Housing element for an electrical energy store of a motor vehicle and motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a housing element (1) for a housing of an electrical energy store of a motor vehicle, the energy store being configured for storing electrical energy and comprising a plurality of storage cells which can be arranged in a receiving space of the housing, in which storage cells electrical energy can be stored, the housing element (1) having a base plate (2) made of light metal, which is reinforced at least in a partial region (T) by a reinforcing plate (4) made of steel, the reinforcing plate being bonded to the partial region (T) of the base plate (2) by means of an elastomer (5).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a housing element for an electrical energy storage device in a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle having at least one such housing element. Background Technology

[0002] WO 2010 / 133636 A2 discloses an on-board network energy storage device for a powered motor vehicle. Additionally, a sealed frame for a battery is known from EP 2284 425 A1. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The objective of this invention is to provide a housing element for an electric energy storage device for a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle, thereby enabling particularly advantageous accident characteristics in a manner that saves installation space and weight.

[0004] According to the present invention, the task is accomplished by a housing element and a motor vehicle.

[0005] The first aspect of the invention relates to a housing element of a memory housing for an electric energy storage device used in motor vehicles, particularly passenger cars, the energy storage device being configured to store electrical energy. The energy storage device, in its fully manufactured state, has a memory housing and therefore the housing element. The housing element has a receiving space. In other words, the receiving space is defined, particularly directly, by the memory housing. Here, the electric energy storage device—in which or by means of which electrical energy or current can be stored—in its fully manufactured state has a plurality of storage cells (also simply referred to as cells), by means of which electrical energy is stored or can be stored. In the fully manufactured state of the energy storage device, the storage cells are at least partially, particularly at least largely or completely disposed in the receiving space and therefore disposed in the memory housing. Here, the receiving space is partially defined, particularly directly, by the housing element. The energy storage device is, for example, a battery, particularly a lithium-ion battery, and thus the corresponding battery cell can be configured as a lithium-ion battery cell. The energy storage device is particularly a high-voltage component, the voltage of which, particularly its electrical operating voltage or rated voltage, is preferably at least 48 volts or preferably greater than 50 volts, particularly greater than 60 volts. The voltage of high-voltage components, especially the electrical operating voltage or rated voltage, particularly several hundred volts, is used to enable, for example, particularly high electrical power for driving motor vehicles, especially purely electric vehicles. Here, the motor vehicle is constructed, for example, as a hybrid or electric vehicle, especially a battery electric vehicle (BEV).

[0006] To achieve particularly advantageous accident characteristics for the memory housing and thus the energy storage device and the vehicle as a whole in a way that saves installation space and weight, according to the invention, the housing element specifically has at least one or exactly one substrate made of a light metal. This is particularly understood as the substrate being made of at least one or exactly one light metal. In other words, the substrate is made of a material containing at least one or exactly one light metal. Preferably, the material is a light metal alloy containing the light metal. The substrate is preferably constructed as a planar element, so that the substrate has at least a substantially planar extension. The substrate is provided with a reinforcing plate made of steel at least in a portion of the substrate. It is preferably specified here that the reinforcing plate has at least a substantially planar extension and is therefore constructed as an additional planar element. Preferably, the substrate and / or the reinforcing plate are constructed integrally. The substrate is reinforced, in particular, by the reinforcing plate. The reinforcing plate is here connected to the substrate in such a way that the reinforcing plate is bonded to the portion of the substrate and thus to the substrate by means of an elastomer. In other words, the reinforcing plate is adhered to the portion of the substrate and thus to the substrate by means of an elastomer, i.e., bonded to the portion of the substrate and the substrate. The elastically deformable elastomer is therefore, for example, an elastically deformable elastomer adhesive, such as a reinforcing plate made of steel plate, which is bonded planarly to a substrate made of, for example, metal plate by means of the adhesive.

