Battery module having battery cells and a battery holder for accommodating the battery cells, and method for producing such a battery module

Abstract

The invention is based on a battery module (10) having at least one battery cell (20) and a battery holder (30) for accommodating the at least one battery cell (20), wherein the at least one battery cell (20) is accommodated by the battery holder (30), wherein the battery holder (30) is designed in such a way that it mechanically fixes the at least one battery cell (20). One aspect of the invention is that the battery holder (30) is designed in one piece. The invention also relates to a method for producing a battery module (10) according to the invention.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention proceeds from a battery module having at least one battery cell and a battery holder for accommodating the at least one battery cell, wherein the at least one battery cell is accommodated by the battery holder, wherein the battery holder is designed in such a way that it mechanically fixes the at least one battery cell. Background Art

[0002] Such a battery module is disclosed, for example, in the publication US 2016 / 0211562 A1. This publication discloses a battery module having a plurality of battery cells. Here, the battery cells are mechanically fixed by a battery holder, in that the battery cells are installed in a multi-piece battery holder, wherein the battery holder is screwed or clamped together. Thus, the battery cells are inserted and fixed simultaneously. Summary of the invention

[0003] The invention proceeds from a battery module having at least one battery cell and a battery holder for accommodating the at least one battery cell, wherein the at least one battery cell is accommodated by the battery holder, wherein the battery holder is designed in such a way that it mechanically fixes the at least one battery cell.

[0004] One aspect of the present invention is that the battery holder is constructed in one piece.

[0005] The advantage here is that a plurality of cell holder parts are not assembled into one cell holder, which makes it possible to manufacture the battery module more simply. Furthermore, the manufacturing costs are reduced thereby.

[0006] Furthermore, the battery holder is particularly designed such that the battery cells are completely surrounded by the battery holder in the radial direction and also partially in the vertical direction. This leads to improved heat conduction from the battery cells through the battery holder to the surroundings of the battery module, which in turn better protects the battery cells from diffusion.

[0007] Here, the battery module has at least one current cell which serves as an electrochemical energy store and is in particular rechargeable, such as a lithium-ion battery, so that electrical energy can be drawn from the battery module but also introduced into the battery module.

[0008] The battery cells are in particular designed as round batteries, wherein the battery cells are mechanically fixed relative to the battery holder. The battery holder is accordingly designed in such a way that the battery cells can be inserted into the battery holder and the battery holder has corresponding receptacles for this purpose.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the battery module according to the invention, it is provided that the at least one battery cell is fixed by means of a heat-locking process.

[0010] It is advantageous here that axial and radial tolerance compensation can be ensured by thermal locking.

[0011] Furthermore, the heat lock achieves a mechanically rigid connection, which in turn enables electronic connection possibilities that are not possible or can only be achieved with difficulty when the battery holder is screwed or clamped. Such electronic connection possibilities can be, for example, ultrasonic welding.

[0012] According to another embodiment of the battery module according to the invention, it is provided that the heat locking process is performed completely along the end edge of the at least one battery cell.

[0013] This is to be understood as meaning that the battery cell is thermally locked over the entire circumference along the end edge.

[0014] It is advantageous to achieve a sealing connection that seals the space between the battery cell and the battery holder in the radial direction and also in the vertical direction relative to the outside. This makes it possible, for example, to introduce a medium between the battery cell and the battery holder.

[0015] Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the heat-locking process is performed locally along the end edge of the battery cell.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the battery module according to the invention, it is provided that a heat transfer medium and / or a potting compound is inserted between at least one battery cell and the battery holder.

[0017] In this case, it is advantageous if the heat transfer medium and / or the potting compound can have particles or materials which provide a flame retardant or other function, for example in order to increase the protection of the battery cells against diffusion.

[0018] Furthermore, heat dissipation from the battery cells to the outside can be improved.

[0019] According to a further embodiment of the battery module according to the invention, it is provided that the cell carrier has a transverse line through which a heat transfer medium and / or a potting compound can be introduced.

[0020] The advantage here is that this makes it easy to introduce the heat transfer medium and / or the potting compound.

[0021] Furthermore, an improved heat exchange can be achieved among a plurality of battery cells connected via transverse lines. The extent of the heat transfer can be set via the diameter of the transverse lines.

[0022] Furthermore, by locally introducing the potting compound, the amount of potting compound can be reduced in comparison with previous battery modules with global potting of the battery cells, which in turn makes it possible to save both weight and material costs.

