Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to the field of batteries, and in particular relates to a battery module and a battery pack.

A battery module includes an upper baseplate, a lower baseplate, and a plurality of battery cells fit to each other in parallel. The battery cells are fixed between the upper baseplate and the lower baseplate.

<CIT> provides a battery module which can, when heating or expansion due to an abnormal state of a battery cell has occurred, suppress the expansion of the battery cell and can also more reliably prevent the heat transfer to an adjacent battery cell. A battery module <NUM> comprises a plurality of battery cells <NUM> arranged next to each other. The battery module <NUM> further comprises a spacer <NUM> which is sandwiched between the adjacent battery cells <NUM>. The spacer <NUM> is arranged such that it is detached as the internal temperature of the battery cells <NUM> rises.

<CIT> provides a spacer for a secondary battery and the secondary battery including the same, capable of promoting heat dissipation and providing an extra space for an expansion of a secondary battery cell by maintaining a proper interval between an adjacent secondary battery cell or between the secondary battery cell and a case. The disclosed spacer for the secondary battery comprises a rod portion which is linearly extended in one horizontal direction, and a pair of extension ends extended in a width direction of the rod portion on both ends of the rod portion. Both sides of the width direction of the rod portion are in contact with a pair of sides of the pair of secondary battery cells to face each other. The inner side of the each extension end is in contact with an other side of the secondary battery cell which is adjacent to a side of the secondary battery cell in contact with the rod portion.

<CIT> provides a tray assembly for use in forming a sealed lead-acid battery system which houses multiple battery cells in horizontal positions for motive-power applications. In one aspect of the subject invention, the battery system includes a plurality of sealed lead-acid battery cells, and a housing having a plurality of walls which define an interior for accommodating the battery cells. At least one tray inserts bear against a base of the housing which partitions the interior into at least two compartments for accommodating the battery cells. In a second aspect of the subject invention, a sealed lead-acid battery system for motive-power applications may be provided which utilizes at least one spacer partially disposed between two battery cells to cause separation thereof.

<CIT> provides a battery module that can be enhanced in cooling efficiency of cells. A battery module includes plural cells, plural separators, and plural insulating portions. The plural cells are arranged side by side in a first direction, and each cell has a first surface facing the first direction and a second surface located at the opposite side to the first surface. Each of the plural separators is located between adjacent ones of the cells, forms a flow path between the adjacent ones of the cells, and is made of metal. Each of the plural insulating portions is interposed at least one of between the first surface and the separator and between the second surface and the separator in between the first surface of one of the adjacent cells and the second surface of the other cell of the adjacent cells, and has thermal conductivity and an insulating property.

The inventor finds at least the following problems in the device known to the inventors: the battery module deforms due to expansion during its operation; and the existing battery module is unreasonable in structure, causing deformation accumulation of the battery cells, so that the performance of the battery module is damaged.

The present disclosure provides a battery module and a battery pack, for optimizing the structure of the battery module.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a battery pack, including a case and a battery module, the battery module being mounted within the case, the battery module, including:.

In some embodiments, there is a gap between the abutting faces of the two adjacent battery cells.

In some embodiments, a thermal insulation layer is mounted within the gap.

In some embodiments, one first spacing part is fixed between the abutting faces of every two adjacent battery cells.

In some embodiments, the first spacing part is connected with the abutting faces of the two adjacent battery cells through binder.

In some embodiments, the first connecting part is connected with the connecting faces or the second surfaces of the two adjacent battery cells through binder.

In some embodiments, the first connecting part is detachably connected or integrated with the first spacing part.

In some embodiments, the battery module further comprises a second spacer, at least part of which is arranged between the abutting faces of the two adjacent battery cells, and fixed to the abutting faces of the two adjacent battery cells.

In some embodiments, the second spacer comprises:.

In some embodiments, one second connecting part is connected with a plurality of the second spacing parts, and one second spacing part is provided between the abutting faces of every two adjacent battery cells.

In some embodiments, the battery module further comprises:
an end plate, wherein the end plate is located at least one side of the plurality of battery cells; and the end plate is fixedly connected with the second connecting part, or the end plate is configured to be fixedly connected with the case; wherein the case is configured to mount the battery module.

In some embodiments, the second connecting part and the end plate are fixed to the case through a screw.

