Patent ID: 12199299

EXPLANATION OF MAIN REFERENCE SIGNS

100. Battery pack;10. Box;10a. Accommodation cavity;10b. Mounting hole;10c. Positioning groove;11. Base;11a. Bottom plate;11b. Side plate;12. Cover;20. Battery module;30. Liquid cooling plate;40. Connection valve;40a, Limiting portion;50. Liquid supply pipe;60. Protection structure;61. First protection member;61a. Open end;61b. First clamping part;62. Second protection member;62a. Second clamping part;62b. Handle part;70. Connector;80. Sealing member;200. Energy storage device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Based on the embodiments of the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

In the present disclosure, the orientations or positional relationships indicated by the terms “on”, “under”, “left”, “right”, “front”, “back”, “top”, “bottom”, “inner”, “outer”, “middle”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “transverse”, “longitudinal”, etc. are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the drawings. These terms are mainly used to better describe the present disclosure and its embodiments and are not intended to limit the indicated apparatus, element or component to having a specific orientation, or to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation.

Moreover, some of the above terms may also be used to express other meanings in addition to indicating orientation or positional relationships. For example, the term “on” may also be used to express a certain dependence relationship or connection relationship in some cases. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of these terms in the present disclosure can be understood according to specific circumstances.

In addition, the terms “mount”, “arrange”, “provide”, “connect”, and “link” are to be construed broadly. For example, they may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral construction; they may be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they may be a direct connection, or indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or internal connectivity between two apparatuses, elements or components. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present disclosure can be understood according to specific circumstances.

In addition, the terms “first”, “second”, etc. are mainly used to distinguish different apparatuses, elements or components (the specific types and constructions may be the same or different), and are not used to indicate or imply the relative importance and number of the indicated apparatuses, elements or components. Unless otherwise stated, “a plurality of” means two or more.

In order to connect the liquid cooling plate to the external cooling cabinet, the connection valve is partially located outside the box of the battery pack. During the production and transportation of the battery pack, the connection valve is easily cracked or even broken due to external forces, which leads to the abnormal use of the battery pack.

The present disclosure discloses a battery pack and an energy storage device. The protection structure is used to protect the connection valve to prevent the connection valve from being cracked or even broken due to external force, thereby ensuring the normal use of the battery pack.

First Embodiment

Referring toFIGS.1to3, which are schematic structural views of a battery pack100provided in the first embodiment of the present disclosure, the battery pack100includes a box10, a battery module20, a liquid cooling plate30, a connection valve40, a liquid supply pipe50and a protection structure60. The box10is provided with an accommodation cavity10aand a mounting hole10b. The mounting hole10bis communicated with the accommodation cavity10a. The battery module20is provided in the accommodation cavity10a. The liquid cooling plate30is provided in the accommodation cavity10a, and the liquid cooling plate30is used for cooling the battery module20. The connection valve40is provided in the mounting hole10b. One end of the connection valve40that is located outside the accommodation cavity10ais used for connecting to a cooling cabinet. The liquid supply pipe50is communicated with the liquid cooling plate30and one end of the connection valve40facing the accommodation cavity10a. The protection structure60is detachably provided in the box10. The protection structure60is located outside the accommodation cavity10aand covers the connection valve40.

The connection valve40may be a stop valve or other types of valve bodies, which may be selected according to actual conditions, and is not specifically limited in this embodiment.

In this embodiment, the battery module20and the liquid cooling plate30are arranged in the accommodation cavity10aof the box10. The connection valve40is arranged in the mounting hole10bof the box10. The mounting hole10bis used to communicate with the accommodation cavity10a, so that the liquid supply pipe50can be connected to the liquid cooling plate30and the connection valve40, and the connection valve40is connected to the cooling cabinet. Therefore, the liquid cooling plate30cools the battery module20. At the same time, the protection structure60is detachably disposed on the box10and is used to cover the connection valve40to protect the connection valve40, for preventing the connection valve40from being cracked or even broken due to external force, thereby ensuring the normal use of the battery pack100, especially protecting the connection valve40during production and transportation of the battery pack100. When the liquid cooling plate30needs to work, the protection structure60can be detached from the box10to expose the connection valve40, so that the end of the connection valve40located outside the accommodation cavity10amay be connected to the cooling cabinet.