[0023] It is also conceivable to lock the transverse lines of the battery holder by means of temperature sensors (eg NTC sensors), so that the temperature of the heat transfer medium and / or the potting compound can be detected, from which malfunctions or possible spread of the battery cells can be inferred.

[0024] The invention further relates to a method for producing a battery module according to the invention, the method comprising at least the following method steps:

[0025] a. providing at least one battery cell and a one-piece battery holder for accommodating at least one battery cell;

[0026] b. placing the at least one battery cell into the battery holder;

[0027] c. The at least one battery cell is mechanically fixed by the battery holder.

[0028] In this case, method steps a to c are carried out successively.

[0029] The advantage here is that it is not necessary to assemble a plurality of cell holder parts into one cell holder, which makes it possible to manufacture the battery module more simply. Furthermore, the manufacturing costs are reduced thereby.

[0030] A further advantage is that axial and radial tolerance compensation is ensured by fixing the battery after it has been inserted into the battery holder instead of during the insertion.

[0031] The battery holder is particularly designed such that the inserted battery cells are completely surrounded by the battery holder in the radial direction and also partially in the vertical direction. This leads to improved heat conduction from the battery cells through the battery holder to the surroundings of the battery module, which in turn better protects the battery module from diffusion caused by the battery cells.

[0032] In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that in method step c, the at least one battery cell is mechanically fixed by means of a heat-locking process.

[0033] It is advantageous here that tolerance compensation is ensured, in particular, by heat locking. In addition, heat locking enables a mechanically rigid connection, which in turn enables electronic connection possibilities that are not possible or can only be achieved with difficulty when the battery holder is screwed or clamped. Such electronic connection possibilities can be, for example, ultrasonic welding.

[0034] According to an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that the heat locking process in method step c is carried out completely along the end edge of the at least one battery cell.

[0035] It is advantageous to achieve a sealing connection which seals the space between the battery cell and the battery holder in the radial direction relative to the outside. This makes it possible, for example, to introduce a medium between the battery cell and the battery holder.

[0036] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, method step b is followed by method step d, in which a heat transfer medium and / or a potting compound is introduced between at least one battery cell and the battery holder.

[0037] In this context, it is advantageous if the heat transfer medium and / or the potting compound can have particles or materials which provide a flame retardant or other function, in order to, for example, increase the protection of the battery cells against diffusion.

[0038] Furthermore, heat dissipation from the battery cells to the outside can be improved.

[0039] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that the heat transfer medium and / or the potting compound is introduced through transverse lines of the cell holder.

[0040] The advantage here is that this makes it easy to introduce the heat transfer medium and / or the potting compound.

[0041] Furthermore, an improved heat exchange can be achieved among a plurality of battery cells connected via transverse lines. The extent of the heat transfer can be set via the diameter of the transverse lines.

[0042] Furthermore, by locally introducing the potting compound, the amount of potting compound can be reduced in comparison with previous battery modules with global potting of the battery cells, which in turn makes it possible to save both weight and material costs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] Figure 1 An embodiment of a battery module according to the present invention is shown.

[0044] Figure 2 An exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention for producing a battery module according to the invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] Figure 1 An embodiment of a battery module according to the present invention is shown.

[0046] A vertical cross section of a battery module 10 according to the invention is shown. The battery module 10 has two battery cells 20 and a battery carrier 30 for accommodating the two battery cells 20. The battery carrier 30 is designed in one piece and is used to accommodate the battery cells 20.

[0047] The battery cell 20 is inserted into the battery holder 30 and mechanically fixed by the battery holder. In particular, the battery cell 20 is inserted into the battery holder 30 through the opening 33 until the stop 34, which is configured as a protrusion. Then, a heat locking process is performed to mechanically fix the battery cell 20 in the battery holder 30. In the heat locking process, the region 37 of the battery holder 30 is deformed by means of a die 35 (which moves in the direction of the arrow 36 with a predetermined force and has a predetermined temperature) so that a second stop 38 is formed in the region of the opening 33 in order to mechanically fix the battery cell 20. Therefore, in the region 37 represented by the dot-dash line, the battery holder 30 is formed as a stop 38. The heat locking process is particularly configured so that it is carried out completely along the end edge 22 of the corresponding battery cell 20. The battery cell 20 can also be electrically connected from the outside through the opening 33. In the region of the stop 34, there are also openings in particular in order to electrically connect the battery cell 20. Furthermore, the cell holder 30 is designed in particular in such a way that the battery cells 20 are completely surrounded by the cell holder 30 in the radial direction and are also partially surrounded by the cell holder 30 in the vertical direction.

