Hermetically sealed enclosure and manufacture thereof

Abstract

The invention proposed relates to a housing for hermetically protecting an interior space of the housing from the environment, wherein the housing comprises at least one cover panel having a cover surface, an inner surface and four side surfaces, wherein the at least one cover panel is welded on each of its side surfaces to one of the four wall panels, wherein each two mutually contacting wall panels are welded to each other in an overlap region of the two mutually contacting wall panels, wherein in each corner region in which the at least one cover panel and two wall panels contact each other, a weld seam for connecting a first wall panel to the at least one cover panel, a weld seam for connecting a second wall panel to the at least one cover panel and a weld seam for connecting the first wall panel to the second wall panel are planarly in contact with each other and overlap each other. The invention also relates to a manufacturing method for an outer housing.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a housing for hermetically protecting an interior space of the housing from the environment. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a housing. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the so-called "seal welding", i.e. in the manufacture of a hermetic housing by means of laser welding, always attention is paid to precisely machined edges, so that the welding process does not become unstable. Accordingly, due to the tolerance chain in the manufacturing process, in particular the corner regions of a hermetic housing are particularly susceptible to non-sealing.

[0003] For example, in the manufacturing process of a housing for a fuel cell stack, gaps can occur between the cover plate and the wall plates and between the individual wall plates.

[0004] By using laser cutting tools, it is possible to produce sheet metal with particularly precisely shaped edges, which are accordingly well suited for use in laser welding. Here, the individual weld seams can be implemented as butt seams or lap seams. In comparison to butt seams, lap seams offer greater tolerances in terms of positioning fluctuations, however require more energy in the manufacturing than weld seams with butt joints. SUMMARY

[0005] Within the scope of the presented invention, a housing and a manufacturing method for manufacturing a housing are presented. Further features and details of the invention result from the individual preferred embodiments, the description and the figures. Here, the features and details described in connection with the housing according to the invention of course also apply in connection with the manufacturing method according to the invention and vice versa, so that always the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention can be referred to each other.

[0006] The presented invention is in particular used to provide a hermetic housing for a fuel cell stack.

[0007] Thus, in a first aspect of the presented invention, a housing for hermetically protecting an interior space of the housing from the environment is presented. The housing comprises four wall plates and at least one cover plate having a cover surface, an inner surface and four side surfaces. The at least one cover plate is welded on each of its side surfaces with one of the four wall plates, wherein each two of the wall plates contacting each other are welded to each other in an overlapping region of the two wall plates contacting each other, wherein in each corner region of the at least one cover plate and two wall plates contacting each other, a weld seam for connecting a first wall plate with the at least one cover plate, a weld seam for connecting a second wall plate with the at least one cover plate and a weld seam for connecting the first wall plate with the second wall plate are in face-like contact with each other and overlap each other.

[0008] In the context of the proposed application, a "weld" is to be understood as a region of material which is formed in a welding process and which connects at least two elements to one another. In particular, the weld is composed of material which is melted by means of a laser, which solidifies again after melting and which at least partially passes through the at least two elements.

[0009] In the context of the present application, a "cover plate" is to be understood as a component which delimits a housing upwards or downwards with respect to the environment and which is made of metal. The cover plate can in particular be a plate, for example a rectangular or cuboid plate.

[0010] In the context of the proposed application, an "overlap of a plurality of welds" is to be understood as a region in which a plurality of welds meet or cross one another. In particular, an "overlap" is to be understood as a region in which a plurality of welds merge into a welding region or in which the individual welds transition into one another.

[0011] In the context of the proposed application, an "overlap" is to be understood as a material protrusion which protrudes or projects beyond one region.

[0012] In the context of the proposed application, a "corner region" is to be understood as a region which surrounds a corner of the proposed housing, in which three welds cross or overlap one another. In particular, a "corner region" is to be understood as a region in which two wall plates and one cover plate contact one another.

[0013] The proposed housing can be cuboid or substantially cuboid, wherein a material protrusion can be provided on each corner of the cuboid housing. Accordingly, the proposed housing encloses a cuboid or substantially cuboid interior space and seals the interior space with respect to the surroundings in an airtight manner.

