Device having a plurality of battery modules arranged one after another in a joining direction

Abstract

The invention relates to a device having a plurality of battery modules (1) arranged one behind the other in a joining direction (F), the battery modules each having a base body (2) which is penetrated by grouped battery cells (3) in the joining direction (F). In order to design a device of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the electrical connection of the battery modules is decoupled from the mechanical connection of the battery modules, it is proposed to provide a spacing frame (4) between adjacent battery modules (1), the spacing frame comprising at least one spacer (5) supported on the base body (2) of the battery module (1) and perforations (6) for multiple electrical contacting of the battery module (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a device having a plurality of battery modules which are arranged one behind the other in a joining direction. The battery modules each have a base body which is penetrated by grouped battery cells in the joining direction. Background Art

[0002] Devices for connecting battery modules in series are known from the prior art. These battery modules each include a group of battery cells that penetrate the battery module in a joining direction, wherein the longitudinal axis of the battery cells extends in the joining direction. Thus, for example, in DE 10 2015 013 377 A1, the battery cells of adjacent battery modules are electrically and mechanically connected to one another via conductive contact springs arranged on a plate. However, the disadvantage here is that, for such a mounting of the battery cells in the battery module, the quality of the electrical contact is sacrificed at the expense of mechanical flexibility and stability.

[0003] The material-bonded connection of the battery cells to the contact springs that is customary in the prior art leads to a mechanical overdefinition of the support structure in this embodiment, namely under mechanical load, because due to the constantly changing relative position of the battery modules, forces are introduced into the battery cells via the material-bonded electrical connection of the battery cells to the plate via the contact springs. However, the battery cells and the plate are not designed by their properties to absorb such mechanical loads.

[0004] As an alternative to this, for example, DE 202015006545 U1 discloses using a mechanically more flexible connection instead of a material-bonded connection, such as a projection arranged on the contact plate that presses against the battery cell. However, the battery cell is likely to move laterally relative to the projection, which deteriorates the quality of the electrical contact. Summary of the invention

[0005] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to connect battery modules to one another in such a way that the electrical connection of the battery modules is decoupled from the mechanical connection of the battery modules.

[0006] According to the invention, this technical problem is solved by providing a spacing frame between adjacent battery modules, the spacing frame comprising at least one spacing holder supported on the base body of the battery module and perforations for multiple electrical contacting of the battery module. The spacing holders space adjacent battery modules apart so that the battery modules do not approach one another in the joining direction and thus maintain a defined minimum distance between the battery modules, wherein the individual battery cells of adjacent battery modules are electrically connected directly or, for example, via flexible conductors or contact springs through the perforations of the spacing frame so that the battery cells remain movable within the organization in a corresponding supporting structure transversely to the joining direction. In particular, in the case of battery modules in which the battery cells at least partially protrude from the base body, undesirable mechanical forces can act on the individual battery modules without a spacing frame. In contrast, in the device according to the invention, the mechanical forces that occur are introduced into the spacing holders in the joining direction and thus prevent the loads generated by these mechanical forces from being transmitted to the battery cells and damaging them. In a preferred embodiment, only one battery cell is connected to another battery cell of an adjacent battery module in order to mechanically decouple not only the battery cells of a plurality of mutually adjacent battery modules but also the battery cells of a battery module from one another. Forces that may act on one battery cell are thus not transmitted to other battery cells via the mechanical connecting elements. The spacer can also be limited by stops in one or two spatial directions transversely to the joining direction relative to the base body, so that not only forces in the joining direction but also transverse forces acting transversely to the joining direction can be absorbed by the spacer.

[0007] In order to realize the mechanically decoupled fluid connection between battery modules in the common temperature regulation of the battery modules by the temperature regulating fluid, it is suggested that the base of the battery module forms a flow channel for the temperature regulating fluid, and the spacer frame has a fluid channel, which connects the fluid outlet of the battery module with the fluid inlet of the adjacent battery module. The common temperature regulation of the battery module means that the temperature regulating fluid flows directly in parallel or in series through the grouped battery modules, that is, the flow channel of one battery module is directly further introduced into the flow channel of the adjacent battery module. Here, the fluid channel forms a fluid-tight connection between adjacent battery modules through the spacer frame and connects the fluid interfaces, i.e., the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, of the adjacent battery modules. The fluid channel is installed in the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet designed as an opening of the battery modules adjacent to each other. Here, a particularly simple structural design condition is formed in the following case, that is, the fluid channel is closed in a fluid-tight manner relative to the opening of the fluid interface by means of a surrounding seal.

