Device for contacting heat exchanger elements with battery modules of a motor vehicle

Abstract

Device (1, 1', 1'', 1''') for contacting heat exchanger elements (8) with battery modules (6) of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one spring element (9) with a receiving section (10, 10''') and a support element (11, 11', 11'', 11'''), wherein - the support element (11, 11', 11'', 11'') is arranged connected to the spring element (9) via the receiving section (10, 10'') and - the spring element (9) is formed in one piece with the receiving section (10, 10'''), characterized in that the spring element (9) is formed from two resilient legs which are connected in the region of a plane of symmetry of the spring element (9) to the receiving section (10) or to the support element (11'''), wherein the spring element (9) has the form of two straight sections connected by means of a curved section or two straight sections directly connected to each other and the receiving section (10) or the support element (11''') is each formed as a straight section.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for contacting heat exchanger elements with battery modules of a motor vehicle, in particular a hybrid or electric vehicle, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] The large-capacity batteries used in electric or hybrid vehicles serve to store electrical energy. Several prismatic battery cells, also known as electrochemical storage cells, are stacked and clamped together to form a battery module. In electric vehicles, energy is supplied to the battery by connecting it to a power source. In hybrid vehicles, energy can also be recovered during braking.

[0003] During operation, that is, during charging or discharging, or when the stored energy is drawn from the battery, the battery cells heat up. Heat is released.

[0004] The battery should be operated at an optimal temperature during both charging and discharging. The heat generated and released during this process must be dissipated, as an elevated operating temperature places a significant thermal load on the battery cells. Due to the limited temperature resistance of batteries, they require active cooling. Suitable cooling media include refrigerants and coolants circulated in closed loops.

[0005] Cooling the battery, which acts as a heat source, increases its lifespan. The temperature of the cooled battery should only vary within a limited range. The temperature differences between individual battery cells should be kept as small as possible.

[0006] To operate the batteries of electric vehicles at an optimal operating temperature, it is not only necessary to dissipate the heat generated, but also to supply heat to the cold battery when the ambient temperature is too low, especially during starting.

[0007] The lithium-ion batteries conventionally used in electric or hybrid vehicles have a narrow operating temperature range. At low battery cell temperatures, especially down to 0 °C, the battery's electrical output must be reduced to prevent cell damage. Charging the batteries is also not possible below 0 °C.

[0008] The electrical efficiency of lithium-ion batteries increases with rising operating temperature. However, at temperatures above 40 °C, accelerated aging of the battery cells begins, which can even lead to damage to the battery cells at temperatures above 50 °C.

[0009] Prior art methods for battery cooling include, for example, using air cooled by the vehicle's air conditioning system or connecting the battery cooling system to the vehicle's air conditioning system. The battery can be cooled either directly with refrigerant or via a secondary circuit of the air conditioning system. In direct cooling, the heat exchanger is supplied with refrigerant to absorb the heat generated within the battery. With cooling via a secondary circuit, the heat absorbed in the battery's heat exchanger could be transferred to the vehicle's air conditioning system via a second heat exchanger. Water or glycol, for example, can be used as the circulating heat transfer medium.

[0010] German patent DE 10 2006 010 063 A1 proposes a cooling device for batteries, particularly for hybrid drives in motor vehicles. The cooling device comprises a base housing for the upright mounting and bottom-side liquid cooling of multiple individual rod-shaped battery cells. The pressure-tight and explosion-proof base housing includes a sealed and liquid-tight coolant chamber with an inlet and an outlet for a coolant. Due to the shape and flow channels of the coolant, which are specifically adapted to the battery cells, the standardized base housing is inflexible, complex to manufacture, and associated with high production costs.

[0011] German patent DE 10 2010 038 681 A1 discloses a device for supplying power, in particular to a motor vehicle, with an energy storage module consisting of several storage cells. The storage cells are thermally contacted at their base with a cooling arrangement. The cooling arrangement comprises flat tubes which are pressed against the base of the storage cells by a spring arrangement. The spring arrangement is located between a housing base and the flat tubes and is supported by the housing base. The housing base is fixed in relation to the energy storage module.

[0012] The spring assembly comprises a number of spring elements, each spring element pressing an associated flat tube of the cooling assembly against the base of the storage cells. The spring elements, made of plastic or metal, have spring-loaded legs in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. These legs are supported by the housing base and, when deformed, generate a force acting in the direction of the associated flat tube or the storage cells.

