Patent Description:
With the increasing environmental pollution, the new energy industry has attracted more and more attention. In the new energy industry, the battery technology is an important factor related to their development.

The space utilization rate of the interior of the battery affects the power and energy density of the battery, which further affects the performances of the battery. How to improve the performances of the battery is an urgent technical problem to be solved in the battery technology. <CIT> discloses a battery pack including: a housing having a bottom surface and a top surface of the housing, a battery assembly. The battery assembly located inside the housing; the battery assembly includes a battery sequence and a structural reinforcement, the battery sequence includes a plurality of single cells, at least part of the single cells in the battery sequence are connected by the structural reinforcement. <CIT> discloses a soft packet of lithium battery pack package assembly. A plurality of battery cells are arranged in series to form a row of battery modules, and the two rows of battery modules are stacked and the plate arranged in the middle. The other side of each row of battery modules is provided with a fixing plate to form a battery unit, and each row of battery modules is wrapped between the partition plate and the fixing plate. Two identical battery unit units are horizontally stacked and fixed in the middle by the connecting plate to form a battery unit connecting unit.

<CIT> discloses a battery module. The battery module includes a barrier having a partition wall formed to accommodate at least two battery cells; and the at least two battery cells accommodated by the partition wall, and each having a cap plate provided with terminal portions and a vent portion through which gas is exhausted. The barrier further has a barrier main body facing a long side surface of the battery cell, and first to fourth flange portions formed to surround the outline of the barrier main body and accommodating the battery cell together with the partition wall.

The present application provides a battery, a power consumption device, and a method and device for producing a battery, which may improve an energy density of the battery while ensuring a structural strength of the battery, thereby improving performances of the battery.

In a first aspect, a battery is provided, including: a battery module and a box body, the battery module accommodated in the box body; the battery module including: N rows of battery cells, each row of battery cells in the N rows of battery cells arranged along a first direction, the N rows of battery cells arranged along a second direction, N being an integer greater than <NUM>, and the first direction being perpendicular to the second direction; N-<NUM> spacer plate(s), the spacer plate extending along the first direction and disposed between two adjacent rows of battery cells, and the spacer plate fixedly connected to each of the battery cells in the two rows of the battery cells; where a fixing structure is provided on an end portion of the spacer plate in the first direction, and the spacer plate is fixed to the box body via the fixing structure; where the fixing structure includes a fixing plate, and the fixing plate is fixedly connected to the end portion of the spacer plate, and is fixedly connected to a battery cell located at the end portion of the spacer plate.

In the embodiment of the present application, the spacer plate is disposed between two adjacent rows of battery cells of the battery module, and the spacer plate is fixedly connected to each of the battery cells in the two rows of the battery cells, the fixing structure is provided on the end portion of the spacer plate, and the spacer plate is fixed to the box body via the fixing structure. In this way, each of the battery cells in the battery is fixed to the box body by the spacer plate and the fixing structure, so each of the battery cells may transmit its load to the box body, ensuring the structural strength of the battery. In this case, there is no need to provide a side plate on an outer side of the battery module, and also there is no need to provide a beam or other structures in the middle of the box body, which may greatly improve the space utilization rate of the interior of the battery, thereby improving the energy density of the battery. Thus, a technical solution of the embodiment of the present application may improve the energy density of the battery while ensuring the structural strength of the battery, thereby improving the performances of the battery. In addition, the fixing effect of the battery cells may be further strengthened.

In a possible implementation manner, a thickness of the spacer plate may be <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, or <NUM>-<NUM>. Adopting the spacer plate of the thickness may reduce a space occupied by the spacer plate while ensuring the strength.

In a possible implementation manner, adjacent battery cells in each row of battery cells may also be bonded, for example, bonded by a structural glue. A fixing effect of the battery cells may be further enhanced through fixing between the adjacent battery cells in each row of battery cells.

In a possible implementation manner, the battery includes a plurality of the battery modules, the plurality of the battery modules arranged along the second direction, where there is a gap between adjacent battery modules.

In a battery module, the spacer plate is provided between two rows of battery cells, and no spacer plate is provided between adjacent battery modules. In this way, on one hand, the spacer plate inside the battery may be reduced as many as possible; and on the other hand, a certain gap may be formed between the adjacent battery modules to provide an expansion space for the battery cells.

In a possible implementation manner, the fixing plate includes a first connecting portion formed by extending along the first direction to a direction away from the battery module, and the first connecting portion is configured to be connected to a wall of the box body.

Connecting the wall of the box body through the first connecting portion may implement the fixed connection between the fixing plate and the wall of the box body, so that loads of the battery cells may be transmitted to the wall of the box body, thereby ensuring the structural strength of the battery.

In a possible implementation manner, the first connecting portion may be formed by bending the fixing plate. For example, the first connecting portion may be formed by bending an edge of the fixing plate close to the connected wall in a direction away from the battery module. In this way, the first connecting portion and a main body of the fixing plate are an integral structure, which may enhance connection performances.

In a possible implementation manner, the battery further includes: a first connecting strip, the first connecting strip extending along the second direction and configured to connect the plurality of the battery modules in the box body; where the fixing plate further includes a second connecting portion formed by extending along the first direction to a direction away from the battery module, and the second connecting portion is configured to be connected to the first connecting strip.

The first connecting strip is connected through the second connecting portion, so that the structural strength of the battery may be further ensured at a position away from the bottom wall of the box body through the first connecting strip.

In a possible implementation manner, the second connecting portion may be formed by bending the fixing plate. For example, the second connecting portion may be formed by bending an edge of the fixing plate close to the first connecting strip in a direction away from the battery module. In this way, the second connecting portion and the main body of the fixing plate are an integral structure, which may enhance the connection performances.

In a possible implementation manner, the fixing plate further includes a third connecting portion formed by extending along the first direction to a direction away from the battery module, and the third connecting portion is configured to connect the fixing plate and the spacer plate. Connecting the spacer plate through the third connecting portion may implement the fixed connection between the fixing plate and the spacer plate, ensuring the connection performances between the two.

In a possible implementation, the third connecting portion may be formed by bending the fixing plate. For example, the third connecting portion may be formed by bending an edge of the fixing plate close to the spacer plate to a direction away from the battery module. In this way, the third connecting portion and the main body of the fixing plate are an integral structure, which may enhance the connection performances.

In a possible implementation manner, the fixing plate corresponding to a plurality of battery modules is an integral structure. The fixing plate corresponding to the plurality of battery modules is a whole plate, and the plurality of battery modules are fixed on the box body through this whole plate, thereby improving the overall structural strength of the plurality of battery modules.

In a possible implementation manner, the fixing plate is provided with a limiting bar corresponding to the battery module, and the limiting bar is configured to insert into a gap between the adjacent battery modules. This may facilitate installation of the battery module.

In a possible implementation manner, the end portion of the spacer plate protrudes from the N rows of the battery cells in the first direction, and the fixing structure includes a first protrusion portion of the end portion of the spacer plate that protrudes from the N rows of the battery cells in the first direction. Connecting the wall of the box body through the first protrusion portion may transmit loads of the battery cells to the wall of the box body, thereby ensuring the structural strength of the battery.

