JP7834913B2 - Batteries and electrical equipment - Google Patents

Description

This application claims priority to a utility model application filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration on January 12, 2022, application number 202220076160.4, titled "Batteries and Electrical Equipment," the entire contents of which are incorporated into this application by reference.

This application relates to the field of battery technology, and more particularly to batteries and electrical equipment.

Due to their advantages such as high energy density, rechargeable battery life, safety, and environmental friendliness, power batteries are widely applied in fields such as new energy vehicles, household electrical appliances, and energy storage systems.

However, power batteries generate heat during use, affecting their performance and potentially leading to serious safety problems. To ensure the normal operation of power batteries, they need to be able to dissipate heat.

This application provides batteries and electrical equipment with excellent heat dissipation performance.

In a first embodiment, a battery is provided comprising a plurality of cylindrical battery cells, a main body, and an air-cooling structure including at least one ventilation passage penetrating the main body in a first direction, wherein the first direction is parallel to the axial direction of the plurality of battery cells, and the cross-section of the ventilation passage perpendicular to the first direction is fin-shaped.

Based on this technical solution, the battery employs an air-cooling structure. This structure includes a ventilation passage that penetrates the main body along the axial direction of the main body and battery cells. The air introduced into the ventilation passage can remove heat generated by the multiple battery cells, resulting in excellent heat dissipation performance. Furthermore, by making the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the first direction of the ventilation passage fin-shaped, this fin-shaped ventilation passage combines heat dissipation efficiency with process feasibility, increasing the heat exchange area between the air-cooling structure and the battery cells, thus ensuring process feasibility.

In one feasible configuration, the plurality of battery cells are arranged to surround the air-cooling structure. By arranging the cylindrical battery cells to surround the air-cooling structure, the air introduced into the ventilation passage effectively removes heat from each battery cell, improving the overall heat dissipation efficiency.

In one feasible configuration, the plurality of battery cells are attached to the first surface of the main body, away from the ventilation passage, using a thermally conductive structural adhesive.

Thermally conductive structural adhesives are used to connect battery cells to the air-cooling structure. Furthermore, because thermally conductive structural adhesives possess good thermal conductivity, surrounding and attaching multiple battery cells to the first surface of the air passage with these adhesives helps to conduct the heat generated by the multiple battery cells into the air passage, further improving heat dissipation efficiency.

In one feasible configuration, the contour shape of the region attached to the plurality of battery cells on the first surface matches the contour shape of the surface of the plurality of battery cells. This increases the heat dissipation area of the plurality of battery cells, further improving heat dissipation efficiency.

In one feasible configuration, the air-cooling structure further includes a fan, which is used to circulate air through the air passage to dissipate the heat generated by the multiple battery cells. The fan can increase the airflow velocity within the air passage, thereby improving the heat dissipation efficiency of the battery cells.

In one feasible embodiment, the battery further includes a box, the box comprising a first box portion and a second box portion, the first and second box portions engaging to form the air-cooling structure and a housing cavity for housing the plurality of battery cells, at least one of the first and second box portions having an opening, the plane on which the opening is located being parallel to the first direction.

By arranging the box so that the first and second box sections are engaged, the air-cooling structure and the assembly of multiple battery cells within the box are facilitated.

In one feasible configuration, a first heat dissipation section is installed on the bottom wall of the first box section, and the contour shape of the area in contact with the plurality of battery cells of the first heat dissipation section matches the contour shape of the surface of the plurality of battery cells.

The first heat dissipation section may be part of the bottom wall of the first box section, or it may be a structure provided independently opposite the bottom wall of the first box section. The first heat dissipation section is designed to conform to the surrounding area, and the contour shape of the area in contact with the multiple battery cells is designed to match the contour shape of the surface of the multiple battery cells. This increases the heat dissipation area of the multiple battery cells, thereby further improving heat dissipation efficiency.

In one feasible configuration, a second heat dissipation section is installed on the bottom wall of the second box section, and the contour shape of the area in contact with the plurality of battery cells in the second heat dissipation section matches the contour shape of the surface of the plurality of battery cells.

The second heat dissipation section may be part of the bottom wall of the second box section, or it may be a structure provided independently opposite the bottom wall of the second box section. The second heat dissipation section is designed to conform to the surrounding area, and the contour shape of the area in contact with the multiple battery cells is designed to match the contour shape of the surface of the multiple battery cells. This increases the heat dissipation area of the multiple battery cells, thereby further improving heat dissipation efficiency.

In one feasible configuration, the air-cooled structure is formed by a die-casting process, which is simple and highly reliable.

In a second embodiment, the present invention provides an electrical device comprising a battery as described in the first embodiment or any feasible form thereof, wherein the battery is used to supply electrical energy to the electrical device.

As can be seen from the above, the battery employs an air-cooling structure, which includes a ventilation passage that penetrates the main body along the axial direction of the main body and battery cells. The air introduced into the ventilation passage can dissipate the heat generated by the multiple battery cells. Because the cross-section perpendicular to the first direction of the ventilation passage is fin-shaped, this fin-shaped cross-sectional shape of the ventilation passage combines heat dissipation efficiency with process feasibility, increasing the heat exchange area between the air-cooling structure and the battery cells, and ensuring process feasibility.