In some embodiments, the protection structure60includes a first protection member61and a second protection member62. The first protection member61is connected to the box10and is arranged around a periphery of the connection valve40. The first protection member61is provided with an open end61acorresponding to the connection valve40. The second protection member62is detachably connected to the first protection member61and closes the open end61a. In this way, through the cooperation of the first protection member61and the second protection member62, the first protection member61protects the circumferential portion of the connection valve40, and the second protection member62closes the open end61a, thereby protecting the connection valve40from the orientation direction of the end of the connection valve40that is located outside the accommodation cavity10a. Moreover, the second protection member62can be detached from the first protection member61. At this time, the end of the connection valve40that is located outside the accommodation cavity10acan be connected to the cooling cabinet, and the first protection member61can continue to protect the circumferential portion of the connection valve40.

As an optional implementation, the outer peripheral surface of the second protection member62is detachably connected to the inner peripheral surface of the first protection member61, and the second protection member62is located between the first protection member61and the connection valve40, and covers the connection valve40. In this way, on the one hand, the first protection member61can provide a connection position for the second protection member62, so that the second protection member62is detachably connected to the box10. Additionally, the detachable connection structure is located between the inner peripheral surface of the first protection member61and the outer peripheral surface of the second protection member62, so that the detachable connection structure can be hidden. On the other hand, the second protection member62covers the connection valve40, thereby protecting the connection valve40in all directions. Additionally, the first protection member61located on the outer peripheral side of the second protection member62can provide double protection. Additionally, after the second protection member62is detached from the box10, the first protection member61can also protect the connection valve40.

As another optional implementation, the inner peripheral surface of the second protection member62is detachably connected to the outer peripheral surface of the first protection member61, and the second protection member62covers the open end61a. In this way, on the one hand, the first protection member61can provide a connection position for the second protection member62, so that the second protection member62can be detachably connected to the box10. On the other hand, the connection valve40is protected in all directions by the second protection member62and the first protection member61. The length of the second protection member62may be set smaller than the first protection member61, thereby saving material and reducing weight, and reducing the difficulty of assembly and disassembly operations of the second protection member62. Additionally, after the second protection member62is detached from the box10, the first protection member61can also protect the connection valve40.

In some embodiments, the first protection member61is provided with a first clamping part61b, the second protection member62is provided with a second clamping part62a, and the second clamping part62ais detachably connected to the first clamping part61b. In this way, the second clamping part62aand the first clamping part61bare detachably connected with each other, which can reduce the difficulty of assembling and disassembling the second protecting member62and the first protecting member61.

Optionally, one of the first clamping part61band the second clamping part62ais provided with a convex portion, and the other is provided with a concave portion. The second protecting member62can rotate relative to the first protecting member61so that the convex portion and the concave portion are engaged or separated. In this way, the second protection member62moves along the length direction to cooperate with the first protection member61, so that the convex portion and the concave portion are at the same position in the length direction. At this time, the second protection member62can be rotated to engage the convex portion with the concave portion, therefore the second protection member62can be assembled with the first protection member61. When the second protection member62is rotated to separate the convex portion from the concave portion, the second protection member62can be moved along the length direction to be detached from the first protection member61, so that the connection valve40is exposed to facilitate the connection between the connection valve40and the cooling cabinet.

In some embodiments, a handle portion62bis provided at an end of the second protection member62away from the box10, and the handle portion62bis used for the user to rotate the second protection member62. In this way, the handle portion62bis used to provide a force application site for the user, and the user can assemble and disassemble the second protection member62and the first protection member61by rotating the second protection member62, and the operation difficulty is relatively low.

Optionally, the first protection member61is made of a flexible material, and the second protection member62is made of a hard material. For example, the first protection member61may be made of a foam, which has a buffering effect and can buffer external forces and reduce impacts. The second protection member62may be made of a material with relatively high hardness such as metal or plastic, which can provide good protection for the connection valve40.

Exemplarily, the battery pack100further includes a connector70, which is provided in the mounting hole10b. One end of the connector70protrudes into the accommodation cavity10aand is connected to the liquid supply pipe50, and the other end of the connector70protrudes out of the mounting hole10band is connected to the connection valve40. In this way, one end of the connector70is connected to the connection valve40and the other end is connected to the liquid supply pipe50, so that the connection valve40and the liquid supply pipe50can be connected.

In some embodiments, a sealing member80is provided between the connection valve40and the liquid supply pipe50, and the sealing member80is used to seal the connection between the connection valve40and the liquid supply pipe50. In this way, the sealing member80is used to seal the connection between the connection valve40and the liquid supply pipe50, which can prevent liquid leakage and prevent foreign matter from entering the connection valve40and the liquid supply pipe50through the connection and causing damage to the entire cooling system.