In a possible implementation manner, the fixing structure further includes a first extending portion, the first extending portion is fixedly connected to the first protrusion portion and extends along the second direction, and the first extending portion is configured to be connected to a wall of the box body.

Connecting the wall of the box body through the first extending portion may implement the fixed connection between the spacer plate and the wall of the box body, so that the loads of the battery cells may be transmitted to the wall of the box body, thereby ensuring the structural strength of the battery.

In a possible implementation manner, the first extending portion and the first protrusion portion may be integrally formed, so that the connection performances may be enhanced.

In a possible implementation manner, the battery further includes: a first connecting strip, the first connecting strip extending along the second direction and configured to connect the plurality of the battery modules in the box body; where the fixing structure further includes a second extending portion, the second extending portion is fixedly connected to the first protrusion portion and extends along the second direction, and the second extending portion is configured to be connected to the first connecting strip.

The first connecting strip is connected through the second extending portion, so that the structural strength of the battery may be further ensured at a position away from the bottom wall of the box body through the first connecting strip.

In a possible implementation manner, the second extending portion and the first protrusion portion may be integrally formed, so that the connection performances may be enhanced.

In a possible implementation manner, the battery module further includes: an attaching plate, the attaching plate extending along the first direction and fixedly connected to the spacer plate, and the attaching plate protruding from the spacer plate along the second direction and attached to each of the battery cells in the two adjacent rows of the battery cells. Through the attaching plate, the fixing effect of the battery cells may be further strengthened.

In a possible implementation manner, the attaching plate is fixedly connected to each of the battery cells in the two adjacent rows of the battery cells. In this way, each of the battery cells is fixed by the attaching plate and the spacer plate, so that the fixing effect may be further improved.

In a possible implementation manner, the attaching plate protrudes from the N rows of battery cells in the first direction, and the fixing structure includes a second protrusion portion of the attaching plate that protrudes from the N rows of battery cells in the first direction.

Connecting the wall of the box body through the second protrusion portion may transmit the loads of the battery cells to the wall of the box body, thereby ensuring the structural strength of the battery.

In a possible implementation, the spacer plate and the attaching plate are integrally formed. In this way, the connection performances between the spacer plate and the attaching plate may be improved.

In a possible implementation, N is <NUM>. In this way, fewer spacer plates may be provided in the battery, but at the same time, it may be ensured that each of the battery cells may be fixed to the spacer plate and connected to the box body through the spacer plate and the fixing structure.

In a possible implementation manner, the battery cell is a cuboid battery cell, the cuboid battery cell includes two opposite first side walls and two opposite second side walls, an area of the first side wall is larger than an area of the second side wall, and the spacer plate is fixedly connected to the first side wall.

Narrow side walls of each row of battery cells are connected so as to be arranged in a row along the first direction; the spacer plate is fixedly connected with wide side walls of each of the battery cells, so that the spacer plate may more easily receive the loads of the battery cells, so as to facilitate the loads of the battery cells to be transmitted to the box body.

In a possible implementation manner, the spacer plate has a hole disposed corresponding to the first side wall, and an area of the hole is smaller than an area of the first side wall. Providing a hole on the spacer plate may reduce the material of the spacer plate, thereby reducing a weight of the spacer plate.

In a possible implementation manner, the battery cell is a cylindrical battery cell, and the spacer plate is an S-shaped spacer plate adapted to a side of the cylindrical battery cell, which may better connect each of the battery cells.

In a possible implementation manner, the spacer plate is an insulation plate, a cooling plate or a heating plate. In this way, while fixing the battery cells, heat insulation between the battery cells or cooling or heating of the battery cells may also be implemented at the same time.

In a possible implementation manner, the spacer plate and the box body are integrally formed, so that the connection performances between the spacer plate and the box body may be improved.

In a possible implementation manner, the battery further includes: a bus component, configured to electrically connect the battery cells; where at least three battery cells in the battery module are connected to a battery cell in other battery modules through the bus component.

More battery cells are connected to the battery cell in other battery modules through the bus component, and the connection performances between the battery modules may be enhanced through the bus component.

In a possible implementation manner, the bus component is configured to connect the battery cells in series along the second direction. In this way, each pair of the adjacent battery cells between the adjacent battery modules may be connected through the bus component, so that the connection performances between the battery modules may be enhanced.

In a possible implementation manner, the battery module is disposed on a bottom wall of the box body. The battery further includes: a second connecting strip, disposed on a surface of the battery module away from the bottom wall of the box body, and the second connecting strip extending along the second direction, and fixedly connected to the plurality of battery modules in the box body.

Through the second connecting strip, the battery cells may be constrained in the second direction to increase the structural strength of the battery, and an expansion force of the battery cells may be resisted at the same time.

In a second aspect, a power consumption device is provided, including: the battery in the above first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the battery being configured to provide electric energy.

In a third aspect, a method for producing a battery is provided, including: providing a battery module, the battery module including: N rows of battery cells, each row of battery cells in the N rows of battery cells arranged along a first direction, and the N rows of battery cells arranged along a second direction, N being an integer greater than <NUM>, and the first direction being perpendicular to the second direction; N-<NUM> spacer plate(s), the spacer plate extending along the first direction and disposed between two adjacent rows of battery cells, and the spacer plate fixedly connected to each of the battery cells in the two rows of the battery cells; where a fixing structure is provided on an end portion of the spacer plate in the first direction; providing a box body; accommodating the battery module in the box body, where the spacer plate is fixed to the box body via the fixing structure.

In a fourth aspect, a device for producing a battery is provided, including a module for executing the method provided in the above third aspect.

In the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, the spacer plate is disposed between two adjacent rows of battery cells of the battery module, and the spacer plate is fixedly connected to each of the battery cells in the two rows of the battery cells, the fixing structure is provided on the end portion of the spacer plate, and the spacer plate is fixed to the box body via the fixing structure. In this way, each of the battery cells in the battery is fixed to the box body by the spacer plate and the fixing structure, so each of the battery cells may transmit its load to the box body. Thus, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application may improve the energy density of the battery while ensuring the structural strength of the battery, thereby improving the performances of the battery.

In order to illustrate the technical solution in the embodiments of the present application more clearly, brief description will be made below to the drawings required in the embodiments of the present application, and apparently, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present application only, and other drawings could be obtained based on these drawings by those ordinary skilled in this art without creative efforts.

In the drawings, the drawings are not drawn to actual scale.

Implementations of the present application will be further described below in detail with reference to the drawings and embodiments. The detailed description of the following embodiments and the accompanying drawings are used to exemplarily illustrate principles of the present application, but cannot be used to limit the scope of the present application, that is, the present application is not limited to the described embodiments.