In a third embodiment, a method for manufacturing a battery is provided, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of cylindrical battery cells; providing an air-cooling structure including a body and at least one ventilation passage penetrating the body; and arranging at least one ventilation passage along a first direction X, where the first direction X is parallel to the axial direction of the plurality of battery cells, and making the cross-section of the ventilation passage perpendicular to the first direction X fin-shaped.

One embodiment of the present invention further provides a battery manufacturing apparatus comprising: a first providing module for providing a plurality of cylindrical battery cells; a second providing module for providing an air-cooling structure including a body and at least one ventilation passage penetrating the body; and an assembly module for arranging at least one ventilation passage along a first direction X, where the first direction X is parallel to the axial direction of the plurality of battery cells, and for making the cross-section of the ventilation passage perpendicular to the first direction X fin-shaped.

To more clearly explain the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the necessary drawings for the embodiments are briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the drawings shown below represent only a few embodiments of this application, and those skilled in the art can obtain further drawings based on these drawings without requiring any creative effort.
[Additional note 1]
Multiple cylindrical battery cells,
An air-cooling structure comprising a main body and at least one ventilation passage penetrating the main body in a first direction, wherein the first direction is parallel to the axial direction of the plurality of battery cells, and the cross section of the ventilation passage perpendicular to the first direction is fin-shaped,
Batteries, including
[Additional note 2]
The battery according to Appendix 1, wherein the plurality of battery cells are arranged so as to surround the air-cooling structure.
[Additional note 3]
The battery according to appendix 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of battery cells are attached to the first surface of the main body away from the ventilation passage using a thermally conductive structural adhesive.
[Additional note 4]
The battery according to Appendix 3, wherein the contour shape of the region attached to the plurality of battery cells on the first surface matches the contour shape of the surface of the plurality of battery cells.
[Additional note 5]
The battery according to any one of the appendices 1 to 4, wherein the air cooling structure further includes a fan, the fan being used to blow air through the air passage to dissipate the heat generated by the plurality of battery cells.
[Additional note 6]
The battery according to any one of appendices 1 to 5, further comprising a box, the box comprising a first box portion and a second box portion, the first box portion and the second box portion engaging to form a housing cavity for housing the air-cooling structure and the plurality of battery cells, at least one of the first box portion and the second box portion having an opening, the plane on which the opening is located being parallel to the first direction.
[Additional note 7]
The battery according to Appendix 6, wherein a first heat dissipation section is installed on the bottom wall of the first box section, and the contour shape of the area in contact with the plurality of battery cells in the first heat dissipation section matches the contour shape of the surface of the plurality of battery cells.
[Additional Note 8]
The battery according to appendix 6 or 7, wherein a second heat dissipation section is installed on the bottom wall of the second box section, and the contour shape of the area in contact with the plurality of battery cells in the second heat dissipation section matches the contour shape of the surface of the plurality of battery cells.
[Additional Note 9]
The battery according to any one of the appendices 1 to 8, wherein the air-cooling structure is formed by a die-casting process.
[Additional Note 10]
An electrical device that includes a battery as described in any one of the appendices 1 to 9, wherein the battery is used to supply electrical energy to the electrical device.
[Additional Note 11]
The steps include providing multiple cylindrical battery cells,
The steps include providing an air-cooling structure that includes a main body and at least one ventilation passage passing through the main body,
The steps include: installing at least one ventilation passage along a first direction, wherein the first direction is parallel to the axial direction of the plurality of battery cells, and the cross section of the ventilation passage perpendicular to the first direction is fin-shaped;
A method for manufacturing batteries that include [the specified component].
[Additional Note 12]
A first supply module for providing multiple cylindrical battery cells,
A second providing module for providing an air-cooling structure including a main body and at least one ventilation passage passing through the main body,
An assembly module for installing at least one ventilation passage along a first direction, wherein the first direction is parallel to the axial direction of the plurality of battery cells, and the cross section of the ventilation passage perpendicular to the first direction is fin-shaped,
Battery manufacturing equipment, including battery manufacturing equipment.

This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a vehicle to which the embodiment of the present invention can be applied. This is a schematic diagram of the battery structure in an embodiment of the present invention. This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the battery in an embodiment of the present invention. This is a schematic diagram of the heat dissipation of the battery in the embodiment of the present invention. This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cover plate of the air-cooling structure of the battery in the embodiment of the present invention. This is a three-dimensional exploded view of the battery in the embodiment of the present invention. This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the battery at the outlet of an embodiment of the present invention. This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the battery at the intake port of an embodiment of the present invention. This is a schematic flowchart of the battery manufacturing method in the embodiment of the present invention. This is a schematic block diagram of a battery manufacturing apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention.

In drawings, the drawings are not drawn according to actual proportions.
Embodiments of the present application will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings and examples. The detailed description of the following embodiments and drawings are used to illustrate the principles of the present application, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present application; that is, the present application is not limited to the embodiments described.

