Patent Description:
After being connected in series and in parallel, battery modules are mounted in a battery box. A battery module includes battery cells as well as end plates and side plates configured to fix the battery cells.

To reduce weight, the end plates and side plates may be omitted. The battery cells may be directly mounted in the battery box after being grouped. However, burrs tend to occur at a joint in a structure in a box body. The burrs may puncture or damage an insulation film outside the battery cells, and lead to a short circuit of the battery cells and cause a battery safety problem.

From <CIT> there is known a box body applied to a battery pack as defined in the preamble of claim <NUM>.

This application provides a box body as defined in claim <NUM>, a battery pack as defined in claim <NUM> and a device as defined in claim <NUM> to solve problems in the prior art and improve safety of a battery.

The technical solutions provided in this application achieve the following beneficial effects:
In the box body, the battery pack, and the device according to this application, the box body includes the first beam and the second beam. The first beam and the second beam intersect each other, and are connected by the connecting portion, and partition the box body into a plurality of accommodation spaces. The first beam includes a body and a recess. The recess is recessed inward relative to the body. The connecting portion is disposed in the recess. In this way, a joint position between the first beam and the second beam will not protrude from a lateral surface of the first beam, thereby preventing a short circuit of a battery cell caused by puncture of or damage to an insulation film outside the battery cell, and improving safety performance of the battery.

Understandably, the above general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary without limiting this application.

To describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application more clearly, the following outlines the accompanying drawings to be used in the description of the embodiments of this application. Apparently, the accompanying drawings outlined below are merely some embodiments of this application, and a person of ordinary skill in the art may derive other drawings from these accompanying drawings without making any creative efforts.

The drawings described here are incorporated into the specification as a part of the specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of this application and are used together with the specification to interpret the principles of this application.

The following explicitly and fully describes the technical solutions of this application with reference to accompanying drawings.

The terms used in the embodiments of this application are intended only for describing specific embodiments rather than for limiting this application. Unless otherwise expressly indicated in the context, the words "a", "the", and "this" that precede a singular noun in the embodiments and claims of this application are intended to include the plural form thereof.

Understandably, the term "and/or" used herein merely describes an association relationship between associated objects and indicates existence of three relationships. For example, "A and/or B" may indicate existence of A alone, coexistence of A and B, and existence of B alone. In addition, the character "/" herein generally indicates an "or" relationship between the object preceding the character and the object following the character.

It needs to be noted that localizers such as "on", "above", "under", "below", "left", and "right" used in the embodiments of this application are described from a perspective shown in the accompanying drawings, and shall not be understood as a limitation on the embodiments of this application. In addition, understandably, depending on the context, one element described as being connected "on" or "under" another element not only means that the element may be directly connected "on" or "under" the other element, but also means that the element may be indirectly connected "on" or "under" the other element through an intermediate element.

An embodiment of this application provides a device. The device may be an electric vehicle, a ship, a small aircraft, an energy storage cabinet, or the like. Using a vehicle as an example, the vehicle may include a battery pack and a vehicle body. The battery pack is disposed in the vehicle body. A driving motor is further disposed in the vehicle body, and the driving motor is electrically connected to the battery pack and is powered by the battery pack. The driving motor is connected to wheels of the vehicle body through a transmission mechanism to drive the vehicle to run. In a specific embodiment, the battery pack may be disposed at a bottom of the vehicle body.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a battery pack according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in <FIG>, this embodiment of this application provides a battery pack <NUM>, including a box body <NUM> and a battery cell <NUM>. The battery cell <NUM> is accommodated in an accommodation space <NUM> of the box body <NUM>. The battery cell <NUM> may be plural in number, and the plurality of battery cells <NUM> are stacked on each other and accommodated in the accommodation space <NUM>. The battery pack <NUM> may further include an upper cover (not shown). The upper cover is connected to the box body <NUM> and encloses the battery cell <NUM> in the box body <NUM>.

In the prior art, to reduce weight, end plates and side plates configured to fix the battery cell <NUM> are omitted, and the battery cell <NUM> is directly disposed in the box body <NUM>. This brings a problem that burrs of the box body <NUM> may puncture or damage the battery cell <NUM>. The box body, the battery pack, and the device according to this embodiment of this application can solve the such technical problem in the prior art.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a box body applied to a battery pack according to an embodiment of this application, and <FIG> is a local detailed view of a part A shown in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, an embodiment of this application further provides the box body <NUM> applied to the battery pack <NUM>. The box body <NUM> includes a first beam <NUM> and a second beam <NUM>. In an embodiment, the first beam <NUM> may be a cross beam extending in a width direction Y of the battery pack <NUM>. The second beam <NUM> is a longitudinal beam extending in a length direction X of the battery pack <NUM>. In other embodiments, the first beam <NUM> may be a longitudinal beam, and correspondingly, the second beam <NUM> is a cross beam. This is not further limited herein.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in this embodiment, the first beam <NUM> is a cross beam, and the second beam <NUM> is a longitudinal beam. The first beam <NUM> extends in the width direction Y of the battery pack <NUM>, and the second beam <NUM> extends in the length direction X of the battery pack <NUM>. The first beam <NUM> may be one or more in number, and the second beam <NUM> may also be one or more in number. The first beam <NUM> and the second beam <NUM> intersect each other, and are connected by a connecting portion <NUM>, and partition the box body <NUM> into a plurality of accommodation spaces <NUM> configured to accommodate the battery cells <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the first beam <NUM> includes a body <NUM> and a recess <NUM>. The body <NUM> and the recess <NUM> may be integrally formed. The recess <NUM> is recessed inward relative to the body <NUM>. The connecting portion <NUM> is disposed in the recess <NUM>.