[0007] The substrate can be reinforced under load using reinforcing plates and elastomers, thereby achieving exceptionally high accident resistance (also known as impact resistance) of the housing elements and therefore the memory housing and energy storage unit as a whole, in a way that saves installation space and weight. In particular, exceptionally high undercarriage accident resistance can be achieved for the housing elements and therefore the energy storage unit, which is preferably constructed as a high-voltage storage unit. The feature “energy storage unit can be constructed as a high-voltage storage unit” can be understood in particular as the energy storage unit being a high-voltage component. The term “undercarriage accident resistance” can be understood in particular as: in the fully manufactured state of the motor vehicle, the motor vehicle includes a self-supporting body, by which the passenger compartment (also known as the interior space) of the motor vehicle is at least partially, especially at least largely, or completely defined. The passenger compartment, also known as the passenger cabin, is where occupants, such as the driver of the motor vehicle, can remain, especially during the operation of the motor vehicle. The body here has a floor, by which the passenger compartment is at least partially, especially at least largely, or completely defined downwards in the vertical direction of the vehicle. Here, for example, the housing element is disposed below the floor in the vertical direction of the vehicle, particularly below the vehicle body bottom formed by the floor, and is fixed to the floor or bottom at least indirectly, and particularly directly. This arrangement and fixation of the housing element on the floor or bottom is also referred to as the undercarriage arrangement and fixation of the housing element. Because the base plate is made of lightweight metal and is reinforced, particularly locally, by reinforcing plates, excessive installation space and weight of the housing element can be avoided, while achieving particularly advantageous accident resistance. In particular, the wall thickness of the base plate and the wall thickness of the reinforcing plates can be kept particularly small, thereby keeping the weight and installation space requirements of the housing element within a particularly small range.

[0008] It is conceivable that, in the fully manufactured state of a motor vehicle, the housing space is defined partly by a housing element and partly by a floor or at least a portion of the floor, particularly directly by each. Thus, for example, the floor or at least a portion of the floor is another housing element of the memory housing, and the memory housing can therefore include the housing element and the floor or at least a portion of the floor. Since the floor is a component of the vehicle body (also known as the body-in-white), this component of the vehicle body serves as the other housing element and is therefore used to realize the memory housing. Consequently, the housing space can be designed to be particularly large in a way that saves weight and installation space, thereby enabling a particularly large storage capacity of the energy storage device.

[0009] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing plate is electrically isolated from the substrate by the elastomer. Therefore, the elastomer has a dual function: on the one hand, it bonds the reinforcing plate to the substrate; on the other hand, it electrically isolates the reinforcing plate from the substrate. This dual function allows for particularly low weight and installation space requirements.

[0010] In order to keep the weight of the housing components particularly low, in another embodiment of the invention, the maximum wall thickness of the substrate is specified to be less than 5 mm.

[0011] An elastomer, for example, forms an elastomer interlayer (also simply referred to as the interlayer), which is elastically deformable, particularly based on the elastic deformability of the elastomer. The interlayer is disposed between the substrate and the reinforcing plate. The interlayer can be bonded to the reinforcing plate on one hand and to the substrate or the aforementioned portion on the other, whereby the reinforcing plate is bonded to the portion via the elastomer and thus to the substrate. With this design, the mounting space requirement of the housing element is kept particularly low by the exceptionally small overall wall thickness of the substrate and reinforcing plate, for example, constructed as a metal plate, and by reduced deformation compared to conventional solutions. Similarly, the weight of the housing element can be kept particularly low by using the reinforcing plate (also simply referred to as a reinforcement) according to the load.

[0012] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the substrate has an additional portion extending around the entire partial region and the entire reinforcing plate, connected to the partial region and the reinforcing plate, the additional portion having no reinforcing elements. Therefore, the substrate is only locally reinforced by the reinforcing plate, thereby keeping the overall weight and mounting space requirements of the housing element particularly low.

[0013] Another embodiment is characterized in that the housing element has sidewalls, which are spaced apart from each other, particularly along a spacing direction. The sidewalls protrude from the base plate and the reinforcing plate, thereby at least partially defining a receiving space. For example, the receiving space is at least partially defined on both sides by the sidewalls along the spacing direction. In a defining direction extending perpendicular to the spacing direction, the receiving space is at least partially defined, for example, by the base plate and the reinforcing plate. In the fully manufactured state of the motor vehicle, the defining direction points downwards, for example, in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The housing element also has at least one support rod (also called a lateral support rod), which is disposed, particularly along the spacing direction, between the sidewalls. Furthermore, the support rod is disposed on the base plate. The support rod extends continuously from one sidewall to another, particularly along the spacing direction, and is connected to the sidewalls at both ends, thereby connecting the sidewalls to each other by the support rod. The sidewalls and the support rod thus form, for example, a frame by which particularly advantageous accident characteristics can be achieved in a particularly space- and weight-saving manner.

[0014] It has been shown here that it is particularly advantageous for the support rod to be positioned on a portion of the additional area. This means that the support rod is positioned next to the reinforcing plate, and in particular, this arrangement ensures that no reinforcing plate is placed between the support rod and the base plate, and preferably no other reinforcing elements are present. As a result, the installation space requirements and weight can be kept particularly low.

