Patent ID: 12199300

Reference signs in specific embodiments are as follows:1. battery module;10. battery module body;20. frame;21. first side plate;211. first extension portion;22. second side plate;23. first end plate;231. overlapping platform;232. splicing portion;2321. first surface;2322. second surface;2323. third surface;233. weight reduction hole;24. second end plate;2. module combination;3. battery pack; and4. electric vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following further describes the implementations of this application in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. The detailed description of embodiments and the accompanying drawings are intended to illustrate the principle of this application, rather than to limit the scope of this application, meaning this application is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

In the descriptions of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise stated, “a plurality of” means two or more; and the orientations or positional relationships indicated by the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, “inside”, “outside”, and the like are merely intended to help the descriptions of this application and simplify the descriptions other than indicate or imply that the apparatuses or components must have specific orientations, or be constructed and manipulated with specific orientations, and therefore shall not be understood as limitations on this application. In addition, the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, and the like are merely for the purpose of description and shall not be understood as any indication or implication of relative importance. “Perpendicular” is not perpendicular in the strict sense but within an allowable range of error. “Parallel” is not parallel in the strict sense but within an allowable range of error.

The words of orientation appearing in the following description are all directions shown in the drawings, and do not limit the specific structure of this disclosure. In the description of this application, it should also be noted that unless otherwise specified and defined explicitly, the terms “mounting”, “connection”, and “join” should be understood in their general senses. For example, they may refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection, and may refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection via an intermediate medium. Persons of ordinary skill in the art can understand specific meanings of these terms in this application as appropriate to specific situations.

Battery modules are increasingly widely used in electric apparatuses, such as electric vehicles. With the increasing demand for energy density of battery modules in electric apparatuses, the current single battery module is unable to fully meet energy demand of electric apparatuses. Therefore, to meet the energy demand of electric apparatuses, a typical method is to increase the volume of a single battery module. However, if the volume of a single battery module is too large, structural strength of the single battery module can hardly meet the mechanical performance requirements. In addition, the method of increasing the number of battery modules can also be adopted. However, during production, a plurality of battery modules need to be produced together and combined, resulting in poor manufacturability.

To solve problems of low structural strength and poor manufacturability of a single battery module, this application provides a battery module. The battery module can meet mechanical performance requirements in terms of structural strength, and has good manufacturability and low costs.

For ease of description, the battery module of some embodiments of this application is used as an example for description of the following embodiments.

Referring toFIGS.1to5, this application provides a battery module, where the battery module1includes a battery module body10and a frame20for fastening the battery module body10. The frame20includes a first side plate21, a second side plate22, a first end plate23, and a second end plate24, where the first side plate21and the second side plate22are disposed opposite each other and located on two sides of the battery module body10respectively, and the first side plate21and the second side plate22both extend from the battery module body10. The first end plate23and the second end plate24are disposed opposite each other and located at two ends of the battery module body10respectively, and an end portion of each end plate has an overlapping platform231and a splicing portion232protruding from the overlapping platform231. In addition, a portion of the side plate extending from the battery module body10overlaps the overlapping platform231and is connected to the end plate, and the splicing portion232of the end plate is configured to be connected to a splicing portion232of an end plate in another battery module1.

It can be understood that both the end portions on the same side of the first end plate23and the second end plate24have the overlapping platform231and the splicing portion232protruding from the overlapping platform231. The overlapping platform231and the splicing portion232may be disposed at one end of the first end plate23and the second end plate24, or disposed at two ends of the first end plate23and the second end plate24. The specific arrangement may be selected according to actual needs.

Referring toFIG.2, in the embodiment of this application, the first side plate21, the second side plate22, the first end plate23, and the second end plate24enclose the frame20in the battery module1, so that the frame20has good structural strength and can be used to protect battery cells in the battery module body10, and bear the internal expansion force of the battery cells and the external stress on the battery cells. In addition, the splicing portions232in the end plates of the frame20allow a plurality of battery modules1to be connected, and the plurality of battery modules1connected also have good structural strength and high energy density. During manufacturing and production, the end plate and the side plate in the frame20have a simple structure, good manufacturability, and low manufacturing costs.

