Energy storage device having a cover for isolating an electrically conductive connection

Abstract

Energy storage device comprising a cover (5) for insulating an electrically conductive connection, wherein the electrically conductive connection comprises at least one connecting element (3), wherein the cover (5) and the connecting element (3) are reversibly mechanically connected to each other, and the cover (5) has a cuboid groove (12) with a groove width (13), wherein a cylindrical recess (17) with a first diameter (14) intersects the groove (12) such that a constriction region (18) with a cross-sectional area (15) is formed, and at least a partial region (9) of the constriction region (18) is resiliently designed, wherein the partial region (9) is designed such that it is resilient by a mechanical force exerted on the constriction region (18) by the connecting element (3) in such a way that the first cross-sectional area (15) is increased to a second cross-sectional area (15a),so that the constriction area (18) can be traversed by the connecting element (3) by means of a sliding movement.

Description

State of the art

[0001] The invention relates to an energy storage device comprising a cover for insulating an electrically conductive connection.

[0002] Covers that insulate electrically conductive connections are known from the prior art.

[0003] KR 2012-0138953 discloses a means for covering and protecting an electrical connector of a battery from foreign substances. For this purpose, the means is placed onto the electrical connector using a stop mark.

[0004] The state of the art in this regard is still represented, for example, by the publications US 2012 / 0 058 381 A1, DE 100 33 968 A1, DE 697 09 283 T2, CN 202332979 U, KR 10 2004 0.066 215 A and DE 10 2012 205 810 A1. Disclosure of the invention Advantages of the invention

[0005] In contrast, the inventive method with the characterizing features of the independent claims has the advantage that a cover and a connecting means of an electrically conductive connection are reversibly mechanically connected to each other.

[0006] The cover has a cuboid groove with a groove width of [missing information], whereby a cylindrical recess with a first diameter intersects the groove. This defines the cross-sectional area of ​​a cut-off region by appropriately selecting the groove width and the first diameter, thus creating a constriction area.

[0007] Furthermore, at least a portion of the constriction area is designed to be resilient, so that when a mechanical force is applied to at least this portion, it springs back, thereby reversibly increasing the cross-sectional area. A first limit value is defined by the shape, number, and / or material of the resilient portion, which a mechanical force applied to at least this portion must exceed before it springs back. This limit value can be direction-dependent, so that, for example, a second limit value is significantly higher than the first, making accidental removal of the cover more difficult and achieving particularly high vibration resistance.

[0008] Further advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0009] Advantageously, the first diameter of the cylindrical recess is chosen such that the connecting element is mechanically and reversibly fixed by the cylindrical recess. Advantageously, for maintenance or replacement of an energy storage device connected by the electrically conductive connection, the cover can be removed without damaging the electrically conductive connection.

[0010] Advantageously, the cross-sectional profile of the cover takes into account the geometry of the electrically conductive connection, a plug connection, and / or the housing of an energy storage device, so that any open contact surfaces of the electrically conductive connection are covered. For example, the geometry is chosen such that a human finger cannot fit into a gap between the cover and the electrically conductive connection, thus preventing an electric shock from accidental contact.

[0011] Advantageously, the connecting element comprises a cylinder head screw with a cylinder head and a cylinder head screw diameter and / or a locking nut 11, thus eliminating the need for complex manufacturing processes.

[0012] Advantageously, at least part of the cover is made of a shape-memory plastic, so that it springs back into its original shape without the application of a mechanical force, making the springing process reversible and eliminating the need for any additional aids.

[0013] In alternative embodiments, the resilient section has at least one means for a spring movement, for example a torsion spring, an arc or an elastic spring formed from elastic plastic.

[0014] The cover is advantageously made of a plastic with high electrical dielectric strength, so that sufficiently high insulation is achieved in conjunction with a low weight of the cover and a hazard upon contact is reliably excluded.

[0015] Advantageously, the energy storage device, having a cover, is used in a vehicle that includes at least one electrical energy storage device with an electrical connection, wherein the electrical energy storage device is, for example, a lithium-ion, lithium-sulfur or lithium-air battery.

[0016] Advantageously, the cover of an energy storage device is manufactured using an injection molding process and / or a printing process. In the printing process, for example, the cover is printed using a printer, which advantageously results in an optimized geometry of the groove, the cylindrical recess, and the resilient section, and / or a weight reduction compared to a conventional injection molding process. Brief description of the characters

[0017] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing and explained in more detail in the following description.

[0018] It shows: Fig. 1 a first embodiment of the cover according to the invention; Fig. 2 a second embodiment of the cover according to the invention; and Fig. 3a, b, c a first embodiment of a groove of the cover according to the invention; and Fig. 3d a second embodiment of a groove of the cover according to the invention. Detailed description of the exemplary implementations

[0019] The same reference numerals denote the same device components in all figures.

