End device for battery of mobile machine, battery of mobile machine comprising such end device

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery (500) of a mobile machine, comprising an end device (100) having at least one outer element (10) and an inner element (20), the outer element (10) and the inner element (20) being arranged to form a honeycomb structure (150) in the assembled state, the inner element having walls (1, 21) arranged to be in contact with cells (300) of the battery (500). A coolant flow channel (700) extending from the unit (300) cooperates with a passage (70) in the end device (100).

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present application relates to the field of batteries for mobile machines, in particular to batteries for electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, or rechargeable hybrid electric vehicles. Background Art

[0002] With the increasing popularity of electric or hybrid vehicles, especially vehicles combining electric and thermal propulsion, it is necessary to monitor the capacity, efficiency, and service life of the batteries used.

[0003] In a known manner, a battery for an electric or hybrid mobile machine has a plurality of cells.

[0004] Figure 10 The curve in [reference] shows the temperature of 72 cells of a battery in cold weather. It can be seen that the end cells are about 10 °C colder than the central cells. As is well known, the performance of a battery is related to the uniformity of the battery temperature. The cells with the largest temperature differences have the greatest impact on the battery performance.

[0005] It is necessary to reduce the temperature difference between different cells of the battery.

[0006] Utility model CN216529114U discloses a battery module having a battery end plate, the battery end plate having a contact area with the battery cells, the contact area being flexible such that it can withstand the expansion forces generated by the charging and discharging cycles of the battery. After several cycles, the thermal performance of the end plate deteriorates due to axial contact.

[0007] It is necessary to improve the battery, especially the existing end plates, especially to improve the thermal insulation they provide. Summary of the Invention

[0008] To meet some or all of these needs, according to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a mobile machine battery, comprising:

[0009] - a plurality of cells;

[0010] - a first end device and a second end device, at least one of the first end device and the second end device, preferably both, having at least one external element and one internal element, the external element and the internal element being arranged to form a honeycomb structure in the assembled state, the internal element having a wall arranged to contact the cells of the battery;

[0011] - a channel for circulating a coolant originating from or going to the cells, the channel cooperating with at least one passage in one of the first end device or the second end device, the coolant flow in the arrangement of one of the first end device or the second end device flowing in a direction opposite to the flow passing between the cells.

[0012] Thus, the coolant that passes between the battery cells and has its temperature increased can advantageously be sent to the channels in the first or second end device in order to heat the end cells of the battery and thus make the temperature distribution of all the cells more uniform.

[0013] The present invention relates to an end device for a battery of a mobile machine, which has at least one external element and one internal element, the external element and the internal element being arranged to form a honeycomb structure in the assembled state, the internal element having walls arranged to contact the cells of the battery.

[0014] The external element and the internal element are different, i.e., for the purposes of the present invention, they are manufactured separately, in particular by molding, extrusion or any other suitable method known to those skilled in the art.

[0015] Each external element and internal element is manufactured as one or more parts, advantageously as a single part.

[0016] According to different variants of the present invention, the external element and the internal element are assembled by gluing, press-fitting, thermally riveting, snap-fitting, interlocking, clamping by an encapsulation structure, or any other suitable method known to those skilled in the art.

[0017] Advantageously, the walls of the internal element are weakly thermally conductive, i.e., made of a material having a low thermal conductivity, in particular a material having a thermal conductivity of less than 5 W / m·K, in particular a plastic material having a thermal conductivity of less than 5 W / m·K.

[0018] In the following description,

[0019] - The terms horizontal, vertical and lateral relate to the orientation of the battery placed on a flat surface.

[0020] - The term axial corresponds to the direction along the axis of the battery.

[0021] Advantageously, the external element includes walls, and in the assembled state, the honeycomb structure is located between the walls of the external element and the walls of the internal element.

[0022] According to a variant of the present invention, the honeycomb structure can form part of the external element, in particular part of a one-piece external element, the honeycomb structure being in particular integral with the walls of the external element.

[0023] Alternatively, the honeycomb structure can form part of the internal element, in particular part of a one-piece internal element, the honeycomb structure being in particular integral with the walls of the internal element.

[0024] According to another variant, the external element cooperates with the internal element to form a honeycomb structure in the assembled state.

[0025] The end device may include a frame.

[0026] The external component may include a frame, such as the frame forming the end device.

[0027] The internal component may include a frame, such as the frame forming the end device.

[0028] The external component and the internal component may each include a frame which forms the frame of the end device in the assembled state.