[0015] In another particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing plate is connected to the substrate solely by an adhesive caused by an elastomer. This means that no other additional connecting elements are provided besides the elastomer, by which the reinforcing plate is connected to the substrate. Thus, the number of components, weight, and cost can be kept particularly low. Finally, it has been shown to be particularly advantageous that the lightweight metal is aluminum. This, on the one hand, keeps the weight of the housing components particularly low. On the other hand, it ensures particularly advantageous accident characteristics.

[0016] A second aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle having at least one housing element according to a first aspect of the invention. The advantages and advantageous embodiments of the first aspect should be considered as advantages and advantageous embodiments of the second aspect of the invention, and vice versa. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Further details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings are as follows:

[0018] Figure 1 A schematic perspective view of a housing element for an electric energy storage device for a motor vehicle according to the present invention is shown.

[0019] Figure 2 A schematic perspective view showing a base plate with a reinforcing plate for a housing element;

[0020] Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view of a substrate with a reinforcing plate is shown;

[0021] Figure 4 A schematic perspective view of a portion of the housing element is shown;

[0022] Figure 5 A schematic top view of the housing components is shown; and

[0023] Figure 6 A schematic perspective bottom view of the housing element is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0024] In the accompanying drawings, elements that are identical or have the same function are indicated by the same reference numerals.

[0025] Figure 1A schematic perspective view, particularly a schematic perspective top view, shows the housing element 1 of an electric energy storage device for a motor vehicle. This indicates that a motor vehicle, preferably constructed as a passenger car, has the electric energy storage device in its fully manufactured state, in which or by means of storing electrical energy or current. The motor vehicle also has at least one motor, by means of which the motor vehicle can be driven, particularly purely electrically. In order to drive the motor vehicle by means of the motor, the motor operates in motor mode and thus as a motor. For this purpose, electrical energy stored in the energy storage device is supplied to the motor. Preferably, the motor and the energy storage device are high-voltage components, and their respective voltages, particularly the electrical operating voltage or rated voltage, are preferably greater than 50 volts, particularly greater than 60 volts, and very preferably reach several hundred volts. Therefore, the energy storage device is also referred to, for example, as a high-voltage storage device.

[0026] The motor vehicle also has a self-supporting body that at least partially defines the passenger compartment (also known as the interior space) of the motor vehicle. Occupants can remain in the passenger compartment during the respective movement of the motor vehicle. The body includes a floor (also known as the body floor) that at least partially, and especially at least largely or completely defines the passenger compartment downwards in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0027] The aforementioned housing of the energy storage device includes housing element 1, which is constructed separately from the vehicle body. Furthermore, the storage housing includes at least one additional housing element (not shown in the figures), which is, for example, an integrated component of the vehicle body (also referred to as the body-in-white). This additional housing includes, for example, a portion of the floor, which is also referred to as a floor element. These housing elements each partially define a receiving space, particularly in such a way that the receiving space is entirely formed or defined by these housing elements. This energy storage device has a plurality of storage cells (also simply referred to as cells), in which electrical energy is stored or can be stored. The storage cells are electrically connected to each other and thus, for example, connected in parallel and / or in series. The storage cells are each at least partially, particularly at least largely or completely disposed in the receiving space and therefore disposed in the storage housing. A first number of storage cells are, for example, assigned to a first storage module of the energy storage device, such that the first storage module includes the first number of storage cells. A second number of storage cells are, for example, assigned to a second storage module of the energy storage device, such that the second storage module includes the second number of storage cells. The corresponding number is preferably greater than 1, particularly greater than 2. This energy storage device may include a plurality of such storage modules, which are respectively arranged at least partially, especially at least largely or completely, in the housing space and thus in the storage housing.

[0028] The housing element 1, constructed separately from the vehicle body, is at least partially, especially at least largely, or completely disposed below the floor in the vertical direction of the vehicle, particularly in such a manner that the housing element 1 is at least partially, especially at least largely, or completely covered by the floor in the vertical direction of the vehicle. Here, the housing element 1 is fixed to the floor at least indirectly, especially directly, from bottom to top in the vertical direction of the vehicle. Thus, these housing elements are assembled or assembled, thereby forming or defining a receiving space. Since at least a portion of the floor serves as the additional housing element, the receiving space can be formed in a way that saves installation space and weight. Furthermore, the receiving space can be designed to be particularly large in a way that saves installation space and weight, thereby enabling a particularly large storage capacity of the energy storage device.

