Traction battery

Abstract

The invention relates to a traction battery (1) for a motor vehicle. The traction battery (1) comprises a housing (2) with a housing pot (2a) and a cover (2b), a plurality of components (7) to be cooled and a cooling device (4) with cooling channels (5). The cooling device (4) is connected in a heat transfer manner to the components (7). According to the invention, the traction battery (1) comprises an insert (3). The cooling channels (5) are partially outwardly delimited by the housing pot (2a) and partially outwardly delimited by the insert (3). The housing pot (2a) and the cover (2b) are made of plastic and the insert (3) is made of metal. The components (7) are in a heat transfer manner applied against the insert (3).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a traction battery for a motor vehicle, the traction battery having a housing and having a plurality of cooling components disposed within the housing. Background Technology

[0002] Traction batteries typically consist of multiple battery modules and a housing in which the battery modules are housed. During operation, the battery modules generate heat, which is transferred to the outside, for example, via the housing. Here, the housing is designed to be metallic to achieve the necessary high thermal conductivity between the battery modules and the housing. The housing is then formed from metal as a die-casting. Disadvantageously, this results in a high metal usage rate. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved or at least alternative embodiment of a general type of traction battery for overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0004] A traction battery for a motor vehicle includes a housing having a can-shaped housing can and a lid closing the housing can. Furthermore, the traction battery includes a plurality of components to be cooled disposed within the housing. The traction battery also includes a cooling device having at least one cooling channel through which a cooling medium, preferably a coolant, can flow. Here, the cooling device is disposed within the housing and is thermally connected to the respective components to be cooled. According to the invention, the traction battery includes at least one plate-shaped insert, and the cooling channel of the cooling device is partially defined outwardly by the housing can and partially outwardly by the insert. The housing can and the lid are made of plastic, while the at least one insert is made of metal. The respective components of the traction battery to be cooled are abutted against the insert in a thermally conductive manner.

[0005] Therefore, in the traction battery according to the invention, only the inserts that are connected to the component to be cooled by heat transfer are made of metal. The housing and cap, which are not directly connected to the component to be cooled by heat transfer, are made of plastic. In other words, only the areas in the traction battery according to the invention that are in direct heat transfer contact with the component to be cooled are made of metal. This results in advantages in cost, weight, and materials.

[0006] Advantageously, the component to be cooled can be a battery module consisting of multiple battery cells stacked on top of each other. Advantageously, the component to be cooled can be a battery module or a control board for controlling the traction battery and / or the traction battery.

[0007] Advantageously, the insert can be formed by deep drawing, die casting, or extrusion.

[0008] Advantageously, the insert can be plate-shaped. Advantageously, the at least one insert can be plate-shaped and have a complex shape. Advantageously, the at least one insert can have a complex shape for space-saving placement of the component to be cooled within the housing.

[0009] Advantageously, the at least one insert can be configured to seal towards the housing. Therefore, the cooling channel through which the cooling medium, preferably coolant, flows is also sealed to the component to be cooled.

[0010] In an advantageous embodiment, the at least one insert is circumferentially overmolded from plastic, preferably thermoplastic, at its edges. The at least one insert is then material-jointed (preferably welded or vibration-welded) to the housing via the overmolded plastic. Thus, the cooling channel can be reliably sealed to the components within the housing that need to be cooled.

[0011] Furthermore, it is possible to configure the at least one insert to be circumferentially attached to the cap at its edge via an overmolded plastic material joining method (preferably welding or vibration welding). Alternatively or additionally, it is possible to configure the cap to be circumferentially attached to the shell container at its edge via a material joining method (preferably welding or vibration welding). In both cases, the shell can thus be reliably sealed outwards.

[0012] In another advantageous embodiment, the at least one insert is configured to be circumferentially embedded into the housing at its edge under thermal action. Therefore, the cooling channel can be reliably sealed to the components to be cooled within the housing. The cover is then circumferentially attached to the housing at its edge by a material joining method (preferably welding or vibration welding). Thus, the housing can be reliably sealed outwards.

[0013] In an advantageous embodiment, the at least one insert can be configured to include a seam facing the housing and circumferentially engaged to the housing at its edge via this seam. The seam then forms a seal that reliably seals the cooling passage to the components within the housing that need to be cooled. Advantageously, the at least one insert can be configured to include a seam facing the lid and circumferentially engaged to the lid at its edge via this seam. Thus, the housing can be reliably sealed outwards.

