Battery mounting element intended for the propulsion of a vehicle and method for making a contact

Abstract

A battery mounting element (10) intended for the propulsion of a vehicle, comprising at least one base element (12) and at least one auxiliary element (14) movable relative to the base element (12), which in its final assembly position is brought into a predetermined position relative to the base element (12), wherein at least one cell module (20) is arranged in the base element (12), wherein the cell module (20) has at least one battery cell and at least one cell module high-voltage contact (24), wherein an auxiliary element high-voltage contact (40) is arranged on the auxiliary element (14) such that, during the assembly of the auxiliary element (14) to assume the predetermined position, a direct or indirect contact is established between the cell module high-voltage contact (24) and the auxiliary element high-voltage contact (40) in a first movement phase, and in a subsequent, second movement phase, a movable locking element (28) is driven directly or indirectly in such a manner.that the contact established is secured by the locking element (28) at the latest at the end of the second movement phase, wherein the locking element (28) is coupled to a pivotably mounted lever element (30), wherein the lever element (30) is arranged such that it is driven directly or indirectly by the movement of the additional element (14) in the second movement phase, wherein , a) the contact established is positively secured by the locking element (28) at the latest at the end of the second movement phase and / or b) the lever element (30) has a rotatably mounted roller (64) which is arranged such that in the second movement section it comes into direct contact with the additional element (14) and rolls along it.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a battery mounting element intended for the propulsion of a vehicle, comprising at least one base element and at least one additional element movable relative to the base element. The invention further relates to a method for producing a contact between a cell module high-voltage contact and an additional element high-voltage contact. Reference is also made to vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, equipped with such battery mounting elements.

[0002] From DE 10 2008 030 337 A1, a high-voltage connector for motor vehicles is known, wherein a cable has two plug contacts which, in a plug-in position, are mechanically connected and electrically contacted with a mating contact on the component side. It is provided that the mechanical connection can only be unlocked when both cable-side plug contacts are in a pre-locking position. For this purpose, locking elements are provided, which can only be unlocked together when both plug contacts are in the pre-locking position. The locking element can, in particular, be a Bowden cable. How the locking element is to be actuated is not described in detail in this document.

[0003] From DE 10 2013 012 452 A1, a method for contacting battery cells for the production of a high-voltage battery is known, wherein the electrodes of the battery cells are connected to at least one busbar. The busbar has recesses adapted to the size of the electrodes, wherein the electrodes and the recesses form an interference fit.

[0004] Battery receiving elements are known from DE 10 2013 216 271 A1 and DE 10 2017 217 900 A1, which can be considered to have the features of the preamble of claim 1. DE 10 2013 216 271 A1 relates to a storage device for a maritime object, and DE 10 2017 217 900 A1 relates to a battery unit for an electric or hybrid vehicle.

[0005] The invention is based on the objective of providing a battery mounting element intended for the propulsion of a vehicle and a method for producing a contact, which enable a particularly safe and easy-to-produce high-voltage contact.

[0006] The problem is solved according to the invention by the features of the independent claims. Further practical embodiments and advantages of the invention are described in connection with the dependent claims.

[0007] A battery mounting element according to the invention, intended for the propulsion of a vehicle, comprises at least one base element and at least one additional element movable relative to the base element, wherein the additional element is brought into a predetermined position relative to the base element in the final assembly position. The base element is, in particular, a housing, for example in the form of a box, with an opening for inserting cell modules, wherein the opening of the base element can be closed, in particular, with a cover. The additional element is, in particular, the cover for closing the housing. Alternatively, the base element is a battery module with a closed housing, and the additional element is a further battery module or a control unit, which can be moved relative to the first battery module and brought into a predetermined position.

[0008] The base element contains at least one cell module, wherein the cell module comprises at least one battery cell and at least one cell module high-voltage contact. The base module contains, in particular, two to ten cell modules, preferably six. The cell module high-voltage contact serves, in particular, to connect all battery cells, especially to achieve a total voltage in the range of 200 V to 600 V. The cell module high-voltage contact is preferably designed as the female part of a plug connector and accordingly has a contact opening.

[0009] The additional element is equipped with a high-voltage contact such that, during the assembly of the additional element to assume its intended position, a direct or indirect contact is established between the cell module high-voltage contact and the additional element high-voltage contact in a first movement phase. The additional element high-voltage contact is designed to correspond to the cell module high-voltage contact, specifically as the male part of a plug connector with a protruding contact section. The contact is established in the first movement phase simply by plugging the additional element in.

