Cell contact system for an electrochemical device

Abstract

Cell contacting system for an electrochemical device (100) comprising a plurality of cell groups (102), each comprising one or more electrochemical cells (104), wherein each electrochemical cell (104) has a first cell terminal (120) and a second cell terminal (122), wherein the electrochemical cells (104) follow one another along a longitudinal direction (114) of the electrochemical device (100), the first cell terminals (120) of the electrochemical cells (104) follow one another in a first cell terminal region (126) of the electrochemical device (100) along the longitudinal direction (114) and the second cell terminals (122) of the electrochemical cells (104) follow one another in a second cell terminal region (128) of the electrochemical device (100) along the longitudinal direction (114), wherein the cell contacting system (140) comprises at least one cell connector (142) for electrically conductively connecting cell terminals of a first cell group (102a) to cell terminals of a second cell group (102b) and wherein the cell connector (142) comprises a first contact area (148) for contacting the cell terminals of the first cell group (102a) and a second contact area (150) for contacting the cell terminals of the second cell group (102b) and wherein at least one cell connector (142) extends obliquely to the longitudinal direction (114) from cell terminals (120) of the first cell group (102a) in the first cell terminal region (126) to cell terminals (122) of the second cell group (102b) in the second cell terminal region (128), characterized by that at least one cell connector (142) in the assembled state of the cell contacting system (140) crosses at least one degassing outlet (130) of an electrochemical cell (104) and is provided with a gas guide channel section (162) in the crossing area and / or that the cell contacting system (140) comprises a carrier element (168) on which a plurality of cell connectors (142) of the cell contacting system (140) are arranged, wherein the carrier element (168) crosses at least one degassing outlet (130) of an electrochemical cell (104) in the assembled state of the cell contacting system (140) and is provided with a gas guide channel (166) in the crossing region.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cell contacting system for an electrochemical device comprising a plurality of cell groups, each comprising one or more electrochemical cells, each electrochemical cell having a first cell terminal and a second cell terminal, the electrochemical cells following one another along a longitudinal direction of the electrochemical device, the first cell terminals of the electrochemical cells in a first cell terminal region of the electrochemical device follow one another along the longitudinal direction and the second cell terminals of the electrochemical cells follow one another along the longitudinal direction in a second cell terminal region of the electrochemical device, wherein the cell contacting system comprises at least one cell connector for electrically connecting cell terminals of a first cell group to cell terminals of a second cell group and wherein the cell connector comprises a first contact area for contacting the cell terminals of the first cell group and a second contact area for contacting the cell terminals of the second cell group.

[0002] In known electrochemical devices with cell contact systems of the type mentioned above, prismatic electrochemical cells are arranged next to one another in the longitudinal direction of the electrochemical device such that, in each cell terminal region, cell terminals of positive polarity and cell terminals of negative polarity alternate in the longitudinal direction of the electrochemical device. To create a series connection of these electrochemical cells, two directly adjacent cell terminals of different polarity are electrically connected to one another by means of a cell connector, which extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the electrochemical device from one cell terminal to the other cell terminal and is secured to both cell terminals, for example by welding or screwing.

[0003] It is known in such cell contacting systems to provide the cell connector with a compensating element, for example in the form of a shaft, to compensate for relative movements between the electrochemical cells, for example due to different thermal expansion.

[0004] However, if the space available between the cell terminals to be connected is limited, the geometry of such a compensating element is subject to strict restrictions, which limits its functionality.

[0005] DE 10 2011 109 238 A1 discloses a cell contacting system according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0006] US 2010 / 0 266 887 A1 and EP 2 824 732 A1 disclose cell contacting systems which disclose cell connectors for batteries, wherein the cell connectors may have an oblique contour.

[0007] The present invention is based on the object of creating a cell contacting system of the type mentioned at the outset which reliably enables a relative movement between the cell terminals of the electrochemical device to be electrically connected to one another, even when the distances between the cell terminals following one another in the longitudinal direction of the electrochemical device are small.

[0008] This object is achieved by a cell contacting system according to claim 1.

[0009] The present invention is therefore based on the concept of interconnecting the cell terminals of the electrochemical cells at least partially not by cell connectors extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the electrochemical device within the same cell terminal region, but by one or more cell connectors extending obliquely to the longitudinal direction from the first cell terminal region to the second cell terminal region.

[0010] By interconnecting the current path in an oblique or diagonal direction within the cell contact system, the cell terminals of different polarity that are electrically connected to one another by the respective cell connector are spatially far apart, so that sufficient space remains between the contact areas of the cell connector to provide balancing or compensation elements on the cell connector, or such compensation elements can even be dispensed with entirely, since relative movements between the interconnected electrochemical cells can be absorbed by deformation of the intermediate area of the cell connector between the contact areas of the cell connector.

[0011] In particular, it can be provided that the cell connector comprises an intermediate region connecting the first contact region and the second contact region, the longitudinal axis of which is aligned obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the electrochemical device.

[0012] Furthermore, it can be provided that such an intermediate region comprises lateral edges which are aligned obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the electrochemical device.

[0013] It is preferably provided that the longitudinal axis and / or one or more lateral edges of the intermediate region enclose an angle of more than 10° with the longitudinal axis.

[0014] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the longitudinal axis and / or one or more lateral edges of the intermediate region enclose an angle of less than 80° with the longitudinal direction of the electrochemical device.

[0015] The longitudinal axis and / or one or more lateral edges of the intermediate region of the cell connector preferably run substantially parallel to a contact plane of the electrochemical device in which the contact surfaces of the cell terminals of the electrochemical device are located.

[0016] The intermediate region may have one or more compensating or compensating elements, for example compensation shafts, but may also be substantially flat, without such compensating or compensating elements.

[0017] In a particular embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that at least one cell connector extends from cell terminals of the first cell group to cell terminals of a second cell group immediately adjacent to the first cell group.

[0018] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that at least one cell connector of the cell contacting system extends from cell terminals of the first cell group to cell terminals of a second cell group not directly adjacent to the first cell group.

[0019] In this case, it is preferably provided that the at least one cell connector extends over a further cell group of the electrochemical device arranged between the first cell group and the second cell group.

[0020] Such a diagonal or oblique connection of the cell groups with one or more cell groups being skipped by the cell connector offers the advantage of an improved and, in particular, more homogeneous temperature distribution within the electrochemical device.

[0021] In a particular embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the electrochemical cells of the electrochemical device are arranged between two end faces of the electrochemical device, which are aligned transversely, preferably substantially perpendicularly, to the longitudinal direction of the electrochemical device and are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the electrochemical device, wherein the cell contacting system has two current connections of different polarity.

[0022] For easy connection of the cell contact system to an external power source and / or to an external consumer, it is advantageous if the two power connections end at the same end face of the electrochemical device.

[0023] Alternatively, it can also be provided that the two power connections end at different end faces of the electrochemical device, in particular at opposite end faces of the electrochemical device.

[0024] The two power connections of the cell contacting system are preferably both arranged in the same plane, which preferably runs parallel to a contact plane of the electrochemical device in which the contact surfaces of the cell terminals of the electrochemical cells of the electrochemical device are located.

[0025] The cell contacting system may comprise a plurality of cell connectors which do not overlap and in particular do not cross each other - in particular when viewed perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the electrochemical device and perpendicular to the contact plane of the electrochemical device in which the contact surfaces of the cell terminals are located.

[0026] Preferably, it is provided that all cell connectors of the cell contacting system do not overlap.