[0008] The fluid channel can be mechanically decoupled from the spacer frame by being mounted on the spacer frame in a floating manner transversely to the joining direction. Forces acting on the spacer frame or the battery module transversely to the joining direction can thus be compensated, so that mechanical loads do not affect the seal between the fluid channel and the fluid interface or even damage fluid dynamic components. Due to the floating mounting of the fluid channel, the fluid inlet and fluid outlet as well as the fluid channel remain oriented relative to one another even when forces act.

[0009] A simple and cost-effective embodiment in terms of production technology can be achieved by connecting the fluid channel to the spacer frame via at least one injection-molded (or die-cast) spring. By manufacturing using the injection molding method, the floating bearing can be designed simply as an integral component of the spacer frame and no further components need to be installed, thereby reducing the acquisition and production costs of the device. In a preferred embodiment, the spacer frame includes a fluid channel, which is supported by means of a spring tongue in a through-hole having a larger cross section than the fluid channel.

[0010] The assembly of the spacer frame with the battery module and its ventilation during operation can be simplified in the following manner, that is, at least two fluid interfaces facing the spacer frame are provided for each battery module, and the spacer frame includes a continuous fluid channel with a small flow resistance and an interrupted or larger flow resistance fluid channel for these fluid interfaces. The fluid interface can be a fluid inlet or a fluid outlet, because the inlet or outlet is only defined by the flow direction of the temperature regulating fluid. The interrupted or larger flow resistance fluid channel can be closed in the simplest case, or only connected (or connected) with an opening that is much smaller than the cross-section of the fluid channel. The advantage of a smaller opening with a larger flow resistance is that the flow channel can be better ventilated regardless of the spatial position of the battery module and still form a defined flow direction. If the spacer frame is designed to be point-symmetrical or at least mirror-symmetrical with respect to the fluid channel, the desired flow direction can be preset in adjacent battery modules by turning the spacer frame without the need to set different spacer frames.

[0011] In addition to the series electrical connection of the battery cells of adjacent battery modules through the spacing frame, the parallel electrical connection of the battery cells of the battery modules can be realized simply and flexibly in that a parallel plate for contacting the battery cells in parallel on the circumference is provided between at least one battery module and the spacing frame, the parallel plate having recesses for the individual battery cells. This parallel plate realizes the parallel electrical connection of all groups or individual groups of battery cells of the battery module, more precisely independently of the contacting of mutually opposite cell poles of the battery cells of adjacent battery modules and independently of the joining process of the battery cells in the base body. In this case, a particularly small structural height can be achieved in that the spacing frame has a receptacle for the contact tongues or contact springs of the parallel plate.

[0012] In order to improve the mechanical stability of the device according to the invention even with the proposed decoupling of the mechanical and electrical connections, it is proposed that the perforations of the spacer frame form receptacles for contact devices for connecting the individual battery cells in series. These contact devices can have a hollow body which is inserted into the receptacle of the spacer frame essentially without play, in which the contact springs which connect adjacent battery cells are supported in such a way that a relative movement of the battery cells transversely to the joining axis remains possible to a predetermined extent.

[0013] In order to make it possible to simply fix a plurality of battery modules with the spacer frames located between them from the outside after joining without being affected by tensile forces, the base bodies of adjacent battery modules can have latch openings, into which latch connectors spanning the spacer frames engage. As a result, tensile forces, i.e. forces that move the battery modules away from each other in the joining direction, can be introduced into the latch connectors without causing the device to be pulled apart. The latch openings are preferably located on the outside of the base body of the battery module, so that the latch connectors can also be subsequently inserted from the outside. In addition, the latch connectors can, for example, be designed as a continuous strip to fix any number of battery modules. In this case, the latch connection additionally enables assembly without tools, since the latch connectors only need to be plugged in.

[0014] A particularly reliable latching connection between adjacent battery modules can be produced in that the latching connector has a latching body that engages in the latching opening and forms a securing claw that points in the pull-out direction. The securing claw is a component that clamps the latching connector in the latching opening against forces in the pull-out direction, i.e. transversely to the engagement direction with respect to the device, and thus prevents the latching connection from becoming loose. In a preferred embodiment, the securing claw is a blade formed by the latching connector, which supports (opens) the latching connector against the latching opening under the effect of pretensioning. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The technical solution of the present invention is exemplarily shown in the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings:

[0016] Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the device according to the invention,

[0017] Figure 2 A top view of the device is shown, and

[0018] Figure 3 Shown on a smaller scale along Figure 2 The section of line III-III and

[0019] Figure 4 Shown on a larger scale along Figure 2 Section along line IV-IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The device according to the invention has battery modules 1 arranged one behind the other in a joining direction F, which have a base body 2 through which battery cells 3 are penetrated. Between adjacent battery modules 1, a spacer frame 4 is arranged in the joining direction F, which spacer frame comprises spacers 5 and apertures 6 for multiple electrical contacting of the battery cells 3.

