARY 
     In view of the problems in the prior art, the present disclosure provides a heat exchange pipe joint and a battery pack. When the heat exchange pipe joint is applied to the battery pack, the heat exchange pipe joint requires a small operation space for detachment and installation, in which case the detachment and installation can be performed without detaching the components inside the case, thereby facilitating the reparation process thereof. 
     In an aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a heat exchange pipe joint for being fixedly installed to an installation plate, the heat exchange pipe joint includes a first pipe and a second pipe that are separately formed and in communication with each other, the first pipe is detachably connected to a second side of the installation plate, and the second pipe is detachably connected to a first side of the installation plate. 
     In an embodiment, the installation plate is provided with a through-hole penetrating the installation plate in a first direction, the first pipe includes a first part and a second part that are connected to each other, the first part is located at the second side of the installation plate, and the second part goes through the through-hole and is connected to the second pipe. 
     In an embodiment, the first part of first pipe includes a first main body and a first flange, the first main body is connected to and in communication with the second part, and the first flange is arranged at an outer circumference of a junction between the first main body and the second part and extends radially outward, and the first flange is detachably connected to the second side of the installation plate. 
     In an embodiment, the second pipe includes a second main body and a second flange connected to an end of the second main body and extending radially outward; the second flange includes a receiving chamber in communication with the second main body, and the second flange is detachably connected to the first side of the installation plate; the second part of the first pipe goes through the through-hole and is inserted into the receiving chamber of the second flange. 
     In an embodiment, the heat exchange pipe joint further includes a first sealing member, and the first sealing member is sleeved on an outer circumference of the second part, and the first sealing member is radially compressed and sandwiched between an inner circumferential surface of the receiving chamber and the second part. 
     In an embodiment, the second part is provided with a locating groove, and the locating groove is formed by recessing radially inward from an outer surface of the second part; the first sealing member is arranged in the locating groove. 
     In an embodiment, the heat exchange pipe joint further includes a second sealing member, the second sealing member is sleeved on an outer circumference of the second part, and the second sealing member is compressed and sandwiched between the installation plate and the second flange. 
     In an embodiment, a protrusion is provide at a side of the receiving chamber adjacent to the second main body, and the protrusion protrudes radially inward from an inner circumferential surface of the receiving chamber; an end of the second part abuts against the protrusion along the first direction. 
     In another aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a battery pack, the battery pack includes a case including an installation plate, the installation plate having a first side facing an interior of the case and a second side facing an exterior of the case; and the heat exchange pipe joint described above. 
     In an embodiment, the heat exchange pipe joint further includes a fastener, the first pipe and the second pipe are fixed to two sides of the installation plate via the fastener, and the second sealing member is compressed and sandwiched between the installation plate and the second flange. 
     The beneficial effects of the present disclosure are as follows. 
     When the heat exchange pipe joint of the present disclosure is applied to the battery pack, the heat exchange pipe joint in a split-structure requires a small operation space for detachment and installation. In this case, a process of taking out the entire heat exchange pipe joint from an interior of the case can be avoided, so that the battery module and other components inside the case do not interfere with the detachment and installation of the heat exchange pipe joint. In this way, the detachment and installation of the heat exchange pipe joint can be easy and convenient, thereby facilitating the reparation process thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an assembled diagram of some components of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is an assembled diagram of a heat exchange pipe joint and a installation plate; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial enlarged view of  FIG. 3 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded diagram of a heat exchange pipe joint, in which a third sealing member is not shown. 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
         
           
             B case 
             B 1  installation plate 
             B 11  first side 
             B 12  second side 
             B 13  through-hole 
             B 14  first hole 
             B 2  frame 
             B 3  first beam 
             B 4  gap 
             J heat exchange pipe joint 
               1  first pipe 
               11  first part 
               111  first main body 
               112  first flange 
               112 H second hole 
               12  second part 
               121  locating groove 
               2  second pipe 
               21  second main body 
               22  second flange 
               221  receiving chamber 
               221 T protrusion 
               222  third hole 
               3  first sealing member 
               4  second sealing member 
               41  fourth hole 
             F fastener 
           
         
       
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure, and it should be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are merely examples of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure can be implemented in various manners. Therefore, the details disclosed herein shall not be construed as limitations of the present disclosure, and are merely used as exemplary basis of the claims to teach those skilled in the art to implement the present disclosure in various manners. 
