Arrangement with a plurality of battery cells arranged parallel to one another with respect to a joining axis

Abstract

The invention relates to a device having a plurality of battery cells (2) arranged parallel to one another about a joining axis (1) and a contact plate (3) arranged between the battery cells (2), the contact plate having a plurality of recesses (4) for surrounding the battery cells (2) on the circumferential side. In order to enable the battery cells (2) of a battery module to be selectively connected in groups in parallel with as little material as possible, that is, independently of the series contact at the cell end sections, it is proposed that the contact plate (3) has a plurality of contact plate arms (6) respectively for a circumferential section (7) of the battery cells (2), the contact plate arms (6) surrounding the battery cells (2) while leaving the circumferential section (7) free and connecting to one another at intersections (5).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a device having a plurality of battery cells which are arranged parallel to one another with respect to a joining axis and a contact plate which is arranged between the battery cells and has a plurality of recesses for surrounding the battery cells on the circumferential side. Background Art

[0002] From the prior art, a device for electrically connecting a plurality of battery cells arranged parallel to their joining axes is known, wherein the individual battery cells of a battery module are surrounded by contact springs on the pole side under pretension and connected in parallel by means of contact plates (see EP3096372A1). The contact springs are welded in a material connection to the cell electrodes of the adjacent battery modules in the opposite direction of the battery cells adjacent in the joining direction. However, it is disadvantageous that the material connection of the individual battery cells hinders the replacement of damaged battery cells and can lead to an overdefined force system at least with respect to one cell pole during the assembly process, and a fixed potential is preset by arranging the contact plates on both sides of the battery cells of the battery module. In addition, the electrical connection is limited in this respect, because the positive and negative poles of the battery cells of two battery modules adjacent to each other in the joining direction are simultaneously connected in series and in parallel by an electrical connection. In addition, the necessity of parallel plates and contact springs increases the material usage or material consumption, which should be avoided in terms of resource-saving production. Summary of the invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is therefore to further develop a device of the type mentioned in the introduction in such a way that the battery cells of a battery module can be selectively connected in parallel in groups, independently of the series contacting at the cell end sections, with the least possible use of material.

[0004] According to the invention, this problem is solved in that the contact plate has a plurality of contact plate arms, one for each circumferential section of the battery cell, which surround the battery cell while leaving a circumferential section free and are connected to one another at intersections. The invention is based on the consideration that the battery cell can be contacted not only via the poles on the end section side which are usually directed outwards, but also via cut-out The battery cell housing is contacted. Due to the measures according to the invention, not all battery cells adjacent to the contact plate are connected in parallel with one another, but only those battery cells that are in contact with one of the contact plate arms. In the area of ​​the freed-up circumferential section, the battery cells can be adjacent to one another without forming a parallel connection due to the contact plate. Battery cells of groups that are electrically separated in this way can be connected in series with one another, for example, at the poles on the end section side, so that different voltage levels can exist inside the battery module that includes these groups. In addition, the freed-up circumferential section achieves reduced material consumption, i.e., material consumption is reduced not only in the battery cell gaps, but also in particular in the edge areas, which can remain free in the embodiment according to the invention so that the battery cells are not surrounded by an outer ring composed of contact plate arms.

[0005] In order to avoid a mechanical overdefinition of the force system of the device according to the invention, it is proposed that the contact plate arms are arranged in an open chain in a non-looped manner along the main direction, from which the transverse branches protrude in a non-looped manner. Thus, along the main direction of the longest extension of the contact arms, which are preferably arranged in a row, it is possible to connect the battery cells in parallel in a simple manner, wherein by changing the main direction within the battery module, larger groups of battery cells can also be connected to each other. In this context, non-looping means that no closed loop structure is formed within the continuous contact plate arms.

[0006] If each contact plate arm encompasses two battery cells that are opposite each other with respect to the contact plate arm, a particularly efficient use of material is achieved. This has the further advantage that the battery cell arms can be clamped between the battery cells in this way, so that additional fixing means can be omitted.