[0021] The battery module 1 can be cooled by fluid, wherein the base body 2 of the battery module 1 forms a flow channel, and the temperature regulating fluid is provided to the flow channel through the fluid interface 7. Adjacent battery modules 1 can be connected in a fluid-tight manner through the spacer frame 4, for which a fluid channel 8 is provided, which has a larger or smaller flow resistance depending on the flow direction of the temperature regulating fluid and can be installed in the fluid interface 7. These fluid channels 8 extend along the joining direction F toward both sides of the spacer frame 4.

[0022] Since thermal expansion or mechanical interference effects may occur during operation, the fluid channel 8 is supported in a floating manner in the spacer frame 4. This can be achieved, for example, by injection-molded spring tongues 9 on the spacer frame 4. In order to improve the flow conditions of the temperature control fluid in the base body 2 of the battery module 1, two fluid connections 7 can be provided at mutually opposite end sections of the flow channel, wherein the spacer frame 4 also has two fluid channels 8 for each end section of the flow channel and therefore also for each end section of the spacer frame 4.

[0023] For the circumferentially parallel contacting of the battery cells 3 , at least one parallel plate 10 can be provided on the spacer frame 4 , which can be clamped on the spacer frame 4 via punched fastening holes 11 and also has a recess 12 which at least partially surrounds the battery cells 3 circumferentially.

[0024] In particular, Figure 3 As can be seen in , receptacles for contact devices 13 can be provided in the openings 6 of the spacer frame 4 , which contact devices connect the battery cells 3 of adjacent battery modules 1 in such a way that a stable mechanical contact of the battery cells 3 and at the same time a flexible electrical contact can be ensured.

[0025] Such a contact device 13 may include a sleeve 14 which is inserted into the perforation 6 in a form-fitting manner. A battery cell 3 is inserted into this sleeve 14 and is electrically contacted in series with an adjacent battery cell 3 via a contact element 15 arranged on the other side of the sleeve 14 in the joining direction. The battery modules 1 can be clamped to one another via latching connectors 16 spanning the spacer frame. These latching connectors 16 engage via latching bodies 17 with securing claws 18 pointing in the pull-out direction into latching openings 19 in the base body 2 introduced into the battery module 1.

Claims

1. A device having a plurality of battery modules (1) arranged one behind the other in a joining direction (F), the battery modules each having a base body (2) which is penetrated by a group of battery cells (3) in the joining direction (F), characterized in that: A spacing frame (4) is arranged between adjacent battery modules (1), the spacing frame comprising at least one spacing retainer (5) supported on a base body (2) of the battery module (1) and perforations (6) for multiple electrical contacting of the battery module (1), wherein the base body (2) of the battery module (1) forms a flow channel for a temperature regulating fluid, and the spacing frame (4) has a fluid channel (8), the fluid channel of the spacing frame connecting a fluid outlet of the battery module (1) to a fluid inlet of an adjacent battery module (1), At least two fluid interfaces (7) facing the spacer frame (4) are provided for each battery module (1), and the spacer frame (4) includes continuous fluid channels with lower flow resistance and interrupted fluid channels or channels with higher flow resistance for these fluid interfaces (7).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The fluid channel (8) of the spacer frame is supported on the spacer frame (4) in a floating manner transversely to the joining direction (F).

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that The fluid channel (8) of the spacer frame is connected to the spacer frame (4) via at least one injection-molded spring (9).

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that A parallel plate (10) for contacting the battery cells (3) in parallel on the circumference is arranged between at least one battery module (1) and a spacing frame (4), the parallel plate having recesses (12) for the individual battery cells (3).

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The perforations (6) of the spacer frame (4) form receptacles for contact devices (13) for connecting the individual battery cells (3) in series.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The adjacent battery modules (1) have latching openings (19) into which the latching connectors (16) spanning the spacer frame (4) engage.

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that The latching connector (16) has a latching body (17) which engages in a latching opening (19) and forms a securing claw (18) pointing in the pull-out direction.

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