In the depiction of the present application, it is noted that unless otherwise defined, all technological and scientific terms used have the same meanings as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present application belongs. The terms used are merely for the purpose of describing specific embodiments, but are not intended to limit the present application. The terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof in the specification and the claims of the present application as well as the brief description of the drawings described above are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. "A plurality of" means more than two; and orientations or positional relationships indicated by terms such as "up", "down", "left", "right", "inside", and "outside" are merely for convenience of describing the present application and for simplifying the description, rather than for indicating or implying that an apparatus or element indicated must have a specific orientation, and must be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, which thus may not be understood as a limitation the present application. In addition, the terms "first", "second", and "third" are only intended for the purpose of description, and shall not be understood as an indication or implication of relative importance. "Vertical" is not strictly vertical, but within an allowable range of error. "Parallel" is not strictly parallel, but within an allowable range of error.

The phrase "embodiments" referred to in the present application means that the descriptions of specific features, structures, and characteristics in combination with the embodiments are included in at least an embodiment of the present application. The phrase at various locations in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, or an independent or alternative embodiment exclusive of another embodiment. Those skilled in the art understand, in explicit and implicit manners, that an embodiment described in the present application may be combined with another embodiment.

The terms representing directions in the following description are all directions shown in the drawings, and limit the specific structure of the present application. In the description of the present application, it should be further noted that unless otherwise explicitly specified and defined, the terms "mounting", "connecting" and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense; for example, they may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integrated connection; may be a direct connection and may also be an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or may be communication between the interiors of two elements. Those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate the specific meanings of the foregoing terms in the present application according to specific circumstances.

In the present application, the term "and/or" is only an association relation describing associated objects, which means that there may be three relations. For example, A and/or B may represent three situations: A exists alone, both A and B exist, and B exists alone. In addition, the character "/" in the present application generally indicates that the associated objects before and after the character are in an "or" relation.

In the present application, battery cells may include lithium-ion secondary batteries, lithium-ion primary batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, sodium/lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries or magnesium-ion batteries, etc., which are not limited by the embodiments of the present application. The battery cells may be cylindrical, flat, cuboid or in another shape, which is not limited by the embodiments of the present application. The battery cells are generally divided into three types according to the way of packaging: cylindrical battery cells, prismatic battery cells and pouch battery cells, which are not limited by the embodiments of the present application.

The battery mentioned in the embodiment of the present application refers to a single physical module that includes one or more battery cells to provide a higher voltage and capacity. For example, the battery mentioned in the present application may include a battery pack, etc. The battery generally includes a box body for enclosing one or more battery cells. The box body may prevent liquid or other foreign matters from affecting the charging or discharging of the battery cells.

The battery cells includes an electrode assembly and an electrolytic solution, and the electrode assembly is composed of a positive electrode sheet, a negative electrode sheet and an isolation film. The operation of the battery cells mainly relies on the movement of metal ions between the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet. The positive electrode sheet includes a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer. The positive electrode active material layer is coated on a surface of the positive electrode current collector, and the current collector not coated with the positive electrode active material layer protrudes from the current collector coated with the positive electrode active material layer and serves as a positive electrode tab. In an example of a lithium-ion battery, the material of the positive electrode current collector may be aluminum, and the positive electrode active material may be lithium cobalt oxides, lithium iron phosphate, ternary lithium, lithium manganate, or the like. The negative electrode sheet includes a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer. The negative electrode active material layer is coated on a surface of the negative electrode current collector, and the current collector not coated with the negative electrode active material layer protrudes from the current collector coated with the negative electrode active material layer and serves as a negative electrode tab. A material of the negative electrode current collector may be copper, and the negative electrode active material may be carbon, silicon, or the like. In order to ensure that no fusing occurs when a large current passes through, there are a plurality of positive electrode tabs which are stacked together, and there are a plurality of negative electrode tabs which are stacked together. A material of the isolation film may be polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE), etc. In addition, the electrode assembly may be a winding structure or a laminated structure, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

In order to meet different power demands, the battery may include a plurality of battery cells, where the plurality of battery cells may be in series connection, parallel connection or series-parallel connection. The series-parallel connection refers to a combination of series connection and parallel connection. Optionally, a plurality of battery cells may be first connected in series, in parallel or in series and parallel to form a battery module, and then a plurality of battery modules are connected in series, in parallel or in series and parallel to form a battery. That is, a plurality of battery cells may directly form a battery, or may first form a battery module, and then battery modules form a battery. The battery is further provided in a power consumption device to provide electrical energy for the power consumption device.

With the development of the battery technology, it is necessary to consider design factors in multiple aspects simultaneously, such as energy density, cycle life, discharge capacity, C-rate, safety, etc. Among them, when an internal space of the battery is fixed, improving the utilization rate of the internal space of the battery is an effective means to improve the energy density of the battery. However, while improving the utilization rate of the internal space of the battery, it is possible to reduce the structural strength of the battery. For example, a beam used to mount the battery module is usually provided inside the box body of the battery. In addition, the battery module in the battery is also provided with a side plate and an end plate. The above-mentioned beam, side plate and end plate not only implement fixing the battery, but also occupy the internal space of the battery. However, if the beam, the side plate and the end plate are not provided, the structural strength of the battery will be insufficient, and performances of the battery will be affected.

In view of this, an embodiment of the present application provides a technical solution. A spacer plate is disposed between two adjacent rows of battery cells of a battery module, and the spacer plate is fixedly connected to each of the battery cells in the two rows of battery cells, and then fixed to a box body through a fixing structure. In this way, each of the battery cells in the battery is fixed to the box body by the spacer plate and the fixing structure, which may transmit its load to the box body, ensuring the structural strength of the battery. In this case, there is no need to provide a side plate on an outer side of the battery module, and also there is no need to provide a beam or other structures in the middle of the box body, which may greatly improve the space utilization rate of the interior of the battery, thereby improving the energy density of the battery. Thus, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application may improve the energy density of the battery while ensuring the structural strength of the battery, thereby improving the performances of the battery.

Technical solutions described in embodiments of the present application are all applicable to various apparatuses using batteries, such as mobile phones, portable devices, notebook computers, electromobiles, electronic toys, electric tools, electric vehicles, ships or spacecrafts. For example, the spacecrafts include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, spaceships, or the like.

It should be understood that the technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present application are not only applicable to the devices described above, but also applicable to all devices using batteries. However, for brief description, the following embodiments are all described by an example of an electric vehicle.

For example, <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a vehicle <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present application. The vehicle <NUM> may be a fuel-powered vehicle, a gas-powered vehicle or a new-energy vehicle. The new-energy vehicle may be a battery electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle or an extended-range vehicle, or the like. A motor <NUM>, a controller <NUM> and a battery <NUM> may be provided inside the vehicle <NUM>, and the controller <NUM> is configured to control the battery <NUM> to supply power to the motor <NUM>. For example, the battery <NUM> may be provided at the bottom or the head or the tail of the vehicle <NUM>. The battery <NUM> may be configured to supply power to the vehicle <NUM>. For example, the battery <NUM> may be used as an operation power supply of the vehicle <NUM> and is used for a circuit system of the vehicle <NUM>, for example, for a working power demand of the vehicle <NUM> during startup, navigation and running. In another embodiment of the present application, the battery <NUM> may be used not only as an operation power source of the vehicle <NUM>, but also as a driving power source of the vehicle <NUM>, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle <NUM>.

