Battery module and battery pack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12015164-B2
Application number	US-202017129629-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2020
Priority date	Feb 27, 2019
Publication date	Jun 18, 2024
Grant date	Jun 18, 2024

Abstract

This application relates to a battery module and a battery pack. The battery module includes a binding member and battery cell assemblies arranged along a horizontal direction, the battery cell assembly including an upper-layer battery cell and a lower-layer battery cell that are stacked along a vertical direction, the upper-layer battery cell and the lower-layer battery cell interconnected and forming a joint; and the binding member covering the joint, located between two adjacent battery cell assemblies, and fixed to the battery cell assemblies. The battery module includes a binding member and a plurality of battery cell assemblies, and the battery cell assembly includes upper-layer and a lower-layer battery cells stacked along a vertical direction. A joint is formed between the upper-layer and lower-layer battery cells and covered by the joint fixed to the battery cell assemblies, swelling of the upper-layer and lower-layer battery cells at the joint is reduced.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A battery module, comprising a binding member and a plurality of a battery cell assembly that are arranged along a horizontal direction, wherein the battery cell assembly comprises an upper-layer battery cell and a lower-layer battery cell that are stacked along a vertical direction; wherein:
the upper-layer battery cell and the lower-layer battery cell are interconnected and form a joint; and
the binding member covers the joint, the binding member is located between two adjacent battery cell assemblies, the binding member is fixed to the battery cell assemblies through an adhesive, wherein the binding member is fixed to at least a portion of a side surface of the upper battery cell and a portion of a side surface of the lower battery cell, and the binding member is configured to limit the lower-layer battery cell and the upper-layer battery cell from swelling deformation at the joint.

2. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein each of the upper-layer battery cell and the lower-layer battery cell comprises an electrode assembly and a battery housing, the electrode assembly is accommodated in the battery housing, and the electrode assembly comprises a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, and a separator disposed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate; and
the electrode assembly is a winding structure in a flat shape, wherein an outer surface of the electrode assembly comprises two flat surfaces, and the two flat surfaces face each other along the vertical direction; or the electrode assembly is a laminated structure, wherein the first electrode plate, the separator, and the second electrode plate are laminated along the vertical direction.

3. The battery module according to claim 2 , wherein the battery housing comprises two first surfaces and two second surfaces, and an area of each first surface is greater than an area of each second surface; and
the two second surfaces face each other along the horizontal direction, and the two first surfaces face each other along the vertical direction.

4. The battery module according to claim 3 , wherein one of the second surfaces of the upper-layer battery cell and a corresponding one of the second surfaces of the lower-layer battery cell are respectively bonded and fixed to one side of the binding member by using the adhesive.

5. The battery module according to claim 4 , wherein two sides of the binding member are respectively fixed to the two adjacent battery cell assemblies.

6. The battery module according to claim 4 , wherein the adhesive is a structural adhesive.

7. The battery module according to claim 4 , wherein the binding member completely covers one of the second surfaces of the upper-layer battery cell and a corresponding one of the second surfaces of the lower-layer battery cell.

8. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the binding member is a metal plate.

9. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the battery module further comprises a pair of end plates, and the two end plates are respectively bonded and fixed to battery cell assemblies located at two ends of the horizontal direction.

10. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the binding member is fixed to upper-layer battery cell at a first side surface of the upper-layer battery in the vertical direction, wherein the binding member covers only a portion of the first side surface; and the binding member is fixed to lower-layer battery cell at a second side surface of the lower-layer battery in the vertical direction, wherein the binding member covers only a portion of the second side surface.

11. A battery pack, comprising:
a lower case and an upper cover, wherein the lower case and the upper cover are interconnected and form an accommodating cavity; and
a battery module accommodated in the accommodating cavity, wherein the battery module further comprises: a binding member and a plurality of battery cell assemblies that are arranged along a horizontal direction, wherein the battery cell assembly comprises an upper-layer battery cell and a lower-layer battery cell that are stacked along a vertical direction, wherein:
the upper-layer battery cell and the lower-layer battery cell are interconnected and form a joint; and
the binding member covers the joint, the binding member is located between two adjacent battery cell assemblies, the binding member is fixed to the battery cell assemblies through an adhesive, wherein the binding member is fixed to at least a portion of a side surface of the upper battery cell and a portion of a side surface of the lower battery cell, and the binding member is configured to limit the lower-layer battery cell and the upper-layer battery cell from swelling deformation at the joint.

12. The battery pack according to claim 11 , wherein each of the upper-layer battery cell and the lower-layer battery cell comprises an electrode assembly and a battery housing, the electrode assembly is accommodated in the battery housing, and the electrode assembly comprises a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, and a separator disposed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate; and
the electrode assembly is a winding structure in a flat shape, wherein an outer surface of the electrode assembly comprises two flat surfaces, and the two flat surfaces face each other along the vertical direction; or the electrode assembly is a laminated structure, wherein the first electrode plate, the separator, and the second electrode plate are laminated along the vertical direction.

13. The battery pack according to claim 12 , wherein the battery housing comprises two first surfaces and two second surfaces, and an area of each first surface is greater than an area of each second surface; and
the two second surfaces face each other along the horizontal direction, and the two first surfaces face each other along the vertical direction.

14. The battery pack according to claim 13 , wherein one of the second surfaces of the upper-layer battery cell and a corresponding one of the second surfaces of the lower-layer battery cell are respectively bonded and fixed to one side of the binding member by using the adhesive.

15. The battery pack according to claim 14 , wherein two sides of the binding member are respectively fixed to the two adjacent battery cell assemblies.

16. The battery pack according to claim 14 , wherein the adhesive is a structural adhesive.

17. The battery pack according to claim 14 , wherein the binding member completely covers one of the second surfaces of the upper-layer battery cell and a corresponding one of the second surfaces of the lower-layer battery cell.

18. The battery pack according to claim 11 , wherein the binding member is a metal plate.

19. The battery pack according to claim 11 , wherein the battery module further comprises a pair of end plates, and the two end plates are respectively bonded and fixed to battery cell assemblies located at two ends of the horizontal direction.

20. An electric apparatus, comprising a battery module, the battery module comprising a binding member and a plurality of battery cell assemblies that are arranged along a horizontal direction, wherein each battery cell assembly comprises an upper-layer battery cell and a lower-layer battery cell that are stacked along a vertical direction, wherein:
the upper-layer battery cell and the lower-layer battery cell are interconnected and form a joint;
the binding member covers the joint,

Assignees

• Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd

Inventors

• Chen Xingdi
• Hou Yuepan
• You Kaijie
• Zhou Linggang
• Wang Peng
• Peng Yanan

Classifications

• H01M50/531

  Electrode connections inside a battery casing · CPC title

• H01M50/514

  Methods for interconnecting adjacent batteries or cells · CPC title

• H01M50/536

  characterised by the method of fixing the leads to the electrodes, e.g. by welding · CPC title

• H01M50/538

  Connection of several leads or tabs of wound or folded electrode stacks · CPC title

• Y02P70/50

  Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product · CPC title