[0029] For example, the accommodating space is at least partially, especially at least largely, or completely defined by the floor in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The accommodating space is at least partially, especially at least largely, or completely defined by the housing element 1 in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The accommodating space may be at least partially defined by the vehicle body, especially by the floor and / or housing element 1 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The accommodating space may be at least partially defined by the vehicle body, especially by the floor and / or housing element 1 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0030] In order to achieve particularly advantageous accident characteristics of housing element 1 and thus the memory housing and energy storage as a whole in a way that saves installation space and weight, combined with Figure 2 and 3 It can be clearly seen that the housing element 1 has a substrate 2, which is made of a light metal and currently of a light metal alloy containing the light metal. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the light metal is aluminum, and therefore the light metal alloy is an aluminum alloy. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in the figures, the substrate 2 is constructed as a planar element, thus the substrate 2 has an extension that is particularly substantially planar or two-dimensional. Moreover, the substrate 2 is preferably constructed as a single unit.

[0031] The substrate 2 is provided with (multiple) corresponding elements along one of the... Figure 1 and 2 The substrate 2 is provided with exactly one, preferably integrally constructed, reinforcing region T, which is spaced apart from each other in the direction indicated by the double-headed arrow 3. Correspondingly, the integrally constructed reinforcing plate 4 is made of steel, thereby advantageously reinforcing the substrate 2. Figure 3 As can be seen, the corresponding reinforcing plate 4 and the corresponding portion T of the substrate 2 are therefore bonded to the substrate 2 by the elastomer 5. This is evident from... Figure 3It can be clearly seen that the elastomer 5—which is preferably elastically deformable itself—forms, in particular, an elastically deformable intermediate layer 6, which is disposed between the respective reinforcing plate 4 and the respective partial region T of the substrate 2. The respective intermediate layers 6 are also disposed only partially and are therefore spaced apart from each other and disposed sequentially along the spacing direction indicated by the bidirectional arrow 3. In the fully manufactured state of the motor vehicle, the spacing direction is, for example, aligned with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Furthermore, it is stipulated that the respective reinforcing plate 4 is electrically isolated from the substrate 2 by the respective elastomer 5. In addition, the respective reinforcing plate 4 and therefore the respective elastomer 5 are disposed on the upper side 7 of the substrate 2, which points upward in the vertical direction of the vehicle, or toward the interior space. The upper side 7 faces away from the lower side 8 of the substrate 2, and the lower side 8 points downward in the vertical direction of the vehicle and is therefore away from the housing space and passenger compartment.

[0032] The corresponding reinforcing plate 4 is also constructed as a planar element and therefore has a substantially planar extension. Based on the local reinforcement of the substrate 2 in the corresponding region T by means of the corresponding reinforcing plate 4, the wall thickness of the substrate 2 can be made particularly small. Therefore, it is preferable that the maximum wall thickness of the substrate 2 is less than 5 mm. This keeps the installation space requirement and weight within a particularly low range.

[0033] from Figure 2 It can be particularly clearly seen that the substrate 2, especially for each partial region T and therefore for each reinforcing plate 4, has a corresponding additional partial region T2, connected to the corresponding partial region T and the corresponding reinforcing plate 4 therein, extending around the entire corresponding partial region T and the entire corresponding reinforcing plate 4, said additional partial region having no reinforcing element. Therefore, the substrate 2 is only locally reinforced by means of the reinforcing plate 4 in the partial region T, thereby keeping the weight and mounting space requirements of the housing element 1 particularly low. Figure 1 and 3 As can be clearly seen, housing element 1 has sidewalls 9, which are spaced apart from each other along another spacing direction, as indicated by double-headed arrow 10 and perpendicular to the spacing direction 3 indicated by double-headed arrow 3. In the fully manufactured state of the motor vehicle, this other spacing direction coincides with the lateral direction of the vehicle. Along this other spacing direction and therefore along the lateral direction of the vehicle, the receiving space is defined at least partially on both sides by the sidewalls 9. Furthermore, housing element 1 has endwalls 11, which are spaced apart from each other along a first spacing direction indicated by double-headed arrow 3. For example, the endwalls 11 are connected to the sidewalls 9. The receiving space here is defined at least partially on both sides along the first spacing direction indicated by double-headed arrow 3 and therefore along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0034] The housing element 1 also has struts 12, which are also referred to as lateral struts. The lateral struts are arranged between the side walls 9 along the other interval direction and between the end walls 11 along the first interval direction, and each has a straight or linear orientation extending in the vehicle's lateral direction or along the other interval direction. The side walls 9 and end walls 11 also have corresponding straight or linear orientations. The corresponding lateral struts extend continuously from one side wall 9 to the other side wall 9 along the other interval direction and connect to the side walls 9 at both ends, thereby connecting the side walls 9 to each other via the lateral struts and end walls 11. The side walls 9, end walls 11, and struts 12 thus form a frame 13, through which particularly advantageous accident characteristics can be achieved in a way that is particularly space-saving and weight-saving. In particular, it can be seen that the side walls 9 and end walls 11 define at least a portion of the receiving space of the memory housing (in... Figure 1 (Referring to TB in the text), the portion TB is defined on both sides by end walls 11 along the first interval direction indicated by double arrow 3 and on both sides by side walls 9 along the other interval direction indicated by double arrow 10. Lateral struts are spaced apart from each other along the first interval direction and from the end walls 11, thereby dividing the portion TB into corresponding sub-parts UT by the lateral struts along the first interval direction. It can be specified here, for example, that at least one or exactly one of the aforementioned storage modules is at least partially housed in a corresponding sub-part UT. In general, it can be seen that the sub-part UT is a partial space, and the portion TB or the entire housing space is divided into these partial spaces by the struts 12. Furthermore, the side walls 9 and end walls 11 protrude from the substrate 2 and the reinforcing plate 4. In particular, it is conceivable that the side walls 9 and end walls 11 are arranged on the substrate 2 such that the end walls 11 and side walls 9 directly contact the substrate 2 or its upper side 7.