In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, the meaning of "multiple" is two or more. Terms such as "up," "down," "left," "right," "inside," and "outside" merely indicate directions or positional relationships to facilitate and simplify the explanation of this application. They do not indicate or imply that the device or element in question has a specific direction, or that it is composed and operated in a specific direction, and therefore should not be understood as limiting this application. Furthermore, terms such as "first," "second," and "third" are used solely for explanatory purposes and should not be interpreted as indicating or implying relative importance. "Perpendicular" does not mean perpendicular in the strict sense, but rather within an acceptable margin of error. "Parallel" does not mean parallel in the strict sense, but rather within an acceptable margin of error.

The directional expressions appearing in the following description all refer to the directions shown in the diagrams and do not limit the specific structure of this application. It should be further explained in this application that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms “attach,” “connect,” and “connect” should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may refer to fixed connections, removable connections, or integral connections. They may be directly connected or indirectly connected via an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art will be able to understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application depending on the specific circumstances.

In this application, the term "and/or" merely describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three types of relationships are possible. For example, A and/or B can represent three situations: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, and B existing alone. In this application, the symbol "/" generally indicates that the preceding and succeeding related objects have an "or" relationship.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this Application have the same meaning as those generally understood by those skilled in the art. Terms used in the Application's Specification are for the sole purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the Application. The terms “including” and “having,” and any variations thereof, in the description of the Application's Specification, Claims, and the Drawings, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. Terms such as “first,” “second,” etc., in the Application's Specification, Claims, or the Drawings are used to distinguish different subjects and are not used to describe a specific order or hierarchical relationship.

References to “Examples” in this Application mean that certain features, structures, or properties described in relation to the Examples may be included in at least one Example of this Application. Where the word appears in this Specification, not all instances necessarily refer to the same Example, nor do they refer to mutually exclusive, independent, or substitute Examples. Those skilled in the art will understand, both explicitly and implicitly, that the Examples described herein can be combined with other Examples.

While the present application has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, various improvements and substitutions of components can be made without departing from the scope of the application. In particular, each technical feature mentioned in each embodiment can be combined in any manner, provided that there is no structural inconsistency. The present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein and includes all technical solutions included in the claims.

In this application, the battery cell may include lithium-ion secondary batteries, lithium-ion primary batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, sodium-lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, or magnesium-ion batteries. A battery cell is also generally referred to as a cell. The battery cell may be cylindrical, flattened, rectangular, or have other regular or irregular shapes. The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application are applicable to battery cells of any shape, but are particularly suitable for cylindrical battery cells and provide heat dissipation for cylindrical battery cells.

The battery referred to in this application refers to a single physical module containing one or more battery cells to provide higher voltage and capacity. For example, the battery referred to in this application may include a battery module or a battery pack. The battery generally includes a box for packaging one or more battery cells. The box prevents liquids or other foreign matter from affecting the charging and discharging of the battery cells.

A battery cell includes an electrode assembly and an electrolyte, and the electrode assembly consists of a positive electrode sheet, a negative electrode sheet, and a separator. The battery cell operates primarily by 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 being coated on the surface of the positive electrode current collector, and the positive electrode current collector without the positive electrode active material layer protruding from the positive electrode current collector with the positive electrode active material layer, with the positive electrode current collector without the positive electrode active material layer serving as the positive electrode tab. Taking a lithium-ion battery as an example, the material of the positive electrode current collector may be aluminum, and the positive electrode active material may be lithium cobalt oxide, lithium iron phosphate, ternary lithium, or lithium manganese oxide, etc. 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 the surface of the negative electrode current collector. Negative electrode current collectors without the negative electrode active material layer protrude from the negative electrode current collectors with the layer, forming the negative electrode tabs. The negative electrode current collector material may be copper, and the negative electrode active material may be carbon or silicon, etc. To ensure that melting does not occur due to high current, there are multiple positive electrode tabs, and the negative electrode tabs are also multiple, and they are laminated together. The separator material may be polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE), etc. Furthermore, the electrode assembly may have a wound structure or a laminated structure, and this application is not limited to these.

The battery box may also include a signal transmission assembly. This assembly is used to transmit signals such as the voltage and/or temperature of the battery cells. The signal transmission assembly may include busbars to establish electrical connections between multiple battery cells, such as parallel, series, or series-parallel connections. Busbars can establish electrical connections between battery cells by connecting the electrode terminals of the battery cells. In some embodiments, the busbars may be fixed to the electrode terminals of the battery cells by welding. The busbars transmit the voltage of the battery cells, and when multiple battery cells are connected in series, a high voltage is obtained; accordingly, the electrical connection formed by the busbars is also called a "high-voltage connection."

In addition to busbars, the signal transmission assembly may further include sensor devices for detecting the state of the battery cells. For example, such sensor devices can be used to measure and transmit detection signals such as the temperature and charge status of the battery cells. In this application, the electrical connection members within the battery may include busbars and/or sensor devices.