[0029] According to an embodiment, the end device according to the present invention may alternatively or additionally have one of the following features:

[0030] - The external component and / or the internal component has a series of vertical stiffeners, i.e., at least one vertical stiffener, preferably a plurality. The vertical stiffeners are regularly or otherwise spaced along the horizontal dimension of the component.

[0031] - The external component and / or the internal component has a series of horizontal stiffeners, i.e., at least one horizontal stiffener, preferably a plurality. The horizontal stiffeners are regularly or otherwise spaced along the vertical dimension of the component.

[0032] - The external component and the internal component each include stiffeners, and the stiffeners of the external component and the stiffeners of the internal component are arranged to cooperate with each other. Thus, the stiffeners of the external component and the internal component form a honeycomb structure.

[0033] - The thickness of at least one of the stiffeners is less than the gap between the wall of the internal component and the wall of the external component. For the purposes of the present invention, the thickness of the stiffener refers to its maximum dimension measured perpendicularly from the wall of the corresponding component. For the purposes of the present invention, the thickness of the component refers to its maximum dimension measured perpendicularly from its wall.

[0034] - The height of at least one of the vertical stiffeners is less than the height of the end device. For the purposes of the present invention, the height of the stiffener refers to its maximum vertical dimension measured parallel to the wall of the corresponding component. In the context of the present invention, if the end device includes a frame, the height of the end device is measured within that frame.

[0035] - The width of at least one of the horizontal stiffeners is less than the width of the end device. For the purposes of the present invention, the width of the stiffener refers to its maximum horizontal dimension measured parallel to the wall of the corresponding component. In the context of the present invention, if the end device includes a frame, the width of the end device is measured within that frame.

[0036] - Once assembled, the end device includes at least one passage for the circulation of a coolant, especially a gas or a liquid. The passage is in particular arranged for the coolant originating from or going to the cells of the battery to flow from at least one inlet. The passage may be located between two parallel stiffeners, either vertical or horizontal. The circulation of the fluid may be vertical or horizontal. The coolant is for example a gas such as air or water, especially with a dielectric additive.

[0037] - The external elements, especially their walls, and / or the internal elements, especially their walls, include at least one orifice connected to the fluid circulation passage.

[0038] - The walls of the external elements and the walls of the internal elements cover at least half or even three - quarters of the surface of the end element.

[0039] - The end device, especially the internal element, has at least one coolant inlet.

[0040] - The end device, especially the external element, includes at least one coolant outlet, especially an air or liquid outlet.

[0041] - The external element and the internal element are identical, especially arranged to be assembled in a mirror - image arrangement or end - to - end. For the purposes of the present invention, identical means that they are manufactured using the same manufacturing process, especially by the same mold. Thus, the external element and the internal element have the same dimensions. They may be of the same material or different materials. For example, the internal element may be a material with better heat insulation (lower thermal conductivity) than the external element. Alternatively or additionally, the external element may be made of a material with better rigidity than the internal element. The external element is for example injection - molded with fiber - reinforced material while the internal element is not. In this example, they may have different colors to distinguish them. The identical external element and internal element are for example assembled in a mirror - image arrangement or end - to - end. For the purposes of the present invention, the identical external element and internal element may have structural differences corresponding to additional manufacturing steps. For example, orifices may be added to form inlets or outlets for the coolant.

[0042] According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a mobile machine battery including a plurality of cells, a first end device and a second end device, at least one of the first end device and the second end device being an end device as described above. Preferably, both the first end device and the second end device are end devices according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0043] The battery is not limited to a specific voltage. It may be "high - voltage" or "low - voltage".

[0044] The battery may be cooled with air or water, especially with a dielectric fluid.

[0045] According to an embodiment, the battery according to the present invention may alternatively or additionally have one of the following features:

[0046] - The first end device and the second end device are fastened to the plurality of cells by at least one holding rod. The holding rod preferably has at least one oblong hole. This shape is designed to withstand the axial load of the end device. It helps with the axial clearance or axial compression of the cells. It allows for clamping within a range of relative positions.

[0047] - One or more holding rods are preferably made of metal.

[0048] - The mobile machine battery includes channels for coolant to flow through the end devices to or from the cells, particularly air or liquid. The channels are particularly arranged to cooperate with at least one orifice of the end element. The orifice can be arranged to serve as an inlet and / or an outlet. Advantageously, the coolant flow in the end device flows in a direction opposite to the flow passing between the cells. This significantly improves the thermal insulation. The flow in the end device insulates the end cells in contact with the walls of the internal elements.