[0014] The proposed housing is in particular based on an overlap of a plurality of, in particular three, welds on each corner point of the housing. By means of the overlap of the welds, in which the welds meet one another on the same location or a common region, a particularly reliable sealing or a particularly good protection against the formation of gaps is provided.

[0015] Furthermore, the overlap of the welds provided according to the application enables a high manufacturing tolerance when manufacturing the welds. Since the welds do not have to end in a fixedly predefined point, but rather only have to contact a defined region, compared to, for example, a butt weld, the individual welds can be manufactured "oversized", i.e. manufactured with a protrusion which extends beyond the overlap region into the overlap region. The welds which end in the overlap region and not on an exactly predefined end point are particularly easy and reliable to manufacture on the one hand and can compensate for manufacturing tolerances of the wall plates or cover plates of the housing according to the application on the other hand.

[0016] The overlap region or rather the protrusion of the weld seam can provide a region with which the wall panel or the cover panel can be brought into contact with the weld seam, so that a precise orientation or machining of the wall panel or the cover panel can be avoided and high manufacturing tolerances can be tolerated. Accordingly, the housing according to the application can be made from simple sheet material, which is for example stamped or mechanically cut.

[0017] In particular, the proposed housing can be made from damaged sheet material which is not precisely cut or which has a non-uniform length. Only one end of the wall panel needs to be straight and precise. For this purpose, the wall panel can for example be reworked only on said end in terms of precise cutting.

[0018] Furthermore, the connection provided according to the application, which is provided on the side of the cover panel and which is located between the cover panel and the respective wall panel, makes it possible to compensate for length differences of the respective wall panel by means of the cover panel. For this purpose, the cover panel can for example be configured to be particularly thick or particularly high, so that the height of the side region of the cover panel in which the respective wall panel is arranged provides a particularly large clearance space for compensating for length differences of the wall panel. Accordingly, depending on the length of the wall panel, the wall panel can end in the upper region or the lower region of the side region of the cover panel, but always overlaps the cover panel and depending thereon can seal the interior space of the housing in a gas-tight manner.

[0019] For the case in which the proposed housing is used as a housing for a fuel cell stack, the connection provided according to the application, which is provided on the side of the cover panel and which is located between the cover panel and the respective wall panel, makes it possible to compensate for stack tolerances of the fuel cell stack.

[0020] In particular, it is provided that the weld seam of the proposed housing is provided or arranged in the overlap region of the respective wall panel or in the overlap region of the wall panel and the cover panel.

[0021] It can be provided that the respective weld seam for connecting the respective wall panel to the at least one cover panel is located in one plane.

[0022] By orienting the respective weld seam for connecting the respective wall panel to the respective cover panel in one plane, it is possible to minimize the clearance between the wall panels. For this purpose, it is possible to compensate for length differences between the wall panels by means of the cover panel.

[0023] Furthermore, it can be provided that the weld seam each completely penetrates the wall panel and locally penetrates into the at least one cover panel or the respective wall panel which is in contact with the wall panel which is completely penetrated, and in particular forms along one plane or substantially along the plane of said cover panel or said wall panel.

[0024] Furthermore, it can be provided that said weld seam is arranged at a distance of at least half the weld seam width from the respective edge of said at least one cover panel or the respective edge of the respective wall panel which is in contact.

[0025] A weld can be provided in particular simply and quickly from the outside of the respective wall panel, which completely penetrates the respective wall panel and locally intrudes into the cover panel or wall panel in contact with the wall panel. To this end, for example, a laser can be directed at the overlap region between the respective wall panel and the cover panel or another wall panel, so that the material of the respective wall panel and the cover panel or another wall panel melts and, after the cooling process, a weld is produced which extends through the respective wall panel and into the cover panel or another wall panel.

[0026] Furthermore, it can be provided that the wall panels are connected on the first end in each case flush with the first wall panel and comprise a tolerance compensation on the second end, which is opposite the first end, which protrudes relative to the second wall panel in contact.