[0013] DE 10 2010 029 085 A1 discloses a cooling device for cooling electrical components. The cooling device has a plurality of adjacent cooling elements, each with at least one fluid channel. At least two adjacent cooling elements have a positive-locking structure at opposite edges and are connected to each other via this positive-locking structure. Furthermore, a connecting element can be arranged between at least two adjacent cooling elements to connect them by means of a positive-locking connection, a material-locking connection, and / or a friction-locking connection.When forming at least two connecting elements, each of these can have a receiving element for receiving an end section of an additional element, which extends between the two connecting elements parallel to one of the heat sinks when the additional element is mounted. The additional element can be designed as a heating element, a clamping element, and / or a cooling element.

[0014] German patent application DE 10 2009 058 809 A1 discloses a cooling device for a vehicle traction battery with several adjacent battery cells, comprising a casing, an upper end wall, and a lower end wall. The vehicle traction battery has a flat side. The cooling device includes a cooling base that rests against the flat side of the battery, a coolant line, a thermally conductive contact plate for contact with the flat side, and a fastening device for attaching the cooling base to the flat side of the vehicle traction battery. The contact plate has a profile with a constant cross-section, preferably an extruded profile, along an axis running parallel to the flat side of the battery.

[0015] German patent DE 10 2010 038 600 A1 describes a device for supplying power, in particular to a motor vehicle, with an energy storage module. The energy storage module consists of several storage cells, which are in thermal contact at their base with a cooling arrangement. The cooling arrangement has cooling channels formed in a roll-bonded profile and is pressed flat against the base of the storage cells by a spring arrangement. The spring arrangement is supported by a housing base of the device and is located between the housing base and the cooling arrangement. The housing base is fixed relative to the energy storage module.

[0016] German patent application DE 20 2012 102 969 U1 discloses a battery cooling arrangement comprising a battery, battery cooling tubes, and clamping elements. The clamping elements press the battery cooling tubes against the battery for thermal contact. The battery cooling tubes are spaced parallel to each other and extend longitudinally along the rectangular battery. The clamping element consists of a central section and two clamping wings extending from either side of the central section, each clamping wing contacting a battery cooling tube along its length.

[0017] Current state-of-the-art systems for heat transfer between heat exchanger elements and battery cells in motor vehicles are either designed with a uniform shape adapted to the specific form of the cells and are therefore inflexible, complex to manufacture, and associated with high production costs, or they feature heat exchanger elements that are bonded directly to the battery cells or pressed onto the cell modules via rigid structures and screws. Heat exchanger elements bonded to the battery cells are often permanently connected and therefore inflexible. Systems designed with screws for pressing the heat exchanger elements onto the battery cells are particularly robust and heavy. Furthermore, the heat exchanger and battery cells must be screwed together separately in an additional assembly step.

[0018] The object of the present invention is to provide a device for contacting heat exchanger elements for temperature control of a battery composed of storage cells in a motor vehicle, particularly in a hybrid or electric vehicle. This device should have a minimal installation space and, in conjunction with the heat exchanger elements within the battery, ensure a very homogeneous temperature distribution. The device should compensate for comparatively large tolerances of the heat exchanger elements and the installation space. By eliminating additional steps, the installation effort in the vehicle should be minimized. To optimize weight, even with very large or elongated heat transfer surfaces, the heat exchanger elements should be designed to be delicate and easily deformable, and stabilized by the device in the installed state.Thin-walled heat transfer surfaces are designed to conform to the negative shape of the battery cell surfaces to be heated by deformation during assembly, thus eliminating the need for additional elements that improve heat transfer, such as thermal pastes or thermal films.

[0019] The object of the invention is achieved by a device for contacting heat exchanger elements with battery modules of a motor vehicle. The device comprises at least one spring element with a receiving section. The heat exchanger elements and the device for contacting the heat exchanger elements with the battery modules are components of an arrangement for temperature control and for mounting electrochemical energy storage devices or electrical storage cells. The electrochemical energy storage device can, in particular, be Ni / MeH or Li-ion cells. Several storage cells are connected to form a battery module, which together constitute the battery.

[0020] The device includes a support element. The support element is connected to the spring element via the receiving section. The spring element and the receiving section are formed as a single unit. A single-piece design is understood to mean a unit consisting of the spring element and the receiving section, all made from the same material. The single-piece design also includes the formation of a permanently joined unit.