In some embodiments, a first fixing part is mounted at the bottom of the case, and a connecting structure on a first connecting part of the battery module is detachably connected with the first fixing part.

In some embodiments, a second fixing part is mounted at the bottom of the case, and an end plate of the battery module and/or a second connecting part are detachably connected with the second fixing part though a screw.

In the battery module provided by the technical solution described above, the first spacer is arranged in a direction of accumulation caused by expansion of the battery module; that is, the first spacer is arranged between abutting faces of the battery cells arranged in a row, the size of the first spacer being smaller than that of the abutting faces; thus, due to the presence of the first spacer, there is the gap between the abutting faces of the two adjacent battery cells , and the gap provides a buffering space for expansion of the battery cells, so that the expansion of the battery cells is limited within the space, and expansion accumulation of the adjacent battery cells due to contact is reduced or even avoided. Moreover, due to proving the first spacer, the battery cells do not contact each other, so that heat transfer between the battery cells is effectively reduced, and the heat dissipation effect is better.

The drawings described here are used for providing further understanding of the present disclosure, and are part of the present application, and the schematic embodiments of the present disclosure and description thereof are intended for explaining the present disclosure, rather than improperly limiting the present disclosure. In the drawings:.

Technical solutions provided by the present disclosure are described in more detail below in conjunction with <FIG>.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a battery pack, comprising a case <NUM> and a battery module provided in any technical solution of the present disclosure, the battery module being mounted within the case <NUM>.

Using a battery cell <NUM> with a cuboid structure as an example, each battery cell <NUM> comprises four side faces <NUM>. There are four manners of arrangement of the battery cells <NUM> in a row, respectively as shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> schematically shows smaller side faces <NUM> serve as abutting faces <NUM>, and a first surface <NUM> is arranged forward. <FIG> schematically shows smaller side faces <NUM> serve as abutting faces <NUM>, and a first surface <NUM> is arranged upward. <FIG> schematically shows larger side faces <NUM> serve as the abutting faces <NUM>, and the first surface <NUM> is arranged forward. <FIG> schematically shows the larger side faces <NUM> serve as the abutting faces <NUM>, and the first surface <NUM> is arranged upward.

Relevant introduction of the battery module is provided below.

Referring to <FIG>, some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a battery module, comprising battery cells <NUM> and a first spacer <NUM>. The battery cell <NUM> comprises a first surface <NUM> provided with an electrode terminal <NUM>, a second surface <NUM> opposite to the first surface <NUM>, and side faces <NUM> located between the first surface <NUM> and the second surface <NUM>. The side faces <NUM> comprise abutting faces <NUM> and connecting faces <NUM> connected with the abutting faces <NUM>. A plurality of battery cells <NUM> are arranged in a length direction, and the abutting faces <NUM> of all the battery cells <NUM> face to each other. The length direction means a length direction L1 of the case <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the structure of the battery cell <NUM> is introduced below.

The battery cell <NUM> comprises a housing <NUM>, an electrode assembly <NUM> arranged within the housing <NUM>, connectors <NUM> arranged at an end of the electrode assembly <NUM>, and a cover plate <NUM> that covers the connectors <NUM> and the end of the electrode assembly <NUM>. The cover plate <NUM> is provided with the electrode terminals <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> has a closed end and an open end. The cover plate <NUM> is arranged at the opening of the housing <NUM>. The electrode assembly <NUM> is mounted within the housing <NUM> via the opening.

An outer surface of the cover plate <NUM> serves as the first surface <NUM> of the cell described below, and a surface of the housing <NUM> opposite to the open end serves as the second surface <NUM> of the cell described below. The four side faces of the housing <NUM> serve as the four side faces of the battery cell <NUM>.

See <FIG>, which schematically shows the three-dimensional structure of the battery cell <NUM>. Using the battery cell <NUM> with a cuboid structure as an example, the battery cell <NUM> comprises the first surface <NUM>, the second surface <NUM> and the four side faces <NUM>. The first surface <NUM> is provided with a positive and a negative electrode terminal. Among the four side faces <NUM> of battery cell <NUM>, the side face <NUM> fit to another battery cell <NUM> is an abutting face <NUM>, and the side face parallel to the abutting face is also an abutting face <NUM>. Other side faces <NUM> than the abutting faces <NUM> are connecting faces <NUM>. Referring to <FIG> or <FIG>, the battery cell <NUM> has two abutting faces <NUM> and two connecting faces <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the battery cells <NUM> arranged in a row are electrically connected. Specifically, the electrode terminals <NUM> of the battery cells <NUM> are electrically connected through connecting sheets <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in some embodiments, there is a gap between abutting faces <NUM> of the two adjacent battery cells <NUM>, so that heat dissipation of the battery cells <NUM> is better.