[0027] In particular, it can be provided that in the assembled state of the cell contacting system, all cell connectors of the cell contacting system lie in the same plane, which is preferably aligned parallel to the contact plane of the electrochemical device.

[0028] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the cell contacting system comprises at least two cell connectors which cross each other - in particular when viewed perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the electrochemical device and perpendicular to the contact plane of the cell terminals of the electrochemical device in which the contact surfaces of the cell terminals are located.

[0029] In order to reliably prevent electrical contact between the crossing cell connectors even in the event of a relative movement of the crossing cell connectors, for example in the event of shocks or vibrations occurring during operation of the electrochemical device, it can be provided that at least one electrically insulating insulation element is arranged between at least two crossing cell connectors.

[0030] Furthermore, it can also be provided that a power connection of the cell contacting system and at least one cell connector of the cell contacting system cross each other.

[0031] The electrochemical cells of the electrochemical device can each be provided with a degassing outlet in order to allow gases generated in the electrochemical cell during operation of the electrochemical device to escape through the degassing outlet and thus to prevent the development of excess pressure in the housing of the electrochemical cell in question.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that at least one cell connector, in the assembled state of the cell contacting system, crosses at least one degassing outlet of an electrochemical cell and is provided with a gas guide channel section in the crossing region.

[0033] Such a gas guide channel section can be formed, for example, by a recess or bulge provided on the cell connector.

[0034] Such a gas guide channel section creates an additional volume between the cell connector and the electrochemical cell through which any gas escaping from the degassing outlet can flow away.

[0035] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the cell contacting system comprises a carrier element on which a plurality of cell connectors of the cell contacting system are arranged, wherein the carrier element, in the assembled state of the cell contacting system, crosses at least one degassing outlet of an electrochemical cell and is provided with a gas guide channel in the crossing region.

[0036] Such a gas guide channel can be formed in particular by a recess or bulge provided on the carrier element.

[0037] The gas guide channel preferably extends in the longitudinal direction of the electrochemical device to at least one end face thereof, so that any gas escaping from the degassing outlets of the electrochemical cells can flow out of the electrochemical device through the gas guide channel of the support element via at least one end face of the electrochemical device.

[0038] The carrier element is preferably formed from an electrically insulating material in order to maintain the electrical insulation between the cell connectors of the cell contacting system.

[0039] In order to enable relative movements between the cell terminals of the same polarity, which are electrically conductively connected to a cell connector, it can be provided that at least one cell connector has at least one recess in at least one of its contact areas, which separates two sections of the contact area, which are provided for contacting different cell terminals of the same cell group, from each other.

[0040] Such a recess may, for example, have the shape of a gap or slot.

[0041] Alternatively or additionally, in order to enable a relative movement between the cell terminals of the same cell group, it can be provided that at least one cell connector has in at least one of its contact regions at least one elastically and / or plastically deformable compensation section, which connects two sections of the contact region that are provided for contacting different cell terminals of the same cell group.

[0042] In a particular embodiment of the invention, it is provided that at least one cell connector of the cell contacting system has been cut out of a flat, in particular plate- or strip-shaped, starting material, which comprises a first material section made of a first material for forming at least one contact region of the cell connector and at least one second material section made of a second material for forming an intermediate region of the cell connector connecting the contact regions of the cell connector to one another.

[0043] In particular, it can be provided that several cell connectors of the cell contacting system have been jointly separated from the flat starting material.

[0044] In this case, the cell connectors of the cell contacting system preferably form a current conductor assembly after being separated from the starting material, which can be handled as a unit, so that when the cell contacting system is mounted on the electrochemical device, all cell connectors of the cell contacting system can be brought into contact simultaneously with the respectively assigned cell terminals of the electrochemical cells of the electrochemical device.

[0045] The cell connectors in the current conductor assembly are initially connected to one another in one piece, preferably by connecting elements, in particular in the form of connecting webs.

[0046] The connecting elements of the current conductor assembly are preferably separated from the cell connectors and removed from the cell contact system only after the cell connectors have been arranged on a carrier element, in order to create the required electrical insulation between the cell connectors. Following the separation of the connecting elements, the assembly consisting of the carrier element and the cell connectors arranged thereon is mounted on the cell terminals of the electrochemical device.

[0047] Alternatively, it can also be provided that the current conductor assembly is introduced into a separating tool in which the connecting elements are separated from the cell connectors, wherein the cell connectors are then moved from the separating tool to the cell terminals of the electrochemical device by means of a gripping device, for example by means of a multiple gripper, and are mounted on the same.

[0048] The first material of the first material portion and the second material of the second material portion are preferably different from each other.

[0049] In particular, it can be provided that the first material contains aluminum as its main component and / or the second material contains copper as its main component.

[0050] The main component of a material is the element that has the largest weight share in the material in question.

[0051] The first material section and the second material section of the starting material can in particular be connected to one another in a material-to-material manner, for example by cold roll plating.

[0052] Furthermore, in addition to the first material section and the second material section, the planar starting material can comprise a third material section made of a third material for forming at least one further contact region of the cell connectors.

[0053] Preferably, the third material of the third material section is identical to the first material of the first material section.

[0054] The second material section of the flat starting material is preferably arranged between the first material section and the third material section.

[0055] By jointly separating the cell connectors of the cell contacting system (and optionally also the power connections of the cell contacting system) from a flat starting material that contains several material sections made of different materials, the production of the cell contacting system and its assembly on the electrochemical device is significantly simplified and accelerated.

[0056] By using different materials in the flat starting material, the materials for the contact areas on the one hand and for the intermediate areas of the cell connectors on the other hand can be optimally selected, for example a first material with the main component aluminum for simple, preferably pure, welding to the cell terminals, and a second material with the main component copper to achieve the highest possible electrical conductivity in the intermediate area of the cell connectors.

[0057] This concept can also be used independently of the diagonal or oblique connection of the cell terminals of the electrochemical device.

[0058] The present invention therefore also relates to a cell contacting system according to the preamble of claim 1, which has the additional features of claim 16 and optionally the additional features of claim 17, claim 18 and / or claim 19.

[0059] The cell contacting system according to the invention is particularly suitable for use in combination with an electrochemical device comprising a plurality of cell groups, each comprising one or more electrochemical cells, wherein each electrochemical cell has a first and a second cell terminal, wherein the electrochemical cells follow one another along a longitudinal direction of the electrochemical device, the first cell terminals of the electrochemical cells follow one another in a first cell terminal region of the electrochemical device along the longitudinal direction, and the second cell terminals of the electrochemical cells follow one another in a second cell terminal region of the electrochemical device along the longitudinal direction.

[0060] The first cell terminals of the electrochemical cells can all have the same polarity (negative or positive), or the first cell terminals of the cell groups following one another in the longitudinal direction can have alternating polarities.

[0061] Likewise, the second cell terminals of the electrochemical cells can all have the same polarity (positive or negative), or the polarities of the second cell terminals of the cell groups following one another along the longitudinal direction can alternate.

[0062] The cell contacting system according to the invention can in particular have the following advantages or features: A gas guide channel can be integrated into the cell contact system, through which gas escaping from the electrochemical cells through degassing outlets can flow away.

[0063] Diagonally or obliquely connected cell connectors, which have a larger surface area due to their greater length, offer better cooling properties. In particular, a better connection of external cooling to the large-area cell connectors is possible.

[0064] Decoupling between cell terminals of a cell group having the same polarity is possible by means of recesses and / or compensation elements provided in the contact areas of the cell connectors.