[0010] In a subsequent, second movement phase, a movable locking element is driven directly or indirectly such that the established contact is secured by the locking element no later than the end of the second movement phase. "Secured" in this context means that the auxiliary element high-voltage contact is fixed against the cell module high-voltage contact by means of the locking element, either by frictional and / or positive locking. The locking element is designed, in particular, as at least one movable bolt extending over at least a portion of the established contacts. The locking element may also have two movable bolts, each extending over a series of established contacts arranged one behind the other. The bolt element is preferably made of plastic, making it cost-effective and lightweight.Further details regarding the locking element will be discussed in the following description and in connection with the figures.

[0011] The first and second movement phases are preferably two sections of a continuous movement – ​​preferably one that can be executed in the same direction. In particular, the movement performed is a simple movement proceeding in only one direction. Such a movement is, in particular, closing the housing with the lid or, alternatively, connecting a battery module or a controller serving as an additional element to a battery module serving as a base element.

[0012] According to the invention, contact between the cell module high-voltage contact and the additional element high-voltage contact is established and secured with a single, particularly simple, movement. This results in a connection that is especially safe with regard to touch protection, since only the additional element and the base element need to be touched and moved, and the contact is already secured by the movement itself. The mounting of the additional element to the base element can be automated. Preferably, the established contact is positively locked, ensuring that it remains secure even in the event of shocks or vibrations. This eliminates the need for additional locking elements that would require further work steps, thus saving assembly time and costs.

[0013] In the battery receiving element according to the invention, the locking element is coupled to a pivotably mounted lever element, the lever element being arranged such that it is driven directly or indirectly by the movement of the auxiliary element in the second phase of movement. In particular, the auxiliary element (which, as described above, can be a cover or a battery module) comes into contact with the pivotably mounted lever element and pivots the lever element about a pivot axis. The coupling of the locking element to the lever element simultaneously actuates the locking element to secure the established contact. The lever element and the locking element are, in particular, rigidly connected to one another, so that a movement of the lever element directly results in a movement of the locking element.A lever element represents a structurally simple and error-free way to actuate the locking element during the second movement phase.

[0014] In a first embodiment of the invention, the contact established is positively secured by the locking element at the latest at the end of the second movement phase.

[0015] In a second embodiment of the invention, which can be implemented alternatively or in addition to the first embodiment, the lever element has a rotatably mounted roller arranged such that it comes into direct contact with the auxiliary element during the second phase of movement and rolls along it. This makes the lever element particularly easy to operate when actuated by the auxiliary element.

[0016] To secure the established contact, the locking element has at least one keyhole-shaped opening or interacts with a keyhole-shaped opening. If the locking element has a keyhole-shaped opening, the auxiliary high-voltage contact has a corresponding mushroom-head design. The auxiliary high-voltage contact, in particular, has a cylindrical section whose diameter is smaller than the diameter of any adjoining contact section. In the first movement phase, the auxiliary high-voltage contact, along with the contact section, is moved through the larger opening of the keyhole-shaped opening.In the second phase of movement, during which the locking element is driven, the locking element moves in such a way that the smaller opening of the keyhole-shaped opening interacts with the cylindrical section, preventing the larger-diameter contact section from being pulled out. To further prevent unintentional release of the contact, the smaller opening may have protrusions or indentations that cause the cylindrical section to wedge itself in place.

[0017] In another practical embodiment of a battery receiving element according to the invention, at least two auxiliary element high-voltage contacts are provided, and two auxiliary element high-voltage contacts are connected to each other via a contact bridge. If only two auxiliary element high-voltage contacts are provided, they are connected to each other via a contact bridge. If several auxiliary element high-voltage contacts are provided, two are connected to each other via a contact bridge. A contact bridge is, in particular, a plate-shaped conductor element, especially made of copper. A common contact bridge has the advantage that two auxiliary element high-voltage contacts can be supported together by means of a single bearing point, thereby reducing the number of required bearing points.

[0018] A contact bridge is particularly advantageous when it is slidably and / or rotatably mounted on the additional element. In this case, the contact bridge compensates for tolerances to offset potential manufacturing deviations in the base element and the corresponding additional element. The slidable and / or rotatable mounting of the additional element's high-voltage contacts allows for the compensation of deviations of at least 1 mm, and preferably at least 1.5 mm. Furthermore, in the event of damage to the additional element or the base element, the contact bridge enables the additional element to be detached from its intended position on the base element, even if the damage causes it to shift. As an additional compensation measure, the additional element's high-voltage contacts can also be attached to the additional element via spring elements.This makes it possible, in the event of a crash, to detach the additional element from the base element and to carry out any necessary repairs.