Referring to <FIG>, the size of a first spacing part <NUM> is smaller than that of the abutting face <NUM>, to provide the gap between the abutting faces <NUM> of the two adjacent battery cells <NUM>.

The size of the first spacer <NUM> is smaller than that of the abutting face <NUM>, so that due to the presence of the first spacer <NUM> between the abutting faces <NUM> of the two adjacent battery cells <NUM>, there is the gap between the abutting faces <NUM> of the two adjacent battery cells <NUM>, the width of the gas being <NUM>-<NUM> for example. The presence of the gap limits the expansion of the two abutting faces <NUM> within the gap. For the battery cells arranged in a row, the battery cells <NUM> do not directly abut against the adjacent battery cells <NUM> after expansion, so that the battery cells arranged in a row as a whole do not deform excessively due to expansion.

In some other embodiments, a thermal insulation layer (not shown in the figures) is mounted within the gap, to reduce temperature influence of the two adjacent battery cells <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, in some embodiments, between every abutting faces <NUM> of the two adjacent battery cells <NUM> is arranged at least part of the first spacer <NUM>; that is, the first spacing part <NUM> is arranged therebetween. The first spacing part <NUM> enables the battery cells <NUM> to be connected stably and firmly into a whole.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, in some embodiments, the first spacer <NUM> comprises the first spacing part <NUM> and a first connecting part <NUM>. One first spacing part <NUM> is arranged between abutting faces <NUM> of every two adjacent battery cells <NUM>, and connected to the two abutting faces <NUM>. The first connecting part <NUM> and the first spacing part <NUM> are interconnected, specifically fixedly interconnected or integrated for example. The first connecting part <NUM> is located beyond the abutting faces <NUM> of the two adjacent battery cells <NUM>, and is fixedly connected with the connecting faces <NUM> or the second surfaces <NUM> of the two adjacent battery cells <NUM>.

The first connecting part <NUM> and the first spacing part <NUM> are connected through binder for example. The first connecting part <NUM> and the connecting faces <NUM> or the second surfaces <NUM> of the two adjacent battery cells <NUM> are connected through binder for example.

Depending on the placing direction of the battery cells <NUM>, the first connecting part <NUM> is connected with the connecting faces <NUM> or the second surface <NUM>. <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> schematically show connections between the first connecting part <NUM> and the connecting faces <NUM>. <FIG> and <FIG> schematically show connections between the first connecting part <NUM> and the second surfaces <NUM> of the two adjacent battery cells <NUM>.

Specifically, as the battery cells <NUM> have a cuboid structure, the first connecting part <NUM> being fit to the connecting faces <NUM> is conducive to the structural stability of the entire battery module, and therefore optionally, both the first connecting part <NUM> and the first spacing part <NUM> are flat plates, and the first connecting part <NUM> is perpendicular to the first spacing part <NUM>.

The first connecting part <NUM> and the connecting faces <NUM> of the two adjacent battery cells <NUM> are fixedly connected through an adhesive for example.

The first connecting part <NUM> is fixed to the connecting faces <NUM> of the two adjacent battery cells <NUM>, so that the entire battery module has more fixing points, and the fixing points are distributed more uniformly. When the battery module is used to in the battery pack later, the batter pack bears forces more excellently, and is better in structural strength and structural reliability.

Referring to <FIG>, in some embodiments, the length of the first connecting part <NUM> is greater than that of the abutting faces <NUM>, and the portion of the first connecting part <NUM> located at the outer side of the abutting faces <NUM> is provided with a connecting structure for connection with the case <NUM>. The case <NUM> is used for mounting the battery module.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the connecting structure <NUM> is screw holes for example, in which bolts are mounted to install the battery module to the case <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the connecting structure <NUM> comprises screw holes, circle centers of which are located on a connecting line L2 of the central line in a thickness direction of the first spacing part <NUM>, so that the areas of the portions of the first connecting part <NUM> located on two sides of the first spacing part <NUM> are substantially equal, and the connecting area of the first connecting part <NUM> and one of the two adjacent battery cells <NUM> is substantially equal to that of the first connecting part <NUM> and the other of the two adjacent battery cells <NUM> , which makes the entire battery module good in structural stability.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, in some embodiments, the battery module further comprises a second spacer <NUM>, wherein at least part of the second spacer <NUM> is arranged between the abutting faces <NUM> of two adjacent battery cells <NUM>, and connected to the two abutting faces <NUM>, with a gap formed between the second spacer <NUM> and the first spacer <NUM>.