Exemplarily, a limiting portion40ais provided on the peripheral side of the connection valve40, and the limiting portion40aabuts against the outer surface of the box10along the extending direction of the mounting hole10b. In this way, by abutting the limiting portion40aagainst the outer surface of the box10, the extending length of the connection valve40into the mounting hole10bcan be limited, thereby preventing the connection valve40from excessively extending into the mounting hole10bto affect the installation of component(s) in the accommodation cavity10aor interfering with component(s) in the accommodation cavity10ato cause damage.

In some embodiments, the box10includes a base11and a cover12. The cover12covers and is connected to the base11to form the accommodation cavity10a. The mounting hole10bis provided in the base11. The liquid cooling plate30is provided in the base11. The battery module20is carried on the liquid cooling plate30. In this way, by the cover12covering the base11, the accommodation cavity10acan be formed therebetween, so as to facilitate the installation of the battery module20and the liquid cooling plate30and provide an installation space for them. Moreover, the cover12can be detached from the base11to perform maintenance, replacement and other operations on the component(s) in the accommodation cavity10a.

Exemplarily, the base11includes a bottom plate11aand a plurality of side plates11b. The plurality of side plates11bare provided on the bottom plate11aand are connected end to end so as to form a positioning groove10cwith the bottom plate11a. The liquid cooling plate30is provided in the positioning groove10c. The battery module20is partially located in the positioning groove10cfor positioning. The cover12covers and is connected to the plurality of side plates11b. The accommodation cavity10ais formed between the cover12and the positioning groove10c. In this way, the liquid cooling plate30can be accommodated by the positioning groove10c, and the battery module20can be pre-positioned to facilitate the assembly of the battery module20.

Optionally, the base plate11aand the liquid cooling plate30are an integrally molded piece, or the base plate11aand the liquid cooling plate30are two independent pieces connected to each other. When the base plate11aand the liquid cooling plate30are formed as one integrated piece, the overall thickness and weight of the battery pack100can be reduced. When the base plate11aand the liquid cooling plate30are two independent pieces connected to each other, they can be assembled or disassembled, especially when the liquid cooling plate30needs to be replaced, the replacement is less difficult.

In this embodiment, as shown inFIG.2, the bottom plate11aand the liquid cooling plate30are integrally molded piece. InFIG.2, reference signs11aand30are the same component, that is, the bottom plate11aand the liquid cooling plate30.

The first embodiment of the present disclosure provides a battery pack100. The battery module20and the liquid cooling plate30are provided in the accommodation cavity10aof the box10, the mounting hole10bof the box10is provided with the connection valve40, and the mounting hole10bis used to communicate with the accommodation cavity10a, so that the liquid supply pipe50can connect the liquid cooling plate30and the connection valve40, thereby connecting with the cooling cabinet using the connection valve40, and thus the liquid cooling plate30can cool the battery module20. At the same time, the protection structure60is detachably disposed on the box10and is used to cover the connection valve40to protect the connection valve40, preventing the connection valve40from being cracked or even broken due to external force, thereby ensuring the normal use of the battery pack100, especially protecting the connection valve40during production and transportation of the battery pack100. When the liquid cooling plate30needs to work, the protection structure60can be detached from the box10to expose the connection valve40, so that the end of the connection valve40located outside the accommodation cavity10ais connected to the cooling cabinet.

Second Embodiment

Referring toFIG.6, which is a schematic structural view of an energy storage device200provided in the second embodiment of the present disclosure. The energy storage device200includes the battery pack of the first embodiment.

The energy storage device200may be a household energy storage cabinet or an energy storage box in the form of a small container, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment.

Optionally, the energy storage device200may include one or more battery packs100. For example, in some implementations, the number of battery packs100in the energy storage device200may be 1, 2, 3, 4, etc., which is not specifically limited in this embodiment.

Furthermore, when the energy storage device200includes a plurality of battery packs100, the plurality of battery packs100may be connected in series or in parallel, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment.

The second embodiment of the present disclosure provides an energy storage device200in which the battery pack100can protect the connection valve using a protection structure, to prevent the connection valve from being cracked or even broken due to external force, thereby ensuring the normal use of the battery pack.

The battery pack and the energy storage device disclosed in the embodiments of the present disclosure have been introduced in detail above. The present disclosure illustrates the principles and implementations of the present disclosure by using examples. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the battery pack and the energy storage device of the present disclosure and core ideas thereof. At the same time, for those of ordinary skill in the field, there may be changes in the specific implementation and application scope based on the ideas of the present disclosure. In summary, the contents of this specification should not be understood as limitations of the present disclosure.