Battery module for a motor vehicle

Abstract

Battery module (100) for a motor vehicle, comprising several battery cells (102), a housing (101), a cover (107), a coolant connection (106), and a cooling plate (103), wherein the housing (101) surrounds the battery cells (102), wherein the housing (101) has an opening, wherein the cover (107) at least partially covers the opening, wherein the cover (107) is connected to the housing (101) in a liquid-tight manner, wherein the cooling plate (103) has a base body (104) and a projection (105), wherein the base body (104) is attached to the housing (101) in a liquid-tight manner, wherein a first cooling channel (200) is arranged between the base body (104) and the housing (101), wherein the projection (105) extends beyond the housing (101), and wherein the coolant connection (106) is located on the projection (105). is arranged on the lid (107), characterized in that the lid (107) is connected to the protrusion (105) in a liquid-tight manner,wherein a second cooling channel is arranged between the protrusion (105) and the cover (107), wherein the second cooling channel is connected to the first cooling channel (200) in a liquid-tight manner, so that a flow of coolant from the second cooling channel into the first cooling channel (200) is possible, and wherein the coolant can be filled into the second cooling channel via the coolant connection (106).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery module for a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] It is known from the prior art that a battery module for a motor vehicle is cooled to prevent excessive heating during operation. From CN 108 039 434 A, a battery module is known in which a cooling plate attached to a housing of the battery module projects beyond the housing and has a coolant connection through which coolant can be filled into a cooling channel.

[0003] In contrast, the present invention aims to reduce the installation space required for installing the battery module in a motor vehicle.

[0004] This problem is solved by a battery module according to claim 1 and by a motor vehicle according to claim 9. Embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0005] The battery module comprises several battery cells, a housing, a cover, a coolant connection, and a cooling plate. The housing surrounds the battery cells. For the purposes of this description, this means, in particular, that the battery cells may be arranged, for example, in a block, and that the housing surrounds this block on at least four sides. The housing has an opening. This could mean, for example, that an entire side of the block is exposed through the opening when the opening is not covered.

[0006] The cover at least partially covers the opening. The cover is liquid-tight and connected to the housing. This connection can be, for example, a bonded joint. In particular, it is possible that the cover is connected to the housing by means of a welded seal. The weld may be post-processed, for example, ground. In this description, a liquid-tight connection is understood to mean, in particular, a connection between the two components mentioned, such that a liquid can flow from one component to the other without leaking from the battery module at the connection point. The cooling plate has a base and an overhang. The base is attached to the housing in a liquid-tight manner. The attachment of the base to the housing can, for example, be a bonded joint.It is possible, in particular, that the base body is attached to the housing by an adhesive bond or a weld. The weld could, for example, be a friction stir weld or a laser weld. A first cooling channel is arranged between the base body and the housing. The first cooling channel may, in particular, be bounded by the base body and the housing.

[0007] The protrusion extends beyond the housing. The coolant connection is located on the protrusion or on the cover. The cover is connected to the protrusion in a liquid-tight manner, creating a second cooling channel between the protrusion and the cover. This second cooling channel may be limited, in particular, by the protrusion and the cover. The connection between the cover and the protrusion may be, for example, a metallurgical bond. It may be, in particular, a welded joint, such as a friction stir weld or a laser weld. The second cooling channel is connected, in particular directly, to the first cooling channel in a liquid-tight manner, allowing coolant to flow from the second cooling channel into the first. For the purposes of this description, this means, in particular, that the first and second cooling channels are arranged in such a way as to allow such flow.Therefore, it is not an optional feature. The coolant can be filled into the second cooling channel via the coolant connection.

[0008] The arrangement of the coolant connection on the overhang or on the cover, which together with the overhang limits the second cooling channel, is advantageous for a particularly small required installation space of the battery module.

[0009] The arrangement of the cooling plate directly on the housing is advantageous for particularly efficient cooling of the battery cells, since the first cooling channel can be directly limited by the housing.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, a first geometric angle between the projection and the base body can be less than 180°. For the purposes of this description, a geometric angle is understood to be, in particular, an angle that is not present as a component. It is therefore merely a definition of the arrangement of the two aforementioned components relative to each other.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first geometric angle can be arranged between a side of the base body facing the housing and a side of the projection facing the cover. This can mean that the projection is inclined towards the cover, extending from the base body. This arrangement is particularly advantageous for a very small battery module, since it allows the coolant connection to not protrude outwards from the battery module beyond a geometric plane defined by the base body.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cover can have an inclined section. For the purposes of this description, the inclined section is understood to be, in particular, a section in which the cover is neither parallel to the opening of the housing nor parallel to the cooling plate. The second cooling channel can be arranged between the inclined section and the overhang.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the sloping area can project away from the housing at a second geometric angle, which may be less than 180°. For the purposes of this description, the second geometric angle is understood to be, in particular, the angle between the side of the housing facing the battery cells and the side of the cover facing the battery cells.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the overhang can have a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the base body. For example, the cross-sectional area of ​​the overhang can be less than half the size. In particular, it is possible for the base body to have a constant cross-sectional area.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the base body can cover more than 90° of a surface on one side of the housing.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the battery module can include a further cooling plate and a further coolant connection. The further cooling plate can be arranged on the housing. For example, the further cooling plate can be arranged on a different side of the housing if the housing has multiple sides. In particular, it is possible for the further cooling plate to be arranged on a side of the housing opposite the side on which the cooling plate is arranged.

[0017] The additional cooling plate has another base and another projection. The additional base can be attached to the housing in a liquid-tight manner. A third cooling channel can be arranged between the additional base and the housing. The additional projection extends beyond the housing. The additional coolant connection is located on the additional projection or on the cover. The cover is connected to the additional projection in a liquid-tight manner. A fourth cooling channel is arranged between the projection and the cover. The fourth cooling channel is connected to the third cooling channel in a liquid-tight manner, allowing coolant to flow from the fourth channel into the third. Coolant can be added to the fourth channel via the coolant connection.