The busbar and sensor device can be packaged within an insulating layer to form a signal transmission assembly. Accordingly, the signal transmission assembly can be used to transmit the voltage and/or detection signals of the battery cell. The signal transmission assembly lacks an insulating layer at the connection point with the battery cell's electrode terminals; that is, the insulating layer has an opening at that point, thereby connecting to the battery cell's electrode terminals.

The development of battery technology requires simultaneous consideration of various design elements, such as energy density, cycle life, discharge capacity, and charge/discharge efficiency. Furthermore, battery safety must also be considered.

Power batteries constantly generate heat during use, and excessive heat generation can lead to serious safety problems. To ensure the safety of power batteries, they must be able to dissipate heat.

In view of this, the present invention provides a technical solution in which an air-cooling structure is installed and multiple battery cells are arranged to surround the air-cooling structure. This allows for effective utilization of the airflow introduced into the ventilation passage to remove heat from the battery cells, resulting in excellent heat dissipation performance.

The technical solutions described in this application are applicable to various electrical devices that use batteries, such as vehicles, mobile phones, portable devices, laptop computers, ships, spacecraft, electric toys, and power tools. Vehicles may be gasoline-powered, natural gas-powered, or new energy vehicles, and new energy vehicles may be pure electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, or range-extender vehicles. Spacecraft include aircraft, rockets, space shuttles, and spaceships. Electric toys include stationary or mobile electric toys such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric boat toys, and electric aircraft toys. Power tools include metal cutting power tools, polishing power tools, assembly power tools, and railway power tools such as electric drills, electric grinders, electric wrenches, electric screwdrivers, electric hammers, electric impact drills, concrete vibrators, and electric planers.

For the sake of clarity, the following explanation will use vehicles as an example to describe electrical equipment.

For example, Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a vehicle 1 to which the embodiment of this application can be applied. Vehicle 1 may be a gasoline vehicle, a natural gas vehicle, or a new energy vehicle, and the new energy vehicle may be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a range extender vehicle, etc. A motor 40, a controller 80, and a battery 10 can be installed inside vehicle 1. The controller 80 is used to control the battery 10 and supply power to the motor 40. For example, the battery 10 can be installed at the bottom, front, or rear of vehicle 1. The battery 10 is used to power vehicle 1. For example, the battery 10 can be used as the operating power source for vehicle 1, in the vehicle 1's circuit system, to meet the needs for starting, navigation, and operating power during driving. In some embodiments, the battery 10 can provide driving power to vehicle 1 not only as the operating power source but also as the driving power source for vehicle 1, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas.

To meet various power consumption needs, the battery 10 may include multiple battery cells, for example, multiple cylindrical battery cells. Here, the multiple battery cells can be connected in series, parallel, or series-parallel, with series-parallel connection referring to a mixture of series and parallel connections. The battery is also called a battery pack. In some embodiments, multiple battery cells may first be connected in series, parallel, or series-parallel to form a battery module, and these battery modules may then be further connected in series, parallel, or series-parallel to form the battery 10. That is, multiple battery cells may directly constitute the battery 10, or they may first constitute a battery module, and then the battery modules may further constitute the battery 10.

For example, Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery 10 in an embodiment of the present application. The battery 10 may include a plurality of battery cells 20. In addition to the battery cells 20, the battery 10 may further include a box 11 (or cover), the inside of which the box 11 has a hollow structure, and the plurality of battery cells 20 can be housed inside the box 11. As shown in Figure 2, the box 11 may include two parts, which are referred to here as the first box portion 111 and the second box portion 112, respectively, and the first box portion 111 and the second box portion 112 are integrally engaged. The shapes of the first box portion 111 and the second box portion 112 are determined by the shape of the plurality of battery cells 20 combined, and at least one of the first box portion 111 and the second box portion 112 has one opening. For example, the first box section 111 and the second box section 112 may both be hollow rectangular parallelepipeds with only one open surface each, the openings of the first box section 111 and the second box section 112 facing each other, and the first box section 111 and the second box section 112 may engage with each other to form a box 11 with a closed cavity. As another example, one of the first box section 111 and the second box section 112 may be a hollow rectangular parallelepiped with an opening, while the other is plate-shaped and covers the opening. The number of battery cells 20 can be set to any number according to the power demand. Multiple battery cells 20 may be connected in series, parallel, or series-parallel configuration to achieve a larger capacity or power. After combining multiple battery cells 20 by connecting them in parallel, series, or series-parallel configurations, they are placed inside the box 11 formed by engaging the first box section 111 and the second box section 112.

In some embodiments, the battery 10 may include other structures, which will not be described individually here. For example, the battery 10 may further include busbars for achieving electrical connections between multiple battery cells 20. Specifically, the busbars can achieve electrical connections between the battery cells 20 by connecting the electrode terminals of the battery cells 20. In some embodiments, the busbars may be fixed to the electrode terminals of the battery cells 20 by welding. The electrical energy of the multiple battery cells 20 may further be drawn through the box via a conductive mechanism. This conductive mechanism may belong to the busbars.