[0065] Signals required for cell monitoring, for example for voltage and / or temperature monitoring, can all be taken from one end face of the electrochemical device or, preferably, from the same long side of the electrochemical device (running parallel to the longitudinal direction of the electrochemical device), whereby in the latter case the number of required components and the required work steps are reduced.

[0066] The integration of one or more power connections into the cell contact system is possible.

[0067] The cell connectors and, if applicable, also the power connections of the cell contacting system can be made from a flat starting material composed of different materials, for example from a - preferably single-layer - aluminum / copper / aluminum strip.

[0068] Several layers of material can be stacked on top of each other in a direction perpendicular to a contact plane of the electrochemical device in which the contact surfaces of the cell terminals are located in order to produce multi-layer cell connectors with the desired current carrying capacity.

[0069] The electrochemical device can in particular be designed as an accumulator, for example as a lithium-ion accumulator.

[0070] If the electrochemical device is designed as an accumulator, it is particularly suitable as a high-load energy source, for example for powering motor vehicles.

[0071] All polarities mentioned above or below (negative or positive) can also be interchanged.

[0072] Further features and advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description and the drawings of exemplary embodiments.

[0073] The drawings show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of an electrochemical device comprising a plurality of cell groups arranged between two end walls, each comprising a plurality of, for example, three, electrochemical cells, each electrochemical cell having a first and a second cell terminal, the electrochemical cells following one another along a longitudinal direction of the electrochemical device, the first cell terminals of the electrochemical cells following one another along the longitudinal direction in a first cell terminal region of the electrochemical device, and the second cell terminals of the electrochemical cells following one another along the longitudinal direction in a second cell terminal region of the electrochemical device; Fig. 2 a top view of the electrochemical device from Fig. 1, with the viewing direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the electrochemical device and perpendicular to a contact plane of the cell terminals; Fig. 3 a top view of the electrochemical device from the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 after assembly of a first embodiment of a cell contacting system comprising a plurality of cell connectors for electrically connecting cell terminals of a first cell group to cell terminals of a second cell group, wherein the respective cell connector comprises a first contact region for contacting the cell terminals of the first cell group and a second contact region for contacting the cell terminals of the second cell group, and wherein the respective cell connector extends obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the electrochemical device from cell terminals of the first cell group in the first cell terminal region to cell terminals of the second cell group in the second cell terminal region; Fig. 4 one of the Fig. 3 corresponding view of the electrochemical device and the cell contacting system, wherein the cell connectors and power connections of the cell contacting system are shown transparent in order to allow the polarity of the cell terminals of the electrochemical device contacted by means of the cell contacting system to be recognized; Fig. 5 a plan view of a plate- or strip-shaped starting material from which the cell connectors and power connections of the cell contact system are made from the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 are detachable, wherein the starting material comprises a first material portion made of a first material (for example aluminum) for forming a first contact region of the cell connectors, a second material portion made of a second material (for example copper) for forming an intermediate region of the cell connectors connecting the contact regions of the cell connectors to one another, and a third material portion, preferably made of the first material (for example aluminum), for forming a second contact region of the cell connectors; Fig. 6 which is produced by jointly separating from the plate- or strip-shaped starting material from Fig. 5 manufactured cell contact system; Fig. 7 a plan view of a second embodiment of the cell contacting system, in which several cell connectors of the cell contacting system, in the assembled state of the cell contacting system, each cross at least one degassing outlet of the electrochemical device and are provided with a gas guide channel section in this crossing region; Fig. 8 a cross section through the cell contact system Fig. 7, along the line 8 - 8 in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 a plan view of a third embodiment of the cell contacting system, in which the cell contacting system comprises a carrier element on which a plurality of cell connectors and / or power connections of the cell contacting system are arranged, wherein the carrier element, in the assembled state of the cell contacting system, crosses degassing outlets of electrochemical cells of the electrochemical device and is provided with a gas guide channel in this crossing region; Fig. 10 a cross-section through the cell contact system Fig. 9, along the line 10 - 10 in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 shows a fourth embodiment of the cell contacting system, in which the cell connectors each have a plurality of recesses in their contact areas, which each separate two sections of the respective contact area, which are provided for contacting different cell terminals of the same cell group; Fig. 12 is a plan view of a fifth embodiment of the cell contacting system, in which the cell connectors each have a plurality of elastically and / or plastically deformable compensation sections in their contact regions, which each connect two sections of the respective contact region, which are provided for contacting different cell terminals of the same cell group; Fig. 13 a longitudinal section through the cell contact system Fig. 12, along the line 13 - 13 in Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an electrochemical device comprising a plurality of cell groups, each comprising a plurality of, for example, three, electrochemical cells, each electrochemical cell having a first and a second cell terminal, the electrochemical cells following one another along a longitudinal direction of the electrochemical device, the first cell terminals of the electrochemical cells following one another in a first cell terminal region of the electrochemical device along the longitudinal direction, and the second cell terminals of the electrochemical cell following one another in a second cell terminal region of the electrochemical device along the longitudinal direction,wherein all first cell terminals of the electrochemical cells have the same (e.g. negative) polarity and all second cell terminals of the electrochemical cells also have the same polarity (e.g. positive polarity); Fig. 15 a plan view of the electrochemical device of Fig. 14, with the viewing direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the electrochemical device and perpendicular to a contact plane of the cell terminals; Fig. 16 is a plan view of a sixth embodiment of the cell contacting system in which the cell connectors of the cell contacting system cross each other; Fig. 17 one of the Fig. 16 corresponding view of the electrochemical device and the cell contacting system, wherein the cell connectors and the power terminals of the cell contacting system are shown transparent in order to allow the polarity of the cell terminals contacted by the cell connectors or power terminals to be recognized; Fig. 18 a plan view of the cell contact system from the Fig. 16 and Fig. 17, without the electrochemical device; Fig. 19 a cross-section through the cell contact system Fig. 18, along the line 19 - 19 in Fig. 18; Fig. 20 is a plan view of a seventh embodiment of the cell contacting system, in which crossing cell connectors are electrically separated from one another by an insulating element; Fig. 21 a cross-section through the cell contact system Fig. 20, along the line 21 - 21 in Fig. 20; Fig. 22 a plan view of the electrochemical device of the Fig. 14 and Fig. 15 and an eighth embodiment of the cell contacting system, which comprises a power connection extending from one end face of the electrochemical device across the cell connectors of the cell contacting system to the other end face of the electrochemical device; Fig. 23 one of the Fig. 22 corresponding view of the electrochemical device and the cell contacting system, wherein the cell connectors and power terminals of the cell contacting system are shown transparent in order to show the polarity of the cell terminals contacted by the cell connectors or the power terminals; Fig. 24 a plan view of the electrochemical device of the Fig. 14 and Fig. 15 and a ninth embodiment of the cell contacting system, in which the cell connectors and power terminals of the cell contacting system do not cross each other and the two power terminals of the electrochemical device end at different end faces of the electrochemical device; Fig. 25 one of the Fig. 24 corresponding view of the electrochemical device and the cell contacting system, wherein the cell connectors and power terminals of the cell contacting system are shown transparent in order to show the polarity of the cell terminals contacted by the cell connectors or the power terminals; Fig. 26 is a plan view of a tenth embodiment of the cell contacting system, in which the cell connectors each have a plurality of elastically and / or plastically deformable compensation sections in their contact regions, which each connect two sections of the respective contact region, which are provided for contacting different cell terminals of the same cell group, and in which the cell connectors each have an elastically and / or plastically deformable compensation section in their intermediate region, which connects the two contact regions of the respective cell connector, which compensation section enables a relative movement between a section of the first contact region of the cell connector, which is assigned to a first cell terminal in the first cell terminal region of the electrochemical device, and a section of the second contact region of the cell connector,which is associated with a second cell terminal in the second cell terminal region of the electrochemical device; and, Fig. 27 a longitudinal section through the cell contact system Fig. 26, along the line 27 - 27 in Fig. 26.

