Exhaust duct assembly, housing assembly, battery and method for producing exhaust duct assembly for battery of motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an exhaust duct arrangement (12) for a battery (14) of a motor vehicle (10) for discharging gas (34) from a cell (22) of the battery (14), comprising at least one exhaust duct (32). The exhaust channel assembly comprises a support (28, 30) for the battery housing of the battery, which support is designed as a hollow profile and extends in a first direction (y, x), the channel wall (60) of the exhaust channel being a first part (62a) of the support wall (62) of the support, which first part surrounds a first support interior (44) of the support, and the channel wall (60) of the exhaust channel being a second part (62a) of the support wall (62) of the support. The channel interior (38) of the exhaust channel is at least one part (44b) of the first bearing interior, in which at least one first sealing unit (46) is arranged, which separates a first sub-region (44a) of the first bearing interior from a second sub-region of the first bearing interior in a sealed manner, the second sub-region surrounds the interior of the exhaust passage.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an exhaust channel assembly for a battery of a motor vehicle, which is used to discharge gas from a battery cell. The exhaust channel assembly has at least one exhaust channel, the exhaust channel includes a channel wall portion surrounding the channel interior of the exhaust channel, the exhaust channel has at least one inlet, gas escaping from the battery cell can be introduced into the channel interior of the exhaust channel through the inlet, and the exhaust channel has at least one openable exhaust port, and gas introduced into the channel interior in the open state of the at least one exhaust port can be discharged from the exhaust channel through the exhaust port. In addition, the present invention also relates to a housing assembly for a battery, a battery, and a method for manufacturing an exhaust channel assembly. Background Art

[0002] From the prior art, various concepts are known for discharging gases from battery cells, for example in the event of a thermal runaway of such a cell.

[0003] DE 10 2005 021 421 B3 describes a battery having a battery housing divided into cell containers and having a lower cover that tightly seals the cell containers, the lower cover having openings for the cell containers, the openings leading into a venting channel system placed on the lower cover. An annular bulge is formed on the lower cover adjacent to a respective opening, and the venting channel system has a fixing part in order to clamp the venting channel system on the lower cover, so that the bulge is used to achieve sealing of the opening relative to the venting channel system by surface pressure.

[0004] DE 10 2013 201 365 A1 describes a battery module comprising battery cells, each of which comprises a venting element in order to discharge the gas generated in the respective battery cell from the battery cell when a predetermined gas pressure is present. The battery module further comprises a gas-tight venting channel, which is arranged above the venting element of the battery cell, wherein the gas released through the venting element of the battery cell escapes into the venting channel. Here, a closing cover is arranged between the venting elements within the venting channel, which in a first state divides the venting channel into a first and a second gas-tight chamber, which can be respectively assigned to the battery cell.

[0005] In principle, it is still desirable to provide the simplest possible and, most importantly, space-saving design of the exhaust duct assembly without reducing the gas exhaust efficiency. Summary of the invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a ventilation duct component, a housing component, a battery and a method which enable the most effective possible gas discharge of gases escaping from the battery cells in the most space-saving manner possible.

[0007] This object is achieved by an exhaust duct component, a housing component, a battery and a method having the features according to the respective independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

[0008] The exhaust channel assembly for a battery of a motor vehicle for exhausting gas from a battery cell according to the present invention comprises at least one exhaust channel, the exhaust channel comprises a channel wall surrounding the channel interior of the exhaust channel, the exhaust channel comprises at least one inlet, through which gas escaping from the battery cell can be introduced into the channel interior of the exhaust channel, and the exhaust channel comprises at least one openable outlet, through which the gas introduced into the channel interior in the open state of the at least one outlet can be discharged from the exhaust channel. Here, the exhaust channel assembly comprises a support member for a battery housing of a battery, which is designed as a hollow profile and extends in a first direction, wherein the channel wall of the exhaust channel is a first part of a support member wall of the support member, which surrounds a first support member interior space of the support member, wherein the channel interior of the exhaust channel is at least a part of the first support member interior space, wherein at least one first sealing unit is arranged in the first support member interior space, the first sealing unit separating a first sub-region of the first support member interior space from a second sub-region of the first support member interior space in a sealed manner, the second sub-region surrounding the channel interior of the exhaust channel.

[0009] Here, the present invention is based on the following knowledge: the battery housing of a battery, in particular a high-voltage battery, usually has a support member designed as a hollow profile, which can, for example, form the frame of such a battery housing. Here, the interior of these hollow profile supports usually remains empty and thus represents an unused structural space. The present invention uses this knowledge so that the support member designed as a hollow profile is also used as an exhaust channel here. That is, the gas escaping from the battery cell and to be discharged can be advantageously introduced into the inner space of the support member until it is guided to at least one discharge opening that can be opened and discharged from the discharge opening. Here, the support member designed as a hollow profile does not necessarily have to provide a complete gas discharge path from the battery cell to the discharge opening, but at least a part of it. By integrating at least one exhaust channel into such a support member, structural space can be advantageously saved, because the previously unused structural space can be advantageously used for this purpose. In addition, the present invention is additionally based on the following knowledge: in order to achieve effective gas discharge, it is advantageous to provide one or more discharge openings, which together provide a sufficiently large passage area for the escaping gas to avoid gas blockage, etc. For example, this can be achieved with only one or a few large outlets or smaller but significantly more outlets. The advantage of providing one or more larger outlets is that it is also possible to save costs and reduce the installation workload, especially because it is not only a simple hole, but also designed as a kind of outlet with an opening mechanism, under normal circumstances, that is, when there is no gas to be discharged, the outlet is closed by the opening mechanism, and in the case of exhaust, the outlet is opened, that is to say, opened. However, for large outlets, this arrangement feasibility is strongly limited due to the structural space. On the contrary, the support as a part of the battery housing of the battery usually provides a sufficiently large side provided at least partially by the support wall, even with a corresponding opening mechanism, such as a large outlet of a pressure reducing valve can also be integrated in the side. Therefore, a more effective implementation scheme of the exhaust channel assembly is allowed in this way.