For the sake of clarity, the following explanation will primarily use the cylindrical battery cell 20 shown in Figure 2 as an example.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the battery 10 in an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the battery 10 includes an air-cooling structure 30 and a plurality of battery cells 20. The plurality of battery cells 20 are cylindrical.

Here, the air-cooling structure 30 includes a main body 31 and at least one ventilation passage 32 that penetrates the main body 31 in a first direction X. The first direction X is parallel to the axial direction of the multiple battery cells 20, and the cross-section of the ventilation passage 32 perpendicular to the first direction X is fin-shaped.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, when air is introduced into the ventilation passage 32, the air can remove heat generated by the multiple battery cells 20 surrounding the air-cooling structure 30. The shape of the cross-section of the ventilation passage 32 perpendicular to the first direction X is related to the heat dissipation efficiency of the battery cells 20. A larger cross-sectional area of the ventilation passage 32 results in higher heat dissipation efficiency, but also complicates the manufacturing process. While ensuring the feasibility of the process, the cross-sectional shape of the ventilation passage 32 can be optimized, for example, by methods such as thermal simulation.

In this embodiment, the cross-section of the ventilation passage 32 perpendicular to the first direction X is fin-shaped. By adopting a fin-shaped ventilation passage cross-section in the air-cooling structure 30 formed using a die-casting process, both heat dissipation efficiency and process feasibility are achieved. This not only increases the heat exchange area between the air-cooling structure 30 and the battery cell 20, but also maintains the feasibility of the die-casting process.

The air-cooled structure 30 can be formed by a die-casting process or the like, which is simple and highly reliable.

This application does not limit the number and position of the ventilation passages 32. In Figure 3, ten ventilation passages are used as an example, and these ten passages are arranged along the second direction Y, which is perpendicular to the first direction X. Here, the cross-section of each ventilation passage 32 perpendicular to the first direction X is fin-shaped. For example, the fin shape of the three leftmost ventilation passages 32 and the three rightmost ventilation passages 32 among the ten ventilation passages arranged along the second direction Y in Figure 3 may resemble the letter "E". Alternatively, the fin shape of the four middle ventilation passages 32 among the ten ventilation passages arranged along the second direction in Figure 3 may resemble the character "王" (wang), with two "E"s placed back-to-back.

As can be seen from the above, the battery 10 employs an air-cooling structure 30, which includes a ventilation passage 32 that penetrates the main body 31 along the axial direction of the main body 31 and the battery cells 20, i.e., the first direction X. The air introduced into the ventilation passage 32 can remove heat generated by the multiple battery cells 20, resulting in good heat dissipation performance and ensuring high safety for the battery 10. Furthermore, since the cross-section of the ventilation passage 32 perpendicular to the first direction X is fin-shaped, this fin-shaped ventilation passage cross-sectional shape combines heat dissipation efficiency and process feasibility, not only increasing the heat exchange area between the air-cooling structure and the battery cells but also guaranteeing process feasibility.

Figure 3 shows the location of the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) 201 of the Battery Management System (BMS) within box 11; however, for the sake of brevity and clarity, its specific structure is not shown in Figure 3.

In one implementation, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, multiple battery cells 20 are arranged to surround the air-cooling structure 30. By arranging the multiple cylindrical battery cells 20 to surround the air-cooling structure 30, the air introduced into the ventilation passage 32 effectively removes heat from each battery cell 20, improving the overall heat dissipation efficiency.

In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the battery 10 further includes a box 11, which includes a first box portion 111 and a second box portion 112. The first box portion 111 and the second box portion 112 engage to form a housing cavity for accommodating the air-cooling structure 30 and a plurality of battery cells 20. At least one of the first box portion 111 and the second box portion 112 has an opening, and the plane on which the opening is located is parallel to the first direction X. By installing the box 11 so that the first box portion 111 and the second box portion 112 are engaged, the assembly of the air-cooling structure 30 and the plurality of battery cells 20 within the box 11 is facilitated.

Since the multiple battery cells 20 are housed in a housing space formed by engaging the first box portion 111 and the second box portion 112, in one implementation, the first box portion 111 and the second box portion 112 can be used for heat dissipation of the multiple battery cells 20.

For example, a first heat dissipation section 1110 is installed on the bottom wall of the first box section 111, and the contour shape of the area of the first heat dissipation section 1110 that contacts the multiple battery cells 20 matches the contour shape of the surface of the multiple battery cells 20.

Here, the first heat dissipation section 1110 is a contour design, and the contour shape of the area in contact with the multiple battery cells 20 is designed to match the contour shape of the surface of the multiple battery cells 20. The first heat dissipation section 1110 may be part of the bottom wall of the first box section 111, or it may be a structure that is independently provided on the bottom wall of the first box section 111 opposite to the first box section 111. As shown in Figure 4, the first heat dissipation section 1110 is a heat conductive plate installed on the bottom wall of the first box section 111, and the contour of the area in contact with the multiple battery cells 20 on the surface of the heat conductive plate is arc-shaped, and its curvature is the same as the arc curvature of the position corresponding to the surface of the battery cell 20. This increases the heat dissipation area of the battery cells 20. The black dashed arrows in Figure 4 indicate the heat dissipation directions of the multiple battery cells 20. In the second direction Y, heat released by the battery cells 20 other than those located at both ends is not only absorbed by the airflow introduced into the ventilation passage 32, but also by the bottom wall of the first box section 111, further improving heat dissipation efficiency.