[0074] Identical or functionally equivalent elements are designated by the same reference numerals in all figures.

[0075] One in the Fig. 1 and Fig. The electrochemical device shown in Figure 2 and designated as a whole by 100 comprises a plurality of cell groups 102, six in the illustrated embodiment, each of which comprises a plurality of electrochemical cells 104, three in the illustrated embodiment.

[0076] Each of the electrochemical cells 104 has a prismatic, in particular substantially cuboid-shaped, housing 106, wherein the housing 106 has two opposing wide side surfaces 108, two opposing long narrow side surfaces 110 and two opposing short narrow side surfaces 112.

[0077] The electrochemical cells 104 of the electrochemical device 100, for example of a battery module, follow one another in a longitudinal direction 114 of the electrochemical device 100, wherein two electrochemical cells 104 following one another in the longitudinal direction 114 each have one of their wide side surfaces 108 in contact with one another in a substantially planar and preferably substantially congruent manner.

[0078] The cohesion of the electrochemical cells 104 of the electrochemical device 100 is created by two end plates 116, the main surfaces of which are oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 114 and parallel to each other and which are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction 114, wherein the electrochemical cells 104 of the electrochemical device 100 are arranged between the two end plates 116.

[0079] The two end plates 116 are preferably braced against each other by several, for example two, tension elements 118, for example in the form of tie rods, tension plates or tension bands, which are fixed to both end plates 116, so that the end plates 116 exert a contact pressure directed parallel to the longitudinal direction 114 on the electrochemical cells 104 of the electrochemical device 100.

[0080] Each of the electrochemical cells 104 has a first cell terminal 120 and a second cell terminal 122, wherein the first cell terminal 120 and the second cell terminal 122 have different polarity (negative or positive).

[0081] The first cell terminal 120 and the second cell terminal 122 both protrude from the housing 106 of the respective electrochemical cell 104 via the same long, narrow side surface 110 of the respective electrochemical cell 104, which is referred to below as the terminal side surface 124 of the electrochemical cell 104.

[0082] The terminal side surfaces 124 of all electrochemical cells 104 of the electrochemical device 100 are arranged parallel to one another and substantially aligned with one another on the same side of the electrochemical device 100, so that the first cell terminals 120 of all electrochemical cells 104 of the electrochemical device 100 follow one another in a first cell terminal region 126 of the electrochemical device 100 along the longitudinal direction 114 and the second cell terminals 122 of all electrochemical cells 104 of the electrochemical device 100 follow one another in a second cell terminal region 128 of the electrochemical device 100 along the longitudinal direction 114.

[0083] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the first cell terminal area 126 and the second cell terminal area 128 are each marked by rectangles bordered by broken lines.

[0084] Each of the electrochemical cells 104 further comprises a degassing outlet 130 with a degassing valve 132 arranged on the terminal side surface 124 between the first cell terminal 120 and the second cell terminal 122.

[0085] Preferably, the degassing outlets 130 of all electrochemical cells 104 of the electrochemical device 100 follow one another in a degassing region 134 of the electrochemical device 100 along the longitudinal direction 114 of the electrochemical device 100.

[0086] The degassing area 134 is in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is also marked as a rectangle enclosed by broken lines.

[0087] The first cell terminals 120 and the second cell terminals 122 of the electrochemical cells 104 of the electrochemical device 100 preferably protrude by the same height above the terminal side surfaces 124, so that the substantially planar contact surfaces 136 at which the cell terminals 120, 122 terminate all lie substantially in the same plane, which is referred to below as the contact plane 138 of the electrochemical device 100.

[0088] In order to connect the cell groups 102 of the electrochemical device 100 electrically in series and to be able to connect the electrochemical cells 104 to an external power source or to an external consumer, the electrochemical device 100 is provided with a Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, which comprises a plurality of cell connectors 142, five in the illustrated embodiment, for electrically connecting cell terminals of a first cell group 102a to cell terminals of a second cell group 102b.

[0089] Furthermore, the cell contacting system 140 comprises two power connections 144, which are each connected to cell terminals of a cell group 102c located at the beginning of the series connection or to cell terminals of a cell group 102d located at the end of the series connection, and whose free ends 146 are led beyond an end plate 116 of the electrochemical device 100 in order to be contacted in the exterior of the electrochemical device 100 by an electrical conductor (not shown).

[0090] In the Fig. In the embodiment of the electrochemical device 100 and the cell contacting system 140 shown in Figures 1 to 6, the two power terminals 144 are arranged on the same end face of the electrochemical device 100.

[0091] The cell connectors 142 of the cell contacting system 140 each comprise a first contact area 148 for contacting the cell terminals of the first cell group 102a and a second contact area 150 for contacting the cell terminals of the second cell group 102b.

[0092] Furthermore, each of the cell connectors 142 comprises an intermediate region 152 connecting the first contact region 148 and the second contact region 150 to one another.

[0093] In the case of several, for example four, cell connectors 142' of the cell contacting system 140 from the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, a longitudinal axis 153 of the intermediate region 152 extends obliquely to the longitudinal direction 114 of the electrochemical device 100, so that the respective cell connector 142' extends obliquely to the longitudinal direction 114 from cell terminals of the first cell group 102a in the first cell terminal region 126 to cell terminals of the second cell group 102b in the second cell terminal region 128.

[0094] In one of the cell connectors 142, which is referred to below as cell connector 142", the longitudinal axis 153' of the intermediate region 152' extends parallel to the longitudinal direction 114 of the electrochemical device 100, so that this cell connector 142" extends parallel to the longitudinal direction 114 from cell terminals of the first cell group 102a' in the first cell terminal region 126 to cell terminals of the second cell group 102b", which are also arranged in the first cell terminal region 126.

[0095] How best to Fig. 4, in which the cell connectors 142 and current connections 144 of the cell contacting system 140 are shown transparent in order to allow the polarity of the underlying cell terminals 120, 122 of the electrochemical cells 104 to be recognized, the cell connectors 142', which extend obliquely to the longitudinal direction 114 from the first cell terminal region 126 to the second cell terminal region 128, extend from cell terminals of the first cell group 102a to cell terminals of a second cell group 102b not immediately adjacent to the first cell group 102a, wherein the respective cell connector 142' extends over a third cell group 102e of the electrochemical device 100 arranged between the first cell group 102a and the second cell group 102b.

[0096] How best to Fig. 4, the electrochemical cells 104 in the electrochemical device 100 are arranged such that the first cell terminals 120 arranged in the first cell terminal region 126 of successive cell groups 102 in the longitudinal direction 114 of the electrochemical device 100 have alternating polarities.

[0097] The first cell terminals have 120 of the Fig. 4 leftmost cell group 102 1 a negative polarity, the first cell terminals 120 of the second cell group 102 following in the longitudinal direction 114 2 a positive polarity, the first cell terminals 120 of the third cell group 102 following in the longitudinal direction 114 3 a negative polarity, the first cell terminals 120 of the fourth cell group 102 following in the longitudinal direction 114 4a positive polarity, the first cell terminals 120 of the fifth cell group 102 following in the longitudinal direction 114 5 a negative polarity and the first cell terminals 120 of the sixth cell group 102 following in the longitudinal direction 114 6 a positive polarity.