[0021] According to the invention, the spring element consists of two resilient legs which are connected to the receiving section or the support element in the region of a plane of symmetry of the spring element. The spring element has the form of two straight sections connected by a curved section or two straight sections directly connected to each other. The receiving section or the support element is each designed as a straight section.

[0022] The device according to the invention serves to press the heat exchanger elements of the arrangement for temperature control of the battery against the bottom surface of the battery or of one or more battery modules with a uniform contact force over the surface, while requiring minimal installation space.

[0023] According to a further development of the invention, the distal ends of the resilient legs of the spring element are each designed as loose ends. Alternatively, the distal ends of the resilient legs can be connected to one another, so that the spring elements, in conjunction with the receiving section or the support element, have a closed cross-sectional shape.

[0024] According to a first alternative embodiment of the invention, the support element is designed with a profile for receiving the receiving section on the underside and for receiving the heat exchanger element on the upper side, such that the heat exchanger element can be firmly connected to the support element and the support element can be firmly connected to the receiving section and the spring element. The support element is preferably interlocked or clipped to each other by means of clip connections, on the one hand to the heat exchanger element and on the other hand to the receiving section and the spring element.

[0025] According to a second alternative embodiment of the invention, the support element is bonded to the receiving section on the underside and to the heat exchanger element on the upper side. This firmly connects the heat exchanger element to the support element and the support element to the receiving section and the spring element. The adhesive bond between the support element and the heat exchanger element, on the one hand, and between the support element and the receiving section and the spring element, on the other hand, is preferably created using double-sided adhesive tape.

[0026] According to alternative embodiments of the invention, the devices with the support element and the spring element formed integrally with the receiving section are advantageously designed in two parts. A two-part design is understood to mean a detachable unit consisting of the spring element with the receiving section as the first part and the support element as the second part. A two-part design also means that the spring element with the receiving section and the support element can be made of two different materials. Alternatively, the same materials can also be used.

[0027] According to a third alternative embodiment of the invention, the support element is connected to the receiving section and the spring element in such a way that the device is designed as a two-component element, i.e., two-part and one-piece.

[0028] A one-piece design refers to an inseparable unit, while a two-piece design means that the spring element with the receiving section and the support element are made of two different materials. Such a two-piece but one-piece device is preferably manufactured using the co-extrusion process.

[0029] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the spring element with the receiving section and the support element are formed in one piece, i.e., made of one material and inseparably.

[0030] According to a further development of the invention, a heating element is provided on the upper side of the support element such that the heating element is positioned between the heat exchanger element and the support element.

[0031] The heating element is preferably integrated into the support element. The support element advantageously has a recess in which the heating element is embedded. This recess has a depth corresponding to the thickness or height of the heating element, in order to form a flush surface on the top of the support element. Thus, the heating element, which is essentially rectangular in cross-section along its length, is enclosed on three sides by the support element, so that heat is only transferred via the surface in contact with the heat exchanger element. The support element is preferably made of a thermal insulation material, for example, a plastic.

[0032] It is advantageous that the heating element has the same length as the device in the longitudinal direction.

[0033] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the spring element and the receiving section are made of a plastic or a metal, while the support element is also made of a plastic or a metal.

[0034] One-piece devices, and therefore devices constructed as a single unit, are made of either metal or plastic. Two-piece devices, which are either one-piece (i.e., permanently attached) or two-piece devices (i.e., detachable), can be manufactured from two different materials, for example, a metal and a plastic, or two different metals or two different plastics.

[0035] The wall thickness of the plastic support element is preferably in the range of 1.5 mm to 6 mm.

[0036] The wall thickness of the spring element made of plastic advantageously has values ​​in the range of 0.4 mm to 2.0 mm.

[0037] The wall thickness of the spring element made of metal, on the other hand, is preferably in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm.

[0038] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the device with the spring elements, the receiving section, and the support element is designed symmetrically about a plane of symmetry. Alternatively, the spring elements, the receiving section, and the support element can also be arranged asymmetrically.

[0039] The spring elements are preferably designed as two resilient legs, each of which is connected at one end to the receiving section either at its side edges or in the central region of the receiving section, i.e., in the region of the plane of symmetry if the device is symmetrical. The distal ends of the resilient legs are designed as loose ends without any connection to other components. In an alternative embodiment, the distal ends of the spring elements are connected to each other, so that the spring elements, in conjunction with the receiving section or the support element, have a closed cross-section.