[0014] In an advantageous embodiment, the housing and the lid are joined together circumferentially at their edges using a material-bonded method. The at least one insert can then be circumferentially overmolded with an elastomer at its edges, thus forming a sealing lip on the at least one insert. The sealing lip of the at least one insert can then be circumferentially compressed between the housing and the lid at its edges. Therefore, the cooling channel can be reliably sealed to the components to be cooled within the housing and to the outward-facing housing surface. Advantageously, the sealing lip can include multiple sealing ribs. During compression, the sealing ribs can be pressed between the housing and the lid. The sealing effect of the sealing lip can be further enhanced by the sealing ribs.

[0015] Other important features and advantages of the present invention can be obtained from the accompanying drawings and the related description thereof.

[0016] It should be understood that, without departing from the scope of the invention, the features mentioned above and which will still be described below can be used not only in the corresponding combinations described, but also in other combinations or individually. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings and described in more detail in the following description, wherein the same reference numerals denote the same or similar or functionally identical parts.

[0018] They are shown schematically respectively:

[0019] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the traction battery according to the present invention;

[0020] Figures 2 to 5 This is a cross-sectional view of different bonding positions formed in the traction battery according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0021] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a traction battery 1 according to the present invention is shown. The traction battery 1 includes a housing 2 and an insert 3, the housing having a housing can 2a and a cover 2b. The insert 3 is plate-shaped and has a complex stepped shape. The housing can 2a is can-shaped. Here, the cover 2b is flat or planar, but can also be can-shaped. The traction battery 1 also includes a cooling device 4 having cooling channels 5. The cooling channels 5 of the cooling device 4 are defined by the insert 3 and the housing can 2a facing outward. The housing can 2a, the cover 2b, and the insert 3 are circumferentially sealed together at a joint position 6 at their edges.

[0022] Furthermore, the traction battery includes multiple components 7 to be cooled, namely multiple battery modules 8 and a control board 9. The components 7 to be cooled are disposed within the interior 13 of the housing 2, which is formed within the housing 2 between the insert 3 or the housing canister 2a and the cover 2b. Here, the components 7 to be cooled are connected to the insert 3 by heat transfer, so that... Figure 1 The heat indicated by the arrow can be dissipated through the insert 3 to the cooling medium, preferably coolant, in the cooling channel 5.

[0023] The housing 2a and the cap 2b are made of plastic. The insert 3 is formed of metal by deep drawing, die casting, or extrusion. Therefore, in the traction battery 1 according to the invention, the insert 3, which is in direct heat transfer contact with the component 7 to be cooled, is formed only of metal. In contrast, the housing 2 is made entirely of plastic. This results in advantages in cost, weight, and materials.

[0024] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the traction battery 1 at the engagement position 6 in the first embodiment is shown. Here, the insert 3 is circumferentially overmolded with plastic, preferably thermoplastic, at its edges. The housing can 2a is vibratory welded to the insert 3 using the overmolded plastic 12. Thus, the cooling channel 5 is reliably sealed to the cooling component 7 in the housing 2 or inside the housing 2's interior 13. The cover 2b is vibratory welded to the insert 3 using the overmolded plastic 12. Thus, the housing 2 is reliably sealed outwards. Therefore, each of the housing can 2a and the cover 2b is connected to the insert 3 by a material bonding manner and is connected via the insert 3 at the engagement position 6.

[0025] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the traction battery 1 at the engagement position 6 in the second embodiment is shown. Here, the insert 3 is embedded circumferentially into the housing 2a under thermal action at its edge. Therefore, the cooling channel 5 is reliably sealed to the cooling component 7 in the housing 2 or inside the housing 2's interior 13. The housing 2a and the cover 2b are vibratory welded together circumferentially at their edges. Therefore, the housing 2 is reliably sealed outwards. Thus, the housing 2a and the cover 2b are directly connected to each other at the engagement position 6 by a material-bonded manner. Then, the insert 3 is connected to the housing 2a by a material-bonded manner.

[0026] Figure 4A cross-sectional view of the traction battery 1 at the engagement position 6 in the third embodiment is shown. Here, the insert 3 includes a joint 10a facing the housing tank 2a and is circumferentially engaged to the housing tank 2a at its edge via the joint 10a. Therefore, the cooling channel 5 is reliably sealed to the cooling component 7 in the housing 2 or inside the housing 2's interior 13. Furthermore, the insert 3 includes a joint 10b facing the cover 2b and is circumferentially engaged to the cover 2b at its edge via the joint 10b. Therefore, the housing 2 is sealed outwards. Thus, each of the housing tank 2a and the cover 2b is connected to the insert 3 at the engagement position 6 and is connected via the insert 3 by material bonding.

[0027] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the traction battery at the engagement position 6 in the fourth embodiment is shown. The insert 3 is circumferentially overmolded with an elastomer at its edges, thus forming a sealing lip 11 on the insert 3. The housing 2a and the cap 2b are circumferentially joined together at their edges by material bonding, and the sealing lip 11 is compressed between the housing 2a and the cap 2b. Therefore, the cooling channel 5 is now reliably sealed to the cooling component 7 in the housing 2 or inside the housing 2's interior 13, as well as to the housing 2 facing outwards.