The gap between the second spacer <NUM> and the first spacer <NUM> is an expansion space for expansion of the battery cells <NUM>. Providing the second spacer <NUM> makes the gaps between every two connected battery cells <NUM> more uniform, and reduces the phenomenon that some part of the gaps are greater and other part of the gaps are smaller.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, in some embodiments, the second spacer <NUM> comprises a second spacing part <NUM> and a second connecting part <NUM>. One second spacing part <NUM> is arranged between the abutting faces <NUM> of every two adjacent battery cells <NUM>, and connected to the two abutting faces <NUM>. The second connecting part <NUM> and the second spacing part <NUM> are interconnected fixedly or integrated. The second connecting part <NUM> is located beyond the abutting faces <NUM> of the two adjacent battery cells <NUM>.

In some embodiments, there is a gap between the second spacing part <NUM> and the first spacer <NUM>, and gap is conducive to heat dissipation of the battery cells <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, to fit the second connecting part <NUM> to the connecting faces <NUM> of the battery cells <NUM>, the second connecting part <NUM> is perpendicular to the second spacing part <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in some embodiments, the second connecting part <NUM> is in a right-angle type, specifically an L-shaped plate for example, and the second spacing part <NUM> is connected with the second connecting part <NUM>, and the second connecting part <NUM> is arranged at a corner of the battery cells <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a second spacer <NUM> is provided at each of two adjacent edges of a row of battery pack. Each second spacer <NUM> is provided with a plurality of the second connecting parts <NUM>. Two second spacing parts <NUM> are provided between the abutting faces <NUM> of every two adjacent battery cells <NUM>.

The first spacer <NUM> is located at one end of the gap of the two adjacent battery cells <NUM>, and the two second spacers <NUM> are located at the other end of the gap of the two adjacent battery cells <NUM>. The thickness of the first spacer <NUM> is equal to that of the two second spacers <NUM>. By means of the first spacer <NUM> and the two second spacers <NUM>, the sizes of the gap at the two ends are substantially same. Such configuration makes the battery module more stable in structure and tidy.

To provide more fixing points for the battery module and make the battery module more stable in structure, in some embodiments, the second connecting part <NUM> is fixedly connected to the connecting faces <NUM> of both the two adjacent battery cells <NUM>.

Specifically, the second connecting part <NUM> and the connecting faces <NUM> of the two adjacent battery cells <NUM> are connected through binder.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, in some embodiments, one second connecting part <NUM> is provided with a plurality of second spacing parts <NUM>, and the second spacing parts <NUM> are provided between the abutting faces <NUM> of every two adjacent battery cells <NUM> of the battery cells <NUM> arranged in a row.

Referring to <FIG>, and <FIG>, in some embodiments, the battery module further comprises an end plate <NUM>. The end plate <NUM> is located at least one side of the plurality of battery cells <NUM>. At least one of two ends of the battery cells <NUM> arranged in a row is provided with at least one end plate <NUM>. The end plate <NUM> is fixedly connected with the second connecting part <NUM>; or the end plate <NUM> is configured to fixedly connect with the case <NUM>, wherein the case <NUM> is used for mounting the battery module.

The end plate <NUM> and the second connecting part <NUM> are fixedly connected to form a relatively stable and firm frame, and the battery cells <NUM> arranged in a row are located within the frame. The structure makes the structure of the battery module more stable and firmer.

In some embodiments, screws <NUM> connect both the second connecting part <NUM> and the end plate <NUM> to the case <NUM>.

This structure ensures that the battery module is mounted inside the case <NUM> more stably, firmly and reliably.

The mounting relation of the battery module inside the case <NUM> is introduced below.

Referring to <FIG>, the case <NUM> comprises a first case <NUM> and a second case <NUM>. The first case <NUM> and the second case <NUM> form an accommodating cavity, and the battery module is mounted inside the accommodating cavity.