[0010] Another advantage results from the combination with the preferred embodiment of the invention, according to which the gas discharge from the battery cells is carried out downwards with reference to the prescribed installation position in the motor vehicle, so that the gas escaping from the cells is first guided into the gap between the housing bottom of the battery housing and the underbody guard. In this case, the gas can advantageously be guided from this gap into the support and discharged via the discharge opening integrated in the support. This has the advantage that the openable discharge opening does not have to be integrated into the area below the housing bottom, for example into the side wall which laterally delimits the gap between the housing bottom and the underbody guard. This in turn makes it possible to reduce the distance between the underbody guard and the housing bottom and thus further save structural space in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0011] Another great advantage of the present invention is that at least one first sealing unit is arranged in the inner space of the support. This advantageously makes it possible to seal at least a portion of the inner space of the support in a fluid-tight manner, so that the gas introduced into the exhaust channel cannot escape from the inner space of the support except from at least one exhaust port provided for this purpose. Therefore, uncontrolled gas escape elsewhere can be advantageously avoided. In addition, this does not require any complex sealing of the support on its end face. It is also achieved that only a subsection of the inner space of the support is sealed. Accordingly, the remaining sections that are not used as exhaust channels do not need to be sealed. This simplifies, for example, the installation of other components on the support, such as via screw connections, which do not need to be designed to be sealed or fluid-tight.

[0012] In principle, it is conceivable to integrate such a sealing unit as a welded-in partition wall into the support interior and thus spatially separate two sub-areas of the support interior in a sealed manner. However, this is very difficult due to the usually very limited accessibility to the support interior.

[0013] Another very advantageous design of the present invention is that the first sealing unit comprises a hardened sealing material. Such a sealing material can be introduced into the interior of the support, i.e. the support interior space, in a simple non-hardened and, for example, viscous manner, for example, via an inlet opening in the support wall, and can then form at least a part of the sealing unit accordingly. Such a sealing material can be adapted to the internal geometry of the support interior space in a particularly simple manner, and can therefore, for example, also very easily compensate for manufacturing tolerances. By means of such a sealing material, the aforementioned gate can also be automatically closed after hardening, through which the sealing material can be filled into the support interior space. Therefore, the passage to the support interior space can be simply realized as or in the form of a sealing unit or at least a part thereof for introducing a sealing material, which can be automatically closed again by the sealing material itself, in particular in a fluid-tight manner.

[0014] In principle, it is conceivable that the exhaust channel assembly also includes a plurality of exhaust channels. However, it can also have at least one exhaust channel as the only exhaust channel. If it includes a plurality of exhaust channels, the exhaust channels can be fluidically separated from each other or fluidically connected to each other. In this case, further exhaust channels can also extend outside the support. Optionally, a plurality of exhaust channels can also be integrated into the support at the same time.

[0015] The support is preferably formed of a metal material, such as steel. Here, the support provides an exhaust passage. Here, not the entire support must serve as an exhaust passage. For example, only a section of the support in the first direction can be used as such an exhaust passage. It is also conceivable that the support is designed as a subdivided hollow profile with a plurality of hollow profile chambers. This means that the support, for example, has an inner space surrounded by the outer wall of the support, which is further subdivided into individual sub-inner spaces by at least one or more, particularly parallel intermediate spacers, which, for example, connect the mutually opposite sides of the outer wall of the support. One of these sub-inner spaces can provide the first support inner space accordingly. Therefore, the support, for example, can also have a second support inner space, which is arranged above or below the first support inner space in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and defined in detail later. The support can also optionally have more than two support inner spaces. Each support inner space can also be referred to as an extruded profile chamber of the support. Therefore, the support as a whole can be designed as an extruded profile.

[0016] It has been found that the use of a single such support interior is sufficient to provide the exhaust duct. Therefore, in particular when the support has a plurality of such support interiors, it is very advantageous to use only one such support interior for the exhaust duct. It is then not necessary to pay attention to the corresponding sealing of the other support interiors.

[0017] The at least one outlet opening can, for example, comprise an exhaust valve. The exhaust valve can be designed such that it opens the outlet opening when the pressure prevailing in the interior of the channel exceeds a certain pressure threshold value (in particular compared to the external pressure or ambient pressure outside the support element) and closes the outlet opening when the pressure prevailing in the interior of the channel is less than or equal to the pressure threshold value. Such an exhaust valve can be designed to be reversibly reclosable or to be openable only irreversibly, for example by rupturing a membrane.

[0018] In another advantageous design of the present invention, the sealing unit comprises an injection mold / mold arranged on the support wall in the first support interior space, the injection mold having an injection mold wall, which optionally surrounds at least one cavity of the injection mold that is cast with the sealing material in the form of a housing together with one or more regions of the support wall. Such an injection mold can be advantageously used so that the sealing material is kept in place and prevented from flowing away in an uncontrolled manner during filling and in the still viscous state of the sealing material. The injection mold itself does not have to be sealed in a fluid-tight manner with the support wall in the support interior space. For example, a small gap or free space can also be retained here. They can also be filled with the filled sealing material, for example, and thus seal the injection mold in a fluid-tight manner relative to the support wall. For this purpose, the sealing material in a viscous state can be very viscous, so that it can also fill the smaller gap between the injection mold and the support wall, without being immediately spread over the entire support interior space and flowing away. For example, a suitable sealing material can be provided by butyl rubber. Other sealing materials can also be conceivable. In other words, the injection mold advantageously allows the sealing material to be held locally at the desired location until the sealing material hardens. The injection mold then remains in the interior space of the support. To introduce the injection mold into the interior space of the support, it is sufficient to push the injection mold through the end opening of the hollow profile of the support to the desired location.