[0049] According to yet another aspect, the present invention provides a mobile machine battery having a plurality of cells, a first end device and a second end device, a coolant circulation system cooperating with at least one of the first end device and the second end device, and the coolant flow in at least one of the end devices flowing in a direction opposite to the flow passing between the cells. Description of the Drawings

[0050] Other features, details, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by reading the following description given by way of indication with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0051] Figure 1 An exemplary battery according to the present invention is shown,

[0052] Figure 2 is Figure 1 an exploded view of detail II in

[0053] Figure 3a is a partial cross-sectional view of an end device according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

[0054] Figure 3b is Figure 3a a front inner view of the outer element of the end device in

[0055] Figures 4a to 4c is a partial cross-sectional view of a detail of a battery according to a variant of the present invention,

[0056] Figures 5a to 5c is different views of an end device according to the present invention,

[0057] Figures 6a to 6c are different views of an external element and an internal element of an exemplary end device according to the present invention,

[0058] Figures 7a to 7c equivalent to Figures 6a to 6c , for an external element and an internal element of another exemplary end device according to the present invention,

[0059] Figures 8a to 8c show an external element and an internal element of yet another exemplary end device according to the present invention, and

[0060] Figure 9a corresponding to Figure 6a , for an alternative end device according to the present invention,

[0061] Figure 10 is a graph showing the temperature distribution in the battery cells.

[0062] In these figures, similar elements have the same reference numerals. Detailed Description

[0063] The following examples are illustrative. Although the description refers to one or more embodiments, this does not necessarily mean that each reference refers to the same embodiment, or that the features apply only to a single embodiment. The various features of different embodiments may also be combined or interchanged to provide other embodiments.

[0064] In the description, certain objects may be indexed, such as a first object or a second object. In this case, such indexing only differentiates and represents similar but different objects. Such indexing does not mean that one object is prior to another, and this naming can be easily reversed without departing from the scope of this specification. Similarly, such indexing does not imply any chronological order.

[0065] Figure 1 The mobile machine battery 500 shown in includes a plurality of cells 300 (72 in this example), a first end device 100, and a second end device 200. Each end device 100, 200 includes different external elements 10 and internal elements 20. Each internal element 20 includes walls 1, 21, which are preferably weakly thermally conductive and which contact the end cells 300 of the battery 500. Thus, the first end device 100 contacts the first end cell 301 of the battery 500, and the second end device 200 contacts the second end cell 302 of the battery 500.

[0066] In this case, the end devices 100, 200 are fastened to the plurality of units 300 by four holding rods 900 located at the four tops of the plurality of units 300. Advantageously, the holding rods contribute both to holding the end devices and to holding the batteries together adjacent to each other. The holding rods make it easier to manage the expansion of the units.

[0067] Figure 2 is Figure 1 A perspective exploded view of the components of the battery in. It shows one of the holding rods 900 fastened to each of the first end device 100 and the second end device 200 in the example shown. In this case, the holding rod 900 is an angle iron formed by a lateral part at a right angle to the horizontal part. The holding rod 900 has fastening holes 950, advantageously oblong holes in this case. Screws 960, or rivets, especially self-locking rivets, ensure fastening through the oblong holes 950 and the corresponding holes 955 in the end device. In this case, the holes 950 are located on the horizontal part of the holding rod 900. In a variant (not shown), it is located on the lateral part. According to another variant (not shown), the holding rod includes holes on the horizontal part and holes on the lateral part.

[0068] Figure 3a is a partial cross-sectional view of the end devices 100, 200 according to the first embodiment. The end devices 100, 200 include a frame 2, two walls 12 and 11, and a honeycomb structure 150 formed by a reinforcing member 50.

[0069] When the internal element 20 is formed by the wall 21, the external element 10 includes the wall 11, the frame 12 forming the frame 2 of the end device, and the reinforcing member 51.

[0070] The wall 11 also includes fastening holes 990, for example, so that the sheath or other parts of the battery can be fastened to the wall 11.

[0071] As Figure 3b shown, the external element 10 also includes the reinforcing member 51. More specifically, in this case, a series of vertical reinforcing members 50 v are regularly spaced apart in the horizontal dimension 15 of the element 10, and a series of horizontal reinforcing members 50 h are regularly spaced apart in the vertical dimension 16 of the element 10.