As another example, a second heat dissipation section 1120 is installed on the bottom wall of the second box section 112, and the contour shape of the area of the second heat dissipation section 1120 that contacts the multiple battery cells 20 matches the contour shape of the surface of the multiple battery cells 20.

Here, the second heat dissipation section 1120 is a contour design, and the contour shape of the area in contact with the multiple battery cells 20 is designed to match the contour shape of the surface of the multiple battery cells 20. The second heat dissipation section 1120 may be part of the bottom wall of the second box section 112, or it may be a structure that is independently provided on the bottom wall of the second box section 112 opposite to the second box section 112. As shown in Figure 4, the bottom wall of the second box section 112 faces the surface of the battery cells 20 to form the second heat dissipation section 1120. The contour of the area in the second heat dissipation section 1120 that contacts the multiple battery cells 20 is arc-shaped, and its curvature is the same as the arc curvature of the position corresponding to the surface of the battery cells 20, thereby increasing the heat dissipation area of the battery cells 20. The black dashed arrows in Figure 4 indicate the heat dissipation directions of the multiple battery cells 20. In the second direction Y, heat released by the battery cells 20 other than those located at both ends is not only absorbed by the airflow introduced into the ventilation passage 32, but also by the bottom wall of the second box section 112, further improving heat dissipation efficiency.

In one implementation, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, multiple battery cells 20 are attached to the first surface 313 of the main body 31, away from the ventilation passage 32, using a thermally conductive structural adhesive 34.

The thermally conductive structural adhesive 34 is used to connect the battery cells 20 and the air-cooling structure 30. Furthermore, because the thermally conductive structural adhesive 34 has good thermal conductivity, by surrounding and attaching multiple battery cells 20 to the first surface 313 of the air passage 32 with the thermally conductive structural adhesive 34, it helps to conduct the heat generated by the multiple battery cells 20 to the air passage 32, further improving heat dissipation efficiency.

In one implementation, the contour shape of the area on the first surface 313 of the main body 31 that is attached to the multiple battery cells 20 matches the contour shape of the surface of the multiple battery cells 20.

For example, as shown in Figures 3 to 5, the contour of the area attached to the multiple battery cells 20 on the first surface 313 of the main body 31 is arc-shaped, and its curvature is the same as the arc curvature of the position corresponding to the surface of the battery cell 20. This increases the contact area between the battery cell 20 and the first surface 313, increasing the heat dissipation area of the multiple battery cells 20 and further improving heat dissipation efficiency.

In one implementation, as shown in Figures 3 to 5, weight reduction grooves 314 are provided in the area of the first surface 313 of the main body 31 that is not attached to the multiple battery cells 20.

The main body 31 of the air-cooling structure 30 is generally made of a metal material such as aluminum and has a large weight. Therefore, by providing weight-reducing grooves 314 in the non-heat-dissipating area of the main body 31 that does not come into contact with the battery cell 20, the weight of the air-cooling structure 30 can be reduced. This application does not limit the number and size of the weight-reducing grooves 314; Figures 3 to 5 show eight weight-reducing grooves.

In one embodiment, the air-cooling structure 30 further includes a cover plate 33. Here, the cover plate 33 and the first end 311 of the main body 31 are fixed via a first bolt 41. The first end 311 is the end where the outlet of the ventilation passage 32 is located in the first direction X, and is also referred to as the rear end of the air-cooling structure 30.

As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the air-cooling structure 30 and the multiple battery cells 20 are housed within the box 11. A cover plate 33 is installed at the end where the air outlet of the air-cooling structure 30 is located, and the cover plate 33 and the main body 31 of the air-cooling structure 30 are assembled together via the first bolt 41. A module is formed by connecting the air-cooling structure 30 and the multiple battery cells 20 with a thermally conductive structural adhesive 34. This module is then inserted into the box 11 through the opening of the second box section 112, and the cover plate 33 can be further secured to the first end 311 of the main body 31 via the first bolt 41. This not only satisfies the assembly requirements for the battery 10, but also enables the assembly of the air-cooling structure 30 and the multiple battery cells 20 within the box 11, and further allows the multiple battery cells 20 to be sealed by the cover plate 33.

In one implementation, as shown in Figure 7, a first sealing member 51 is installed between the cover plate 33 and the first end 311 of the main body 31. The first sealing member 51 ensures a seal between the cover plate 33 and the main body 31 at the outlet, placing the battery cell 20 in a sealed space and guaranteeing the airtightness requirements of the battery cell 20.

In one implementation, as shown in Figure 7, a second sealing member 52 is installed between the cover plate 33 and the box 11. The second sealing member 52 ensures a seal between the cover plate 33 and the box 11 at the outlet, placing the battery cell 20 in a sealed space and guaranteeing the airtightness requirements of the battery cell 20.