[0098] Consequently, the second cell terminals 122 of the cell groups 102 arranged in the second cell terminal region 128 of the electrochemical device 100 also have alternating polarities.

[0099] Thus, the second cell terminals 122 of the first cell group 102 1 a positive polarity, the second cell terminals 122 of the second cell group 102 2 a negative polarity, the second cell terminals 122 of the third cell group 102 3 a positive polarity, the second cell terminals 122 of the fourth cell group 102 4a negative polarity, the second cell terminals 122 of the fifth cell group 102 5 a positive polarity and the second cell terminals 122 of the sixth cell group 102 6 a negative polarity.

[0100] By means of the cell contacting system 140 described above, the cell terminals 120, 122 of the six cell groups 102 in the illustrated embodiment, each comprising three electrochemical cells 104, are connected in series with one another.

[0101] Such a series circuit is also referred to as an msnp circuit, where m is the number of cell groups 102 connected in series and n is the number of electrochemical units per cell group 102.

[0102] In the Fig. The embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6 is therefore a 6s3p circuit.

[0103] In this series connection, the negative current terminal 144a is connected to the negative second cell terminals 122 of the second cell group 102 2 tied together.

[0104] The second cell connector 142 2 connects the positive first cell terminals 120 of the second cell group 102 2 with the negative second cell terminals 122 of the fourth cell group 102 4 .

[0105] The fourth cell connector 142 4 connects the positive first cell terminals 120 of the fourth cell group 102 4 with the negative second cell terminals 122 of the sixth cell group 102 6 .

[0106] The fifth cell connector 142 5 connects the positive first cell terminals 120 of the sixth cell group 102 6 with the negative first cell terminals 120 of the fifth cell group 102 5 .

[0107] The third cell connector 142 3connects the positive second cell terminals 122 of the fifth cell group 102 5 with the negative first cell terminals 120 of the third cell group 102 3 .

[0108] The first cell connector 142 1 connects the positive second cell terminals 122 of the third cell group 102 3 with the negative first cell terminals 120 of the first cell group 102 1 .

[0109] The positive second cell terminals 122 of the first cell group 102 1 are connected to the positive power terminal 144b of the cell contacting system 140.

[0110] Since the cell connectors 142 and the power connections 144 of the cell contacting system 140 are made of the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 do not overlap each other (seen in a viewing direction 154 perpendicular to the contact plane 138) and are all arranged in the same plane aligned parallel to the contact plane 138 of the electrochemical device 100, the cell connectors 142 and the current terminals 144 of the cell contacting system 140 can be separated, for example punched out or cut out, in the form of a current conductor assembly from a flat starting material, preferably from a metallic starting material, in particular from a sheet material.

[0111] A suitable starting material is in Fig. 5 and is preferably designed as a plate- or strip-shaped hybrid material which comprises a first material section 156 made of a first material for forming the first contact regions 148 of the cell connectors 142' running obliquely to the longitudinal direction 114 and the two contact regions 148 and 150 of the cell connector 142'', a second material section 158 made of a second material for forming the intermediate regions 152 connecting the two contact regions 148 and 150 of the cell connectors 142' to one another, and a third material section 160 made of a third material for forming the second contact regions 150 of the cell connectors 142'.

[0112] The first material section 156, the second material section 158 and the third material section 160 are preferably formed as material strips running in the later longitudinal direction 114 of the cell contacting system 140.

[0113] The second material portion 158 made of the second material is preferably arranged between the first material portion 156 made of the first material and the third material portion 160 made of the third material.

[0114] The first material of the first material portion 156 and the third material of the third material portion 160 are preferably identical to one another.

[0115] In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the first material contains aluminum as its main component and / or the second material contains copper as its main component.

[0116] The main component of a material is the element whose weight share of the material in question is the largest.

[0117] The first material section 156 and the second material section 158 of the starting material 155 are preferably bonded to one another, for example by cold roll plating.

[0118] Likewise, the third material section 160 and the second material section 158 of the starting material 155 are preferably bonded to one another, for example by cold roll plating.

[0119] Fig. 6 shows how the cell connectors 142 and power terminals 144 are separated from the hybrid starting material 155 in the same relative positions that these elements occupy in the cell contacting system 140 mounted on the electrochemical device 100.

[0120] In these relative positions, the cell connectors 142 and power connections 144 are initially held by connecting elements (not shown), in particular in the form of connecting webs, which integrally connect the cell connectors 142 and the power connections 144 to one another and are separated together with them from the starting material 155.

[0121] The connecting elements are preferably separated from the cell connectors 142 and the power terminals 144, for example by punching, after the cell connectors 142 and the power terminals 144 have been arranged on a carrier element (not shown), and removed from the cell contacting system 140 in order to produce the required electrical insulation between the cell connectors 142 and power terminals 144.

[0122] Following this, the Fig. 6 is arranged on the cell terminals 120, 122 of the electrochemical cells 104 during assembly of the electrochemical device 100.

[0123] Alternatively, it can also be provided that the current conductor assembly, after being separated from the starting material 155, is introduced into a separating tool (not shown), in which the connecting elements are separated from the cell connectors 142 and the current connections 144, for example by punching out, wherein the cell connectors 142 and the current connections 144 are then moved from the separating tool to the cell terminals 120, 122 of the electrochemical device 100 by means of a gripping device (not shown), for example by means of a multiple gripper.

[0124] Subsequently, in both cases, the cell connectors 142 and power connections 144 are electrically conductively contacted with the respectively assigned cell terminals 120, 122 of the electrochemical cells 104, preferably by material bonding, in particular by welding, for example by laser welding, ultrasonic welding or friction stir welding.

[0125] This completes the assembly of the cell contacting system 140 on the electrochemical device 100.

[0126] One in the Fig. 7 and Fig. The second embodiment of the cell contacting system 140 shown in Figure 8 differs from that shown in the Fig. 3 to 6 in that the cell connectors 142' and at least one of the power connections 144 cross the degassing region 134 of the electrochemical device 100 and preferably each cross at least one degassing outlet 130 of an electrochemical cell 104 and are each provided with a gas guide channel section 162 in this crossing region.

[0127] Each gas guide channel section 162 can be formed by a recess or bulge 164, through which the distance of the respective cell connector 142 or power connection 144 from the terminal side surface 124 of the respective electrochemical cell 104 crossed is increased in the region of the gas guide channel section 162, so that an additional volume is created through which any gas escaping from the degassing valves 132 can flow away.

[0128] The mutually aligned gas guide channel sections 162 of the cell connectors 142' and the power connections 144 together form a gas guide channel 166 extending along the longitudinal direction 114, which extends to at least one end face of the electrochemical device 100, so that any gas escaping from the degassing valves 132 can flow out of the electrochemical device 100 via the end face in question.

[0129] However, due to the spaces between adjacent cell connectors 142 and power connections 144 required for electrical insulation, this gas guide channel 166 is not completely closed, but has gaps through which gas can escape from the gas guide channel 166 between two cell connectors 142, between two power connections 144, or between a cell connector 142 and a power connection 144.

[0130] Furthermore, the Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, the second embodiment of the cell contacting system 140 is similar in terms of structure, function and method of manufacture to that shown in the Fig. 1 to 6, to the above description of which reference is made in this respect.