     In addition, the terms indicating directions of operation and configuration of members of the heat exchange pipe joint and the battery pack in the embodiments of the present disclosure, such as a first direction, a second direction and the like, are not absolute directions but relative directions. These indications are appropriate when the members of the heat exchange pipe joint and the battery pack are in positions shown in the figures, these directions should be interpreted differently when these positions change. 
     In description of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified or stated, the terms “first” and “second” are used for descriptive purposes only and shall not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance; the term “plurality of” refers to two or more; the terms “connection”, “fixation” and the like shall be broadly construed. For example, “connection” can be construed as a fixed connection or a detachable connection, an integral connection, an electrical connection, or a signal connection, and the “connection” can also be a direct connection or an indirect connection via an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present disclosure according the actual situation. 
       FIG. 1  is an assembled diagram of some components of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     The battery pack according to this embodiment includes a case B, a heat exchange pipe joint J, and a fastener F. The battery pack further includes a heat exchange plate (not shown) and a battery module (not shown). 
     The case B includes an installation plate B 1  and a frame B 2 . In an embodiment, the case B further includes a first beam B 3 . 
     The installation plate B 1  is fixed to the frame B 2 . The installation plate B 1  has a first side B 11  facing an interior of the case B, and a second side B 12  facing an exterior of the case B. The installation plate B 1  is provided with a through-hole B 13  penetrating the installation plate B 1  in a first direction D 1 . The installation plate B 1  is further provided with a first hole B 14  penetrating the installation plate B 1  in the first direction D 1 . It should be noted that the first direction D 1  is a thickness direction of the installation plate B 1 . 
     The frame B 2  encloses a circumferentially closed chamber, and at least a part of the battery module is received in the chamber and is in contact with a heat exchange plate as described below. 
     When the case B includes a first beam B 3 , the first beam B 3  extends in a second direction D 2  that is perpendicular to the first direction D 1 . The first beam B 3  is adjacent to the frame B 2  and the installation plate B 1  along the first direction D 1 , and the first beam B 3  is spaced from the frame B 2  and the installation plate B 1  by a gap B 4  that extends in the second direction D 2 . It should be noted that the case B of the battery pack may not include the first beam B 3 . The detachment and installation of the heat exchange pipe joint J is not affected by the presence or absence of the first beam B 3 . 
       FIG. 2  is an assembled diagram of a heat exchange pipe joint and an installation plate;  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 2 ;  FIG. 4  is a partial enlarged view of  FIG. 3 ; and  FIG. 5  is an exploded diagram of a heat exchange pipe joint, in which a third sealing member is not shown. 
     The heat exchange pipe joint J is fixedly mounted to the installation plate B 1 . The heat exchange pipe joint J includes a first pipe  1  and a second pipe  2  that are formed separately and in communication with each other. The heat exchange pipe joint J further includes a first sealing member  3  and a second sealing member  4 . 
     The first pipe  1  is detachably connected to the second side B 12  of the installation plate B 1 . The first pipe  1  includes a first part  11  and a second part  12  that are connected to each other. 
     The first part  11  is located at the second side B 12  of the installation plate B 1 . The first part  11  of the first pipe  1  includes a first main body  111  and a first flange  112 , and the first main body  111  is connected to and in communication with the second part  12 . The first flange  112  is arranged at an outer circumference of a junction between the first main body  111  and the second part  12  and extends radially outward. The first flange  112  is detachably connected to the second side B 12  of the installation plate B 1 . In an embodiment, the first flange  112  is provided with a second hole  112 H, and the second hole  112 H goes through the first flange  112  and corresponds to the first hole B 14 . Further, a plurality of second holes  112 H is provided and arranged at an outer circumference of the first flange  112  with intervals. By providing the second hole  112 H, the fastener F can penetrate the corresponding second hole  112 H to detachably connect the first flange  112  to the installation plate B 1 . 
     The second part  12  of the first pipe  1  goes through the through-hole B 13  and is connected to the second pipe  2 . The first pipe  1  is inserted into the second pipe  2  from the second side B 12  of case B (an outer side of case B). Since the space outside the case B is not limited, the insertion of the first pipe  1  into the second pipe  2  is not affected by a length of the first pipe  1 . In an embodiment, the second part  12  is provided with a locating groove  121 , the locating groove  121  is formed by radially recessing inward from an outer surface of the second part  12 . The locating groove  121  is configure to position the first sealing member  3 . 