[0040] Further advantages of the device according to the invention compared to the prior art can be summarized as follows: - very limited installation space, especially in height, - very low weight, - uniform contact between the heat exchanger or heat exchanger elements and the battery modules, - Constant pressure of the heat exchanger elements against the battery modules even with large dimensional tolerances between the heat exchanger element and the installation space, thus ensuring a very homogeneous temperature distribution within the battery due to good heat transfer, - minimal production and assembly costs, therefore cost-effective, - integrated thermal insulation for the heat exchanger element as well as - optionally integrated heating elements.

[0041] Further details, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show: Fig. 1: Battery arrangement with devices for clamping heat exchanger elements within a housing, Fig. 2: Device for pressing a heat exchanger element onto a battery module, Fig. 3a: Device with a surface-mounted heat exchanger element and integrated heating element, Fig. 3b: Device with a heat exchanger element mounted on top and heating elements arranged between it, Fig. 4: Device with a heat exchanger element mounted on top and double-sided adhesive tape arranged between it, Fig. 5: Device with a support element designed as a dovetail profile, Fig. 6: Device with a support element formed with clip connections, Fig. 7: Two-component element produced by co-extrusion as a device with a heat exchanger element mounted on top, Fig. 8: Cross-sections of one-piece plastic devices, Fig. 9: Cross-section of a device for accommodating a plurality of parallel heat exchanger elements and Fig. 10: Cross-sections of metal devices.

[0042] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a battery arrangement 2 with devices 1 for clamping heat exchanger elements 8 within a housing 3 with a housing base 4. The devices 1 can also be referred to as clamping devices.

[0043] The battery module 6, also located within the housing 3, is in thermal contact with the heat exchanger elements 8, whose heat transfer surface 12 is in direct contact with the base surface 7 of the battery module 6. Since both the housing 3 of the battery module 6 and the heat exchanger elements 8 are preferably made of a highly thermally conductive material, such as aluminum, good heat transfer is ensured. This results in very good temperature uniformity on the outside of the battery module 6, particularly on the base surface 7. Any temperature differences that may occur due to processes within the battery module 6 are compensated for.

[0044] The heat exchanger elements 8 of a heat exchanger, through which a heat transfer medium, for example a refrigerant, flows, dissipate the heat generated during the operation of the battery module 6, i.e. during charging or discharging, and thus ensure that the battery does not exceed a certain maximum temperature in order to extend its service life.

[0045] The heat transfer fluid, which carries away the heat from the battery, flows through the heat exchanger elements 8 arranged on the bottom surface 7 of the battery module 6, for example designed as flat tubes with a flat heat transfer surface 12 oriented upwards towards the battery module 6.

[0046] Flat tubes are defined as conduits for conveying fluids, such as refrigerants or coolants, and typically have a rectangular cross-section. This cross-section has two sides of different lengths and can be, for example, right-angled, rounded, or chamfered at the boundary lines of the side faces. The flat tube preferably comprises a plurality of individual conduits extending longitudinally along its length, separated from one another by webs.

[0047] The heat exchanger elements 8 can alternatively be designed as a flat, horizontally arranged heat exchanger in the form of a thin plate or as a combination of an arrangement of several flat, non-round tubes, each with at least one flat heat transfer surface 12 oriented upwards towards the battery module 6.

[0048] The battery module 6 is rigidly and immovably arranged relative to the housing 3 with respect to the housing base 4. During the assembly of the battery module 6 within the housing 3, the devices 1 supporting the housing base 4 are pressed against it and thus clamped in place.

[0049] During the assembly of the battery assembly 2, the battery modules 6 are screwed flush to the housing 3. A height-defined installation space 5 is formed below the battery module 6, in which the heat exchanger elements 8 are arranged with the deformed and clamped devices 1. The heat exchanger elements 8 are installed simultaneously with the assembly of the battery assembly 2 by pressing, without any further process steps. The heat exchanger elements 8 are fixed against slippage by means of friction, in particular static friction, between the housing base 4 and the spring element 9 supported thereon, as well as between the base surface 7 of the battery module 6 and the heat transfer surfaces 12 of the heat exchanger elements 8.

[0050] The battery arrangement 2 has two heat exchanger elements 8 arranged parallel and spaced apart from each other, which are pressed against the bottom surface 7 of the battery module 6 with the aid of the devices 1 with the flat heat transfer surface 12.