[0019] To facilitate easy release of the established contact, a reset element is provided which releases the locking element when the additional element is moved away from its intended position. It is preferred that, as with the establishment of the contact, the release of the locking element and the release of the contact are achieved with a single movement, the release movement being oriented opposite to the movement used to establish the connection. Releasing the connection by moving the additional element has the advantage that the release is particularly simple and, furthermore, the contacts do not need to be touched.

[0020] The reset element is preferably arranged on the auxiliary element and, in particular, such that it interacts with the lever element and pivots the lever element back to its initial position either by pulling or pushing, so that the locking element is moved into a position in which the established contact can be released. The reset element is, in particular, designed in the form of a pincer-shaped element which engages with a corresponding element of the lever element when the contact is established. The point of engagement for the reset element is, in particular, a pivot axis projecting from the roller, under which the pincer-shaped reset element engages in the desired position.

[0021] Alternatively, the return element can also be a return spring that interacts with the lever element, which is tensioned in an end assembly position and springs back to its rest position when the connection is released, in which the locking element allows the contact to be released.

[0022] The locking element is at least partially made of an electrically insulating material or provided with an electrically insulating coating. The insulating material or coating is arranged at least in the area surrounding the contact, thus preventing short circuits between the individual contacts. The locking element can be manufactured cost-effectively from plastic.

[0023] The invention also relates to a method for producing a contact between a cell module high-voltage contact and an additional element high-voltage contact, wherein the cell module high-voltage contact is provided for a cell module with at least one battery cell and the cell module is arranged in a base element of a battery receiving element intended for the propulsion of a vehicle, wherein the additional element high-voltage contact is arranged on an additional element movable relative to the base element, wherein the method comprises the following process steps: a) Mounting the additional element in a target position relative to the base element, wherein in a first movement section a direct or indirect contact is established between the cell module high-voltage contact and the additional module high-voltage contact and b) in a later, second movement phase, a movable locking element is driven indirectly or directly in such a way that the contact established is secured by the locking element at the latest at the end of the second movement phase, wherein the locking element is coupled to a pivotably mounted lever element and wherein the lever element is arranged in such a way that it is driven indirectly or directly by the movement of the additional element in the second movement phase in such a way that the contact established is positively secured by the locking element at the latest at the end of the second movement phase.

[0024] For benefits associated with the procedure, please refer to the description above.

[0025] Further practical embodiments of the invention are described below in connection with the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a battery receiving element according to the invention with a base element and a transparently shown additional element in a perspective view from an oblique angle above, Fig. 2 several cell modules and a locking element in a perspective view from a slanted top view, Fig. 3 the locking element from Fig. 2 in a perspective view from a slightly elevated angle, Fig. 4 an additional element high-voltage contact in a perspective view, Fig. 5 the additional element from Fig. 1 in a perspective view from a low angle, Fig. 6 the battery holder Fig. 1 in a first relative position of the base element and the additional element before executing the first movement section, Fig. 7 the battery holder Fig. 1 in a second relative position of the base element and the additional element after execution of the first movement section and Fig. 8 the battery holder element from Fig. 1 in a final assembly position of the base element and the additional element after execution of the second movement phase.

[0026] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a battery mounting element 10 with a base element 12 and an additional element 14. The base element 12 is a housing 16 with a rectangular base, which has an upward-facing opening 18 for inserting and arranging several cell modules 20 (six cell modules in this case). Each cell module 20 has several low-voltage contacts 22, with two low-voltage contacts 22 being assigned to each battery cell (not shown). In addition, each cell module 20 has two high-voltage contacts 24 (see Figure 1). Fig. 2), each consisting of a positive terminal and a negative terminal. The cell module high-voltage contacts 24 are designed in the form of a conical contact opening 26.

[0027] The base element 12 also incorporates a movable locking element 28 and a lever element 30 coupled to it. The function of the lever element 30 and the locking element 28 will be discussed in detail below.

[0028] The additional element 14 is a cover 32 provided for the housing 16, which closes the opening 18 in its intended position in a final assembly position. Additional low-voltage contacts 34 are arranged in the additional element 14 and are connected to a battery cell controller 38 via conductor tracks 36. Furthermore, additional high-voltage contacts 40 are arranged on the additional element 14, with each pair of additional high-voltage contacts 40, which contact adjacent cell modules 20, being connected to each other by means of a contact bridge 42. The additional high-voltage contacts 40 are connected to a controller 46 on one side of the cover 32 via conductor tracks 44. The controller 46 has connections 48 to the vehicle's motor. A reset element 50 is also arranged on the additional element 14.The additional low-voltage contact elements 34, the additional high-voltage contact elements 40 and the reset element 50 are arranged on the underside of the cover 32.