In order to satisfy different power demands, the battery <NUM> may include a plurality of battery cells. For example, as shown in <FIG>, it is a schematic structural diagram of a battery <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present application. The battery <NUM> may include a plurality of battery cells <NUM>. The battery <NUM> may further include a box body <NUM> with a hollow structure inside, and the plurality of battery cells <NUM> are accommodated in the box body <NUM>. For example, the plurality of battery cells <NUM> are connected in series or in parallel or in a hybrid and are then placed in the box body <NUM>.

Optionally, the battery <NUM> may also include other structures, which will not be described in detail herein. For example, the battery <NUM> may also include a bus component. The bus component is configured to implement the electrical connection between the plurality of battery cells <NUM>, such as parallel connection, series connection or series-parallel connection. Specifically, the bus component may implement the electrical connection between the battery cells <NUM> by connecting electrode terminals of the battery cells <NUM>. Further, the bus component may be fixed to the electrode terminals of the battery cells <NUM> by means of welding. Electric energy of the plurality of battery cells <NUM> may be further led out through an electrically conductive mechanism passing through the box body. Optionally, the electrically conductive mechanism may also belong to the bus component.

According to different power requirements, the number of the battery cells <NUM> may be set as any value. The plurality of battery cells <NUM> may be connected in series or in parallel or in a hybrid manner to implement larger capacity or power. Since there may be many battery cells <NUM> included in each battery <NUM>, the battery cells <NUM> may be provided in groups for convenience of installation, and each group of battery cells <NUM> constitutes a battery module. The number of the battery cells <NUM> included in the battery module is not limited and may be set as required. The battery may include a plurality of battery modules, and these battery modules may be connected in series, in parallel or in series and parallel.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a battery cell <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present application. The battery cell <NUM> includes one or more electrode assemblies <NUM>, a housing <NUM> and a cover plate <NUM>. The housing <NUM> and the cover plate <NUM> form a shell or a battery <NUM>. A wall of the housing <NUM> and the cover plate <NUM> are both referred to as a wall of the battery cell <NUM>, where for the cuboid battery cell <NUM>, the wall of the housing <NUM> includes a bottom wall and four side walls. The housing <NUM> is shaped according to the combined shape of the one or more electrode assemblies <NUM>. For example, the housing <NUM> may be a hollow cuboid or cube or cylinder, and one surface of the housing <NUM> has a hole such that the one or more electrode assemblies <NUM> may be placed in the housing <NUM>. For example, when the housing <NUM> is a hollow cuboid or cube, one plane of the housing <NUM> is an opening surface, i.e., the plane does not have a wall, so that the inside and outside of the housing <NUM> are in communication with each other. When the housing <NUM> is a hollow cylinder, an end face of the housing <NUM> is an opening surface, i.e., the end face does not have a wall, so that the inside and outside of the housing <NUM> are in communication with each other. The cover plate <NUM> covers the hole and is connected with the housing <NUM> to form a closed chamber in which the electrode assembly <NUM> is placed. The housing <NUM> is filled with an electrolyte, such as an electrolytic solution.

The battery cell <NUM> may further include two electrode terminals <NUM>, and the two electrode terminals <NUM> may be provided on the cover plate <NUM>. The cover plate <NUM> is generally in the shape of a flat plate, and the two electrode terminals <NUM> are fixed on a flat plate surface of the cover plate <NUM>. The two electrode terminals <NUM> are a positive electrode terminal 214a and a negative electrode terminal 214b, respectively. Each electrode terminal <NUM> is correspondingly provided with a connection member <NUM> also called a current collecting member <NUM>, which is located between the cover plate <NUM> and the electrode assembly <NUM> and configured to electrically connect the electrode assembly <NUM> to the electrode terminal <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, each electrode assembly <NUM> has a first electrode tab 221a and a second electrode tab 222a. The first electrode tab 221a and the second electrode tab 222a have opposite polarities. For example, when the first electrode tab 221a is a positive electrode tab, the second electrode tab 222a is a negative electrode tab. The first electrode tab 221a of the one or more electrode assemblies <NUM> is connected to one electrode terminal through one connection member <NUM>, and the second electrode tab 222a of the one or more electrode assemblies <NUM> is connected to the other electrode terminal through the other connection member <NUM>. For example, the positive electrode terminal 214a is connected to the positive electrode tab through a connection member <NUM>, and the negative electrode terminal 214b is connected to the negative electrode tab through the other connection member <NUM>.

In the battery cells <NUM>, according to actual usage requirements, there may be a single or a plurality of electrode assemblies <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, there are four independent electrode assemblies <NUM> in the battery cells <NUM>.

A pressure relief mechanism <NUM> may also be disposed on the battery cells <NUM>. The pressure relief mechanism <NUM> is configured to be actuated when an internal pressure or temperature of the battery cells <NUM> reaches a threshold, to relieve the internal pressure or temperature.

The pressure relief mechanism <NUM> may be in various possible pressure relief structures, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. For example, the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> may be a temperature-sensitive pressure relief mechanism configured to be capable of being melted when an internal temperature of the battery cells <NUM> provided with the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> reaches a threshold; and/or the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> may be a pressure-sensitive pressure relief mechanism configured to be capable of being fractured when an internal gas pressure of the battery cells <NUM> provided with the pressure relief mechanism <NUM> reaches a threshold.

<FIG> shows a schematic structural diagram of a battery <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in <FIG>, the battery <NUM> includes a battery module <NUM> and a box body <NUM>. The battery module <NUM> is accommodated in the box body <NUM>. <FIG> shows a schematic structural diagram of the battery module <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in <FIG>, the battery module <NUM> may include N rows of battery cells <NUM> and N-<NUM> spacer plate(s) <NUM>. N is an integer greater than <NUM>. In the figures of the present application, N is <NUM>, as an example. That is, the battery module <NUM> includes two rows of battery cells <NUM> and a spacer plate <NUM>, but this is not limited by the embodiment of the present application. For example, the battery module <NUM> may further include more rows of battery cells <NUM>.

Each row of battery cells <NUM> in the N rows of battery cells <NUM> are arranged along a first direction, for example, the x direction in <FIG>. The N rows of battery cells <NUM> are arranged along a second direction, for example, the y direction in <FIG>, and the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. In other words, the first direction is a direction in which the battery cells <NUM> in each row of battery cells <NUM> are arranged, and the second direction is a direction in which the battery cells <NUM> of N rows are arranged.