[0051] The devices 1, extending longitudinally along the heat exchanger elements 8, rest against the heat exchanger elements 8 on one side and on the housing base 4 on the other. The devices 1 can be designed either as short sections arranged in series along the longitudinal direction of the tubular heat exchanger elements 8 or as a continuous rail. This allows for any desired arrangement of the heat exchanger elements 8 in conjunction with the devices 1 for pressing the heat exchanger elements 8 against the battery module 6. The devices 1 thus enable the heat exchanger elements 8 to be pressed against the base surface 7 of the battery module 6 over any desired length.

[0052] The devices 1, clamped to the heat exchanger elements 8, are connected side by side, i.e., parallel to each other. The housing base 4, which forms the boundary of the installation space 5, is deflected under the load of the clamped devices 1 and thus acts as a spring arranged in series with the devices 1. The deflection of the housing base 4 is compensated for by the devices 1, in particular by the spring elements 9 of the devices 1.

[0053] The devices 1, each consisting of spring elements 9, a receiving section 10 and a support element 11, for pressing the heat exchanger elements 8 against the battery module 6 are in Fig. 2 shown enlarged.

[0054] The support element 11 is connected to the spring element 9 via a receiving section 10. The connection area between the receiving section 10 and the support element 11 is designed as a flat surface. The planar contact of the heat transfer surface 12 of the heat exchanger elements 8 with the base surface 7 of the battery module 6 is thus ensured by means of the flat surfaces between the receiving section 10 and the support element 11, as well as between the support element 11 and the heat exchanger element 8. The force exerted by the clamping of the device 1 is transmitted uniformly to the heat exchanger elements 8.

[0055] To compensate for the deflection of the housing base 4 caused by the devices 1, in particular by the spring elements 9 of the devices 1, in the assembled state of the battery assembly 2, a mutual adjustment of the spring element 9 and the housing 3, in particular the housing base 4, is advantageous. The properties required for the heat transfer process, such as the necessary surface pressure between the heat exchanger element 8 and the base surface 7 of the battery module 6, can be freely adjusted via various parameters, such as the material and geometry of the spring element 9 and the support element 11.

[0056] With the aid of the device 1, a surface pressure with values ​​greater than 20 kPa is generated between the heat transfer surface 12 of the heat exchanger element 8 and the base surface 7 of the battery module 6.

[0057] The spring elements 9 connected to the receiving section 10 are designed as symmetrically arranged resilient legs and rest on the housing base 4. The legs are oriented essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the devices 1 or heat exchanger elements 8, also referred to as the profile direction. The profile direction is understood to be the direction which, in the assembled state of the battery assembly 2, runs from the housing base 4 to the battery module 6.

[0058] The entire device 1 is in accordance with Fig. 2 with the spring elements 9, the receiving section 10 and the support element 11 symmetrically to a plane of symmetry not shown, which is arranged in the profile direction.

[0059] In an alternative embodiment, the spring elements 9, the receiving section 10, and the support element 11 are arranged asymmetrically rather than symmetrically in the profile direction. This allows the device to be easily installed even if obstacles occur within the installation space 5. The asymmetrical design, in combination with the short sections of the device 1 arranged in a row along the longitudinal direction of the tubular heat exchanger elements 8, further increases the flexibility of using the devices 1 to press the heat exchanger elements 8 against the battery module 6.

[0060] As a result of the deformation of the spring elements 9, designed as spring legs, which occurs during the clamping of the device 1 between the housing base 4 and the heat exchanger element 8, also depending on the height of the installation space 5, the force acting in the profile direction is generated and transferred evenly to the heat exchanger elements 8 via the receiving section 10 and the support element 11.

[0061] With the aid of the devices 1, possible expansions during the operation of the battery modules 6 can be compensated while ensuring sufficient surface contact of the heat exchanger elements 8 with the base surface 7 of the battery module 6 and increasing the force generated.

[0062] The device 1, which advantageously has a height in the range of 8 mm to 30 mm, can, for example, be designed either as a single piece or as a two-part component. In the single-piece design of the device 1, the spring element 9 with the receiving section 10 and the support element 11 are preferably made of a plastic. In the two-part design of the device 1, the spring element 9 with the receiving section 10 is preferably made of a metal and the support element 11 is preferably made of a plastic.