[0007] In order to increase the torsional rigidity of the contact plate according to the invention and at the same time to be able to adapt to a specific battery cell cross section, it is proposed that the contact plate arms widen towards the two end sections of the contact plate arms so that the side surfaces of the contact plate arms extending in the longitudinal direction are adapted to the cross section of the adjacent battery cell. In this case, the end sections form the intersection between the mutually connected contact plate arms, so that the widening in this area achieves a relatively small additional expenditure of material. In particular in the case of cylindrical battery cells with a circular cross section, the advantage that results from this is that the gaps between the battery cells are reinforced when arranged in the form of the most compact circular packaging, thereby increasing the mechanical stability of the mutually connected battery cells as a whole.

[0008] In order to further reduce the required material expenditure and to be able to fasten the contact plate to a support, for example, of a battery module, it is proposed that the contact plate arm has a through hole at each of its two end sections for fastening the contact plate to the support. For this purpose, the support can, for example, include a latching projection which is inserted into the through hole and engages (or grips) the through hole from behind under pretension. In the case of the contact plate according to the invention being produced in a continuous strip, these through holes have the further advantage that, due to the weakening of the material, the strip can be cut more easily at the location of the through hole and simultaneously form the predetermined geometry for the contact plate.

[0009] In order to introduce the pressing force required for a reliable electrical contact into the contact plate without twisting, contact tongues protruding into the recess can be provided for each recess on at least two end sections of the adjacent contact plate arms, the contact tongues being offset from one another by at least 120° with respect to a circle inscribed in the recess. In this way, the spring forces that occur are mostly offset vectorially, while the remaining forces are preferably absorbed by the two contact tongues that are opposite each other with respect to the end section or the contact plate arms that are opposite each other with respect to the end section. As a result, the required material thickness of the contact plate and the need for its support can be kept particularly low.

[0010] In the case of cylindrical battery cells with a circular cross section, particularly favorable contact conditions result if each battery cell is surrounded by at least two and at most four contact plate arms while leaving one of its circumferential sections free.

[0011] In order to connect six adjacent battery cells, it has proven advantageous according to the invention if the contact plate forms six recesses, two recesses being bounded by two contact plate arms, two further recesses being bounded by three contact plate arms and the remaining two recesses being bounded by four contact plate arms. In this context, it is accordingly stated that in a battery module, a plurality of contact plates can be arranged in one plane without being electrically connected to one another or in different planes, wherein in this case the individual contact plates can be connected to one another via a common electrically conductive housing of the battery cells. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The technical solution of the present invention is exemplarily shown in the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings:

[0013] Figure 1 A perspective view of the device according to the invention is shown, which for illustration purposes has only partially inserted battery cells and

[0014] Figure 2 This device corresponds to Figure 1 Top view of the . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] The device according to the present invention is Figure 1 and Figure 2 The figure shows a plurality of battery cells 2 arranged parallel to one another with respect to a joining axis 1, which are in contact with one another via contact plates 3 arranged between the battery cells 2. The contact plates 3 form a plurality of recesses 4 for surrounding the battery cells 2 on the circumferential side. For this purpose, in particular by Figure 2 As can be seen, the contact plate 3 consists of a plurality of contact plate arms 6 connected to one another at intersections 5. These contact plate arms 6 are each assigned to a circumferential section 7 of an adjacent battery cell 2 and surround the adjacent battery cell 2 while leaving at least one circumferential section 7 of the adjacent battery cell 2 free.

[0016] In the embodiment shown in the figures, each battery cell 2 is surrounded by at least 2 and at most 4 contact plate arms 6 , so that between 4 / 6 and 2 / 6 of the circumference of the battery cell remains exposed and not surrounded.