[0035] In addition, from Figure 4 and 5 It can be clearly seen that the corresponding support rod 12 is disposed in the corresponding portion TE of the corresponding additional region T2, such that no reinforcing plate 4 is disposed between the corresponding support rod 12 and the substrate 2. It is conceivable that the corresponding support rod 12 directly supports or rests against the substrate 2 or its upper side 7. It is also specified that the corresponding reinforcing plate 4, preferably made of sheet metal and very preferably of aluminum plate, is connected to the substrate 2, preferably made of steel plate, only by means of an adhesive caused by the corresponding elastomer 5. Thus, additional connecting elements for connecting the corresponding reinforcing plate 4 to the substrate 2 can be avoided, thereby keeping the number of components and therefore the weight and installation space requirements particularly low.

[0036] List of reference numerals

[0037] 1 housing component

[0038] 2 substrates

[0039] 3 double-headed arrows

[0040] 4 Reinforcing Plates

[0041] 5. Elastomers

[0042] 6 intermediate layers

[0043] 7 upper side

[0044] 8. Lower side

[0045] 9 sidewalls

[0046] 10 double-headed arrows

[0047] 11 end wall

[0048] 12 poles

[0049] 13 frames

[0050] T section area

[0051] T2 Partial Area

[0052] TB section

[0053] UT subpart

Claims

1. A housing element (1) of a memory housing for an electric energy storage device for a motor vehicle, said energy storage device being configured to store electrical energy and comprising a plurality of storage cells disposed within a receiving space of the memory housing, wherein electrical energy can be stored in these storage cells, characterized in that, The housing element (1) has a substrate (2) made of light metal, which is reinforced at least in a portion of a region (T) by a reinforcing plate (4) made of steel, the reinforcing plate being bonded to the portion of the substrate (2) by an elastomer (5), the reinforcing plate (4) being connected to the substrate (2) by the adhesive achieved solely by means of the elastomer (5).

2. The housing element (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The reinforcing plate (4) is electrically isolated from the substrate (2) by the elastomer (5).

3. The housing element (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The maximum wall thickness of the substrate (2) is less than 5 mm.

4. The housing element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The substrate (2) has an additional portion (T2) that is connected to the portion (T) and the reinforcing plate (4) and extends around the entire portion (T) and the entire reinforcing plate (4), the additional portion having no reinforcing element.

5. The housing element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The housing element (1) has sidewalls (9) that protrude from the base plate (2) and the reinforcing plate (4), thereby defining at least partially the receiving space. At least one support rod (12) is provided between each of the sidewalls (9) and on the base plate (2), extending continuously from one sidewall (9) to the other and thereby dividing the receiving space into two partial spaces (UT). The support rod is connected to the sidewalls (9), thereby connecting each sidewall (9) to the other via the support rod (12).

6. The housing element (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The housing element (1) has sidewalls (9) that protrude from the base plate (2) and the reinforcing plate (4), thereby defining at least partially the receiving space. At least one support rod (12) is provided between each of the sidewalls (9) and on the base plate (2), extending continuously from one sidewall (9) to the other and thereby dividing the receiving space into two partial spaces (UT). The support rod is connected to the sidewalls (9), thereby connecting each sidewall (9) to the other via the support rod (12).

7. The housing element (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The support rod (12) is disposed on a portion (TE) of the other portion of the region (T2).

8. The housing element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The light metal is aluminum.

9. A motor vehicle having at least one housing element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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