[0019] In another advantageous design of the present invention, at least one second sealing unit is arranged in the first support member interior space of the support member, and the second sealing unit seals off the third sub-region of the first support member interior space from the second sub-portion of the first support member interior space inside the channel surrounding the exhaust channel. That is, the two end regions of the exhaust channel can be sealed within the first support member interior space by the corresponding sealing units. Then, in the present case, only the second sub-region of the support member interior space is used as the exhaust channel, while the other two sub-regions, namely the first sub-region and the third sub-region of the first support member interior space, are not used as the exhaust channel, and in particular, do not need to be designed as fluid-tight, and this is not the case, because this saves costs and expenses.

[0020] Here, the second sealing unit can also be designed in exactly the same way as described for the first sealing unit. In other words, preferably, the second sealing unit also comprises a corresponding injection molded and hardened sealing material, which fills the cavity provided by the injection mold.

[0021] According to another advantageous design of the present invention, the exhaust channel extends over a large part of the support in the first direction, and the first sub-region and the third sub-region of the first support inner space are connected to the respective first end and the second end of the support, which delimit the support on both sides in the first direction, in particular, the exhaust channel comprises a plurality of inlet openings arranged at intervals in the first direction and / or a plurality of outlet openings arranged at intervals in the first direction and openable. That is, most of the support, in particular most of the first support inner space, can be advantageously used as the exhaust channel, and no complicated sealing welding is required at the profile ends of the support.

[0022] In principle, the number of inlet openings can be different from the number of openable outlet openings. For example, multiple inlet openings can be provided, while only a single outlet opening is provided, or vice versa. However, it is also possible to provide exactly the same number of inlet openings as outlet openings. All inlet openings preferably open into the second sub-region of the interior space of the first support member, i.e., the second sub-region provides the exhaust duct. Similarly, the openable outlet openings also all open into the same second sub-region of the interior space of the first support member.

[0023] In another very advantageous design of the present invention, the exhaust duct assembly comprises an underbody guard for a motor vehicle. For example, the underbody guard can be configured in the form of a plate. It is also preferred that the underbody guard is fixed to the support by means of at least one threaded connection comprising at least one screw, so that the screw partially protrudes into a second sub-region of the interior space of the first support, wherein the threaded connection comprises a sealing element, in particular an annular sealing washer, which is arranged between the screw head of the screw and the support, in particular against the underbody guard. Therefore, on the one hand, the support can also be advantageously used to fix the underbody guard. In order to provide sufficient stability for the fixation, it is very advantageous to provide a plurality of screws, by which the underbody guard is tightened along the support. At the same time, it is very advantageous that, as described above, the exhaust duct extends over a large part of the support in the first direction. If it is to be avoided that the position of these threaded connections is cumbersomely repositioned and redesigned, the result of this is that one or more screws for fixing the underbody guard on the support lead into a second sub-region of the interior space of the first support, which second sub-region represents or provides the exhaust duct. Therefore, it is very advantageous that these threaded connections are also configured to be fluid-tight. This can be achieved, for example, by a sealing element arranged between the screw head and the corresponding abutment element, on which the screw abuts with its screw head in the screwed-in state. The abutment element is provided in particular by a bottom guard, for example on the underside of the bottom guard. In principle, it is also conceivable that such a screw is screwed downwardly into the bottom guard from the first support member interior space. However, due to structural space limitations, it is much easier to screw the screw into the support member from below through the bottom guard. Here, the sealing element does not necessarily have to abut against the screw head itself, at least not when another element, such as a washer, etc., is arranged between the screw head and the sealing element. The sealing element then advantageously seals the through hole in a fluid-tight manner, through which the screw passes to establish a threaded connection. In other words, the sealing element then accordingly seals the second sub-region of the first support member interior space in a fluid-tight manner relative to the environment.

[0024] In the same way, one or more screw connections can also be formed, in which a part of the screw protrudes into the second sub-region of the interior space of the first support and the screw connection is used, for example, to fix other components, for example components of one of the underbody protection devices. In this case, such a screw does not necessarily have to protrude from below into the interior space of the first support, but can also be screwed into the support laterally. In general, such a screw can be screwed into the second sub-region of the interior space of the first support, protruding partially from outside the support.

[0025] According to another advantageous design of the present invention, the screw is designed as a self-tapping screw and / or a self-cutting screw. This is not only suitable for screws used to fix the bottom protection device, but also suitable for other screws. Here, this self-tapping screw and / or self-cutting screw automatically cuts through the component into which the screw is screwed by means of its thread when being screwed in. Therefore, there is no need to set a drill hole for screwing in the screw. This in turn leads to the through hole in which the screw is screwed in and extends through the bottom protection device and the support wall being extremely tightly sealed by the screw rod itself. In other words, without the above-mentioned sealing element, the threaded connection is already very tight, and without the sealing element, it is achieved that when the gas is guided through the exhaust channel, no gas can escape from the position of the threaded connection, or if there is, only a small part of the gas can escape from the position of the threaded connection. However, the optional additional sealing element has the advantage that a better sealing effect can be achieved thereby, which is particularly advantageous when a large number of such screws (all of which protrude into the second sub-region of the first support internal space) are arranged along the support for fixing the bottom protection device on the support.

[0026] Furthermore, the invention relates to a housing assembly having a battery housing, which has a ventilation duct assembly according to the invention or one of its embodiments.