In the embodiment of this application, the first side plate21, the second side plate22, the first end plate23, and the second end plate24in the frame20are not limited to a specific material, and may be made of metal materials or plastic materials.

In some embodiments of this application, the first side plate21, the second side plate22, the first end plate23, and the second end plate24in the frame20may be made of aluminum alloy, which allows the frame20to have good mechanical performance.

In some other embodiments of this application, the first side plate21, the second side plate22, the first end plate23, and the second end plate24in the frame20may be made of plastic, which allows the frame20to be lighter in weight.

Referring toFIG.3, in some embodiments of this application, the splicing portion232includes a first surface2321, a second surface2322, and a third surface2323, where the first surface2321is an inner surface facing the side plate, the second surface2322is an outer surface facing away from the side plate, the second surface2322may be an inclined flat surface or an inward curved surface, and the third surface2323is a surface connecting the first surface2321and the second surface2322. On the one hand, the splicing portion232has a simple structure and is easy to manufacture. On the other hand, the structure of the splicing portion232can enhance the structural strength of the frame20, thereby making the frame20meet the mechanical performance requirements.

Further, in some embodiments of this application, the second surface2322of the splicing portion232may be an inclined flat surface. An inclined angle of this flat surface may be 15° to 90°, such as 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, or 90°. For details, refer to figures (a) to (d) inFIG.6. It can be understood that in the embodiments of this application the second surface2322and the third surface2323can form an angle of 15° to 90°, so that the second surfaces2322of two adjacent end plates can form an angle of 30° to 180°, thereby creating a space between the two adjacent end plates for welding or gluing. Welding or gluing the adjacent end plates through this space can further enhance the structural strength of the frame20.

In some other embodiments of this application, the second surface2322of the splicing portion232may alternatively be an arc-shaped surface. For details, refer to figure (e) inFIG.6. It can be understood that the entire or partial surface of the second surface2322is an arc-shaped surface, which provides sufficient space for welding or gluing operations between the end plates to enhance the connection between the end plates.

Referring toFIG.3, in some embodiments of this application, a spacing is present between the first surface2321and a first extension portion211of the side plate extending from the battery module body10. This facilitates the welding or gluing operations on the side plate and the end plate, enhancing the connection strength of the end plate and the side plate.

In some embodiments of this application, the first surface2321can be inwardly recessed to form a groove, and the first extension portion211of the side plate extending from the battery module body10matches the groove, able to be embedded into the groove to make the connection between the side plate and the end plate more secure.

In addition, in some embodiments of this application, the third surface2323is arranged as a flat surface and perpendicular to the first surface2321. The provision of the flat surface makes the splicing portion232easier to process, enhancing the manufacturability. Moreover, the end plates are spliced through the third surface2323of the splicing portion232. Arranged as a flat surface, the third surface2323can enhance the connection strength between the battery module1and other battery modules1.

Further, in some embodiments of this application, a height of the splicing portion232protruding from the overlapping platform231matches a thickness of the side plate, so that when the battery module1is connected to another battery module1, the side plates in two adjacent battery modules1are capable of fitting together. It can be understood that the splicing portions232of the adjacent end plates can be connected to form an insertion slot. The insertion slot can accommodate the side plates of two adjacent battery modules1, and the side plates are fitted and connected to each other. In the embodiment, the shape of the insertion slot is not specifically limited, and may be triangular, U-shaped, rectangular, or the like.

In some of the foregoing embodiments, the width of the insertion slot matches the thickness of the two side plates, and the depth of the insertion slot matches the length of the first extension portion211of the side plate extending from the battery module body10. This not only allows the side plates of two adjacent battery modules1to fit together, but also allows the side plate to fit to the overlapping platform231and the first surface2321of the splicing portion232, thereby further enhancing the structural strength of the frame20and achieving the purpose of meeting mechanical performance requirements.

While meeting the mechanical performance requirements, the frame20in the battery module1also needs to be as light as possible. In some embodiments of this application, the end plate is provided with a weight reduction hole233running through the end plate along a width direction of the end plate. The provision of the weight reduction hole233can achieve the lightweight of the battery module1.