The spacer plate <NUM> extends along the first direction and disposed between two adjacent rows of battery cells <NUM>, and the spacer plate <NUM> is fixedly connected to each of the battery cells <NUM> in the two rows of battery cells <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, two adjacent rows of battery cells <NUM> may be respectively fixed on both sides of the spacer plate <NUM>, that is to say, each battery cell <NUM> in two adjacent rows of battery cells <NUM> may be fixedly connected via a spacer plate <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the spacer plate <NUM> is provided vertically, that is, the spacer plate <NUM> is perpendicular to the second direction and is disposed between two rows of battery cells <NUM>.

In the embodiment of the present application, the battery module <NUM> includes N rows of battery cells <NUM> and N-<NUM> spacer plate(s) <NUM>, and the N-<NUM> spacer plate(s) <NUM> are disposed between the N rows of battery cells <NUM>. In other words, the spacer plate <NUM> is disposed inside the battery module <NUM>, and the spacer plate <NUM> is no longer disposed on an outer side of the battery module <NUM>. For example, a spacer plate <NUM> is disposed between two rows of battery cells <NUM>, two spacer plates <NUM> are disposed between three rows of battery cells <NUM>, and so on. With such arrangement, fewer spacer plates <NUM> may be used so that each of the battery cells <NUM> in the battery module <NUM> may be fixedly connected via the spacer plate <NUM>.

A fixing structure <NUM> is provided on an end portion of the spacer plate <NUM> in the first direction, and the spacer plate <NUM> is fixed to the box body <NUM> via the fixing structure <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, fixing structures <NUM> are provided at both ends of the spacer plate <NUM> in the x direction. The spacer plate <NUM> is fixed to the box body <NUM> via the fixing structure <NUM>, so as to implement fixing the battery module <NUM> to the box body <NUM>. As described above, each of the battery cells <NUM> in the battery module <NUM> is fixedly connected by the spacer plate <NUM>, and then the fixed connection between each of the battery cells <NUM> and the box body <NUM> may be implemented via the fixing structure <NUM>.

In the embodiment of the present application, the spacer plate <NUM> is disposed between two adjacent rows of battery cells <NUM> of the battery module <NUM>, and the spacer plate <NUM> is fixedly connected to each of the battery cells <NUM> in the two rows of the battery cells <NUM>, the fixing structure <NUM> is provided on the end portion of the spacer plate <NUM>, and the spacer plate <NUM> is fixed to the box body <NUM> via the fixing structure <NUM>. In this way, each of the battery cells <NUM> in the battery <NUM> is fixed to the box body <NUM> by the spacer plate <NUM> and the fixing structure <NUM>, so each of the battery cells <NUM> may transmit its load to the box body <NUM>, ensuring the structural strength of the battery <NUM>. In this case, there is no need to provide a side plate on an outer side of the battery module <NUM>, and also there is no need to provide a beam or other structures in the middle of the box body <NUM>, which may greatly improve the space utilization rate of the interior of the battery <NUM>, thereby improving the energy density of the battery <NUM>. Thus, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application may improve the energy density of the battery <NUM> while ensuring the structural strength of the battery <NUM>, thereby improving the performances of the battery <NUM>.

Optionally, the spacer plate <NUM> and each of the battery cells <NUM> in two adjacent rows of battery cells <NUM> may be fixedly connected by bonding. For example, in an embodiment of the present application, as shown in <FIG>, the spacer plate <NUM> and each of the battery cells <NUM> in two adjacent rows of battery cells <NUM> may be bonded by the structural glue <NUM>, but this is not limited by the embodiment of the present application.

Optionally, adjacent battery cells <NUM> in each row of battery cells <NUM> in the N rows of battery cells <NUM> may also be bonded, for example, as shown in <FIG>, by the structural glue <NUM>, but this is not limited by the embodiment of the present application. The fixing effect of the battery cells <NUM> may be further enhanced by fixing the adjacent battery cells <NUM> in each row of battery cells <NUM>.

Optionally, the spacer plate <NUM> may be a metal plate; for example, may be a steel plate, or an aluminum plate, or a plastic plate. A material of the spacer plate <NUM> may also be a composite material. For example, another material is coated on the surface of the metal plate, which is not limited by the embodiment of the present application.

Optionally, a thickness of the spacer plate <NUM> may be <NUM>-<NUM>. For example, in an embodiment of the present application, the thickness of the spacer plate <NUM> may be <NUM>-<NUM>. Adopting the spacer plate <NUM> of the thickness may reduce a space occupied by the spacer plate <NUM> while ensuring the strength.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the battery <NUM> includes a plurality of the battery modules <NUM>, the plurality of battery modules <NUM> arranged along the second direction, and there is a gap between adjacent battery modules <NUM>. That is, a plurality of the battery modules <NUM> are arranged along the y direction, and there is no spacer plate <NUM> between the adjacent battery modules <NUM> with a certain gap. That is to say, in a battery module <NUM>, a spacer plate <NUM> is provided between two rows of battery cells <NUM>, and no spacer plate <NUM> is provided between adjacent battery modules <NUM>. In this way, on one hand, the spacer plate <NUM> inside the battery <NUM> may be reduced as many as possible; and on the other hand, a certain gap may be formed between the adjacent battery modules <NUM> to provide an expansion space for the battery cells <NUM>.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the battery module <NUM> includes two rows of battery cells <NUM>, that is, N=<NUM>. Correspondingly, a spacer plate <NUM> is provided in the two rows of battery cells <NUM>. As described above, no spacer plate <NUM> is provided between the adjacent battery modules <NUM>. In this way, fewer spacer plates <NUM> may be provided in the battery <NUM> in the embodiment, but at the same time, it may be ensured that each of the battery cells <NUM> may be fixed to the spacer plate <NUM> and connected to the box body <NUM> through the spacer plate <NUM> and the fixing structure <NUM>.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, with respect to the battery module <NUM> including N rows of battery cells <NUM>, N/<NUM> spacer plate(s) <NUM> may be set, where each of the spacer plate(s) <NUM> is set between the two adjacent rows of battery cells <NUM>, and each row of battery cells <NUM> is fixedly connected to a spacer plate <NUM>. For example, with respect to a battery module <NUM> including four rows of battery cells <NUM>, two spacer plates <NUM> may be provided, where a spacer plate <NUM> is provided between a first row and a second row of battery cells <NUM>, and the other spacer plate <NUM> is provided between a third row and a fourth row of battery cells <NUM>; and for a battery module <NUM> including six rows of battery cells <NUM>, three spacer plates <NUM> may be provided, where the first spacer plate <NUM> is provided between the first row and the second row of battery cells <NUM>, the second spacer plate <NUM> is provided between the third row and the fourth row of battery cells <NUM>, and the third spacer plate <NUM> is provided between the fifth row and the sixth row of battery cells <NUM>; and so on. Such setting may ensure that each of the battery cells <NUM> may be fixed to the spacer plate <NUM> and connected to the box body <NUM> through the spacer plate <NUM> and the fixing structure <NUM>.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the fixing structure <NUM> may include a fixing plate <NUM>. The fixing plate <NUM> is fixedly connected to the end portion of the spacer plate <NUM>, and is fixedly connected to a battery cell <NUM> located at the end portion of the spacer plate <NUM>. For example, for a cuboid battery cell <NUM>, the fixing plate <NUM> may be vertically connected to the spacer plate <NUM>, and the fixing plate <NUM> and the spacer plate <NUM> are respectively connected to two adjacent side walls of the cuboid battery cell <NUM>, thereby further strengthening the fixing effect of the battery cells <NUM>.