[0027] Here, the support element can be in particular part of the battery housing and, for example, provide a part of a housing wall, for example a side wall or a frame of the battery housing. Accordingly, another advantageous embodiment of the present invention is that the battery housing has a receiving area for receiving at least one battery module, wherein the battery housing has a frame surrounding the receiving area, the frame comprising a plurality of frame walls, wherein at least one of the frame walls represents a support element, in particular wherein the frame comprises two longitudinal beams opposite to each other in a first direction and two transverse beams opposite to each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction as frame walls, wherein preferably at least one of the two transverse beams represents a support element of the exhaust duct assembly.

[0028] That is, the frame of such a battery housing may include, for example, two longitudinal beams and two cross beams. When arranged in a motor vehicle as specified, the longitudinal beams preferably extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the cross beams preferably extend in the transverse direction of the vehicle. For example, the frame may enclose a roughly rectangular receiving area. As described in more detail later, the housing bottom of the battery housing may be fixed or arranged on the frame on the lower side, for example. The above-mentioned support member that provides the exhaust channel is preferably one of the cross beams of the frame. Particularly preferably, it is the cross beam at the rear, that is, the cross beam of the frame that is arranged closer to the rear of the vehicle, based on the specified installation position in the motor vehicle. This makes it particularly easy to achieve the gas discharge of the gas escaping in the direction of the rear of the vehicle, and then discharge it into a particularly safe area. In principle, it is also conceivable to use the longitudinal beam as an exhaust channel, but it is not very preferred.

[0029] In this case, both the longitudinal beams and the transverse beams can also be designed as hollow profiles, in particular as extruded profiles.

[0030] In another advantageous design of the present invention, the battery housing has a housing bottom, which is arranged below the receiving area in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, wherein the housing assembly includes a bottom protection device arranged below the housing bottom in the third direction, wherein a sealed gap is provided between the housing bottom and the bottom protection device, and the gap is fluidically connected to at least one inlet port of the exhaust channel.

[0031] This has a great advantage, that is, as mentioned above, the sealed gap can also be used for gas discharge or gas outlet of the gas escaping from the battery core. Here, the gap can extend on the entire surface of the bottom of the housing in the first direction and the second direction or at least almost on the entire surface of the bottom of the housing. Therefore, a very large space below the bottom of the housing and especially between the bottom of the housing and the bottom protection device can be used for gas discharge. This allows, for example, that a filter element for particle filtering of particles carried in the gas is also integrated into the gap. In addition, it is also achieved that the gap is constructed to be extremely small in the third direction because a sufficient passage area for gas discharge is provided due to the large width and / or length of the gap. That is, the gas escaping from the battery core can be advantageously first introduced into the sealed gap, and then introduced into the second region of the first support internal space via a fluid connection to the exhaust channel, and then finally discharged via at least one exhaust port. The gap can be fluidly connected to the inlet of the exhaust channel in this way, and the method is that the inlet is connected to the gap. The underbody protection device can thus be fastened to the support element in such a way that the hole in the wall of the support element providing the inlet opening opens into the gap. It is also preferred that the underbody protection device is arranged in a sealed manner on the battery housing, in particular on the frame of the battery housing and / or on the housing bottom. Gas introduced into the gap thereby cannot escape from the gap to other places and is therefore directed in a targeted manner in the exhaust gas channel provided by the support element and discharged via the outlet opening.

[0032] In addition, the present invention also relates to a battery having a housing assembly according to the present invention or one of its embodiments. The advantages mentioned for the housing assembly according to the present invention and its embodiments also apply to the battery according to the present invention.

[0033] In another very advantageous embodiment of the invention, the battery comprises a battery module having at least one battery cell, wherein the battery cell has an openable battery cell vent, wherein the battery module is arranged in the receiving area so that the openable battery cell vent faces the housing bottom.

[0034] The openable cell exhaust port can be designed as a pressure relief valve and / or a rupture diaphragm, for example. In the case of thermal runaway of the cell, gas is generated in the cell, which causes an overpressure inside the cell. If the overpressure reaches a certain pressure threshold, the openable cell exhaust port is opened and the gas can escape from the cell. The openable cell exhaust port is advantageously facing the bottom of the battery housing. This advantageously allows the gas to be discharged downward and then away from the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. Therefore, the heat generation associated with the thermal runaway of the cell does not affect the interior space of the motor vehicle or has a small impact. Here, in order to allow the gas escaping from the cell to pass through the bottom of the housing, the bottom of the housing can have a corresponding predetermined fracture site, for example in the form of a material weakening portion or in the form of a particularly thin-walled specification. In addition, the bottom of the housing can also be generally designed as a cooling bottom. In other words, the bottom of the housing can also be a cooling device for cooling at least one battery module. To this end, the bottom of the housing can also have a cooling channel through which a cooling medium can flow. The predetermined breaking point for guiding the gases escaping from the battery cell through is then preferably arranged in a region of the housing bottom in which no cooling channels or cooling channel sections extend.

[0035] In general, the battery can also have a plurality of battery modules. Each of these battery modules can have, for example, one or more battery cells. The battery cells can be designed, for example, as lithium-ion battery cells. In addition, battery cells can be provided for providing a battery module in the form of a battery cell stack, the battery cell stack having battery cells arranged adjacent to each other in a stacking direction. Each battery cell can have a corresponding battery cell exhaust port. The battery can be, for example, a high-voltage battery.

[0036] Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle having an exhaust duct component according to the invention or one of its embodiments and / or a housing component according to the invention or one of its embodiments and / or a battery according to the invention or one of its embodiments.

[0037] The motor vehicle according to the invention is preferably designed as a car, in particular as a passenger car or a commercial vehicle, or as a bus or a motorcycle.