In some of the foregoing embodiments, the shape and quantity of the weight reduction hole233are not specifically limited, and can be designed according to manufacturing processes and requirements. For example, the weight reduction hole233may be square, circular, triangular, or the like. In some specific embodiments of this application, as shown inFIG.4, the weight reduction hole233is triangular, and a plurality of weight reduction holes233are spaced apart.

The battery module1needs to be fastened during mounting. In some embodiments of this application, the end plate is provided with a bolt hole running through the end plate along a thickness direction of the end plate. Through the fit between the bolt hole and a bolt, the end plate of the battery module1can be fixedly connected to other components or apparatuses.

Based on the same inventive concept, this application further provides a module combination2. Referring to theFIG.7, the module combination2includes a plurality of battery modules1according to any one of the foregoing embodiments, where adjacent two of the battery modules1are a first battery module and a second battery module, and a splicing portion232of an end plate in the first battery module is aligned with and connected to a splicing portion232of an end plate in the second battery module.

In the embodiment of this application, the battery modules1are connected together through the splicing portions232of the end plates. When a frame20of a single battery module1is subjected to abnormal stress, the frames20of other battery modules1connected to that single battery module1transfer the stress evenly to the frame20of each battery module1, preventing the frame20of that single battery module1from being damaged due to the abnormal stress. In addition, the splicing portion232of the end plate of the frame20can be configured to connect to the splicing portion232of the end plate of another battery module1. Therefore, any number of battery modules1can be connected through the frame20to form a module combination2with greater energy to meet the energy demand of the electric apparatus. For a single battery module1, its volume can be maintained in an appropriate range, with no need to increase the volume of the single battery module1to meet the energy demand of the electric apparatus. This allows the structural strength of the single battery module1to meet the mechanical performance requirements, and naturally, the structural strength of the module combination2formed by connecting battery modules1can also meet the mechanical performance requirements.

Referring toFIG.8, in some embodiments of this application, a side plate of the first battery module is fitted and connected to a side plate of the second battery module. The side plates of two adjacent battery modules1are fitted and connected to each other, which can enhance the structural strength of the frames20of the adjacent battery modules1.

Still referring toFIG.8, in some embodiments of this application, the two side plates are fitted to their respective overlapping platforms231and the first surfaces2321of the splicing portions232, further enhancing the structural strength of the frame20of the battery module1and achieving the purposes of meeting the mechanical performance requirements.

Still referring toFIG.8, in some embodiments of this application, adjacent two of the splicing portions232are connected by adhesive bonding or welding. This not only simplifies the connection between the splicing portions232, but also further enhances the structural strength of the frames20of the adjacent battery modules1.

In some specific embodiments of this application, two adjacent splicing portions232are connected by adhesive bonding. Such connection method has low requirements for operators and is easy to operate.

Based on the same inventive concept, this application provides a battery pack3. Referring toFIG.9, the battery pack3includes the module combination2according to the foregoing embodiments.

The battery pack3provided in this application may be used without limitation in electric apparatuses such as vehicles, ships, or aircrafts. The battery module1, module combination2, battery pack3, and the like disclosed in this application may be used to constitute a power supply system of the electric apparatus. In this way, the endurance capacity of the electric apparatus can be improved.

Based on the same inventive concept, this application provides an electric apparatus, where the electric apparatus includes a module combination2or a battery pack3. The electric apparatus may be but is not limited to a mobile phone, a tablet, a laptop computer, an electric toy, an electric tool, an electric bicycle, an electric vehicle, a ship, a spacecraft, or the like. The electric toy may be a fixed or mobile electric toy, for example, a game console, an electric toy vehicle, an electric toy ship, and an electric toy airplane. The spacecraft may include an airplane, a rocket, a space shuttle, a spaceship, and the like.

In some embodiments of this application, the foregoing electric apparatus is an electric vehicle4, as shown inFIG.10.

Although this application has been described with reference to some preferred embodiments, various modifications to this application and replacements of the components therein with equivalents can be made without departing from the scope of this application. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the various technical features mentioned in the embodiments can be combined in any manner. This application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed in this specification but includes all embodiments falling in the scope of the claims.