Battery cell

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery cell (1) having a housing (2) which encloses an interior (3) in which battery cell elements are arranged, at least one fastening element (11) being fastened to the housing (2), the temperature sensor (5) is fastened and thermally connected to the housing (2) in a form-fitting manner by means of the at least one fastening element.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a battery cell, particularly for use in motor vehicle batteries. Background Technology

[0002] Battery cell characteristics are typically temperature-dependent, making it crucial to consider battery cell temperature when controlling them. Therefore, providing the battery cell's temperature is of paramount importance. However, securing a temperature sensor firmly and securely to the battery cell throughout its lifespan is challenging because the cell undergoes varying thermal expansion due to thermal fluctuations, which can make securing the temperature sensor difficult.

[0003] Attaching a temperature sensor to a so-called pouch cell (also known as a coffee pouch cell) presents a particular challenge because the pouch cell’s housing is made of a flexible membrane that does not provide a very stable substrate for attaching the temperature sensor.

[0004] In existing technologies, temperature sensors are known to be directly glued to the surface of the battery cell's casing. Due to the flexible casing of the pouch cell, this can lead to unreliable fastening and unreliable thermal contact of the temperature sensor. If the thermal contact design is poor, the temperature sensor will not be able to detect the actual temperature of the battery cell, which is detrimental to the control of the battery cell.

[0005] The task is to create battery cells with secure fastening and thermal contact for temperature sensors, even if the battery cells are designed as pouch cells. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This objective is achieved through the features of the invention.

[0007] One exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a battery cell having a housing that encloses an internal space in which battery cell elements are arranged, wherein at least one fastening element is fastened to the housing, by means of which a temperature sensor is form-fitted and thermally connected to the housing. This allows the temperature sensor to be securely fastened, wherein even if the battery cell is a pouch cell with a housing made of a membrane material, the fastening remains reliable throughout the life of the battery cell.

[0008] Advantageously, at least one fastening element is or has a protruding element that carries a locking element, by means of which the temperature sensor can be locked to the protruding element. Preferably, the protruding element is made of plastic, and the locking element is designed to have defined flexibility so that the temperature sensor can be plugged in.

[0009] It is also particularly advantageous that the protruding element is designed as a pin with a locking lug, wherein the pin optionally has a tip, particularly a removable tip. The tip can be designed to be inserted into an auxiliary device, and then removed if necessary.

[0010] Another advantage is the arrangement of multiple fastening elements or protruding elements, which are specially designed as pins with locking lugs, with the protruding elements arranged at a certain distance from each other. This also makes it possible to securely position and fasten the temperature sensor.

[0011] In another example embodiment, it is also advantageous that the temperature sensor is designed to have a substrate, specifically one or more temperature sensor elements fastened to the substrate, wherein the temperature sensor is fastened to the housing by means of the substrate via at least one protruding element. This allows the respective temperature sensor elements of the temperature sensor to be securely positioned, and the substrate serves as a stable fastening base.

[0012] Advantageously, the substrate has at least one opening through which the fastening element or protruding element engages, and is engaged in a form-fitting manner behind the corresponding opening edge by means of a locking element. This provides a simple fastening solution.

[0013] Advantageously, the substrate has a surrounding edge region in which spaced-apart fastening elements or protruding elements accommodate the substrate between them, and locking elements engage in a form-fitting manner behind the edge region of the substrate. This provides an alternative fastening solution.

[0014] It is also advantageous that the temperature sensor is thermally bonded and / or adhered to the housing by means of casting compounds and / or adhesives, particularly materials such as foam. This results in improved thermal coupling, especially if, for example, the substrate is uneven or textured.

[0015] Another advantage is that the substrate is perforated. This allows adhesives, foams, or other sealing compounds to be applied through the holes, which can also be done after the temperature sensor is installed.

[0016] Particularly preferred is that the at least one protruding element protrudes from the housing in the normal direction. This provides a safe method of placing the temperature sensor directly on the housing. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The invention is described in detail below based on an example embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show: Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an example implementation of a battery cell designed as a pouch cell. Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of an exemplary surface of the battery cell housing. Figure 3 A schematic diagram of an example implementation of a temperature sensor. Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of an exemplary surface of the housing of a battery cell with fastening elements. Figure 5 A schematic diagram of another example implementation of a temperature sensor. Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of an exemplary surface of the housing of a battery cell having a temperature sensor secured by means of fastening elements, and Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of an exemplary surface of the housing of a battery cell having a temperature sensor secured by means of multiple fastening elements. Detailed Implementation

[0018] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a battery cell 1 is shown, which is designed, for example, as a pouch cell. The battery cell 1 has a housing 2 made of a membrane material that surrounds an internal space 3 in which battery cell elements, such as electrodes, are arranged. Contact tabs 4 protrude from the side of the housing 2, through which the battery cell 1 can be electrically connected.

[0019] The surface of battery cell 1 is not usually very smooth because the casing 2 is reinforced with a membrane material. Areas of the surface of casing 2 are designed to tightly seal the internal space 3, so battery cell 1 is often evacuated after installation, which also causes the surface to become uneven in some areas.

[0020] exist Figure 2 The cross-section of this type of uneven shell 2 is schematically shown. The unevenness of shell 2 can be seen.

[0021] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a temperature sensor 5 is shown, illustrating how the temperature sensor can be, for example, fastened to the housing 2 of the battery cell 1. The temperature sensor 5 has a substrate 6 on which one temperature sensor element 7 or multiple temperature sensor elements 7, 8 are fastened. Figure 3 In the example implementation, two such temperature sensor elements 7 and 8 are provided with corresponding power lines 9 and 10 to allow for redundant temperature measurements. The temperature sensor 5 may also include a closed housing 13 for protecting the temperature sensor 5.