[0029] As in Fig. 2 and Fig. As can be clearly seen in Figure 3, the locking element 28 has two sliding latches 52, each extending in the area of ​​the cell module high-voltage contacts 24. The latches 52 each have a keyhole-shaped opening 54 for each cell module high-voltage contact 24, the keyhole-shaped opening 54 having a large opening 56 and a small opening 58. The diameter of the large opening 56 corresponds to the diameter of the contact openings 26 and the largest diameter of a contact section 60 of the auxiliary element high-voltage contact 40 (see Figure 3). Fig. 4) The diameter of the smaller opening 58 is smaller than the largest diameter of the contact section 60 of the auxiliary element high-voltage contact 40 and ensures a positive locking of the formed contact. Further details will be provided in connection with the Fig. 6 to Fig. 8 described.

[0030] The locking element 28 is rigidly coupled to the lever element 30 via a tab 62 and can be displaced by means of the lever element 30. The lever element 30 has a pivot axis S, and when pivoted about the pivot axis S, the locking element 28 moves along the double arrow V into a closed or an open position.

[0031] The lever element 30 is additionally equipped with a rotatably mounted roller 64, which – as will be explained in more detail below – facilitates the rolling of the additional element 14 along the lever element 30. The pivot axis 66 of the roller 64 projects laterally from the roller 64 and thus provides a point of application for the return element 50.

[0032] In the Fig. 4 and Fig. Figure 5 shows the auxiliary element high-voltage contact 40 and its connection to the auxiliary element 14 in detail. An auxiliary element high-voltage contact 40 has a conical contact section 60, which corresponds to the conical contact opening 26 of the cell module high-voltage contact 24. Above the contact section 60, a cylindrical section 68 is formed, the diameter of which corresponds to the diameter of the small opening 58. The auxiliary element high-voltage contact 40 also has a spring element 70 in the form of two bendable metal tabs, which allow for tolerance compensation during the manufacturing of the contact. The auxiliary element low-voltage contacts 34 also have spring elements 72.

[0033] Two auxiliary element high-voltage contacts 40 are connected to each other via a contact bridge 42 in the form of a flat conductor element. The contact bridge 42 is attached to the auxiliary element 14 by means of a tab 74, the contact bridge 42 being guided by a gap between the tab 74 and the auxiliary element 14. The contact bridge 42 is arranged to be displaceable relative to the tab 74 and the auxiliary element 14 both in the directions of arrows K1 and K2, and also rotatable along arrow K3, thus allowing for further tolerance compensation.

[0034] Based on the Fig. 6 to Fig. Section 8 below explains how the additional element 14 is mounted on the base element 12 in the desired position.

[0035] In Fig. Figure 6 shows the base element 12 and the auxiliary element 14 in an initial position before the first movement phase. The outline of the auxiliary element 14 is not shown; only the parts arranged on the auxiliary element 14 are depicted, namely the conductor tracks 44, the control unit 46, the reset element 50, the auxiliary element high-voltage contacts 40, the auxiliary element low-voltage contacts 34, and the conductor tracks 36. It is clearly visible that the contact between the cell module high-voltage contact 24 and the auxiliary element high-voltage contact 40 has not yet been established. The locking element 28 is in the open position, in which the large opening 56 is located above the contact opening 26.

[0036] Fig. Figure 7 shows the base element 12 and the auxiliary element 14 after the first movement phase, whereby the auxiliary element 14 was moved relative to the base element 12 along arrow B. The contact section 60 was guided through the large opening 56 in the locking element 28 into the contact opening 26, thus establishing contact between the cell module high-voltage contact 24 and the auxiliary module high-voltage contact 40. The auxiliary element 14 was moved relative to the base element 12 to such an extent that the spring elements 70 were already partially compressed. In this Fig. In the position shown in Figure 7, the auxiliary element 14 touches the lever element 30, which is actuated by the auxiliary element 14 during the second movement phase and is accordingly pivoted about the pivot axis S. The auxiliary element 14 rests against the roller 64 on the lever element 30 and rolls over it.

[0037] By comparing the Fig. 7 and Fig. Figure 8 shows that pivoting the lever element 30 moves the locking element 28 with the two bolts 52 along arrow V into a closed position. The relative position of the base element 12 and the additional element 14 after the second movement phase in a final assembly position is shown in Fig. Figure 8 shows that the locking element 28 is arranged such that the small opening 58 surrounds the cylindrical section 68 and prevents the established contact from being released. Both the establishment and securing of the contact are thus achieved by a single movement in only one direction B.