[0131] One in the Fig. 9 and Fig. The third embodiment of the cell contacting system 140 shown in Figure 10 differs from that shown in the Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 in that the cell contacting system 140 comprises a carrier element 168, for example in the form of a carrier plate 170, on which the cell connectors 142 and power connections 144 of the cell contacting system 140 are arranged.

[0132] The cell connectors 142 and / or the power connections 144 can be fixed to the carrier element 168, for example, by press fitting, by locking, by caulking, by gluing or in another way by material connection, form connection or force connection, in order to be able to be handled together with the carrier element 168 as a unit.

[0133] The support member 168 is formed of an electrically insulating material to maintain electrical isolation between the cell connectors 142 and the power terminals 144 of the cell contacting system 140.

[0134] The carrier element 168 preferably comprises an electrically non-conductive plastic material, for example PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), PP (polypropylene), PA (polyamide), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and / or LCP (“liquid crystal polymer”), and is preferably formed substantially entirely from such a plastic material.

[0135] A particularly suitable material for the support element 168 is a talc-reinforced polypropylene material (for example, the material designated PP TV20). This material exhibits particularly high dimensional stability due to the talc reinforcement.

[0136] As can be seen from the Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, a gas guide channel 166 is preferably formed on the carrier element 168, which extends in particular in the longitudinal direction 114 up to at least one end face of the electrochemical device 100, particularly preferably up to both end faces of the electrochemical device 100.

[0137] The gas guide channel 166 can be formed, for example, as a recess or as a bulge 172 in the carrier element 168.

[0138] The gas guide channel 166 formed on the support element 168 preferably crosses all degassing outlets 130 of the electrochemical cells 104 of the electrochemical device 100, so that any gas escaping from the degassing valves 132 can flow out of the electrochemical device 100 through the gas guide channel 166 of the support element 168 via at least one end face of the electrochemical device 100.

[0139] The gas guide channel 166 formed on the support element 168 extends without interruption between its two ends adjacent to the end faces of the electrochemical device 100, so that no gas can escape from the gas guide channel 166 between the ends thereof.

[0140] The cell connectors 142 and power connections 144 of the cell contacting system 140 are each provided with a recess or bulge 164 adapted to the cross section of the gas guide channel 166 in their areas adjacent to the gas guide channel 166 of the carrier element 168 in order to be able to place the respective cell connector 142 or the respective power connection 144 onto the carrier element 168.

[0141] Furthermore, the Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 illustrated third embodiment of the cell contacting system 140 in terms of structure, function and method of manufacture with the Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, to the above description of which reference is made in this respect.

[0142] One in Fig. The fourth embodiment of the cell contacting system 140 shown in Figure 11 differs from that shown in the Fig. 3 to 6 in that the cell connectors 142 and power terminals 144 of the cell contacting system 140 each have one or more recesses 174 in their contact areas 148, 150, which recesses can in particular each have the shape of a gap or slot 176 and each separate two sections 178 of the respective contact area 148, 150, which are provided for contacting different cell terminals 120, 122 of the same cell group 102.

[0143] As a result, these sections 178 of the contact regions 148, 150 are mechanically decoupled from one another, so that a movement of these sections 178 of the contact regions 148, 150, which are assigned to different electrochemical cells 104, relative to one another is possible during operation of the electrochemical device 100 and / or for tolerance compensation during assembly of the cell contacting system 140.

[0144] Furthermore, the Fig. 11 illustrated fourth embodiment of the cell contacting system 140 in terms of structure, function and method of manufacture with the Fig. 1 to 6, to the above description of which reference is made in this respect.

[0145] One in the Fig. 12 and Fig. The fifth embodiment of the cell contacting system 140 shown in Figure 13 differs from that shown in the Fig. 1 to 6 in that the cell connectors 142 and power terminals 144 each have a plurality of elastically and / or plastically deformable compensation sections 180 in their contact regions 148, 150, each of these compensation sections 180 connecting two sections 178 of the respective contact region 148, 150, which are provided for contacting different cell terminals 120, 122 of the same cell group 102.

[0146] For this purpose, the compensation section 180 may in particular have one or more compensation waves 182 extending transversely, preferably substantially perpendicularly, to the longitudinal direction 114 of the electrochemical device 100.

[0147] Alternatively or additionally, each compensation section 180 may have a cross-section - taken along the longitudinal direction 114 - which includes at least one U-shape, S-shape, Ω-shape and / or meander shape.

[0148] Such a compensation section 180 enables a relative movement of the two sections 178 of a contact region 148, 150 connected to one another by the respective compensation section 180 during operation of the electrochemical device 100 and / or for tolerance compensation during assembly of the cell contacting system 140.

[0149] In this embodiment of the cell contacting system 140, preferably only one of the sections 178 of a contact region 148, 150, which is assigned to one of the cell terminals 120, 122 to be contacted, is connected to the intermediate region 152 of the respective cell connector 142, wherein the intermediate region 152 is formed correspondingly narrower than in the Fig. 1 to 6. This ensures that a movement of the other sections 178 of the respective contact region 148, 150, which are not directly connected to the intermediate region 152, relative to the one section 178 which is directly connected to the intermediate region 152, is not hindered.

[0150] Furthermore, the Fig. 12 and Fig. 13, the fifth embodiment of the cell contacting system 140 in terms of structure, function and method of manufacture with the Fig. 1 to 6, to the above description of which reference is made in this respect.

[0151] One in the Fig. 14 and Fig. The second embodiment of the electrochemical device 100 shown in Figure 15 differs from that shown in Figures Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 in that the polarities of the first cell terminals 120 of the electrochemical cells 104 arranged in the first cell terminal region 126 of the electrochemical device 100 do not alternate, but rather all coincide with one another.

[0152] In particular, all first cell terminals 120 of the cell groups 102 can, for example, have a negative polarity.

[0153] Consequently, in this embodiment of the electrochemical device 100, all second cell terminals 122 of the electrochemical cells 104 arranged in the second cell terminal region 128 of the electrochemical device 100 also have the same polarity.

[0154] In particular, the second cell terminals 122 of the cell groups 102 can, for example, have a positive polarity.

[0155] Furthermore, the Fig. 14 and Fig. 15 illustrated embodiment of the electrochemical device 100 in terms of structure, function and method of manufacture with the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, to the above description of which reference is made in this respect.

[0156] One in the Fig. The sixth embodiment of the cell contacting system 140 shown in Figures 16 to 19 serves to contact the cell terminals 120, 122 of the electrochemical cells 104 in a series circuit in the Fig. 14 and Fig. 15 shows the second embodiment of the electrochemical device.

[0157] How best to Fig. 17, in which the cell connectors 142 and the power connections 144 of the cell contact system 140 are shown transparently in order to allow the polarities of the cell terminals 120, 122 arranged underneath to be recognized, in the embodiment shown here, a 6s3p circuit of the six cell groups 102, each consisting of three electrochemical cells 104, is produced as follows: The negative power terminal 144a is connected to the negative first cell terminals 120 of the second cell group 102 2 The positive second cell terminals 122 of the second cell group 102 2 are connected by means of the first cell connector 142 1 with the negative first cell terminals 120 of the fourth cell group 102 4 connected. The second cell connector 142 2 connects the positive second cell terminals 122 of the fourth cell group 102 4with the negative first cell terminals 120 of the sixth cell group 102°. The third cell connector 142 3 connects the positive second cell terminals 122 of the sixth cell group 102 6 with the negative first cell terminals 120 of the fifth cell group 102 5 . The fourth cell connector 142 4 connects the positive second cell terminals 122 of the fifth cell group 102 5 with the negative first cell terminals 120 of the third cell group 102°. The fifth cell connector 142 5 connects the positive second cell terminals 122 of the third cell group 102 3 with the negative first cell terminals 120 of the first cell group 102 1 . The positive power terminal 144b is connected to the positive second cell terminals 122 of the first cell group 102 1 tied together.