Optionally, the fixing plate <NUM> may be adopt the same material as that of the spacer plate <NUM>, for example, metal, plastic or composite materials. A thickness of the fixing plate <NUM> may be the same as that of the spacer plate <NUM>. The material or thickness of the fixing plate <NUM> may also be different from that of the spacer plate <NUM>. For example, the fixing plate <NUM> may be configured with a higher strength or thickness, but this is not limited by the embodiment of the present application.

Optionally, a connection method between the spacer plate <NUM> and the fixing plate <NUM> may be resistance welding, resistance riveting, SPR riveting, locking bolts, or clamping. The fixing plate <NUM> may also be connected by resistance welding, resistance riveting, or SPR riveting, locking bolts, or clamping to the box body, but this is not limited by the embodiment of the present application.

Optionally, the fixing plate <NUM> and the battery cells <NUM> may be fixedly connected by means of bonding, such as boding by the structural glue, but this is not limited by the embodiment of the present application.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the fixing plate <NUM> includes a first connecting portion <NUM> formed by extending along the first direction to a direction away from the battery module <NUM>, and the first connecting portion <NUM> is configured to be connected to a wall of the box body <NUM>. For example, taking connecting the bottom wall of the box body <NUM> as an example, at the position where the fixing plate <NUM> is close to the bottom wall, a first connecting portion <NUM> may be formed in a direction away from the battery module <NUM>, that is, extending outward, and is connected to the bottom wall of the box body <NUM>. Of course, the first connecting portion <NUM> of the fixing plate <NUM> may also be connected to a side wall of the box body <NUM>, which is not limited in the present application.

The first connecting portion <NUM> may be parallel to a wall of the connected box body <NUM>. For example, the first connecting portion <NUM> is parallel to the bottom wall of the box body <NUM>. An area of the first connecting portion <NUM> may be set according to the fixing method with the wall of the connected box body <NUM> to meet the required fixing effect.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the first connecting portion <NUM> may formed by bending the fixing plate <NUM>. For example, the first connecting portion <NUM> may be formed by bending an edge of the fixing plate <NUM> close to the connected wall in a direction away from the battery module <NUM>. Take connecting the bottom wall of the box body <NUM> as an example. The lower edge of the fixing plate <NUM> may be bent outward to form the first connecting portion <NUM>. In this way, the first connecting portion <NUM> and a main body of the fixing plate <NUM> are an integral structure, which may enhance the connection performances.

Connecting the wall of the box body <NUM> through the first connecting portion <NUM> may implement the fixed connection between the fixing plate <NUM> and the wall of the box body <NUM>, so that the loads of the battery cells <NUM> may be transmitted to the wall of the box body <NUM>, thereby ensuring the structural strength of the battery <NUM>.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the battery <NUM> may further include: a first connecting strip <NUM>, the first connecting strip <NUM> extending along the second direction and configured to connect the plurality of the battery modules <NUM> in the box body <NUM>. The first connecting strip <NUM> connects the plurality of battery modules <NUM> in the second direction, which may improve the overall structural strength of the plurality of battery modules <NUM>.

In this case, the fixing plate <NUM> further includes a second connecting portion <NUM> formed by extending along the first direction to a direction away from the battery module <NUM>, and the second connecting portion <NUM> is configured to be connected to the first connecting strip <NUM>. Optionally, the second connecting portion <NUM> and the first connecting portion <NUM> may be respectively provided at both ends of the fixing plate <NUM>. For example, when the first connecting portion <NUM> is connected to the bottom wall of the box body <NUM>, the second connecting portion <NUM> may be provided at a position away from the bottom wall of the fixing plate <NUM>. That is, at the position away from the bottom wall of the fixing plate <NUM>, a second connecting portion <NUM> may be formed in a direction away from the battery module <NUM>, that is, extending outward, and is connected to the first connecting strip <NUM>. Thus, the structural strength of the battery <NUM> may be further ensured at a position away from the bottom wall through the first connecting strip <NUM>.

The second connecting portion <NUM> may be parallel to the first connecting strip <NUM>. An area of the second connecting portion <NUM> may be set according to the fixing method with the first connecting strip <NUM> to meet the required fixing effect.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the second connecting portion <NUM> may formed by bending the fixing plate <NUM>. For example, the second connecting portion <NUM> may be formed by bending an edge of the fixing plate <NUM> close to the first connecting strip <NUM> in a direction away from the battery module <NUM>. For example, an upper edge of the fixing plate <NUM> may be bent outward to form the second connecting portion <NUM>. In this way, the second connecting portion <NUM> and the main body of the fixing plate <NUM> are an integral structure, which may enhance the connection performances.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the fixing plate <NUM> further includes a third connecting portion <NUM> formed by extending along the first direction to a direction away from the battery module <NUM>, and the third connecting portion <NUM> is configured to connect the fixing plate <NUM> and the spacer plate <NUM>. For example, at the position where the fixing plate <NUM> is connected to the spacer plate <NUM>, a third connecting portion <NUM> may be formed in a direction away from the battery module <NUM>, that is, extending outward, and the fixing plate <NUM> is fixedly connected to the spacer plate <NUM> through the third connecting portion <NUM>.

Optionally, in addition to connecting the spacer plate <NUM>, the third connecting portion <NUM> may also implement the connection between the fixing plates <NUM> at the same time. For example, each row of battery cells <NUM> in the battery module <NUM> is provided with a fixing plate <NUM>, and the spacer plate <NUM> in the battery module <NUM> and the two fixing plates <NUM> corresponding to the two rows of the battery cells <NUM> are fixed together through the third connecting portion <NUM>.