As can be seen from the above, at the outlet, the first sealing member 51 seals the space between the cover plate 33 and the air-cooling structure 30, and the second sealing member 52 seals the space between the cover plate 33 and the box 11. After the multiple battery cells 20 are installed surrounding the air-cooling structure 30, they are placed within the sealed space formed by the box 11, the cover plate 33, and the air-cooling structure 30, thereby guaranteeing the airtightness requirements of the battery cells 20.

In one implementation, as shown in Figure 7, there is a gap 60 between the cover plate 33 and the end faces of the multiple battery cells 20. The gap 60 between the cover plate 33 and the end faces of the battery cells 20 can be designed according to assembly requirements, and this gap 60 is used to leave sufficient space for the automated assembly of the battery 10.

In one implemented configuration, the second end 312 of the main body 31 of the air-cooling structure 30 and the box 11 are fixed via a second bolt 42. Here, the second end 312 is the end where the intake port of the ventilation passage 32 is located in the first direction X, and is also called the front part of the air-cooling structure.

As shown in Figures 6 and 8, the air-cooling structure 30 and the multiple battery cells 20 are housed within the box 11, and the box 11 and the main body 31 of the air-cooling structure 30 are assembled together via the second bolt 42. A module is formed by connecting the air-cooling structure 30 and the multiple battery cells 20 with a thermally conductive structural adhesive 34. This module is then inserted into the box 11 through the opening of the second box section 112, and the second end 312 of the main body 31 is further secured to the box 11 via the second bolt 42. This not only satisfies the assembly requirements for the battery 10, but also enables the assembly of the air-cooling structure 30 and the multiple battery cells 20 within the box 11, and further achieves sealing of the multiple battery cells 20.

In one implementation, as shown in Figure 8, a third sealing member 53 is installed between the second end 312 of the main body 31 and the box 11. The third sealing member 53 ensures a seal between the box 11 and the air-cooling structure 30 at the intake port, placing the battery cell 20 in a sealed space and guaranteeing the airtightness requirements of the battery cell 20.

In one embodiment, the air-cooling structure 30 further includes a fan 70, which is used to expel the heat generated by the multiple battery cells 20 by passing air through the air passage 32. The fan 70 increases the airflow velocity in the air passage 32, thereby improving the heat dissipation efficiency of the battery cells 20.

As shown in Figure 8, a fan 70 is installed at the intake port. The fan 70 is, for example, an axial fan, used to generate cool air along the first direction X. As the cool air passes through the air passage 32, it expels the heat generated by the battery cells 20 from inside the battery 10, thereby lowering the temperature of the battery 10.

One embodiment of the present invention further provides an electrical device which may include the battery 10 in each of the above embodiments for use in supplying it with electrical energy.

The battery 10 of the above embodiment is installed in the electrical equipment. In this battery 10, multiple cylindrical battery cells 20 are arranged to surround an air-cooling structure 30. The air-cooling structure 30 includes a ventilation passage 32 that penetrates the main body 31 along the axial direction of the main body 31 and the battery cells, i.e., the first direction X. The air introduced into the ventilation passage 32 can remove the heat generated by the multiple battery cells 20, resulting in good heat dissipation performance and providing the battery 10 with high safety, which is useful for the widespread use of electrical equipment.

The above describes the battery 10 and electrical equipment 1 of the embodiment of the present application. Below, the manufacturing method 300 and manufacturing apparatus 400 of the battery 10 of the embodiment of the present application will be described. Parts not described in detail here can be referred to the above embodiments.

Figure 9 shows a schematic flowchart of the manufacturing method 300 for the battery 10 in an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 9, the manufacturing method 300 includes the steps of: providing a plurality of cylindrical battery cells 20 in step 310; providing an air-cooling structure 30 including a main body 31 and at least one ventilation passage 32 penetrating the main body 31; and installing at least one ventilation passage 32 along a first direction X, where the first direction X is parallel to the axial direction of the plurality of battery cells 20, and making the cross-section of the ventilation passage 32 perpendicular to the first direction X fin-shaped.

Figure 10 is a schematic block diagram of a battery manufacturing apparatus 400 in an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 10, the manufacturing apparatus 400 includes a first providing module 410 for providing a plurality of cylindrical battery cells 20, a second providing module 420 for providing a body 31 and an air-cooling structure 30 including at least one ventilation passage 32 penetrating the body 31, and an assembly module 430 for arranging at least one ventilation passage 32 along a first direction X, where the first direction X is parallel to the axial direction of the plurality of battery cells 20, and for making the cross section of the ventilation passage 32 perpendicular to the first direction X fin-shaped.

While the present application has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, various improvements and substitutions of components can be made without departing from the scope of the application. In particular, each technical feature mentioned in each embodiment can be combined in any manner, provided that there is no structural inconsistency. The present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein and includes all technical solutions included in the claims.