[0072] Figures 4a to 4c The battery 500 partially shown in includes a channel 700. The fluid discharged therefrom, in this case air, from the units 300 of the battery 500 enters the end device 100 via the inlet 40, passes through the passage 70, and leaves via the outlet 80 and enters the channel 700. Advantageously, in this case, the cold fluid A shown in dashed lines CPasses through unit 300. Notably, it is guided by grid 370 located between two adjacent units 300. Its temperature rises when in contact with the unit, and thus, the heated coolant A h Is shown by solid lines. This fluid circulation within the battery and then through the end devices improves the performance of battery 500. It helps cool the battery while making the battery temperature more uniform.

[0073] Although in the Figure 4a example, the coolant originating from unit 300 discharged through passage 700 completely passes through end device 100, in the Figure 4b variant, a portion of the fluid heated by the battery is directly discharged into channel 700, and only a portion passes through end device 100.

[0074] In the Figure 4c variant, a portion of the coolant heated by the battery is directly discharged into channel 700, and a portion enters end device 100.

[0075] Similarly, the second end device 200 ( Figures 4a to 4c not shown in) may include channel 700.

[0076] In another variant, a portion of the coolant heated by the battery passes through end device 200 before being directly discharged into channel 700 located on one side of the first end device 100.

[0077] The remaining figures show various embodiments of the honeycomb structure 150 and passage 70.

[0078] Figures 5a to 5c The end devices 100, 200 shown in include passage 70 after assembly, which is used to circulate the coolant originating from or going to the battery cells between orifices 48. These orifices are arranged to serve as inlets or outlets, depending on the battery. In the described example, the end devices 100, 200 include two passages 70, as Figure 5b shown. These passages are located between two vertical stiffeners 50 v The horizontal stiffeners 50 h of the external element 10 have a variable thickness e. At passage 70, this thickness e is less than the gap e0 between the wall 21 of the internal element 20 and the wall 11 of the external element 10, as Figure 5a shown, Figure 5a is a cross-sectional view of the end devices 100, 200 taken along A - A. Additionally, Figure 5a and 5b show that the height h0 of the external element 10 is greater than the vertical stiffener 50 vThe height h5. The external element 10 has an orifice 48. The internal element 20 does not completely cover the surfaces of the end devices 100, 200, i.e., in this case, does not completely cover the surface of the internal element 20, so as to form a second orifice 48 in the end devices 100, 200. In this case, the wall of the internal element 20 covers four-fifths of the surfaces of the end devices 100, 200. More generally, the walls of the external and internal elements advantageously cover at least half or even three-quarters of the surface of the end device.

[0079] In the exemplary end devices 100, 200 described below, the external element 10 and the internal element 20 each include a reinforcement 50. The reinforcement 51 of the external element 10 and the reinforcement 52 of the internal element 20 are arranged to cooperate with each other. Thus, they form a honeycomb structure 150.

[0080] In Figures 6a to 6c and Figures 7a to 7c the example shown, the external element 10 and the internal element 20 are identical. In this case, they are arranged to be assembled in a mirror image arrangement.

[0081] Figures 6a to 6c The external element 10 and the internal element 20 of the end devices 100, 200 shown include a series of vertical reinforcements 50 v and a series of horizontal reinforcements 50 h . In this case, the horizontal reinforcements are regularly spaced along the vertical dimension 16 or 26 of the corresponding element.

[0082] Figure 6c is a cross-sectional view taken along C-C of the assembled end devices 100, 200. As Figure 6c shown, once assembled, the end devices 100, 200 include a passage 70 located between the external element 10 and the internal element 20 for the circulation of coolant between the two orifices 48. The orifices 48 are particularly arranged to be able to serve as an inlet or an outlet for the coolant. Depending on the battery, the coolant originating from the battery cells can flow into the end devices 100, 200. In a variant battery, the coolant flows into the end devices 100, 200 from the outside and exits towards the cells of the battery. The passage 70 is located between two vertical reinforcements 50 v and. The horizontal reinforcements 50 h of the external element 10 and the internal element 20 have a variable thickness e. In this case, except around the passage 70, the thickness e is equal to half of the gap e0 between the wall 21 of the internal element 20 and the wall 11 of the external element 10. In order to form the passage 70, the thickness e is strictly less than half of the gap e0.

[0083] Figures 7a to 7cThe external element 10 and the internal element 20 of the end device 100 shown also include a series of vertical stiffeners 50 v and a series of horizontal stiffeners 50 h . In this case, the horizontal stiffeners are irregularly spaced in the vertical dimension 16 or 26 of the respective element. In this example, the external element 10 and the internal element 20 are manufactured from a single mold and then the orifices 48 are cut out before assembly.