[0063] The support element 11 advantageously serves as thermal insulation on the non-functional surfaces of the heat exchanger elements 8, protecting them from a metallic spring element 9 and thus also from the housing 3 or the surrounding environment. The thickness or wall thickness of the plastic support element 11 for thermal insulation is in the range of 1.5 mm to 6 mm.

[0064] According to an alternative embodiment, the device 1 is equipped with a heating element. The support element 11 can either have a recess in its upper region for receiving the heating element 13, for example an electric resistance heater, or terminate with a heating element 13 arranged on its upper surface.

[0065] Fig. Figure 3a shows the device 1 with a heating element 13 integrated in the upper area of ​​the support element 11. Fig. Figure 3b shows a device 1 with a heating element 13 arranged on the top side of the support element 11. A heat exchanger element 8 is arranged on the support element 11 and the heating element 13, respectively, such that the heating element 13 is aligned between the support element 11 and the heat exchanger element 8 resting on it.

[0066] The heating element 13 can each be a single piece, according to Fig. 3a, or multi-part, for example two-part according to Fig. 3b, be trained.

[0067] This results in advantages for the heating of the battery module 6 with regard to cost, weight and quality, since the heat conduction path of the heat exchanger elements 8 can be used and other means for contacting the heating element 13 with the base surface 7 of the battery module 6 can be dispensed with.

[0068] The heat emitted by the heating elements 13 when required is absorbed on the underside by the heat exchanger elements 8 and conducted to the top via the side walls or the webs separating the individual lines of the flat tube and transferred from the top of the heat exchanger elements 8 to the bottom surface 7 of the battery module 6.

[0069] Fig. Figure 4 shows the device 1 with a heat exchanger element 8 resting on it and double adhesive tape 15 arranged between them.

[0070] The receiving section 10 and the spring elements 9 are firmly connected to the receiving section 11 by means of the double-sided adhesive tape 15 between the underside of the support element 11 and the receiving section 10. The heat exchanger element 8 is fixed to the device 1 by means of the double-sided adhesive tape 15 between the top side of the support element 11 and the heat exchanger element 8.

[0071] In Fig. Figure 5 shows the device 1' with a support element 11' having a profile 14 in the form of a dovetail. The Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. The support element 11 shown in Figure 3, with a rectangular cross-section, is extended on its side surfaces by the profile 14. The profile 14 is preferably not formed over the entire length of the device 1', but only in sections. The arrangement of the profile 14 can be adapted to the geometry of the battery modules 6, in particular their base surfaces 7.

[0072] The dovetail profile 14 serves on the underside of the support element 11' to receive and lock the receiving section 10. The receiving section 10 and the spring elements 9 are thus firmly connected to the support element 11'.

[0073] On the upper side, the dovetail profile 14 of the support element 11' serves to receive and lock the heat exchanger element 8 into place. The heat exchanger element 8 is thus firmly connected to the support element 11'.

[0074] The support element 11' is equipped with an additional heating element 13, according to Fig. 3a or Fig. 3b, executable.

[0075] Fig. Figure 6 shows a device 1" with a support element 11" designed as profile 16a, 16b. The Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. The support element 11 shown in Figure 3, with a rectangular cross-section, is extended with a profile in the form of clip connections 16a, 16b. The clip connections 16a, 16b are preferably not formed over the entire length of the device 1", but only in sections. The arrangement of the clip connections 16a, 16b can be adapted to the geometry of the battery modules 6, in particular their base surfaces 7.

[0076] The clip connection 16a on the underside of the support element 11" serves to receive and lock the receiving section 10. The receiving section 10 and the spring elements 9 are thus firmly connected to the support element 11". The support element 11" has protruding features on its underside, at the outer edges of which the clip connection 16a is located. The clip connection 16a is designed such that the receiving section 10, which is essentially a flat surface, can be inserted into the clip connection 16a in a specific direction and locks into place. After locking, any relative movement contrary to the movement intended for locking is blocked.

[0077] The clip connection 16b on the upper side of the support element 11'' serves to receive and lock the heat exchanger element 8 into place. The heat exchanger element 8 is thus firmly connected to the support element 11''. The support element 11'' has projecting recesses on its side surfaces towards the upper side, at the outer edges of which the clip connection 16b is located. The clip connection 16b is also designed such that the heat exchanger element 8 can be inserted into the clip connection 16b in a specific direction and locks into place. Once locked, any relative movement contrary to the direction intended for locking is blocked.