[0027] By means of the protrusion or overlap region of the wall panel, which protrudes beyond the respective wall panel in contact, a tolerance region is provided, which can compensate for the manufacturing tolerances of the wall panel in contact.

[0028] Furthermore, it can be provided that all the welds of the proposed housing have a tolerance region, which protrudes or overlaps relative to the respective contact region between two wall panels or between a wall panel and at least one cover panel.

[0029] The housing can be produced in particular quickly and simply, in which all the welds comprise a tolerance region. Here, by means of the tolerance region, a leak-tightness due to manufacturing tolerances is reliably avoided.

[0030] Furthermore, it can be provided that the housing comprises a first cover panel and a second cover panel, which is arranged opposite the first cover panel.

[0031] In order to provide a gas-tight housing, the housing can be equipped with panels from all sides relative to the surroundings. To this end, two cover panels, one of which, depending on the position of the housing, functions as a lid and the other as a floor, can be connected to the respective wall panel in the manner described above.

[0032] It can be provided that the housing is an outer housing for a fuel cell stack.

[0033] In a second aspect, the proposed application relates to a manufacturing method for a possible configuration of the proposed enclosure. The manufacturing method comprises a wall panel connecting step, in which each two wall panels are connected by means of a weld, wherein the weld completely penetrates one of the two wall panels and only partially intrudes into the other one of the two wall panels. The manufacturing method further comprises a cover panel connecting step, in which each one of the four wall panels is connected on a lateral end of the at least one cover panel by means of a weld, wherein the weld completely penetrates the corresponding wall panel and only partially intrudes into the at least one cover panel, such that on each corner point of the at least one wall panel the weld for connecting the first wall panel with the at least one cover panel, the weld for connecting the second wall panel with the at least one cover panel and the weld for connecting the first wall panel with the second wall panel face-wise contact and overlap each other.

[0034] The proposed manufacturing method is particularly suitable for manufacturing the proposed enclosure, such that with regard to the aspects of the enclosure and the manufacturing method these can be referred to each other.

[0035] It can be provided that the welds are introduced into the enclosure by means of a laser welding method.

[0036] Since the welds can be positioned particularly precisely by means of a laser welding method, the laser welding method is particularly advantageously suitable for carrying out the proposed manufacturing method.

[0037] Further advantages, features and details of the application result from the following description, in which embodiments of the application are described in detail with reference to the drawings. Herein, the features mentioned in the preferred embodiments and in the description are important for the application, respectively, individually or in any combination. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0038] Herein are shown:

[0039] Figure 1 A schematic view of a possible configuration of the proposed enclosure is shown;

[0040] Figure 2 Welds for connecting wall panels and cover panels of an enclosure according to Figure 1 are shown;

[0041] Figure 3 A corner region of an enclosure according to Figure 1 is shown;

[0042] Figure 4 An overlapping region of three welds in a corner region of an enclosure according to Figure 1 is shown;

[0043] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of an enclosure according to Figure 1 is shown;

[0044] Figure 6 Possible configurations of the proposed manufacturing method are shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] In Figure 1 The housing 100 is shown in

[0046] The first wall panel 105 is connected to the first cover panel 101 by a first weld seam 109. The first weld seam 109 extends in the overlap region of the first wall panel 105 and the first cover panel 101 and is configured, in particular, to be at least half a weld seam width away from an edge 111 of the first wall panel 105 and an edge 113 of the first cover panel 101.

[0047] The second wall panel 107 is connected to the first cover panel 101 by a second weld seam 115. The second weld seam 115 extends in the overlap region of the second wall panel 107 and the first cover panel 101 and is configured, in particular, to be at least half a weld seam width away from an edge 117 of the second wall panel 107 and an edge 119 of the first cover panel 101.

[0048] Depending on the manufacturing tolerances of the first wall panel 105 or the second wall panel 107, the first wall panel 105 and the second wall panel 107 can be arranged in the same plane or in different planes on the respective side of the cover panel 101. Accordingly, the first cover panel 101 compensates for the manufacturing tolerances of the length of the first wall panel 105 or the second wall panel 107 by its thickness or, respectively, the height of its side, so that the overlap region and, accordingly, the hermetic sealing of the interior space enclosed by the housing 100 with respect to the surroundings is ensured independently of the actual length of the first wall panel 105 or the second wall panel 107.