[0084] Figures 8a to 8c The same applies to the external element 10 and the internal element 20 of the end device 100 shown. In this case, they are arranged for end-to-end assembly. Figure 8a is a front view of one of the external element 10 and the internal element 20. As shown in the side view in Figure 8b , they are placed end-to-end before assembly. They are finally assembled as shown in Figure 8c . The orifices 48 of each element are made during the manufacture of the external element 10 and the internal element 20, either directly during molding or in a subsequent step.

[0085] In Figure 9a the example shown, the external element 10 and the internal element 20 are identical and are arranged for assembly in a mirror arrangement. Once assembled, the end devices 100, 200 include a frame formed by the frame 21 of the external element 10 and the frame 22 of the internal element 20. It also includes a passage 70 located between the external element 10 and the internal element 20 for allowing coolant to flow between the two orifices 48. Although the passage 70 is vertical in the example of Figures 6a to 6c , it is horizontal in this case. The passage 70 is located between two horizontal stiffeners 51, 50 of the external element 10 h and between two horizontal stiffeners 52, 50 of the internal element 20 h . The vertical stiffeners 50 of the external element 10 and the internal element 20 v have a variable thickness e. At the passage 70, this thickness e is less than half of the gap e0 between the wall 21 of the internal element 20 and the wall 11 of the external element 10. In this example, the width l5 of the horizontal stiffener 50 h is equal to the width l0 of the end device. In a variant (not shown), at least one width l5 of one of the horizontal stiffeners is less than the width l0 of the end device. This exemplary end device is particularly used for a battery having fluid circulation on the lateral side of the battery.

[0086] In the exemplary battery shown, coolant comes from the battery, passes through at least one passage of the end device, and exits and enters the channel. In a variant of the present invention (not shown), the coolant comes from a channel in the battery, passes through at least one channel of the end device, and exits towards the battery, in particular being guided away by the grid between the batteries. Thus, the external element may include at least one orifice to form a coolant inlet. Similarly, the internal element may include at least one orifice to form a coolant outlet.

Claims

1. A battery (500) for a mobile machine, comprising: a plurality of cells (300); a first end device (100) and a second end device (200), at least one, preferably both, of the first end device and the second end device having at least one external element (10) and an internal element (20), the external element and the internal element being arranged to form a honeycomb structure (150) in the assembled state, the internal element having walls (1, 21) arranged to contact the cells of the battery; a channel (700) for circulating a coolant originating from or going to the cells (300), the channel (700) cooperating with at least one passage (70) in one of the first end device (100) or the second end device (200), the coolant flow in the arrangement of one of the first end device (100) or the second end device (200) flowing in a direction opposite to the flow passing between the cells (300).

2. The mobile machine battery according to claim 1, wherein the external element (10) and / or the internal element (20) comprises a series of vertical stiffeners (50 v ) which are regularly or otherwise spaced apart along the horizontal dimension (15, 25) of the element.

3. The mobile machine battery according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the external element (10) and / or the internal element (20) comprises a series of horizontal stiffeners (50 h ) which are regularly or otherwise spaced along the vertical dimension (16, 26) of the element.

4. The mobile machine battery according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the external element (10) and the internal element (20) each have reinforcement members (50, 50 v , 50 h , 51, 52), and the reinforcement members of the external element (51) and the reinforcement members of the internal element (52) are arranged to cooperate with each other.

5. The mobile machine battery according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the thickness (e) of at least one of the reinforcing members (50, 50 v , 50 h , 51, 52) is less than the gap (e0) between the wall (21) of the internal element (20) and the wall (11) of the external element (10).

6. The mobile machine battery according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein at least one height (h5) of one of the vertical stiffeners (50 v ) is less than the height (h0) of the end device.

7. The mobile machine battery according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein at least one width (l5) of one of the horizontal reinforcement members (50 h ) is less than the width (l0) of the end device.

8. The mobile machine battery according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the passage (70) is arranged to circulate the coolant originating from the cells of the battery from at least one inlet (40).

9. The mobile machine battery according to the previous claim, wherein the passage (70) comprises at least one outlet (80) for discharging the coolant.

10. The mobile machine battery according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the external element (10) and the internal element (20) are identical and are in particular arranged to be assembled in a mirror image arrangement or end-to-end assembly.

11. The mobile machine battery according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first end device and the second end device are fastened to the plurality of cells (300) by at least one holding rod (900), the holding rod preferably having at least one oblong hole (950).

12. The mobile machine battery according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the walls of the internal element are made of a material having a low thermal conductivity, in particular a material having a thermal conductivity of less than 5 W / m·K, in particular a plastic material having a thermal conductivity of less than 5 W / m·K.

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