[0038] In addition, the present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing an exhaust channel assembly for a battery of a motor vehicle for exhausting gas from a battery cell, wherein at least one exhaust channel is provided, the exhaust channel having a channel wall surrounding the channel interior of the exhaust channel, the exhaust channel having at least one inlet opening and at least one openable outlet opening. Here, the exhaust channel assembly comprises a support for a battery housing, which is designed as a hollow profile and extends in a first direction, wherein the channel wall of the exhaust channel is a first part of a support wall, which surrounds a first support interior space of the support, wherein the channel interior of the exhaust channel is at least a part of the first support interior space, wherein at least one first sealing unit is arranged in the first support interior space, the first sealing unit separating a first sub-region of the first support interior space from a second sub-region of the first support interior space in a sealed manner, the second sub-region surrounding the channel interior of the exhaust channel.

[0039] The advantages described for the exhaust gas duct component according to the invention and its embodiments also apply to the method according to the invention.

[0040] In another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the first sealing unit comprises a hardenable sealing material, and when the first sealing unit is arranged in the first support member interior space, the hardenable sealing material in a viscous state is filled into the support member interior space. This makes it possible to form such a sealing unit particularly simply and efficiently to seal the exhaust gas channel extending in the support member.

[0041] Furthermore, it is advantageous, as has already been described in particular in conjunction with advantageous embodiments of the exhaust duct arrangement, that the sealing unit comprises an injection mold having an injection mold wall, which is arranged in the first support interior space before the sealing material is filled in, when the first sealing unit is arranged in the first support interior space, wherein the injection mold wall surrounds at least one cavity of the injection mold in a housing-forming manner, which cavity is filled with the sealing material when the sealing material is filled in. Furthermore, it is advantageous that the injection mold and the support wall have corresponding openings that overlap at least partially, which provide a gate, through which the viscous sealing material is filled into the cavity of the injection mold in the first support interior space. That is, the corresponding openings in the support wall and in the injection mold are preferably flush with each other and together form a gate.

[0042] This allows for a particularly simple, economical and efficient sealing of the exhaust gas channel.

[0043] The present invention also includes improvements of the method according to the invention, which have the features already described in conjunction with the improvements of the exhaust duct assembly according to the invention, the improvements of the housing assembly according to the invention and the improvements of the battery according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding improvements of the method according to the invention are not described again here.

[0044] The present invention also includes combinations of features of the embodiments described. Therefore, the present invention also includes implementations which each have a combination of features of a plurality of the embodiments described, as long as these embodiments are not described as mutually exclusive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] The following describes an embodiment of the present invention. It is shown here:

[0046] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing a motor vehicle having an exhaust passage assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] Figure 2 a schematic cross-sectional view showing a portion of a battery, battery housing, and vent channel assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

[0048] Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view of a support member of a battery housing according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein the support member provides a venting channel.

[0049] The embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention. In the embodiments, the described components of the embodiments are respectively individual features of the present invention that can be regarded as independent of each other, and these features also improve the present invention independently of each other. Therefore, the present disclosure should also include feature combinations that are different from the illustrated embodiment feature combinations. In addition, the embodiments may also be supplemented by other features in the already described features of the present invention.

[0050] In the figures, the same reference numerals respectively denote elements with the same function. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a motor vehicle 10 having an exhaust gas duct arrangement 12 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown. The motor vehicle 10 has a battery 14, for example a high-voltage battery 14, which comprises a battery housing 16 providing a receiving area 18, in which at least one and in the present case a plurality of battery modules 20 are arranged. The battery modules can each comprise one or more battery cells 22, only some of which are provided with reference numerals for the sake of clarity. Figure 1The motor vehicle 10 is shown in particular in a cross section perpendicular to the z direction shown, which is substantially parallel to a vertical vehicle axis of the motor vehicle 10 . The cross section therefore extends substantially parallel to the xy plane of the shown coordinate system, in particular through the battery 14 .

[0052] Here, the battery housing 16 comprises a frame 24, which delimits the receiving area 18 along and against the y direction and also along and against the x direction. The receiving area 18 is delimited by a bottom 26 of the battery housing 16 against the z direction shown. The bottom can be fixed on the frame 24 on the bottom side. The frame 24 is in turn formed by a plurality of individual parts that provide the corresponding side walls of the frame 24. In particular, in the present example, the frame 24 comprises two longitudinal beams 28 and two cross beams 30. Here, the cross beams extend substantially parallel to the vehicle transverse direction, which in the present example is oriented substantially parallel to the y direction, while the longitudinal beams 28 extend in the vehicle longitudinal direction, which is oriented substantially parallel to the x direction shown. Here, these supports 28, 30 are designed as hollow profiles, in particular with a plurality of inner chambers. This advantageously enables at least one of the supports 28, 30, preferably the cross member 30, for example the rear cross member 30a in this example, to be used as a gas duct 32, via which gas 34 escaping from one of the cells 22 can be discharged from the battery 14 and in particular from the motor vehicle 10. In particular, the gas 34 is discharged at Figure 1 , which is indicated by arrows coming out of the outlet openings 36, which in turn are part of the exhaust duct 32. In their open state, the outlet openings 36 therefore establish a fluid connection between the duct interior 38 of the motor vehicle 10 and the environment 40. In this case, the respective outlet openings 36 are designed as openable outlet openings 36 and include exhaust valves 76 for closing and, in particular, opening the outlet openings 36 based on pressure. It is preferred that no further exhaust gas guidance systems are connected to the respective outlet openings 36 at this time, but that the open outlet openings 36 lead directly to the environment 40. In addition, in Figure 1 Also shown in FIG. 3 are a plurality of inlet openings 42 , through which the gases escaping from the battery cells 22 can be introduced into the exhaust gas channel 32 .