With the box body <NUM> provided in this embodiment of this application, the recess <NUM> is disposed on the first beam <NUM>. The connecting portion <NUM> is disposed in the recess <NUM>. In this way, a joint position between the first beam <NUM> and the second beam <NUM> will not protrude from a lateral surface of the first beam <NUM>. In a case that no end plates or side plates are available for protection, the box body <NUM> according to this embodiment of this application can prevent burrs of the box body <NUM> from puncturing or damaging an insulation film outside the battery cell <NUM> and prevent a short circuit of the battery cell <NUM> arising therefrom, thereby improving safety performance of the battery.

In this embodiment, the first beam <NUM> is a cross beam. As shown in <FIG>, the recess <NUM> is recessed in the length direction X. In other embodiments, the recess <NUM> may be disposed on the second beam <NUM>, and the second beam <NUM> is a longitudinal beam. The recess <NUM> is recessed in the width direction Y.

<FIG> is a schematic exploded view of a box body applied to a battery pack according to an embodiment of this application, and <FIG> is a local detailed view of a part B shown in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, in a specific implementation, the recess <NUM> includes recess faces 112a. The recess faces 112a are located on two sides of the recess <NUM>. The connecting portion <NUM> is disposed on each recess face 112a. The recess face 112a may be approximately parallel to an extension direction of the first beam <NUM>.

The recess face 112a may be integrally formed by stamping on the body <NUM>. The recess face 112a disposed can provide an enough space for accommodating the connecting portion <NUM>, and prevent the connecting portion <NUM> from protruding beyond two sides of the body <NUM> of the first beam <NUM>. After the battery cell <NUM> is mounted into the box body <NUM>, the connecting portion <NUM> will not damage the insulation film outside the battery cell <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in a specific implementation, a first slot <NUM> is disposed in the recess <NUM>. The first slot <NUM> may be cut out in the recess <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, a second slot <NUM> is disposed on the second beam <NUM>. The second slot <NUM> may be cut out on the second beam <NUM>. The first beam <NUM> and the second beam <NUM> are plug-connected through the first slot <NUM> and the second slot <NUM>. After the first slot <NUM> and the second slot <NUM> are plug-connected, the first beam <NUM> is connected to the second beam <NUM> by the connecting portion <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the first beam <NUM> may be plural in number. A plurality of first beams <NUM> are approximately parallel to each other. The second beam <NUM> may be one in number. With the second slot <NUM> disposed on the second beam <NUM>, the second beam <NUM> can be connected to the plurality of first beams <NUM> in an integral structure without disconnecting the second beam <NUM>, thereby enhancing overall strength of the first beam <NUM> and the second beam <NUM>. In addition, by disposing the first slot <NUM> in the recess <NUM> of the first beam <NUM> and disposing the second slot <NUM> on the second beam <NUM>, this application reduces an overall height of the first beam <NUM> and the second beam <NUM>, and reduces an overall space occupied by the box body <NUM> on the device (such as an electric vehicle).

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a longitudinal beam in a box body according to an embodiment of this application, and <FIG> is a local detailed view of a part C shown in <FIG>. In a specific implementation, as shown in <FIG>, first mounting plates <NUM> are disposed on two sides of the second slot <NUM>. The first mounting plates <NUM> are connected to the recess <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the first mounting plates <NUM> may be directly formed on the two sides of the second slot <NUM> by folding. Each first mounting plate <NUM> may be fitted snugly with a corresponding recess face 112a of the recess portion <NUM>, and the connecting portion <NUM> is disposed peripherally around the first mounting plate <NUM>. The first mounting plate <NUM> disposed can prevent the connecting portion <NUM> from being disposed at a right-angled joint between the first beam <NUM> and the second beam <NUM>. The connecting portion <NUM> is disposed in the recess <NUM> rather than at the right-angled joint between the first beam <NUM> and the second beam <NUM>, thereby not only avoiding stress concentration but also increasing a connection area of the connecting portion <NUM> and improving connection strength between the beam <NUM> and the second beam <NUM>.

In a specific implementation, referring to <FIG>, the connecting portion <NUM> is disposed at an edge of each first mounting plate <NUM>. Specifically, the first mounting plate <NUM> is approximately a rectangular plate shape, and is directly formed by folding from the position of the second slot <NUM>. The connecting portion <NUM> may be disposed at all remaining three edges of the first mounting plate <NUM> other than the edge connected to the second slot <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the connecting portions <NUM> may be welds, and are formed by welding at the three edges around the first mounting plate <NUM>. A person skilled in the art understands that the welds serving as the connecting portions <NUM> may be continuous welds or segmented welds. This is not further limited herein.