The third connecting portion <NUM> may be parallel to the spacer plate <NUM>. An area of the third connecting portion <NUM> may be set according to the fixing method to meet the required fixing effect.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the third connecting portion <NUM> may be formed by bending the fixing plate <NUM>. For example, the third connecting portion <NUM> may be formed by bending an edge of the fixing plate <NUM> close to the spacer plate <NUM> in a direction away from the battery module <NUM>. In this way, the third connecting portion <NUM> and the main body of the fixing plate <NUM> are an integral structure, which may enhance the connection performances.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the spacer plate <NUM> may be integrally formed with the fixing plates <NUM> at both ends of one row of battery cells <NUM> in the two adjacent rows of battery cells <NUM>, so that only the other row of battery cells <NUM> is needed to be provided with a fixing plate <NUM>; or, the spacer plate <NUM> may be integrally formed with the fixing plates <NUM> corresponding to two adjacent rows of battery cells <NUM>.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the fixing plate <NUM> corresponding to a plurality of battery modules <NUM> may be an integral structure. As shown in <FIG>, the fixing plate <NUM> corresponding to the plurality of battery modules <NUM> may be a whole plate, and the plurality of battery modules <NUM> are fixed on the box body <NUM> through this whole plate, thereby improving the overall structural strength of the plurality of battery modules <NUM>. Optionally, the fixing plate <NUM> may be provided with a limiting bar <NUM> corresponding to the battery module <NUM>, and the limiting bar <NUM> is configured to insert into a gap between the adjacent battery modules <NUM>, so as to facilitate an installation of the battery module <NUM>.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, as shown in <FIG>, the end portion of the spacer plate <NUM> protrudes from the N rows of battery cells <NUM> in the first direction, and the fixing structure <NUM> includes a first protrusion portion <NUM> of the end portion of the spacer plate <NUM> that protrudes from the N rows of battery cells <NUM> in the first direction. The spacer plate <NUM> may connect the wall of the box body <NUM> through the first protrusion portion <NUM>. For example, a connecting portion corresponding to the first protrusion portion <NUM> may be provided on the wall of the box body <NUM> to implement the connection between the two.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, as shown in <FIG>, the fixing structure <NUM> further includes a first extending portion <NUM>, the first extending portion <NUM> is fixedly connected to the first protrusion portion <NUM> and extends along the second direction, and the first extending portion <NUM> is configured to be connected to a wall of the box body <NUM>. For example, taking connecting the bottom wall of the box body <NUM> as an example, at a position of the first protrusion portion <NUM> close to the bottom wall, the first extending portion <NUM> is fixedly connected to the first protrusion portion <NUM> and extends along the second direction to form an area connecting to the bottom wall, thereby connecting the bottom wall of the box body <NUM>. Of course, the first extending portion <NUM> of the fixing structure <NUM> may also be connected to the side wall of the box body <NUM>, which is not limited in the present application.

The first extending portion <NUM> may be parallel to the wall of the connected box body <NUM>. For example, the first extending portion <NUM> is parallel to the bottom wall of the box body <NUM>. An area of the first extending portion <NUM> may be set according to the fixing method with the wall of the connected box body <NUM> to meet the required fixing effect.

Optionally, the first extending portion <NUM> and the first protrusion portion <NUM> may be integrally formed, so that the connection performances may be enhanced.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, in the case that the battery <NUM> is provided with the first connecting strip <NUM>, the fixing structure <NUM> further includes a second extending portion <NUM>, the second extending portion <NUM> is fixedly connected to the first protrusion portion <NUM> and extends along the second direction, and the second extending portion <NUM> is configured to be connected to the first connecting strip <NUM>. For example, when the first extending portion <NUM> is connected to the bottom wall of the box body <NUM>, the second extending portion <NUM> may be provided at a position of the first protrusion portion <NUM> away from the bottom wall. That is, at a position of the first protrusion portion <NUM> away from the bottom wall, the second extending portion <NUM> is fixedly connected to the first protrusion portion <NUM> and extends along the second direction to form an area connecting the first connecting strip <NUM>, thereby connecting the first connection strip <NUM>. Thus, the structural strength of the battery <NUM> may be further ensured at a position away from the bottom wall through the first connecting strip <NUM>.

The second extending portion <NUM> may be parallel to the first connecting strip <NUM>. An area of the second extending portion <NUM> may be set according to the fixing method with the first connecting strip <NUM> to meet the required fixing effect.

Optionally, the second extending portion <NUM> and the first protrusion portion <NUM> may be integrally formed, so that the connection performances may be enhanced.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, as shown in <FIG>, the battery <NUM> may further include: an attaching plate <NUM>. The attaching plate <NUM> extends along the first direction and fixedly connected to the spacer plate <NUM>, and the attaching plate <NUM> protrudes from the spacer plate <NUM> along the second direction and attached to each of the battery cells <NUM> in the two adjacent rows of battery cells <NUM>. For example, the attaching plate <NUM> may be vertically connected to the spacer plate <NUM>, making the spacer plate <NUM> to connect the side wall of the battery cells <NUM>; and the attaching plate <NUM> is connected to the bottom wall and/or the side wall of the battery cell <NUM>, thereby further strengthening fixing effect of the battery cells <NUM>.

Optionally, the attaching plate <NUM> may use the same material as that of the spacer plate <NUM>, for example, metal, plastic, or composite materials. A thickness of the attaching plate <NUM> may also be the same as that of the spacer plate <NUM>. The material or thickness of the attaching plate <NUM> may also be different from that of the spacer plate <NUM>, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

Optionally, the attaching plate <NUM> and each of the battery cells <NUM> in two adjacent rows of battery cells <NUM> may be fixedly connected by bonding. In this way, each of the battery cells <NUM> is fixed by the attaching plate <NUM> and the spacer plate <NUM>, so that the fixing effect may be further improved.

Optionally, the attaching plate <NUM> and each of the battery cells <NUM> may be fixedly connected by bonding, such as boding by the structural glue, but this is not limited by the embodiment of the present application.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the attaching plate <NUM> protrudes from the N rows of battery cells <NUM> in the first direction, and the fixing structure <NUM> includes a second protrusion portion <NUM> of the attaching plate <NUM> that protrudes from the N rows of battery cells <NUM> in the first direction. The second protrusion portion <NUM> may be configured to be connected to the wall of the box body <NUM>, for example, may be connected to the bottom wall of the box body <NUM>, so that the loads of the batter cells <NUM> may be transmitted to the wall of the box body <NUM>, thereby ensuring the structural strength of the battery <NUM>. Of course, the second protrusion portion <NUM> of the attaching plate <NUM> may also be connected to the side wall of the box body <NUM>, which is not limited in the present application.

An area of the second protrusion portion <NUM> may be set according to the fixing method with the wall of the box body <NUM> to be connected to meet the required fixing effect.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, a cross-section shape of the spacer plate <NUM> and the attaching plate <NUM> perpendicular to the first direction may be an inverted T type, an I type, a Z type, an S type, a T type, a C type or an L type, etc..