[0018] All, individual, or several of the features described above regarding the cooling plate may be present in the additional cooling plate. The same applies analogously to the additional coolant connection.

[0019] The motor vehicle according to claim 9 comprises a battery module according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, the motor vehicle can comprise several battery modules. The battery modules can be arranged one behind the other in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle. This longitudinal direction extends, in particular, horizontally from front to rear of the motor vehicle. The battery modules can also extend, in particular, in a transverse direction.

[0021] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Fig. 1 a schematic perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 a schematic sectional view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 3 a schematic sectional view of a section of the battery module Fig. 1.

[0022] The battery module 100 comprises a housing 101 that surrounds several battery cells 102. A cooling plate 103 with a base 104 and a projection 105 is arranged on the housing 101. A coolant connection 106 is attached to the projection 105. A cover 107 partially conceals an opening in the housing 101. A first cooling channel 200 is arranged between the housing 101 and the base 104. Therefore, the base 104 is attached to the housing 101 in a liquid-tight manner. Furthermore, the projection 105 is connected to the cover 107 in a liquid-tight manner, so that a second cooling channel is arranged between the projection 105 and the cover 107. Coolant can be filled into the second cooling channel via the coolant connection 106. From there, the coolant can flow into the first cooling channel 200 and cool the battery cells 102. This cooling is particularly efficient because the coolant in the first cooling channel comes into direct contact with the housing 101.

[0023] The projection 105 extends from the base body 104 at an angle of less than 180° towards the cover 106. The coolant connection 106 is thus offset relative to the geometric plane in which the base body 104 is arranged, in the direction of the cover 106. This results in a particularly small amount of installation space being required for the battery module 100 in a motor vehicle. In particular, the coolant connection 106 does not protrude from the base body 104 in a direction perpendicular to the housing 101.

[0024] In Fig. Figure 2 shows another cooling plate 201, which is arranged on a side of the housing 101 opposite the side on which the cooling plate 103 is arranged. The operating principle, arrangement, and construction of the additional cooling plate 201 are identical to the operating principle of the cooling plate 103. The additional cooling plate 201 has an additional coolant connection 108, which also has the same operating principle, arrangement, and construction as the coolant connection 106.

[0025] In Fig. Figure 3 shows a first liquid-tight joint 300 between the base body 104 and the housing 101, which delimits the first cooling channel 200. A second liquid-tight joint 301 between the cover 107 and the housing 101 is also shown, so that the coolant cannot escape from either the first cooling channel 200 or the second cooling channel. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] CN 108039434 A

[0002]

Claims

[1] Battery module (100) for a motor vehicle, comprising several battery cells (102), a housing (101), a cover (107), a coolant connection (106) and a cooling plate (103), wherein the housing (101) surrounds the battery cells (102), wherein the housing (101) has an opening, wherein the cover (107) at least partially covers the opening, wherein the cover (107) is connected to the housing (101) in a liquid-tight manner, wherein the cooling plate (103) has a base body (104) and a projection (105), wherein the base body (104) is attached to the housing (101) in a liquid-tight manner, wherein a first cooling channel (200) is arranged between the base body (104) and the housing (101), wherein the projection (105) extends beyond the housing (101), and wherein the coolant connection (106) is located on the projection (105) or is located on the lid (107), characterized by, that the lid (107) is connected to the superstructure (105) in a liquid-tight manner, wherein a second cooling channel is arranged between the superstructure (105) and the lid (107), wherein the second cooling channel is connected to the first cooling channel (200) in a liquid-tight manner, so that a flow of a cooling liquid from the second cooling channel into the first cooling channel (200) is possible, and wherein the cooling liquid can be filled into the second cooling channel via the cooling liquid connection (106). [2] Battery module (100) according to claim 1, characterized by , that a first geometric angle between the overhang (105) and the base body (104) is less than 180°. [3] Battery module (100) according to the previous claim, characterized by , that the first geometric angle is arranged between a side of the base body (104) facing the housing (101) and a side of the projection (105) facing the cover (107). [4] Battery module (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the lid (107) has an inclined area, wherein the second cooling channel is arranged between the inclined area and the overhang (105). [5] Battery module (100) according to the previous claim, characterized by , that the sloping area extends away from the housing (101) at a second geometric angle, the second geometric angle being less than 180°. [6] Battery module (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the overhang (105) has a cross-sectional area that is smaller than a cross-sectional area of ​​the base body (104). [7] Battery module (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the base body (104) covers more than 90% of the surface of one side of the housing (101). [8] Battery module (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, the battery module (100) comprises a further cooling plate (201) and a further coolant connection (108), wherein the further cooling plate (201) is arranged on the housing (101), wherein the further cooling plate (201) has a further base body and a further projection, wherein the further base body is attached to the housing (101) in a liquid-tight manner, wherein a third cooling channel is arranged between the further base body and the housing (101), wherein the further projection extends beyond the housing (101), wherein the further coolant connection (108) is arranged on the further projection or on the cover (107), wherein the cover (107) is connected to the further projection in a liquid-tight manner, wherein a fourth cooling channel is arranged between the further projection and the cover (107), wherein the fourth cooling channel is connected to the third cooling channel in a liquid-tight manner, so that a flow of coolant from the fourth channel to the third channel is possible,and wherein the coolant can be filled into the fourth channel via the further coolant connection (108). [9] Motor vehicle comprising a battery module (100) according to any of the preceding claims. [10] Motor vehicle according to the previous claim, characterized by , that the motor vehicle comprises several battery modules (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the battery modules (100) are arranged one behind the other in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle.

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