A first fixing part <NUM> and a second fixing part <NUM> described below are mounted on the inner wall of the second case <NUM>. Both the first fixing part <NUM> and the second fixing part <NUM> are fixed to the battery module, to achieve multi-point fixation of the battery module inside the accommodating cavity, so that the battery module has more fixing points which are more dispersed, and the battery module bears forces more uniformly.

Specifically, in some embodiments, the first fixing part <NUM> is mounted at the bottom of the case <NUM>, and the connecting structure <NUM> on the first connecting part <NUM> of the battery module is detachably connected with the first fixing part <NUM>.

The first fixing part <NUM> is a metal rod provided with screw holes for example, and is welded to the inner wall surface of the second case <NUM>.

The connecting structure <NUM> is screw holes for example. Bolts pass through the screw holes to achieve detachable connection between the first connecting part <NUM> and the first fixing part <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the second fixing part <NUM> is mounted at the bottom of the case <NUM>, and the end plate <NUM> of the battery module and the second connecting part <NUM> are detachably connected with the second fixing part <NUM> through screws.

The second fixing part <NUM> is a metal rod provided with screw holes for example, and is welded to the inner wall surface of the second case <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in some embodiments, there are two first fixing parts <NUM> and two second fixing parts <NUM>, and the first fixing parts <NUM> and the second fixing parts <NUM> form a rectangle matched with the battery cells in a row. It is understood that other numbers of first fixing part <NUM> and second fixing part <NUM> with other structures are also adopted to form the required connecting frame.

In some embodiments, one or more battery modules are mounted within the case <NUM>.

In description of the present disclosure, it needs to be understood that orientation or position relations denoted by the terms "centre" "longitudinal", "transverse", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer" and the like are orientation or position relations based on illustration in the drawings, and are only intended to facilitate describing the present disclosure and simplifying description, instead of indicating or implying the denoted devices or elements necessarily have specific orientations or are constructed and operated in specific orientations, and thus they should not be understood as limiting the protection scope of the present disclosure.

Claim 1:
A battery pack, comprising a case (<NUM>) and a battery module, the battery module being mounted within the case (<NUM>)
Wherein the battery module comprising:
a plurality of battery cells (<NUM>), each of which comprising a first surface (<NUM>) provided with an electrode terminal (<NUM>), a second surface (<NUM>) opposite to the first surface (<NUM>), and side faces (<NUM>) located between the first surface (<NUM>) and the second surface (<NUM>); wherein the side faces (<NUM>) comprise abutting faces (<NUM>) and connecting faces (<NUM>) connected with the abutting faces (<NUM>); and the plurality of battery cells (<NUM>) are arranged in a length direction, and the abutting faces (<NUM>) of all the battery cells (<NUM>) face to each other; and
a first spacer (<NUM>), at least part of which being arranged between the abutting faces (<NUM>) of two adjacent battery cells (<NUM>), and fixed to the abutting faces (<NUM>) of the two adjacent battery cells (<NUM>), wherein the first spacer (<NUM>) is configured to fix to the case (<NUM>);
the size of the first spacer (<NUM>) is smaller than that of the abutting faces such there is a gap between the abutting faces (<NUM>) of the two adjacent battery cells (<NUM>);
wherein the first spacer (<NUM>) comprises:
a first spacing part (<NUM>), arranged between the abutting faces (<NUM>) of the two adjacent battery cells (<NUM>) and fixed to the abutting faces (<NUM>) of the two adjacent battery cells (<NUM>); and
a first connecting part (<NUM>), connected with the first spacing part (<NUM>), the first connecting part (<NUM>) being located beyond the abutting faces (<NUM>) of the two adjacent battery cells (<NUM>), and fixed to the connecting faces (<NUM>) or the second surfaces (<NUM>) of the two adjacent battery cells (<NUM>);
wherein the length of the first connecting part (<NUM>) is greater than that of each of the abutting faces (<NUM>), and a portion of the first connecting part (<NUM>) located at an outer side of the abutting faces (<NUM>) is provided with a connecting structure (<NUM>) for fixation to the case (<NUM>);
wherein the connecting structure (<NUM>) comprises screw holes, a hole centre line of which is substantially parallel to a central line in a thickness direction of the first spacing part (<NUM>).