Specifically, when the cross-section shape of the spacer plate <NUM> and the attaching plate <NUM> perpendicular to the first direction is an inverted T type or an L type, the second protrusion portion <NUM> may be configured to be connected to the bottom wall of the box body <NUM>; when an I type, a Z type, an S type, or a C type, the second protrusion portion <NUM> may be configured to be connected to the bottom wall of the box body <NUM> and the first connecting strip <NUM>; and when a T-shape, the second protrusion portion <NUM> may be configured to be connected to the top wall of the box body <NUM> and/or the first connecting strip <NUM>.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the spacer plate <NUM> and the attaching plate <NUM> may be integrally formed, so that the connection performances between the spacer plate <NUM> and the attaching plate <NUM> may be improved. The spacer plate <NUM> and the attaching plate <NUM> may also be connected in various fixing manners, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the battery cell <NUM> is a cuboid battery cells <NUM>. The cuboid battery cells <NUM> includes two opposite first side walls and two opposite second side walls, and an area of the first side wall is larger than an area of the second side wall, that is, the first side wall is a wide side wall, and the second side wall is a narrow side wall. In this case, the spacer plate <NUM> is fixedly connected to the first side wall, that is, the wide side wall. That is to say, in the present embodiment, narrow side walls of each row of battery cells <NUM> are connected so as to be arranged in a row along the first direction; and the spacer plate <NUM> is fixedly connected with the wide side wall of each of the battery cells <NUM>. In this way, the spacer plate <NUM> may more easily receive the loads of the battery cells <NUM>, so as to facilitate the loads of the battery cells <NUM> to be transmitted to the box body.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, as shown in <FIG>, the spacer plate <NUM> may have a hole <NUM> disposed corresponding to the first side wall, and an area of the hole <NUM> is smaller than an area of the first side wall. In this way, a frame of each hole <NUM> may be fixedly connected to the first side wall of the battery cells <NUM>. The hole <NUM> may be square or circular, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. Providing a hole <NUM> on the spacer plate <NUM> may reduce the material of the spacer plate <NUM>, thereby reducing a weight of the spacer plate <NUM>.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, as shown in <FIG>, the battery cell <NUM> may also be a cylindrical battery cell <NUM>. In this case, the spacer plate <NUM> is an S-shaped spacer plate <NUM> adapted to a side of the cylindrical battery cell <NUM>, which may better connect each of the battery cells <NUM>.

It should be understood that for <FIG>, the corresponding fixing structure <NUM> may adopt the settings in the foregoing embodiments, and for the sake of brevity, details are not described herein again.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the spacer plate <NUM> of the attaching plate <NUM> may be an insulation plate. For example, a material of the spacer plate <NUM> or the attaching plate <NUM> may be an insulation material, or a surface of the spacer plate <NUM> or the attaching plate <NUM> may be sprayed with an insulating material, so that insulation between the battery cells <NUM> may be implemented while fixing the battery cells <NUM>.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the spacer plate <NUM> or the attaching plate <NUM> may be a cooling plate or a heating plate. For example, the spacer plate <NUM> or the attaching plate <NUM> may be provided with a cooling channel or a heating resistance wire, so that the battery cells <NUM> may be cooled or heated while fixing the battery cells <NUM>.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the spacer plate <NUM> and the box body <NUM> may be integrally formed. For example, the spacer plate <NUM> may be extruded from the profile of the box body <NUM>. In this way, connection performances between the spacer plate <NUM> and the box body <NUM> may be improved.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the battery <NUM> further includes: a bus component <NUM>. The bus component <NUM> is configured to electrically connect the battery cells <NUM>. Among that, at least three battery cells <NUM> in the battery module <NUM> are connected to a battery cell <NUM> in other battery modules <NUM> through the bus component <NUM>. More battery cells <NUM> are connected to the battery cell <NUM> in other battery modules <NUM> through the bus component <NUM>, and the connection performances between the battery modules <NUM> may be enhanced through the bus component <NUM>.

Optionally, the bus component <NUM> may connect the battery cells <NUM> in series along the second direction. In the case that each row of battery cells <NUM> in the battery module <NUM> is arranged along the first direction, the bus component <NUM> connects the battery cells <NUM> in series along the second direction, so that each pair of the adjacent battery cells <NUM> between the adjacent battery modules <NUM> are connected through the bus component <NUM>, thereby enhancing the connection performances between the battery modules <NUM>.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the present application, the battery <NUM> further includes: a second connecting strip <NUM>. When the battery module <NUM> is disposed on the bottom wall of the box body <NUM>, the second connecting strip <NUM> is disposed on a surface of the battery module <NUM> away from the bottom wall of the box body <NUM>, and the second connecting strip <NUM> extends along the second direction, and is fixedly connected to the plurality of battery modules <NUM> in the box body <NUM>. That is to say, the second connecting strip <NUM> is provided on an upper surface of the battery module <NUM>, so that the battery cells <NUM> are constrained in the second direction, the structural strength of the battery <NUM> may be increased, and an expansion force of the battery cells <NUM> may be resisted at the same time.

It should be understood that the relevant parts in each embodiment of the present application may be referred to each other, and for the sake of brevity, details are not described herein again.

An embodiment of the present application further provides a power consumption device, which may include the battery <NUM> in the above embodiments. Optionally, the power consumption device may be a vehicle <NUM>, a ship or a spacecraft, etc., but this is not limited by the embodiment of the present application.

The battery <NUM> and the power consumption device of the embodiment of the present application are described above, and a method and a device for producing a battery of the embodiments of the present application will be described below. For the parts that are not described in detail, reference is made to the foregoing embodiments.

<FIG> shows a schematic flowchart of a method <NUM> for producing a battery according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in <FIG>, the method <NUM> may include:.

<FIG> is a schematic block diagram of a device <NUM> for producing a battery according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in <FIG>, the device <NUM> for producing the battery may include: a providing module <NUM> and an installing module <NUM>.

The providing module <NUM> is configured to provide a battery module <NUM> and a box body <NUM>, the battery module <NUM> including: N rows of battery cells <NUM>, each row of battery cells <NUM> in the N rows of battery cells <NUM> arranged along a first direction, and the N rows of battery cells <NUM> arranged along a second direction, N being an integer greater than <NUM>, and the first direction being perpendicular to the second direction; N-<NUM> spacer plate(s) <NUM>, the spacer plate <NUM> extending along the first direction and disposed between two adjacent rows of battery cells <NUM>, and the spacer plate <NUM> fixedly connected to each of the battery cells <NUM> in the two rows of the battery cells <NUM>; where a fixing structure <NUM> is provided on an end portion of the spacer plate <NUM> in the first direction.

Claim 1:
A battery, comprising:
a battery module (<NUM>) and a box body (<NUM>), the battery module (<NUM>) being accommodated in the box body (<NUM>);
the battery module (<NUM>) comprising:
N rows of battery cells (<NUM>), each row of battery cells (<NUM>) in the N rows of battery cells (<NUM>) comprising a plurality of battery cells (<NUM>) arranged along a first direction, the N rows of battery cells (<NUM>) arranged along a second direction, N being an integer greater than <NUM>, and the first direction being perpendicular to the second direction;
N-<NUM> spacer plate(s) (<NUM>), the spacer plate (<NUM>) extending along the first direction and disposed between two adjacent rows of battery cells (<NUM>), and the spacer plate (<NUM>) fixedly connected to each of the battery cells (<NUM>) in the two rows of the battery cells (<NUM>);
wherein a fixing structure (<NUM>) is provided on an end portion of the spacer plate (<NUM>) in the first direction, and the spacer plate (<NUM>) is fixed to the box body (<NUM>) via the fixing structure (<NUM>); and
wherein the fixing structure (<NUM>) comprises a fixing plate (<NUM>), and the fixing plate (<NUM>) is fixedly connected to the end portion of the spacer plate (<NUM>), and is fixedly connected to a battery cell (<NUM>) located at the end portion of the spacer plate (<NUM>).