[0049] Due to the lateral arrangement of the first wall panel 105 and the second wall panel 107 on the first cover panel 101, the first wall panel 105 and the second wall panel 107 can be moved relative to each other, so that a particularly sealed or, respectively, close positioning of the first wall panel 105 and the second wall panel 107 can be achieved.

[0050] The first wall panel 105 and the second wall panel 107 are connected by a third weld seam 121.

[0051] The first wall panel 105 and the second cover panel 103 are connected by a fourth weld seam 123, analogously to the first weld seam 109.

[0052] The second wall panel 107 and the second cover panel 103 are connected by a fifth weld seam 125, analogously to the second weld seam 111.

[0053] The first wall panel 105 overlaps the second wall panel 107 such that a protruding area 127 is obtained. The protruding area 127 serves to compensate for manufacturing tolerances in manufacturing the first wall panel 105, thereby ensuring contact between the first wall panel 105 and the second wall panel 107.

[0054] Furthermore, during the welding process for connecting the first wall panel 105 with the first cover panel 101 and / or the second wall panel 107, pressure can be applied to the first wall panel 105 by means of the protruding area 127, thereby providing a uniform and gas-tight first weld 109 or third weld 121.

[0055] In Figure 2 a cross-sectional view, the first weld 109 for connecting the first wall panel 105 with the first cover panel 101 is shown. It can be seen here that the first weld 109 extends through the first wall panel 105 and into the first cover panel 101.

[0056] Depending on the thickness or height of the first cover panel 101, manufacturing tolerances of the length of the first wall panel 101 can be compensated, as indicated by the arrow 201.

[0057] Furthermore, in Figure 2 the cover face 203, the inner surface 205 and the side face 207 of the first cover panel 101 can be seen.

[0058] In Figure 3 the third weld 121 for connecting the first wall panel 105 and the second wall panel 107 is shown. It can be seen here that the third weld 121 extends through the first wall panel 105 and into the second wall panel 107.

[0059] Furthermore, the protruding area 127 for compensating for manufacturing tolerances of the first wall panel 105 can be seen.

[0060] In Figure 4 a cross-sectional view through the first cover panel 101, the first corner area 400 of the housing 100 is shown. It can be seen here that the first weld 109, the second weld 115 and the third weld 121 overlap and contact or form a common weld area in the corner area 400.

[0061] The first weld 109 and the second weld 115 extend here in one plane through the first cover panel 101, wherein the first weld 109 extends through the first wall panel 105 and the second weld 115 extends through the second wall panel 107.

[0062] The third weld 121 extends perpendicular, i.e. orthogonal or substantially perpendicular, to the first cover panel 101 and accordingly to the first weld 109 and to the second weld 115.

[0063] The third weld 121 extends through the first wall panel 105 and partially intrudes into the second wall panel 107.

[0064] In Figure 5 In the sectional view through the first cover panel 101, the first corner region 400, the second corner region 501, the third corner region 503 and the fourth corner region 505 can be seen.

[0065] Furthermore, the first weld 109, the second weld 115 and the third weld 121 can be seen.

[0066] Furthermore, in Figure 5 The sixth weld 507 connecting the third wall panel 509 with the first cover panel 101 and the seventh weld 511 connecting the fourth wall panel 513 with the first cover panel 101 are shown.

[0067] The second wall panel 107 overlaps the third wall panel 509, resulting in a protruding region 515. The protruding region 515 serves to compensate for manufacturing tolerances when manufacturing the second wall panel 107, thereby ensuring contact between the second wall panel 107 and the third wall panel 509.

[0068] The third wall panel 509 overlaps the fourth wall panel 513, resulting in a protruding region 517. The protruding region 517 serves to compensate for manufacturing tolerances when manufacturing the third wall panel 509, thereby ensuring contact between the third wall panel 509 and the third wall panel 513.