[0022] Figure 4 Another example embodiment of the arrangement of fastening element 11 on the housing 2 of battery cell 1 is shown. Only one fastening element 11 may be provided, or alternatively, multiple fastening elements 11 may be provided.

[0023] The corresponding fastening element 11 is glued to the housing 11, for example, using adhesive 12 or otherwise mechanically fastened.

[0024] The fastening element 11 is used to connect the temperature sensor 5 to the housing 2. The fastening element 11 and the temperature sensor 5 allow the temperature sensor 5 to be fastened to the fastening element 11 in a form-fit manner and to be thermally connected to the housing 2, resulting in a good thermal connection.

[0025] Preferably, at least one fastening element 11 or at least one protruding element 16 protrudes from the housing 2 in the normal direction.

[0026] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of an alternative temperature sensor 5 is shown, illustrating how the temperature sensor can be, for example, secured to the housing 2 of the battery cell 1. The temperature sensor 5 has a perforated substrate 6 on which one temperature sensor element 7 is secured, or multiple temperature sensor elements 7, 8 are secured. Figure 5 In an example implementation, two such temperature sensor elements 7 and 8 with corresponding power lines 9 and 10 are provided to allow redundant temperature measurements. The temperature sensor 5 may also include a closed housing 13 for protecting the temperature sensor 5. The perforations in the substrate 6 are designed to provide at least one first hole as an opening 14 for form-fitting fastening of the temperature sensor 5 by means of a fastening element 11. One or more additional holes 15 may be provided to achieve improved thermal connection with the housing 2.

[0027] Figure 6 The diagram illustrates how to fasten a temperature sensor 5 to a housing 2 using at least one fastening element 11 via a substrate 6.

[0028] In this configuration, at least one fastening element 11 is designed as a protruding element 16 or has such a protruding element 16. The protruding element 16 carries a locking element 17 that protrudes laterally and the temperature sensor 5 can be locked to the protruding element 16 by means of the locking element.

[0029] In the illustrated example embodiment, the substrate 6 has at least one opening 14 through which a fastening element 11 or a protruding element 16 engages and is engaged in a form-fitting manner behind the opening edge of the opening 14 by means of a locking element 17, thereby securing the temperature sensor 5.

[0030] Figure 4 and Figure 6 The protruding element 16 is shown as a pin with a locking lug 17, wherein the pin optionally has a tip 18, particularly a removable tip. The tip 18 serves as an insertion aid for inserting the pin into a hole that is the opening 14 of the substrate 6. The tip can then be removed.

[0031] Figure 7 Another example implementation is shown, in which a plurality of fastening elements 11 or protruding elements 16 are arranged, which are specifically designed as pins with locking elements 17, for example in the form of locking lugs, wherein the protruding elements 16 or fastening elements 11 are arranged at a distance from each other.

[0032] The substrate 6 has a surrounding edge region 19 in which spaced fastening elements 11 or protruding elements 16 accommodate the substrate 6 between them, and locking elements 17 are engaged in a form-fitting manner behind the edge region 19 of the substrate 6.

[0033] Furthermore, the temperature sensor 5 can also be thermally connected and / or bonded to the housing 2 by means of casting compounds and / or adhesives, such as foam materials, in particular. The perforated substrate can be secured with such materials.

[0034] List of reference numerals 1 Battery cell 2. Outer shell 3. Interior Space 4. Contact protrusions 5. Temperature sensor 6 substrate 7 Temperature sensor components 8 Temperature sensor components 9. Power cord 10 Power cord 11 Fastening components 12 Adhesives 13. Shell 14 Opening 15 holes 16 components 17 Locking elements 18 Tips 19. Edge Area

Claims

1. A battery cell (1) having a housing (2) enclosing an internal space (3), wherein battery cell elements are arranged in the internal space (3), wherein at least one fastening element (11) is fastened to the housing (2), and a temperature sensor (5) is fastened and thermally connected to the housing (2) in a form-fit manner by means of the at least one fastening element.

2. The battery cell (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The at least one fastening element (11) is a protruding element (16) that carries a locking element (17) or has the protruding element, and the temperature sensor (5) can be locked to the protruding element (16) by means of the locking element.

3. The battery cell (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The protruding element (16) is designed as a pin with a locking element (17), wherein the pin optionally has a tip (18), particularly a removable tip (18).

4. The battery cell (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, A plurality of fastening elements (11) or protruding elements (16) are arranged, the fastening elements or the protruding elements being specially designed as pins with locking lugs, wherein the protruding elements (16) are arranged at a distance from each other.

5. The battery cell (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The temperature sensor (5) is designed to have a substrate (6), and in particular, a temperature sensor element (7) is fastened to the substrate, wherein the temperature sensor (5) is fastened to the housing (2) by means of the substrate (6) via the at least one protruding element (16).

6. The battery cell (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The substrate (6) has at least one opening (14), through which the fastening element (11) or the protruding element (16) engages and is engaged behind the opening edge of the opening (14) by means of the locking element (17) in a form-fitting manner.

7. The battery cell (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The substrate (6) has a surrounding edge region (19) in which spaced fastening elements (11) or protruding elements (16) are received between the substrate (6) and the locking element (17) engages in a form-fitting manner behind the edge region (19) of the substrate (6).

8. The battery cell (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The temperature sensor (5) is also thermally connected and / or bonded to the housing (2) by means of casting compounds and / or adhesives, particularly foam materials.

9. The battery cell (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that, The substrate (6) is perforated.

10. The battery cell (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The at least one fastening element (11) protrudes from the housing (2) in the normal direction as a protruding element (16).

Images