[0053] Here, it is not necessary that the entire crossbeam 30, 30a should be used as such an exhaust channel 32. It is also possible to provide an exhaust channel 32 in the y direction with only a portion of the crossbeam 30, 30a, such as also in the y direction. Figure 1As shown in FIG. In principle, in this example, the support members 30, 30a can be divided into three regions, more precisely, the first support member internal space 44 can be divided into three sub-regions, namely the first sub-region 44a of the support member internal space 44, the second sub-region 44b of the support member internal space 44 and the third sub-region 44c of the support member internal space 44. In this example, the exhaust channel 32 is limited to the second sub-region 44b. In other words, the channel interior 38 of the exhaust channel 32 is provided by the second sub-region 44b of the first support member internal space 44. The first sub-region 44a and the third sub-region 44c of the first support member internal space 44 do not include any part of the channel interior 38 and are also separated from the channel interior 38 in a fluid-tight manner. In other words, when the gas is discharged, the gas is not guided into the first sub-region 44a or the third sub-region 44c. It is also advantageous to seal the second sub-region 44b of the support interior 44 relative to the other sub-regions 44a, 44c, which is achieved in the present example by two sealing units 46. Advantageous embodiments of the sealing units 46 arranged in the first support interior 44 will be described in more detail below.

[0054] Figure 2 A schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of a motor vehicle 10 or of a battery 14 comprised by the motor vehicle is shown. In the present case, the cross section shown extends perpendicularly to the shown y-axis.

[0055] The illustration also shows in particular the already described crossbeam 30, 30a or at least a part thereof. The crossbeam is designed as a hollow profile and in this example comprises a plurality of inner chambers 44, 48, 50, 52, 54, which are spatially and fluidically separated from one another by corresponding partitions 56 of the support 30, 30a. The first of these chambers, in this example the lowermost chamber 44, represents the already described first support interior 44. In addition to this first support interior 44, the support 30, 30a can also have further interior space areas 48, 50, 52, 54, which are provided by the chambers 48, 50, 52, 54. However, they are not used for gas discharge. The advantage of this is that in the area of ​​these additional chambers 48, 50, 52, 54, other components can be fixed to the support 30, 30a, for example by suitable fixings 58, wherein the fixing interface does not have to be constructed in a fluid-tight manner and is preferably not the case, since gas exchange is not possible between these additional chambers 48, 50, 56, 54 and the second sub-area 44b of the first chamber 44.

[0056] The cross section shown shows in particular the first support interior 44 in the region of the second subregion 44b, which at the same time also provides the chamber interior 38 of the exhaust channel 32. The exhaust channel 32 also has a channel wall 60, which is at the same time provided by a portion 62a of the support wall 62. The support wall 62 is to be understood as the entirety of the support wall, including the partitions 56, which surround the chambers 44, 48, 50, 52, 54 or adjoin these chambers.

[0057] The gas discharge of the battery 14 is advantageously designed as follows: the battery cell 22 received in the receiving area 18 has a corresponding battery cell exhaust opening, which is not shown here and points downward. In other words, the battery cell exhaust opening is located on the lower side 22a of the corresponding battery cell 22. Therefore, the gas escaping from the battery cell 22 is discharged downward, that is, opposite to the z direction shown. The housing bottom 26 is located below the corresponding battery cell. The housing bottom is fixed to the frame 24 of the housing 16, for example, by means of screws or other fixings. In addition, the housing bottom 26 can also be sealed relative to the frame 24, for example, by means of a surrounding seal 64. The bottom 26 can be designed to have a corresponding predetermined breaking point at least in the area of ​​the corresponding battery cell exhaust opening of the battery cell 22 or can be designed to be very thin as a whole, so that the gas escaping downward from the battery cell 22 can pass through the bottom 26 and thus reach the gap 66 between the bottom 26 and the bottom protection device 68. Here, in addition to the fluid connection with the channel interior 38 of the exhaust channel 32, the gap 66 is fluid-tight.

[0058] Here, the underbody guard 68 is also fixed to the support 30, 30a by means of fixing elements, for example screws 78. One or more circumferential seals 72, 74 can be arranged between the support 30, 30a and the underbody guard 68, by means of which the gap 66 is fluid-tight. In the present example, these seals 72, 74 extend between the sealing flange 30b of the support 30, 30a and the sealing flange 70 of the underbody guard 68. The fluid connection to the exhaust duct 32 is provided by the already mentioned and referenced Figure 1 The inlet opening 42 described above is provided. In the present case, the gas escaping from the battery cell is again indicated by corresponding arrows 34 on its way to the outlet opening 36. Although only one outlet opening 36 is shown here, a plurality of openable outlet openings 36 can also be provided here, as shown in reference Figure 1As described above, for example, six openable outlets 36 can be provided. That is, the gas 34 escaping from the battery cell 22 passes through the housing bottom 26, reaches the gap 66, and is guided to the exhaust channel 32, in particular the channel interior 38, through one or more inlet openings 42, which is provided by the second sub-region 44b of the first support interior space 44 of the support 30, 30a, that is, the crossbeam 30a. Then, the gas 34 can flow through the first support interior space 44 within the second sub-region 44b until it reaches at least one outlet 36, and then escape from the support 30, 30a to the environment 40.

[0059] In addition, a further screw 78 is shown here, by means of which the underbody protection 68 is also fixed to the support 30, in particular screwed to the support. In particular, only the screw end of the screw 78 that protrudes into the channel interior 38 can be seen here.