     The second pipe  2  is detachably connected to the first side B 11  of the installation plate B 1 . The second pipe  2  includes a second main body  21  and a second flange  22 . 
     In the battery pack according to the present disclosure, the first pipe  1  and the second pipe  2  of the heat exchange pipe joint J are separately formed, the first pipe  1  is detachably connected to the second side B 12  of the installation plate B 1 , and the second pipe  2  is detachably connected to the first side B 11  of the installation plate B 1 . In the prior art, the heat exchange pipe joint is usually formed into one piece. When the one-piece heat exchange pipe joint needs to be repaired or replaced, due to the limited operation space of the battery pack, the heat exchange pipe joint can be smoothly taken out from the interior of the case B only when other obstructive components inside the case B such as the battery module are detached firstly. Therefore, a process of detaching and installing the one-piece heat exchange pipe joint will be complicated, which results in complex operation. In contrast, in the present disclosure, the heat exchange pipe joint J in split-structure requires a smaller operation space, and thus a process of taking out the entire heat exchange pipe joint J from the interior of the case B can be avoided. In this way, the battery module and other components inside the case B will not affect detachment of the heat exchange pipe joint J. When the heat exchange pipe joint J needs to be repaired or replaced, it is only required to detach the first pipe  1  and the second pipe  2  of the heat exchange pipe joint J from the outer side and an inner side of the installation plate B 1 , respectively. With such a split-structure, the attachment and installation of the heat exchange pipe joint J is easy and convenient, thereby facilitating the maintenance thereof. 
     In an embodiment, when the battery pack includes the first beam B 3  described above, the second main body  21  of the second pipe  2  is bent in the gap B 4  from a longitudinal direction to a lateral direction, so as to adapt to an internal dimension of the case B. The second main body  21  of the second pipe  2  is in communication with the heat exchange plate, in order to introduce the heat exchange fluid into the heat exchange plate or discharge the heat exchange fluid from the heat exchange plate to the outside of the battery pack, thereby achieving circular heat exchange of the battery module inside the battery pack. 
     The second flange  22  is connected to an end of the second main body  21  and extends radially outward. The second flange  22  includes a receiving chamber  221 , and the receiving chamber  221  is in communication with the second main body  21 . The second flange  22  is detachably connected to the first side B 11  of the installation plate B 1 . The second part  12  of the first pipe  1  goes through the through-hole B 13  and is inserted into the receiving chamber  221  of the second flange  22 . In an embodiment, a side of the receiving chamber  221  close to the second main body  21  is provided with a protrusion  221 T, and the protrusion  221 T protrudes radially inward from an inner circumferential surface of the receiving chamber  221 . The second flange  22  is provided with a third hole  222 , and the third hole  222  corresponds to the first hole B 14 . Further, the third hole  222  is a threaded hole. In an embodiment, a plurality of third holes  222  is provided and arranged at intervals along an outer circumference of the second flanges  22 . By providing the third hole  222 , an end of the fastener F can be threaded into the corresponding third hole  222 , so as to detachably connect the second flange  22  to the installation plate B 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the first sealing member  3  is sleeved on an outer circumference of the second part  12 , and the first sealing member  3  is radially compressed between the inner circumferential surface of the receiving chamber  221  and the second part  12 . When the second part  12  of the first pipe  1  is provided with the locating groove  121 , the first sealing member  3  is arranged in the locating groove  121  of the second part  12  of the first pipe  1 . The locating groove  121  is used to position the first sealing member  3 , thereby preventing the first sealing member  3  from moving during the installation process and affecting a sealing effect. A plurality of locating grooves  121  is provided and spaced apart from each other in the first direction D 1 . Correspondingly, a plurality of first sealing members  3  is provided, and each of the plurality of first sealing members  3  is arranged in the corresponding locating groove  121 . In an embodiment, the first sealing member  3  is an elastic sealing ring, but not limited thereto. For example, the first sealing member  3  may also be a sealing adhesive. The first sealing member  3  ensures the sealing between the second part  12  of the first pipe  1  and the receiving chamber  221  of the second pipe  2 , thereby preventing a risk of liquid leakage at the junction between the first pipe  1  and the second pipe  2 . Moreover, by providing the plurality of first sealing members  3 , the sealing effect between the second part  12  of the first pipe  1  and the receiving chamber  221  of the second pipe  2  can be improved. 