[0020] Fig. Figure 1 shows a first high-voltage connector 1, by means of which an energy storage device is connected, for example, to a drive unit. This high-voltage connector 1 is mechanically attached to a housing of the energy storage device. At least one busbar 4a, 4b within the energy storage device is electrically connected to the first high-voltage connector 1 by means of at least one electrical contact 2a, 2b, for example, by a screw connection using at least one connecting element 3, for example, a socket head cap screw with a cylinder head 8 and a lock nut 11. The electrical contacts 2a, 2b are arranged perpendicular to the first high-voltage connector 1. To isolate the electrical connection from the environment of the energy storage device, a first embodiment of the cover 5 according to the invention is provided. A cross-sectional profile of the cover 5 takes into account in Fig. 1 a geometry of the high-voltage connector 1, the electrical contacts 2a, 2b, the connecting element 3, the busbars 4a, 4b and the housing of the energy storage device. The cover 5 comprises a plastic with high dielectric strength. The cover 5 further has a cuboid groove 12, wherein a groove width 13 is selected to be at least as large as the diameter 16 of the cylinder head screw. A in Fig. The drawn sectioning plane AA is in the Fig. 3a, Fig. 3b, Fig. 3c, Fig. Detailed 3D rendering.

[0021] Fig. Figure 2 shows a second high-voltage connector 1, by means of which an energy storage device is connected, for example, to a drive unit. In contrast to the straight contacts 2a, 2b as in Fig. 1 shown, are in Fig. Two angled, electrically conductive contacts 2a, 2b are electrically connected to busbars 4a, 4b by means of a screw connection. A second embodiment of the cover 5 according to the invention comprises in Fig. 2 a geometry which differs from the one in due to the angled electrical contacts 2a, 2b Fig. The geometry shown in 1 differs, but the electrical connection is also isolated from the environment of the energy storage device.

[0022] In Fig. 3a is based on a sectioning plane AA, as in Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows an exemplary high-voltage connector 1 and a first embodiment of the cover 5 according to the invention with a groove 12 having a groove width 13, wherein a cylindrical recess 17 with a first diameter 14 intersects the groove 12 such that a constriction area 18 with a cross-sectional area 15 is formed. At least a partial area 9 of the constriction area 18 is designed as a resilient area 7.

[0023] In the first embodiment, a connecting element 3 of an electrically conductive connection comprises a cylinder head screw with a cylinder head 8 and a cylinder head screw diameter 16.

[0024] In Fig. Figure 3b shows an example of a sliding movement 10 of the cover 5 in the direction of the fastener 3. Due to the mechanical force exerted on the constriction area 18 by the fastener 3, the area 7 springs back, so that the cross-sectional area 15 is increased to a cross-sectional area 15a, so that the fastener 3 passes through the constriction area 18 by the sliding movement 10.

[0025] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3c, the cylinder screw head 8 is mechanically and reversibly fixed to the cylindrical recess by continuing the sliding movement 10. Advantageously, this provides vibration-resistant isolation of the electrical connection from the environment of the energy storage device.

[0026] In Fig. Figure 3d shows a second embodiment of the cover 5 according to the invention, wherein two sub-areas 9 of the narrowing area 18 are designed as resilient areas 7(1), 7(2).

Claims

[1] Energy storage device comprising a cover (5) for insulating an electrically conductive connection, wherein the electrically conductive connection comprises at least one connecting element (3), wherein the cover (5) and the connecting element (3) are reversibly mechanically connected to each other, and the cover (5) has a cuboid groove (12) with a groove width (13), wherein a cylindrical recess (17) with a first diameter (14) intersects the groove (12) such that a constriction region (18) with a cross-sectional area (15) is formed, and at least one sub-region (9) of the constriction region (18) is resilient, wherein the sub-region (9) is designed such that it is resilient by a mechanical force exerted on the constriction region (18) by the connecting element (3) in such a way that the first cross-sectional area (15) is increased to a second cross-sectional area (15a),so that the constriction area (18) can be traversed by the connecting element (3) by means of a sliding movement. [2] Energy storage device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the cylindrical recess (17) mechanically and reversibly fixes the connecting element (3). [3] Energy storage device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a cross-sectional profile of the cover (5) takes into account a geometry of the electrically conductive connection, a plug connection and / or a housing of an energy storage device. [4] Energy storage device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the connecting means (3) comprises a cylinder head screw with a cylinder head (8) and a cylinder head screw diameter (16) and / or a lock nut (11). [5] Energy storage device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that at least part of the cover (5) is made of a plastic with shape memory and / or an elastic spring. [6] Energy storage device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the cover (5) is made of a plastic with high electrical dielectric strength. [7] Use of an energy storage device comprising a cover (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 for a vehicle comprising at least one electrical energy storage device with an electrical connection. [8] Method for manufacturing an energy storage device comprising a cover (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by , that the cover (5) is manufactured using a printing process and / or an injection molding process.

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