Claims

1. A traction battery for motor vehicles (1). - Wherein, the traction battery (1) includes a housing (2), the housing having a can-shaped housing can (2a) and a cover (2b) for closing the housing can (2a). - in, The traction battery (1) includes multiple cooling components (7) disposed in the housing (2). - in, The traction battery (1) includes a cooling device (4) having at least one cooling channel (5) through which a cooling medium can flow. - The cooling device (4) is disposed inside the housing (2) and is connected to each component (7) to be cooled by means of heat transfer. Its features are, - The traction battery (1) includes at least one plate-shaped insert (3), and the cooling channel (5) of the cooling device (4) is defined by the housing (2a) and the insert (3), wherein the insert (3) has a stepped cross-section, shown as To save space by arranging the components to be cooled within the housing, the stepped cross-section includes an upper horizontal section, a lower horizontal section, and a vertical section connecting the upper and lower horizontal sections. The lower horizontal section is located at the bottom of the housing tank (2a). - The plurality of components to be cooled (7) are a control board (9) and a plurality of battery modules (8). The control board (9) is integrally disposed on the insert (3) with its upper horizontal portion abutting against the insert (3). Some of the battery modules (8) abut against the area on the control board corresponding to the upper horizontal portion. The other battery modules (8) are disposed between the control board (9) and the lower horizontal portion, and abut against both. - The shell (2a) and lid (2b) are made of plastic, and the at least one insert (3) is made of metal.

2. The traction battery according to claim 1, Its features are, The at least one insert (3) is formed by deep drawing, die casting or extrusion.

3. The traction battery according to claim 1 or 2, Its features are, The at least one insert (3) is sealed toward the shell tank (2a).

4. The traction battery according to claim 1 or 2, Its features are, - The at least one insert (3) is circumferentially covered with plastic (12) at its edge, and - The at least one insert (3) is attached to the shell can (2a) by means of material bonding via overmolded plastic (12).

5. The traction battery according to claim 4, Its features are, - The at least one insert (3) is circumferentially connected to the cap (2b) at its edge via an overmolded plastic (12) in a material-bonded manner, and / or - The cover (2b) is circumferentially attached to the shell container (2a) at the edge by a material joining method.

6. The traction battery according to claim 1 or 2, Its features are, - The at least one insert (3) is embedded circumferentially in the shell canister (2a) at its edge under thermal action, and - The cover (2b) is circumferentially attached to the shell container (2a) at the edge by a material joining method.

7. The traction battery according to claim 1 or 2, Its features are, The at least one insert (3) includes a joint (10a) facing the shell tank (2a) and is circumferentially joined to the shell tank (2a) at the edge via the joint (10a).

8. The traction battery according to claim 7, Its features are, The at least one insert (3) includes a joint (10b) facing the cover (2b) and is circumferentially joined to the cover (2b) at the edge via the joint (10b).

9. The traction battery according to claim 1 or 2, Its features are, - The shell (2a) and the lid (2b) are joined together circumferentially at the edges by a material bonding method. - The at least one insert (3) is circumferentially covered with an elastomer at its edge, and thus a sealing lip (11) is formed on the at least one insert (3), and - The sealing lip (11) of the at least one insert (3) is circumferentially compressed at the edge between the shell can (2a) and the cap (2b).

10. The traction battery according to claim 1 or 2, Its features are, - The cooling medium is coolant.

11. The traction battery according to claim 4, Its features are, - The plastic (12) is a thermoplastic.

12. The traction battery according to claim 4, Its features are, - The at least one insert (3) is welded to the shell can (2a) via an overmolded plastic (12).

13. The traction battery according to claim 5, Its features are, - The at least one insert (3) is welded to the cover (2b) circumferentially via an overmolded plastic (12) at the edge, and / or - The cover (2b) is welded circumferentially to the shell tank (2a) at the edge.

14. The traction battery according to claim 6, Its features are, - The cover (2b) is welded circumferentially to the shell tank (2a) at the edge.

15. The traction battery according to claim 4, Its features are, - The at least one insert (3) is connected to the shell tank (2a) by vibration welding via an overmolded plastic (12).

16. The traction battery according to claim 5, Its features are, - The at least one insert (3) is circumferentially connected to the cover (2b) at the edge via an overmolded plastic (12) by vibration welding, and / or - The cover (2b) is circumferentially connected to the shell tank (2a) at the edge by vibration welding.

17. The traction battery according to claim 6, Its features are, - The cover (2b) is circumferentially connected to the shell tank (2a) at the edge by vibration welding.

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