[0048] Optionally, a heat transfer medium 41 and / or a potting compound 42 is inserted between the respective battery cell 20 and the battery holder 30. In this case, the battery holder 30 has in particular a transverse line 32, through which the heat transfer medium 41 and / or the potting compound 42 can be inserted in the direction of the arrow 44. It is also conceivable to lock the transverse line 32 of the battery holder 30 outwardly by means of a temperature sensor (for example, by means of an NTC sensor) which is not shown in the figure.

[0049] Furthermore, the heat transfer medium 41 and / or the potting compound 42 may have particles or materials which provide flame retardancy or other functions (eg, better handling).

[0050] Figure 2 An exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention for producing a battery module according to the invention is shown.

[0051] First, in method step a, at least one battery cell 20 and a one-piece battery holder 30 for accommodating the at least one battery cell 20 are provided.

[0052] Next, in method step b, at least one battery cell 20 is inserted into the battery holder 30 .

[0053] Next, in method step c, at least one battery cell 20 is mechanically fixed by the battery holder 30. The mechanical fixing can be carried out in particular by means of a heat locking process. Here, the pressing die 35 is pressed onto the battery holder 20 with a predetermined force, wherein the pressing die 35 also has a predetermined temperature. The battery holder 30 is deformed by the heated pressing die 35 in such a way that the battery cell 20 accommodated by the battery holder 30 is mechanically locked in the battery holder 30. In this case, the heat locking is carried out in particular in such a way that the battery cell 20 is completely locked along the end edge 22 of the battery cell 20.

[0054] Optionally, after method step b, method step d may be additionally performed, in which a heat transfer medium 41 and / or a potting compound 42 is inserted between at least one battery cell 20 and the battery holder 30. Here, the heat transfer medium 41 and / or the potting compound 42 is inserted, in particular, through the transverse pipe 32 of the battery holder 30.

[0055] As soon as the battery cell 20 is inserted into the battery holder 30 and the battery cell 20 is mechanically fixed, ie after method step c, method step d can be performed. However, it is also conceivable that method step d is already performed after method step b and before method step c.

Claims

1. A battery module (10), comprising at least one battery cell (20) and a battery holder (30) for accommodating the at least one battery cell (20), wherein: The at least one battery cell (20) is received by the battery holder (30), wherein the battery holder (30) is designed such that the battery holder (30) mechanically fixes the at least one battery cell (20), wherein: The battery holder (30) is constructed in one piece. It is characterized in that The at least one battery cell (20) is fixed by means of a heat locking process, wherein, in the heat locking process, a region (37) of the battery holder (30) is deformed by means of a pressing die (35) so that stops (38) are formed in the region of the openings (33), the at least one battery cell (20) is inserted into the battery holder (30) through the openings (33) until a further stop (34), the pressing die (35) being moved towards the region (37) with a predetermined force and having a predetermined temperature.

2. The battery module (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heat locking process is performed completely along the end edge (22) of the at least one battery cell (20).

3. The battery module (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that A heat transfer medium (41) and / or a potting material (42) is inserted between the at least one battery cell (20) and the battery holder (30).

4. The battery module according to claim 3, characterized in that: The cell carrier (30) has a transverse line (32) through which the heat transfer medium (41) and / or the potting compound (42) can be introduced.

5. A method for producing a battery module (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising at least the following method steps: a. providing at least one battery cell (20) and a one-piece battery holder (30) for accommodating the at least one battery cell (20); b. placing the at least one battery cell (20) into the battery holder (30); c. Mechanically fixing the at least one battery cell (20) by means of the battery holder (30) by means of a heat locking process.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The heat locking process in the method step c is performed completely along the end edge (22) of the at least one battery cell (20).

7. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 6, characterized in that Method step b is followed by method step d, in which a heat transfer medium (41) and / or a potting compound (42) is introduced between the at least one battery cell (20) and the battery holder (30).

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The heat transfer medium (41) and / or the potting material (42) are introduced through the transverse pipeline (32) of the battery holder (30).

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