[0060] Figure 3 The x-direction shown is perpendicular to the Figure 2 Schematic cross-sectional view of a support 30, 30a. The illustration shows in particular the support interior 44 in the region of the first sub-region 44a and in the region of the second sub-region 44b, which simultaneously represents the channel interior 38. In addition, an inlet opening 42 can be seen here, through which the gas 34 can penetrate into the exhaust channel 32, i.e., the channel interior 38. As described with reference to Figure 1 As already mentioned, the second sub-region 44b is here fluid-tightly sealed from the first sub-region 44a by a corresponding sealing unit 46. This sealing unit is shown in detail in cross section here. Figure 3 In particular, the sealing unit 46 is shown in a state that has not yet been cast. Here, the sealing unit 46 includes an injection mold 80, which provides a cavity 84 that can be filled with a casting material or a sealing material 82. In addition, a corresponding gate 86 is arranged in the support 30, 30a and also in the bottom protection device 68 arranged at the support, which connects the environment to the internal fluid of the cavity 84 in the first support interior space 44. Through the gate 86, the sealing material 82 can be filled into the cavity 84, and the sealing material is again shown by an example by an arrow 82. Here, the sealing material 82 in a viscous state is filled and hardened within the cavity 84, and thus the two sub-areas 44a, 44b are sealed from each other. At the same time, the sealing material 82 in a viscous state can also penetrate into the small gap between the injection mold 80 and the support wall 62, and thus also additionally seals the injection mold 80 relative to the support wall 62.

[0061] The injection molding 80 makes it possible to keep the viscous sealing material 82 at the desired position or to bring it to the desired position first, and if necessary, to leave a further free area 88, that is, to ensure that the sealing material 82 does not enter this free area 88 to be kept vacant during filling. This makes it possible to arrange further components 90, such as fixings, etc., in this free area 88, which should not come into contact with the sealing material 82. Figure 1 The other sealing unit 46 shown in FIG. 1 and arranged between the second sub-region 44b and the third sub-region 44c can be used together with the sealing unit 46 of FIG. Figure 3 The sealing unit 46 shown in FIG. 4 is designed similarly to that described above.

[0062] exist Figure 3 Screws 78, 78' can also be seen, via which the bottom protection device 68 is fixed to the support 30, 30a. In particular, the screw 78 here protrudes into the second sub-area 44b. The connection interface between the screw 78 and the support 30, 30a is correspondingly configured to be fluid-tight. On the one hand, this can be achieved by designing the screw 78 as a self-tapping screw or self-cutting screw. In addition, a seal, such as a sealing washer, can also be additionally arranged between the screw head 78a and the support 30, 30a, in particular the bottom protection device 68, via which the screw head 78a is sealed relative to the bottom protection device 68. The bottom protection device is also sealed by Figure 2 The seals 72 , 74 described above are sealed relative to the support elements 30 , 30 a . That is, no gas 34 can escape into the environment 40 at this threaded interface either.

[0063] In this case, the additionally shown screw 78 ′ in the first sub-region 44 a does not necessarily have to be designed to be sealed. In particular, the described sealing element can be omitted for this screw 78 ′.

[0064] Further fastening means for fastening various other components to the support 30, 30a, which also protrude at least partially into the second sub-region 44b, can also be designed to be sealed accordingly. This advantageously enables the exhaust gas channel 32 to be designed in a fluid-tight manner. Gases 34 cannot therefore reach the battery or any other region of the motor vehicle 10.

[0065] Mainly as in Figure 2 As can be seen in the figure, the exhaust valve 76 has a height in the z direction, which can in particular be in the range between three centimeters and five centimeters, and is, for example, four centimeters. The exhaust valve 76 is therefore relatively large. It is also desirable to keep the height of the gap 66 as small as possible, primarily in order to save structural height in the z direction. By positioning the exhaust valve 76 in the support 30, 30a, it can be advantageously achieved that the structural height of the gap 66 is designed to be significantly smaller than that of the valve 76. Figure 2The structural height that is possible when the valve 76 must be integrated in an area, for example, in the side wall 68a of the bottom protection device 68. The higher position of the valve 76 also means a more protected position of the valve 76. This makes it more difficult for dirt or contaminants to penetrate. The valve 76 is also no longer strongly affected by environmental factors, splashing water, etc. Correspondingly, the robustness of the valve can also be designed to be smaller and therefore more cost-effective.

[0066] In general, these examples illustrate how the present invention can provide an exhaust design solution through the high-voltage battery frame in the event of a hot cell event. Repositioning the exhaust valve from the bottom guard in the crossbeam of the high-voltage battery frame designed as a mounting component with a sealed cover cap (also called injection molding) advantageously achieves a saving of structural space and, due to the high positioning of the valve, i.e. the openable exhaust port, achieves less exposure to environmental factors such as dust and water. In addition, by means of the described sealing unit in combination with the mounting component, the frame forms a seal of the extruded profile chamber through which the gas is guided in an extremely simple manner without the need for sealing welding at the profile ends. In addition, an increased cooling effect on the exhaust flow is provided by redirecting the exhaust path from the bottom guard into the crossbeam. The exhaust path from the gas distributor in the bottom guard, i.e. the gap between the bottom guard and the bottom of the housing, passes through a slit in the lower profile wall of the crossbeam in the z direction. The gas is dispersed through the lower profile chamber of the crossbeam provided by the interior space of the first support and flows through the introduced exhaust valve, i.e. the openable outlet, for example along and / or against the x-direction to the vacant space. In order to avoid the occurrence of undesired gas escape at the profile end of the crossbeam, a corresponding sealing of the profile chamber is performed. For this purpose, a so-called cap (also called injection mold) can be inserted into the profile during the assembly of the components of the mounting component frame. The cap is first positioned accordingly in its position relative to the y-direction via an injection hole (also called a gate). The sealing of the cap is completed in a subsequent process by injection through the injection hole with the help of a sealing material, which is also called sealing material. The sealing material is flushed around the cap inside the geometric structure and forms a seal against the inner wall of the lower profile chamber of the crossbeam.