1 Vehicle 10 Battery 11 Box 20 Battery cell 30 Air cooling structure 31 Main body 32 Ventilation passage 33 Cover plate 34 Thermally conductive structural adhesive 40 Motor 41 First bolt 42 Second bolt 51 First sealing member 52 Second sealing member 53 Third sealing member 60 Gap 70 Fan 80 Controller 111 First box section 112 Second box section 201 Printed circuit board assembly 311 First end 312 Second end 313 First surface 314 Weight reduction groove 400 Manufacturing device 410 First supply module 420 Second supply module 430 Assembly module 1110 First heat dissipation section 1120 Second heat dissipation section

Claims (12)

Multiple cylindrical battery cells,
An air-cooling structure comprising a main body and at least one ventilation passage penetrating the main body in a first direction, wherein the first direction is parallel to the axial direction of the plurality of battery cells, and the cross section of the ventilation passage perpendicular to the first direction is fin-shaped,
Includes,
The invention further includes a box for housing the plurality of battery cells,
The air-cooling structure further includes a cover plate, the cover plate is fixedly connected to a first end of the main body, the first end being the end where the air outlet of the ventilation passage is located in a first direction, a first sealing member is installed between the cover plate and the first end, the first sealing member is used to achieve a seal between the cover plate and the main body at the location of the air outlet, a second sealing member is installed between the cover plate and the box, the second sealing member is used to achieve a seal between the cover plate and the box at the location of the air outlet, a third sealing member is installed between the box and the second end of the main body, the second end being the end where the air intake of the ventilation passage is located in a first direction, and the third sealing member is used to achieve a seal between the box and the air-cooling structure at the location of the air intake, a battery. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of battery cells are arranged to surround the air-cooling structure. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of battery cells are attached to the first surface of the main body, away from the ventilation passage, using a thermally conductive structural adhesive. The battery according to claim 3, wherein the contour shape of the region attached to the plurality of battery cells on the first surface matches the contour shape of the surface of the plurality of battery cells. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the air cooling structure further includes a fan, the fan is used to blow air through the air passage to dissipate the heat generated by the plurality of battery cells. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the box includes a first box portion and a second box portion, the first box portion and the second box portion engage to form a housing cavity for housing the air-cooling structure and the plurality of battery cells, at least one of the first box portion and the second box portion has an opening, and the plane on which the opening is located is parallel to the first direction. The battery according to claim 6, wherein a first heat dissipation section is installed on the bottom wall of the first box section, and the contour shape of the area in contact with the plurality of battery cells in the first heat dissipation section matches the contour shape of the surface of the plurality of battery cells. The battery according to claim 6, wherein a second heat dissipation section is installed on the bottom wall of the second box section, and the contour shape of the area in contact with the plurality of battery cells in the second heat dissipation section matches the contour shape of the surface of the plurality of battery cells. The air-cooling structure is formed by a die-casting process, claim 1
The battery listed. An electrical device comprising a battery according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the battery is used to supply electrical energy to the electrical device. The steps include providing multiple cylindrical battery cells,
The steps include providing an air-cooling structure that includes a main body and at least one ventilation passage passing through the main body,
The steps include: installing at least one ventilation passage along a first direction, wherein the first direction is parallel to the axial direction of the plurality of battery cells, and the cross section of the ventilation passage perpendicular to the first direction is fin-shaped;
The step includes providing a box for housing the plurality of battery cells,
A method for manufacturing a battery, wherein the air-cooling structure further includes a cover plate, the cover plate is fixedly connected to a first end of the main body, the first end is the end where the air outlet of the ventilation passage is located in a first direction, a first sealing member is installed between the cover plate and the first end, the first sealing member is used to achieve a seal between the cover plate and the main body at the location of the air outlet, a second sealing member is installed between the cover plate and the box, the second sealing member is used to achieve a seal between the cover plate and the box at the location of the air outlet, and a third sealing member is installed between the box and the second end of the main body, the second end is the end where the air intake of the ventilation passage is located in a first direction, and the third sealing member is used to achieve a seal between the box and the air-cooling structure at the location of the air intake. A first supply module for providing multiple cylindrical battery cells,
A second providing module for providing an air-cooling structure including a main body and at least one ventilation passage passing through the main body,
An assembly module for installing at least one ventilation passage along a first direction, wherein the first direction is parallel to the axial direction of the plurality of battery cells, and the cross section of the ventilation passage perpendicular to the first direction is fin-shaped,
The module includes a third providing module for providing a box for housing the plurality of battery cells,
A battery manufacturing apparatus, wherein the air-cooling structure further includes a cover plate, the cover plate is fixedly connected to a first end of the main body, the first end being the end where the air outlet of the ventilation passage is located in a first direction, a first sealing member is installed between the cover plate and the first end, the first sealing member is used to achieve a seal between the cover plate and the main body at the location of the air outlet, a second sealing member is installed between the cover plate and the box, the second sealing member is used to achieve a seal between the cover plate and the box at the location of the air outlet, and a third sealing member is installed between the box and the second end of the main body , the second end being the end where the air intake of the ventilation passage is located in a first direction, and the third sealing member is used to achieve a seal between the box and the air-cooling structure at the location of the air intake.