[0078] Before the final assembly of the battery arrangement 2, the heat exchanger elements 8 can be firmly connected to the devices 1', 1'' using the support element 11, 11', in order to facilitate the final assembly within the housing 3.

[0079] The support element 11', 11'' according to Fig. 5 or Fig. 6 is equipped with an additional heating element 13, according to Fig. 3a or Fig. 3b, executable.

[0080] Out of Fig. 7 a two-component element produced by co-extrusion with a receiving section 10''' as a device 1''' with a heat exchanger element 8 mounted on it.

[0081] In contrast to devices 1', 1", in device 1''', manufactured by co-extrusion, the spring elements 9 or the receiving section 10''', which is also referred to as the connection area 10''' of the co-extrusion, and the support element 11''' are already firmly and permanently coupled to each other during manufacturing as a two-part but one-piece element made of two materials in the connection area 10'''. The connection area 10''' corresponds to the area of ​​the section integrated within the support element 11''' that adjoins the exposed spring elements 9 and is made of the same material as the spring elements 9.

[0082] In extrusion, or the process of pressing a mold, solid to viscous, thermosetting materials are continuously forced under pressure out of a shaping opening, also known as a die, profile die, or mold. This creates profiles with the cross-section of the opening, in any desired length.

[0083] Co-extrusion refers to the process of combining similar or dissimilar materials before they leave the die.

[0084] Therefore, the spring elements 9 and the support element 11''' of the device 1''' can be manufactured from two different materials in a common process step and may have different material properties.

[0085] The spring elements 9 advantageously exhibit the mechanical properties of metal and the support element 11''' the properties of plastic with regard to weight and thermal conductivity.

[0086] In the Fig. 8a to 8h and Fig. Figure 9 shows cross-sections of one-piece devices 1 made of plastic, wherein the spring elements 9, the receiving section 10 and the support element 11 are made of the same plastic or, for example, in the co-extrusion process, of different plastics.

[0087] The support elements 11 each have a clip connection 16b on their side surfaces for snapping in a, according to Fig. 8a to 8g and 8i to 8k, or several parallel heat exchanger elements, according to Fig. 8h and Fig. 9. On the upper side of the support elements 11, that is, the side facing the heat exchanger element, recesses can be formed to accommodate heating elements. Alternatively, these recesses can also serve as insulation from the environment.

[0088] The spring elements 9 are according to the Fig. 8b, 8c, 8e to 8g and 8k are designed as two springy legs, which in the middle area, that is, in the area of ​​the plane of symmetry, or according to the Fig. 8a, Fig. 8h to 8j at the side edges are connected to the receiving section 10 or the support element 11. Alternatively, the spring element 9 can also be designed such that the spring legs are connected to each other at their ends and form a closed shape in cross-section, which results from Fig. 8d emerges.

[0089] The spring elements 9, designed as legs, can also have different shapes, such as bent, made of two straight sections connected by a bent section, of bent sections connected to each other or of straight sections connected in a zigzag pattern.

[0090] The spring elements 9, made of plastic, have a material thickness ranging from 0.4 mm to 2.0 mm and are preferably manufactured by extrusion. For shorter versions of the device 1, 1', 1'', 1''', injection molding is also suitable for their manufacture.

[0091] The plastic materials used for the spring elements are preferably polyamide (PA), polyoxymethylene (POM) or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) with a glass fiber content in the range of 0 to 30%, as well as elastomers.

[0092] Preferred plastic materials for the carrier element 11 are polyethylene (PE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in hard or soft versions, elastomers, polyamide (PA), polyoxymethylene (POM) or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) with a glass fiber content in the range of 0 to 30%.

[0093] In the Fig. 10a to 10f are cross-sections of one piece, according to Fig. 10a to 10e, and in two parts, according to Fig. 10f, designed devices 1 made of metal are shown, wherein the spring elements 9, the receiving section 10 and the support element 11 are formed in one piece in the one-piece embodiment.

[0094] The spring elements 9 are each designed as two springy legs, which are connected in the middle area, i.e. in the area of ​​the plane of symmetry, to the receiving section 10 or the support element 11.

[0095] The spring elements 9, designed as legs, have the form of two straight sections connected by a curved section or two straight sections directly connected to each other. The receiving section 10 and the support element 11 are each designed as a straight section.

[0096] The spring elements 9, made of metal, have a material thickness in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm and are preferably manufactured by roll forming. For devices 1, 1', 1'', 1''' with simple contours, bending is also suitable for manufacturing.