[0017] In the embodiment shown, three contact plate arms 6 are respectively provided with their end sections meeting one another at the intersection 5. Figure 2 As can be seen, the contact plate arms 6 are connected to one another via the intersections 5 in such a way that they form an open chain in the main direction 8, wherein a contact plate arm 6 serving as a transverse branch 9 protrudes without a loop at each intersection 5. In this context, the term "without a loop" means that at the end of each chain, a contact arm 6 is connected to other contact arms 6 only at one of its end sections.

[0018] In order to achieve a dense packaging of the battery cells 2 and at the same time meet the requirements of efficient material utilization, each contact plate arm 6 surrounds two battery cells 2 which are located opposite each other with respect to the contact plate arm 6 .

[0019] The contact plate arms 6 can be widened toward their end sections in order to provide protection against torques that may occur during operation and to adapt their longitudinally extending side faces 10 to the cross-section of adjacent battery cells 2 .

[0020] In principle, the device according to the invention can be used in combination with other components in a battery module. In order to make it easier to join the contact plate 3 with the holder, the contact plate arms 6 can have through-holes 11 at their two end sections, which serve as receptacles, for example, for latching projections of the holder.

[0021] In order to reliably contact the battery cells 2, contact tongues 12 projecting into the recess 4 are provided for each recess 4 on at least two end sections of the surrounding contact plate arms 6. The recess 4 can be formed in different embodiments depending on how many contact plate arms it is bounded by: According to a first embodiment, the recess 4 can be bounded by two contact plate arms 6. In this case, two contact tongues 12 project into the recess 4, which are offset by 120° relative to a circle inscribed in the recess 4. According to other embodiments, the recess 4 can be bounded by three contact plate arms 6, wherein the contact tongues 12 projecting into the recess 4 are opposite to each other, i.e. offset by 180°. According to a third embodiment, the recess 4 can be bounded by four contact plate arms 6. For this embodiment, three contact tongues 12, each offset by 120°, can be provided. It is of course self-evident that a plurality of different embodiments can be realized in the device according to the invention.

[0022] Particularly favorable assembly conditions result if the contact plate 3 is formed with six recesses 4 , wherein two recesses 4 in each case are arranged in accordance with one of the above-described embodiments.

Claims

1. A device having a plurality of battery cells (2) arranged parallel to one another with respect to a joining axis (1), the device having a contact plate (3) arranged between the battery cells (2), the contact plate having a plurality of recesses (4) for surrounding the battery cells (2) on the circumferential side, characterized in that: The contact plate (3) has a plurality of contact plate arms (6) respectively corresponding to the circumferential sections (7) of the battery cells (2), the contact plate arms (6) surrounding the battery cells (2) while leaving the circumferential sections (7) free and being connected to each other at intersections (5), wherein the battery cells respectively resting on one of the contact plate arms (6) are connected to each other in parallel via the contact plate arms (6), wherein the contact plate (3) is arranged at a distance relative to the end of the battery cell (2) in the direction of the joining axis (1).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The contact plate arms (6) are arranged in an open chain in a non-looped manner along the main direction (8), and the transverse branches (9) protrude from the chain in a non-looped manner.

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that Each contact plate arm (6) surrounds two battery cells (2) which are located opposite each other with respect to the contact plate arm (6).

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The contact plate arms (6) widen toward the two end sections of the contact plate arms (6) so that the side faces (10) of the contact plate arms extending in the longitudinal direction are adapted to the cross section of the adjacent battery cells (2).

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The contact plate arm (6) has a through hole (11) at its two end sections for fixing the contact plate (3) on a bracket.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that For each recess (4), contact tongues (12) are provided on at least two end sections of the adjacent contact plate arms (6) and project into the recess, the contact tongues being offset from one another by at least 120° with respect to a circle inscribed in the recess (4).

7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that Each battery cell (2) is surrounded by at least two and at most four contact plate arms (6) while leaving one of its circumferential sections (7) free.

8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The contact plate (3) forms six recesses (4), wherein two recesses (4) are bounded by two contact plate arms (6), another two recesses (4) are bounded by three contact plate arms (6) and the remaining two recesses (4) are bounded by four contact plate arms (6).

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