Claims

1. A venting channel assembly (12) for a battery (14) of a motor vehicle (10) for discharging gas (34) from a battery cell (22) of the battery (14), wherein: The exhaust channel assembly (12) has at least one exhaust channel (32). wherein the exhaust channel (32) has a channel wall (60) surrounding a channel interior (38) of the exhaust channel (32), wherein the exhaust gas channel (32) has at least one inlet opening (42) through which gases (34) escaping from the battery cells (22) of the battery (14) can be introduced into the channel interior (38) of the exhaust gas channel (32), wherein the exhaust channel (32) has at least one openable outlet opening (36), and in the open state of the at least one outlet opening (36), the gas (34) introduced into the channel interior (38) can be discharged from the exhaust channel (32) through the at least one outlet opening, It is characterized in that the exhaust duct arrangement (12) comprises a support (28, 30) for a battery housing of a battery (14), the support being designed as a hollow profile and extending in a first direction (y, x), - wherein the channel wall (60) of the exhaust channel (32) is a first portion (62a) of a support wall (62) of the support (28, 30), which surrounds a first support interior space (44) of the support (28, 30), - wherein the channel interior (38) of the exhaust channel (32) is at least a part (44b) of the interior space (44) of the first support, - wherein at least one first sealing unit (46) is arranged in the first support member interior space (44), and the at least one first sealing unit separates a first sub-region (44a) of the first support member interior space (44) from a second sub-region (44b) of the first support member interior space (44) in a sealed manner, the second sub-region surrounding the channel interior (38) of the exhaust channel (32).

2. The exhaust duct assembly (12) according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The first sealing unit (46) includes a hardened sealing material (82).

3. An exhaust duct component (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The sealing unit (46) comprises an injection mold (80) having an injection mold wall which is arranged on a support wall (62) in a first support interior (44) and surrounds at least one cavity (84) of the injection mold (80) which is cast with sealing material in a housing-forming manner.

4. An exhaust duct component (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that At least one second sealing unit (46) is arranged in a first bearing member interior space (44) of the bearing member (28, 30), the at least one second sealing unit separating a third sub-region (44c) of the first bearing member interior space (44) from a second sub-region (44b) of the first bearing member interior space (44) in a sealed manner, the second sub-region surrounding a channel interior (38) of an exhaust channel (32).

5. Exhaust channel component (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The exhaust duct component (12) comprises an underbody protection device (68) for a motor vehicle (10), which is fixed to a support member (28, 30) by means of a threaded connection comprising at least one screw (78), so that the screw (78) partially extends into a second sub-region (44b) of an interior space (44) of the first support member, wherein the threaded connection comprises a sealing element, in particular an annular sealing washer, which is arranged between a screw head (78a) of the screw (78) and the support member (28, 30), in particular abutting against the underbody protection device (68).

6. A housing assembly having a battery housing (16), the battery housing comprising a venting channel assembly (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that A battery housing (16) has a receiving area (18) for receiving at least one battery module (20), wherein the battery housing (16) has a frame (28) surrounding the receiving area (18), the frame comprising a plurality of frame walls (28, 30), wherein at least one of the plurality of frame walls (28, 30) is a support member (28, 30), in particular, wherein the frame (28) comprises two longitudinal beams (28) opposite to each other in a first direction (y) and two transverse beams (30) opposite to each other in a second direction (x) perpendicular to the first direction (y) as frame walls (28, 30), and in particular at least one of the two transverse beams is a support member (30) of an exhaust duct assembly (12).

7. The housing assembly according to claim 6, It is characterized in that The battery housing (16) has a housing bottom (26) which is arranged below the receiving area (18) in a third direction (z) perpendicular to the first direction (y) and the second direction (x), wherein the housing assembly comprises a bottom guard (68) which is arranged below the housing bottom (26) in the third direction (z), wherein a sealed gap (66) is provided between the housing bottom (26) and the bottom guard (68), the gap being fluidically connected to at least one inlet opening (42) of the exhaust channel (32).

8. A battery (14) having a housing assembly according to claim 6 or 7, It is characterized in that The battery (14) comprises a battery module (20) having at least one battery cell (22), wherein the at least one battery cell (22) has an openable battery cell vent, wherein the battery module (20) is arranged in a receiving area (18) such that the openable battery cell vent faces a housing bottom (26).

9. A method for producing a venting duct component (12) for a battery (14) of a motor vehicle (10) for discharging gases (34) from a battery cell (22) of the battery (14), wherein: providing at least one exhaust passage (32), the exhaust gas channel has a channel wall (60) which surrounds the channel interior (38) of the exhaust gas channel (32), - the exhaust channel has at least one inlet opening (42), - the exhaust channel has at least one openable exhaust opening (36), It is characterized in that the exhaust duct arrangement (12) comprises a support element (28, 30) for the battery housing (16), the support element being designed as a hollow profile and extending in a first direction (y, x), wherein the channel wall (60) of the at least one exhaust channel (32) is a first part of a support wall (62) which surrounds a first support interior space (44) of the support (28, 30), - wherein the channel interior (38) of the at least one exhaust channel (32) is at least a portion (44b) of the interior space (44) of the first support, - wherein at least one first sealing unit (46) is arranged in the first support member interior space (44), and the at least one first sealing unit separates a first sub-region (44a) of the first support member interior space (44) from a second sub-region (44b) of the first support member interior space (44) in a sealed manner, and the second sub-region surrounds the channel interior (38) of the at least one exhaust channel (32).

10. The method according to claim 9, It is characterized in that The first sealing unit (46) includes a hardenable sealing material (82) which is in a viscous state and is filled into the first support inner space (44) when the first sealing unit (46) is arranged in the first support inner space (44).

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