In this way, the weld connects the first mounting plate <NUM> and the recess face 112a of the recess portion <NUM>, and is located on the recess face 112a. The weld serving as the connecting portion <NUM> does not protrude from the lateral face of the body <NUM> or protrude from a side of the first mounting plate <NUM>, the side being oriented toward the battery cell <NUM>. Therefore, the insulation film of the battery cell <NUM> will not be damaged.

In a specific implementation, referring to <FIG>, a second mounting plate <NUM> is disposed at the bottom of the second beam <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, a bottom plate <NUM> is further disposed at the bottom of the box body <NUM>. The second mounting plate <NUM> is connected to the bottom plate <NUM>.

The second mounting plate <NUM> may be formed at the bottom of the second beam <NUM> by bending. The second beam <NUM> is connected to the bottom plate <NUM> through the second mounting plate <NUM>, thereby improving reliability of the connection between the second beam <NUM> and the bottom plate <NUM>. The second mounting plate <NUM> may be connected to the bottom plate <NUM> by welding or by other means.

In a specific implementation, referring to <FIG>, a third mounting plate <NUM> is disposed at the bottom of the first beam <NUM>. The third mounting plate <NUM> is connected to the bottom plate <NUM>. The third mounting plate <NUM> may be formed at the bottom of the first beam <NUM> by bending. The first beam <NUM> is connected to the bottom plate <NUM> through the third mounting plate <NUM>, thereby improving reliability of the connection between the first beam <NUM> and the bottom plate <NUM>. The third mounting plate <NUM> may be connected to the bottom plate <NUM> by welding or by other means.

In a specific implementation, referring to <FIG>, a notch 123a is disposed on the second mounting plate <NUM>, and the notch 123a is configured to avoid the recess <NUM>. The notch 123a may be formed by cutting on the second mounting plate <NUM> after the second mounting plate <NUM> is formed by bending. Alternatively, the notch 123a may be formed first by cutting, and then a segmented second mounting plate <NUM> is formed by bending.

As shown in <FIG>, at the time of connecting the second beam <NUM> to the first beam <NUM>, referring to the status shown in <FIG>, the second slot <NUM> of the second beam <NUM> may be inserted into the first slot <NUM> of the first beam <NUM> from top to bottom. In the process of plug-connecting the two slots, because the notch 123a is disposed on the second mounting plate <NUM> and can avoid the recess <NUM> without causing interference between the second mounting plate <NUM> and the recess <NUM>, the assembly of the second beam <NUM> and the first beam <NUM> is facilitated.

In a specific implementation, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a width W1 of the notch 123a is set to be greater than a width W2 of the recess <NUM>, the assembly of the second beam <NUM> and the first beam <NUM> is more facilitated. After the second slot <NUM> of the second beam <NUM> is plug-connected to the first slot <NUM> of the first beam, the connecting portion <NUM> can be formed by welding, thereby connecting the first beam <NUM> to the second beam <NUM>.

In conclusion, in the box body <NUM>, the battery pack <NUM>, and the device according to the embodiments of this application, the box body <NUM> includes the first beam <NUM> and the second beam <NUM>. The first beam <NUM> and a second beam <NUM> intersect each other, and are connected by the connecting portion <NUM>, and partition the box body <NUM> into a plurality of accommodation spaces <NUM>. The accommodation spaces <NUM> can accommodate the battery cells <NUM>. The first beam <NUM> includes the body <NUM> and the recess <NUM>. The recess <NUM> is recessed inward relative to the body <NUM>. The connecting portion <NUM> is disposed in the recess <NUM>. With the recess <NUM> disposed on the first beam <NUM>, and with the connecting portion <NUM> disposed in the recess <NUM>, the joint position between the first beam <NUM> and the second beam <NUM> will not protrude from the lateral surface of the first beam <NUM>, thereby preventing a short circuit of a battery cell caused by puncture of or damage to the insulation film outside the battery cell <NUM>, and improving safety performance of the battery.

Claim 1:
A box body (<NUM>) applied to a battery pack, comprising: a first beam (<NUM>) and a second beam (<NUM>), wherein
the first beam (<NUM>) and the second beam (<NUM>) intersect each other, and are connected by a connecting portion (<NUM>), and partition the box body (<NUM>) into a plurality of accommodation spaces (<NUM>); and
the first beam (<NUM>) comprises a body (<NUM>) and a recess (<NUM>), the recess (<NUM>) is recessed inward relative to the body (<NUM>), and the connecting portion (<NUM>) is disposed in the recess (<NUM>), wherein a first slot (<NUM>) is disposed in the recess (<NUM>), a second slot (<NUM>) is disposed on the second beam (<NUM>), and the first beam (<NUM>) and the second beam (<NUM>) are plug-connected through the first slot (<NUM>) and the second slot (<NUM>), characterised in that
first mounting plates (<NUM>) are disposed on two sides of the second slot (<NUM>); and
the first mounting plates (<NUM>) are connected to the recess (<NUM>).