     The second sealing member  4  is sleeved on the outer circumference of the second part  12  of the first pipe  1 , and the second sealing member  4  is compressed and sandwiched between the installation plate B 1  and the second flange  22  in the first direction D 1 . The second sealing member  4  ensures the sealing between the second flange  22  of the second pipe  2  and the installation plate B 1 , thereby avoiding a formation of a gap between the second flange  22  of the second pipe  2  and the installation plate B 1 . Thus, external impurities are prevented from entering a region between the second part  12  and the receiving chamber  221  via the gap between the second flange  22  and the installation plate B 1 , thereby preventing the external impurities from contaminating the first sealing member  3  and affecting the sealing effect of the first sealing member  3 . Moreover, the first sealing member  3  and the second sealing member  4  have a double-sealing effect on the heat exchange pipe joint J, reducing the risk of liquid leakage at the junction between the first pipe  1  and the second pipe  2  and at the junction between the second pipe  2  and the installation plate B 1 , such that the sealing effect of the heat exchange pipe joint J is improved. In an embodiment, the second sealing member  4  is an elastic sealing gasket, but not limited thereto. For example, the second sealing member  4  may also be a sealing adhesive. With reference to  FIG. 3 , when a side of the receiving chamber  221  close to the second main body  21  is provided with the above-described protrusion  221 T, and the second sealing member  4  is at a maximum compression amount or the second sealing member  4  has not reached the maximum compression amount, an end of the second part  12  abuts against the protrusion  221 T along the first direction D 1 . The protrusion  221 T effectively controls the compression amount of the second sealing member  4  in the first direction D 1 , which prevents the second sealing member  4  from being crushed and affecting the sealing effect of the heat exchange pipe joint J, thereby ensuring the double-sealing effect of the heat exchange pipe joint J. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 5 , the fastener F fixes the first pipe  1  and the second pipe  2  to two sides of the installation plate B 1 , respectively. In an embodiment, the fastener F is a fastening bolt. The fastening bolt sequentially goes through the second hole  112 H, the first hole B 14 , and the fourth hole  41  and then is threaded into the third hole  222 , so as to fix the first pipe  1  and the second pipe  2  to the two sides of the installation plate B 1  and make the second sealing member  4  be compressed between the installation plate B 1  and the second flange  22 . The first pipe  1  and the second pipe  2  are fixed to the two sides of the installation plate B 1  by the fastener F, and the fastener F is installed from the second side B 12  of the installation plate B 1  (the outer side of the case B) and fixes the first pipe  1  and the second pipe  2  to the two sides of the installation plate B 1 , such that operation space of the fastener F is not limited. Thus, the detachment and installation of the heat exchange pipe joint J is easy and convenient. Moreover, during the installation process, the protrusion  221 T can control a depth of the fastener F threaded into the third hole  222 , thereby ensuring the compression amount of the second sealing member  4  and preventing the fastener F from being threaded too deep to crush the second sealing member  4 . In this way, it ensures the sealing effect of the heat exchange pipe joint J. 
     The heat exchange plate is fixed at a lower side of the frame B 2 , and the heat exchange plate is used for the heat exchange of the battery module inside the battery pack. It should be noted that two above-described heat exchange pipe joints J are provided, one of which can be used as a liquid inlet pipe, the other one of which can be used as a liquid outlet pipe. The two heat exchange pipe joints J are both in communication with the heat exchange plate. Thus, the heat exchange pipe joint J serving as the liquid inlet pipe, the heat exchange plate, and the heat exchange pipe joint J serving as the liquid outlet pipe can together form a pipe line in which the heat exchange liquid can flow. The heat exchange liquid flows in the piping, so that heat of the battery module inside the case B can be taken away in time, thereby ensuring temperature stability of the battery module and improving the service life of the battery module. 
     The above detailed description describes various exemplary embodiments, but is not intended to limit the present application to the disclosed combinations. Accordingly, the various features disclosed herein can be combined together to form various combinations that are not shown for the sake of clarity.