[0038] In Fig. Figure 8 shows the return element 50, which is pincer-like with two arms 76 (only one arm 76 is in Fig.( 8 recognizable) is designed, with each leg 76 engaging under one side of the pivot axis 66 projecting opposite the roller 64. When the additional element 14 is moved away in a movement opposite to the direction of movement B, the legs 76 of the return element 50 pivot the lever element 30 into its starting position, thus causing the locking element 28 to be moved into an open position in which the established contact can be released.

[0039] As an alternative to the embodiment shown in the figures, the base element can also be a closed battery module, which in particular includes a housing and a cover, and the additional element can be another battery module or a control unit. Reference symbol list 10 Battery mounting element 12 Basic element 14 Additional element 16 cases 18 Opening 20-cell module 22-cell module low-voltage contact 24-cell module high-voltage contact 26 Contact Opening 28 Locking element 30 Lever element 32 lids 34 Additional element low-voltage contact 36 conductor track 38 battery cell control 40 Additional element high-voltage contact 42 Contact bridge 44 conductor track 46 Control 48 connection 50 Reset element 52 bars 54 keyhole-shaped openings 56 large opening 58 small opening 60 Contact section 62 tab 64 rolls 66 Rotation axis 68 cylindrical section 70 spring element 72 Spring element 74 tab 76 thighs

Claims

[1] A battery receiving element (10) intended for driving a vehicle, comprising at least one base element (12) and at least one additional element (14) which is movable relative to the base element (12) and which, in the final assembly position, is brought into a desired position relative to the base element (12), wherein at least one cell module (20) is arranged in the base element (12), wherein the cell module (20) has at least one battery cell and at least one cell module high-voltage contact (24), wherein an additional element high-voltage contact (40) is arranged on the additional element (14) in such a way that, during assembly of the additional element (14), in order to assume the desired position, a direct or indirect contact is established between the cell module high-voltage contact (24) and the additional element high-voltage contact (40) in a first movement section, and in a later, second movement section, a movable locking element (28) is driven directly or indirectly in such a way thatthat the contact established is secured by the locking element (28) at the latest at the end of the second movement section, wherein the locking element (28) is coupled to a pivotably mounted lever element (30), wherein the lever element (30) is arranged such that it is driven directly or indirectly by the movement of the additional element (14) in the second movement section, wherein, a) the contact established is positively secured by the locking element (28) at the latest at the end of the second movement section and / or b) the lever element (30) has a rotatably mounted roller (64) which is arranged such that it comes into direct contact with the additional element (14) in the second movement section and rolls on it. [2] Battery receiving element according to the preceding claim, characterized bythat the locking element (28) has at least one keyhole-shaped opening (54) or cooperates with a keyhole-shaped opening. [3] Battery receiving element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least two additional element high-voltage contacts (40) are provided and two additional element high-voltage contacts (40) are connected to one another via a contact bridge (42). [4] Battery receiving element according to the preceding claim, characterized by that the contact bridge (42) is arranged displaceably and / or rotatably on the additional element (14). [5] Battery receiving element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a return element (50) is provided which causes the locking element (28) to be released when the additional element (14) moves away from the desired position. [6] Battery receiving element according to the preceding claim, characterized bythat the return element (50) is arranged on the additional element (14). [7] Battery receiving element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the locking element (28) is at least partially formed from an electrically insulating material or provided with an electrically insulating coating. [8] Method for establishing a contact between a cell module high-voltage contact (24) and an additional element high-voltage contact (40), wherein the cell module high-voltage contact (24) is provided for a cell module (20) with at least one battery cell and the cell module (20) is arranged in a base element (12) of a battery receiving element (10) provided for driving a vehicle, wherein the additional element high-voltage contact (40) is arranged on an additional element (14) that is movable relative to the base element (12), the method comprising the following method steps: a) mounting the additional element (14) to assume a desired position relative to the base element (12), wherein in a first movement section a direct or indirect contact is established between the cell module high-voltage contact (24) and the additional element high-voltage contact (40) and b) in a later, second movement section, a movable locking element (28) is driven directly or indirectly in such a way that the contact established is secured by the locking element (28) at the latest at the end of the second movement section, wherein the locking element (28) is coupled to a pivotably mounted lever element (30) and wherein the lever element (30) is arranged in such a way that it is driven directly or indirectly by the movement of the additional element (14) in the second movement section in such a way that the contact established is positively secured by the locking element (28) at the latest at the end of the second movement section.

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