[0069] The fourth wall panel 513 overlaps the first wall panel 105, resulting in a protruding region 519. The protruding region 519 serves to compensate for manufacturing tolerances when manufacturing the fourth wall panel 513, thereby ensuring contact between the fourth wall panel 513 and the first wall panel 105.

[0070] The eighth weld 521 extends perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the second weld 115 and the sixth weld 507 and is in contact with them or forms a common weld area with them within the corner region 501.

[0071] The ninth weld 523 extends perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the sixth weld 507 and the seventh weld 511 and is in contact with them or forms a common weld area with them within the corner region 503.

[0072] The tenth weld 525 extends perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the seventh weld 511 and the first weld 109 and is in contact with them or forms a common weld area with them within the corner region 505.

[0073] In the diagram 600, a possible configuration of the proposed manufacturing method 600 is shown.

[0074] In the panel connecting step 601, two panels are each connected with a weld seam, wherein the weld seam completely penetrates one of the two panels and only partially penetrates the other of the two panels.

[0075] In the cover panel connecting step 603, each of the four panels is connected with a weld seam on a lateral end portion of at least one cover panel, wherein the weld seam completely penetrates the respective panel and only partially penetrates the at least one cover panel, such that at each corner of the at least one panel, the weld seam for connecting the first panel with the at least one cover panel, the weld seam for connecting the second panel with the at least one cover panel and the weld seam for connecting the first panel with the second panel face-wise contact one another and overlap one another or form a common weld area.

Claims

1. A housing (100) for airtightly protecting the internal space of a casing (100) from environmental influences, wherein, The housing (100) includes at least one cover plate and four wall plates. The at least one cover plate has a covering surface (203), an inner surface (205), and four side surfaces (207). The at least one cover plate is welded to one of the four wall plates on each of its side surfaces (207). Each pair of wall plates that are in contact with each other are welded to each other in the overlapping area of ​​the two pairs of wall plates. In the corner areas (400, 501, 503, 505) where the at least one cover plate and the two wall plates are in contact with each other, the weld for connecting the first wall plate to the at least one cover plate, the weld for connecting the second wall plate to the at least one cover plate, and the weld for connecting the first wall plate to the second wall plate are in surface contact with each other and overlap each other.

2. The housing (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The welds used to connect the various wall panels to the at least one cover plate are located in a plane.

3. The housing (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The welds completely penetrate the wall panels and partially intrude into at least one cover plate or the corresponding contacting wall panel.

4. The housing (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The welds are arranged such that they are at least half a weld width away from the corresponding edges (113, 119) of the wall panels that are either in contact with or on the at least one cover plate.

5. The housing (100) according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 4, characterized in that, The wall panels are connected to the first wall panel at the first end in a manner flush with the first wall panel, and the second end opposite to the first end includes a tolerance compensation portion protruding relative to the contacting second wall panel.

6. The housing (100) according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 4, characterized in that, All welds include a tolerance area that protrudes relative to the respective contact areas between two wall panels or between a wall panel and the at least one cover plate.

7. The housing (100) according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 4, characterized in that, The cover (100) includes a first cover plate (101) and a second cover plate (103) disposed opposite to the first cover plate (101).

8. The housing (100) according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 4, characterized in that, The casing (100) is an outer cover for the fuel cell stack.

9. A method (600) for manufacturing a housing according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, a) In the panel connection step (601), each pair of panels is connected by a weld, wherein the weld completely passes through one of the two panels and only partially penetrates the other panel. b) In the cover plate connection step, each of the four wall panels is connected by a weld at the side end of at least one cover plate, wherein the weld completely penetrates the corresponding wall panel and only partially enters the at least one cover plate, so that at each corner point of at least one wall panel, the weld for connecting the first wall panel to the at least one cover plate, the weld for connecting the second wall panel to the at least one cover plate, and the weld for connecting the first wall panel to the second wall panel are in surface contact with and overlap each other.

10. The manufacturing method (600) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The weld seam is introduced into the housing (100) by means of laser welding.

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