[0158] In this embodiment of the cell contacting system 140, the cell connector 142 extends 3of cell terminals of the sixth cell group 102 6 obliquely to the longitudinal direction 114 of the electrochemical device 100 up to cell terminals of the sixth cell group 102 6 immediately adjacent fifth cell group 102 5 .

[0159] Furthermore, this embodiment of the cell contacting system 140 comprises a plurality of cell connectors 142 which intersect when viewed along a viewing direction 154 oriented perpendicular to the contact plane 138 of the electrochemical device 100.

[0160] This is how the first cell connector crosses 142 1 with the fourth cell connector 142 4 and with the fifth cell connector 142 5 . The second cell connector 142 2 crosses with the third cell connector 142 3 and with the fourth cell connector 142 4 . The third cell connector 142 3intersects with the second cell connector 142°. The fourth cell connector 142 4 crosses with the first cell connector 142 1 and with the second cell connector 142°. The fifth cell connector 142 5 crosses with the first cell connector 142 1 and with the negative power terminal 144a.

[0161] Due to these crossings, the intermediate regions 152 of the intersecting cell connectors 142 or power connections 144 must run at different height levels, i.e. at different distances from the contact plane 138 of the electrochemical device 100, as can be seen from Fig. 19, in which the intermediate region 152 of the second cell connector 142 2 at a greater distance from the contact plane 138 than the third cell connector 142 3 and the fourth cell connector 142 4 .

[0162] The required different distances from the contact plane 138 of the electrochemical device 100 can be produced in particular by providing the cell connectors 142 or power connections 144, which must run at a greater distance from the contact plane 138 in some sections, with beads or offsets 184, preferably running substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction 114 of the electrochemical device 100.

[0163] Furthermore, the Fig. 17 to 19, the sixth embodiment of the cell contacting system 140 in terms of structure, function and method of manufacture with the Fig. 1 to 6, to the above description of which reference is made in this respect.

[0164] However, the sixth embodiment of the cell contacting system 140 cannot be separated as a current conductor composite from a flat starting material due to the crossovers between the cell connectors 142 and the current terminals 144.

[0165] One in the Fig. 20 and Fig. The seventh embodiment of the cell contacting system 140 shown in Figure 21 differs from that shown in the Fig. 16 to 19 in that an electrically insulating insulation element 186, preferably in the form of a substantially flat insulation plate 188, is arranged between the intersecting cell connectors 142 and power terminals 144.

[0166] This prevents a short circuit between the intersecting elements of the cell contacting system 140 due to relative movements between the intersecting cell connectors 142 and / or power connections 144 during operation of the electrochemical device 100, for example due to vibrations or shocks acting on a motor vehicle in which the electrochemical device 100 is arranged.

[0167] The insulation element 186 may, for example, comprise an electrically non-conductive plastic material and, in particular, be formed substantially entirely from such an electrically non-conductive plastic material.

[0168] Furthermore, the Fig. 20 and Fig. 21, the seventh embodiment of the cell contacting system 140 in terms of structure, function and method of manufacture with the Fig. 16 to 19, to the above description of which reference is made in this respect.

[0169] One in the Fig. 22 and Fig. The eighth embodiment of the cell contacting system 140 shown in Figure 23 also serves to produce a series connection of the cell groups 102 of the Fig. 14 and Fig. 15 shows the second embodiment of the electrochemical device 100.

[0170] This eighth embodiment of the cell contacting system 140 differs from that shown in the Fig. 16 to 19 in that the cell connectors 142 of the cell contacting system 140 do not overlap each other, but only one of the current connections 144 crosses the cell connectors 142 in order to ensure that both current connections 144a, 144b are arranged on the same end face of the electrochemical device 100.

[0171] How best to Fig. 23, in which the cell connectors 142 and the power connections 144 of the cell contacting system 140 are shown transparently in order to reveal the polarity of the cell terminals 120, 122 of the electrochemical cells 104 arranged underneath, in this embodiment of the cell contacting system 140, a 6s3p series connection of the six cell groups 102, each consisting of three electrochemical cells 104, is produced as follows: The negative power connection 144a is connected to the negative first cell terminals 120 of the sixth cell group 102 6 connected. The fifth cell connector 142 5 connects the positive second cell terminals 122 of the sixth cell group 102 6 with the negative first cell terminals 120 of the fifth cell group 102 5 . The fourth cell connector 142 4 connects the positive second cell terminals 122 of the fifth cell group 102 5with the negative first cell terminals 120 of the fourth cell group 102 4 . The third cell connector 142 3 connects the positive second cell terminals 122 of the fourth cell group 102 4 with the negative first cell terminals 120 of the third cell group 102 3 . The second cell connector 142 2 connects the positive second cell terminals 122 of the third cell group 102 3 with the negative first cell terminals 120 of the second cell group 102 2 . The first cell connector 142 1 connects the positive second cell terminals 122 of the second cell group 102 2 with the negative first cell terminals of the first cell group 102 1 . The positive power terminal 144b is connected to the positive second cell terminals 122 of the first cell group 102 1 tied together.

[0172] In this embodiment of the cell contacting system 140, one of the current terminals 144, for example the negative current terminal 144a, comprises a crossing section 190, which preferably extends in the longitudinal direction 114 of the electrochemical device 100 at a greater distance from the contact plane 138 of the electrochemical device 100 over the cell connectors 142 extending obliquely to the longitudinal direction 114.

[0173] Alternatively, it could also be provided that the crossing section 190 of the power connection 144a extends at a shorter distance from the contact plane 138 under the cell connectors 142.

[0174] The greater distance of the crossing section 190 from the contact plane 138 is achieved, for example, in that the power connection 144a is provided with a bead or offset 184, preferably running substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction 114.

[0175] In order to ensure that the crossing section 190 of the power connection 144a extends at a smaller distance from the contact plane 138 than the intermediate regions 152 of the cell connectors 142, it could be provided that the distance of the intermediate regions 152 from the contact plane 138 is increased by beads or bends, preferably extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction 114 of the electrochemical device 100.

[0176] In this embodiment of the cell contacting system 140, all cell connectors 142 extend from the cell terminals 120, 122 of a cell group 102 to cell terminals 122, 120 of a further cell group immediately adjacent to this cell group 102.

[0177] Furthermore, the Fig. 22 and Fig. 23, the eighth embodiment of the cell contacting system 140 is similar in terms of structure, function and method of manufacture to that shown in the Fig. 16 to 19, to the above description of which reference is made in this respect.

[0178] One in the Fig. 24 and Fig. The ninth embodiment of the cell contacting system 140 shown in Figure 25 differs from that shown in the Fig. 22 and Fig. 23 in that the current connection 144a does not cross with the cell connectors 142 of the cell contacting system 140, but ends at an end face of the electrochemical device 100 opposite the end face of the electrochemical device 100 at which the other current connection 144b ends.

[0179] Since in this embodiment no cell connector 142 and no power connection 144 overlaps another element of the cell contacting system 140, it is possible to separate this cell contacting system 140 in the form of a current conductor assembly of cell connectors 142 and power connections 144 (with connecting elements connecting them) from a flat starting material 155, as shown in the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 in connection with the first embodiment of the cell contacting system 140.