[0097] Spring steels and high-alloy spring stainless steels are preferably used as metals for the spring elements 9.

[0098] In the two-piece embodiment of the device 1, 1', 1" the support element 11 has means for holding the spring elements 9, such as the dovetail profile 14, the double adhesive tape 15, the connection area 10''' of the co-extrusion and clip connections 16a, and in the one-piece embodiment of the device 1, 1', 1", 1''' means for holding and stabilizing the heat exchanger elements 8, such as the dovetail profile 14, the double adhesive tape 15 and clip connections 16b. LIST OF REFERENCE MARKS 1, 1', 1'', 1''' Device 2 Battery arrangement 3 cases 4 Case bottom 5 Construction space 6 battery module 7 Floor area of ​​the battery module 6 8 Heat exchanger element 9 spring element 10 Recording section 10''' intake section, connection area of ​​the co-extrusion 11, 11', 11'', 11''' Support element 12 Heat transfer surface area of ​​the heat exchanger element 8 13 Heating element 14 Profile, dovetail profile 15 double-sided adhesive tapes 16a, 16b profile, clip connection

Claims

[1] Device (1, 1', 1'', 1''') for contacting heat exchanger elements (8) with battery modules (6) of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one spring element (9) with a receiving section (10, 10''') and a support element (11, 11', 11'', 11'''), wherein - the support element (11, 11', 11'', 11'') is arranged connected to the spring element (9) via the receiving section (10, 10'') and - the spring element (9) is formed in one piece with the receiving section (10, 10'''), characterized by, that the spring element (9) is formed from two resilient legs which are connected in the region of a plane of symmetry of the spring element (9) to the receiving section (10) or to the support element (11'''), wherein the spring element (9) has the form of two straight sections connected by means of a curved section or two straight sections directly connected to each other and the receiving section (10) or the support element (11''') is each formed as a straight section. [2] Device (1', 1''') according to claim 1, characterized by , that distal ends of the spring legs of the spring element (9) are each designed as loose ends. [3] Device (1', 1''') according to claim 1, characterized by , that distal ends of the spring legs are connected to each other, so that the spring elements (9) in conjunction with the receiving section (10) or the support element (11''') have a closed shape in cross-section. [4] Device (1', 1'') according to claim 1, characterized by , that the support element (11', 11") is designed with a profile (14, 16a, 16b) for receiving the receiving section (10) on the underside and for receiving the heat exchanger element (8) on the top side, so that the heat exchanger element (8) can be firmly connected to the support element (11', 11'') and the support element (11', 11'') can be firmly connected to the receiving section (10) and the spring element (9). [5] Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the support element (11) is bonded to the receiving section (10) on the underside and to the heat exchanger element (8) on the top side, so that the heat exchanger element (8) is firmly connected to the support element (11) and the support element (11) is firmly connected to the receiving section (10) and the spring element (9). [6] Device (1''') according to claim 1, characterized by, that the support element (11''') is connected to the receiving section (10''') and the spring element (9) in such a way that the device (1''') is designed as a two-component element and a one-piece unit. [7] Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the spring element (9) with the receiving section (10) and the support element (11) are made of one material, are one piece and are inseparably formed from each other. [8] Device (1, 1', 1'', 1''') according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by , that a heating element (13) is provided on the upper side of the support element (11, 11', 11'', 11'''') such that the heating element (13) is arranged between the heat exchanger element (8) and the support element (11, 11', 11'', 11''''). [9] Device (1, 1', 1'', 1''') according to claim 8, characterized by , that the heating element (13) is integrated into the support element (11, 11', 11'', 11''''). [10] Device (1, 1', 1'', 1''') according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by , that - the spring element (9) and the receiving section (10, 10''') made of plastic or metal and - the support element (11, 11', 11'', 11''') is made of a plastic or of a metal. [11] Device (1, 1', 1'', 1''') according to claim 10, characterized by , that the wall thickness of the plastic support element (11, 11', 11'', 11''') is in the range of 1.5 mm to 6 mm. [12] Device (1, 1', 1'', 1''') according to one of claims 10 or 11, characterized by , that the wall thickness of the spring element (9) made of plastic is in the range of 0.4 mm to 2.0 mm. [13] Device (1, 1', 1'', 1''') according to claim 10 or 11, characterized by , that the wall thickness of the metal spring element (9) is in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm.

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