[0180] For this purpose, however, current conductors for connecting the electrochemical device 100 to an external power source or to an external consumer must be brought to the electrochemical device 100 from two opposite sides.

[0181] Furthermore, the Fig. 24 and Fig. 25, the ninth embodiment of the cell contacting system 140 is similar in structure, function and method of manufacture to that shown in the Fig. 22 and Fig. 23, to the above description of which reference is made in this respect.

[0182] One in the Fig. 26 and Fig. The tenth embodiment of the cell contacting system 140 shown in Figure 27 differs from that shown in the Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 in that the cell connectors 142 not only have a plurality of elastically and / or plastically deformable compensation sections 180 in their contact regions 148, 150, which enable a relative movement between two sections 178 of the respective contact region 148, 150, which are provided for contacting different cell terminals 120, 122 of the same cell group 102, but additionally in the intermediate regions 152 of the cell connectors 142' a compensation section 180' is provided, which enables a relative movement between the first contact region 148 and the second contact region 150 of the respective cell connector 142'.

[0183] For this purpose, the compensation section 180' may in particular have one or more compensation waves 182' extending transversely, preferably substantially perpendicularly, to the longitudinal direction 114 of the electrochemical device 100.

[0184] Alternatively or additionally, each compensation section 180' may have a cross-section - taken along the longitudinal direction 114 - which includes at least one U-shape, S-shape, Ω-shape and / or meander shape.

[0185] By means of such a compensation section 180', it is possible to move the first contact region 148 and the second contact region 150 of the respective cell connector 142' relative to one another during operation of the electrochemical device 100 and / or for tolerance compensation during assembly of the cell contacting system 140.

[0186] In this embodiment of the cell contacting system 140, the intermediate regions 152 of the cell connectors 142' can be formed to be as wide as in the Fig. 1 to 6 shows the first embodiment of the cell contacting system 140.

[0187] The compensation sections 180, which each connect two sections 178 of a contact region 148, 150, which are provided for contacting different cell terminals 120, 122 of the same cell group 102, preferably extend from a lateral edge 192 of the respectively assigned contact region 148, 150, which preferably extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction 114, to a lateral edge 194 of the intermediate region 152, which preferably runs obliquely to the longitudinal direction 114.

[0188] Furthermore, the Fig. 26 and Fig. 27, the tenth embodiment of the cell contacting system 140 in terms of structure, function and method of manufacture with the Fig. 12 and Fig. 13, to the above description of which reference is made in this respect.

Claims

[1] Cell contacting system for an electrochemical device (100) comprising a plurality of cell groups (102), each comprising one or more electrochemical cells (104), wherein each electrochemical cell (104) has a first cell terminal (120) and a second cell terminal (122), wherein the electrochemical cells (104) follow one another along a longitudinal direction (114) of the electrochemical device (100), the first cell terminals (120) of the electrochemical cells (104) follow one another in a first cell terminal region (126) of the electrochemical device (100) along the longitudinal direction (114) and the second cell terminals (122) of the electrochemical cells (104) follow one another in a second cell terminal region (128) of the electrochemical device (100) along the longitudinal direction (114), wherein the cell contacting system (140) comprises at least one cell connector (142) for electrically conductively connecting cell terminals of a first cell group (102a) to cell terminals of a second cell group (102b) and wherein the cell connector (142) comprises a first contact area (148) for contacting the cell terminals of the first cell group (102a) and a second contact area (150) for contacting the cell terminals of the second cell group (102b) and wherein at least one cell connector (142) extends obliquely to the longitudinal direction (114) from cell terminals (120) of the first cell group (102a) in the first cell terminal region (126) to cell terminals (122) of the second cell group (102b) in the second cell terminal region (128), characterized by , that at least one cell connector (142) in the assembled state of the cell contacting system (140) crosses at least one degassing outlet (130) of an electrochemical cell (104) and is provided with a gas guide channel section (162) in the crossing area and / or that the cell contacting system (140) comprises a carrier element (168) on which a plurality of cell connectors (142) of the cell contacting system (140) are arranged, wherein the carrier element (168) crosses at least one degassing outlet (130) of an electrochemical cell (104) in the assembled state of the cell contacting system (140) and is provided with a gas guide channel (166) in the crossing region. [2] Cell contacting system according to claim 1, characterized bythat the cell connector (142) comprises an intermediate region (152) connecting the first contact region (148) and the second contact region (150) to one another, the longitudinal axis (153) of which is aligned obliquely to the longitudinal direction (114) of the electrochemical device (100). [3] Cell contacting system according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by that at least one cell connector (142) extends from cell terminals (120) of the first cell group (102a) to cell terminals (122) of a second cell group (102b) immediately adjacent to the first cell group (102a). [4] Cell contacting system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that at least one cell connector (142) extends from cell terminals (120) of the first cell group (102a) to cell terminals (122) of a second cell group (102b) not immediately adjacent to the first cell group (102a). [5] Cell contacting system according to claim 4, characterized bythat the at least one cell connector (142) extends over a cell group (102e) of the electrochemical device (100) arranged between the first cell group (102a) and the second cell group (102b). [6] Cell contacting system according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by in that the electrochemical cells (104) of the electrochemical device (100) are arranged between two end faces of the electrochemical device (100), which are aligned transversely to the longitudinal direction (114) of the electrochemical device (100) and spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction (114) of the electrochemical device (100), wherein the cell contacting system (140) has two current connections (144) of different polarity. [7] Cell contacting system according to claim 6, characterized by that the two power terminals (144a, 144b) end at the same end face of the electrochemical device (100). [8] Cell contacting system according to claim 6, characterized by that the two power terminals (144a, 144b) end at different end faces of the electrochemical device (100). [9] Cell contacting system according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the cell contacting system (140) comprises a plurality of cell connectors (142) which do not overlap. [10] Cell contacting system according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the cell contacting system (140) comprises at least two cell connectors (142) which cross each other. [11] Cell contacting system according to claim 10, characterized by that at least one electrically insulating insulation element (186) is arranged between at least two crossing cell connectors (142). [12] Cell contacting system according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized byin that at least one cell connector (142) has at least one recess (174) in at least one of its contact regions (148, 150), which separates two sections (178) of the contact region (148, 150) that are provided for contacting different cell terminals (120, 122) of the same cell group (102). [13] Cell contacting system according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by in that at least one cell connector (142) has at least one elastically and / or plastically deformable compensation section (180) in at least one of its contact regions (148, 150), which connects two sections (178) of the contact region (148, 150) that are provided for contacting different cell terminals (120, 122) of the same cell group (102). [14] Cell contacting system according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized bythat at least one cell connector (142) of the cell contacting system (140) has been separated from a flat starting material (155) which comprises a first material section (156) made of a first material for forming at least one contact region (148) of the cell connector (142) and at least one second material section (158) made of a second material for forming an intermediate region (152) of the cell connector (142) connecting the contact regions (148, 150) of the cell connector (142) to one another. [15] Cell contacting system according to claim 14, characterized by that several cell connectors (142) of the cell contacting system (140) have been jointly separated from the flat starting material. [16] Cell contacting system according to one of claims 14 or 15, characterized by that the first material contains aluminium as its main component and / or the second material contains copper as its main component. [17] Cell contacting system according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized by that the first material section (156) and the second material section (158) of the starting material (155) are materially connected to one another.

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