Battery system

Abstract

Battery system (8) with several batteries (14), and with a carrier (26) which rests against the batteries (14) and has several conductor tracks (44) which are electrically contacted with the batteries (14), wherein the carrier (26) is arranged between the batteries (14) and a thermocouple (36) which is thermally contacted with the batteries (14) by means of the carrier (26), wherein the carrier (26) has a body (28) made of a plastic which rests against the batteries (14) and by means of which the conductor tracks (44) are held, wherein a form-fit is partially created between the batteries (14) and the body (28), wherein the batteries (14) are partially inserted into corresponding recesses of the body (28), and wherein the carrier (26) is designed as a component.

Description

The invention relates to a battery system having a plurality of batteries. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle having a battery system.Motor vehicles are increasingly driven at least partially by means of an electric motor, so that they are designed as an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle. For energizing the electric motor, a high-voltage battery is usually used, which comprises a plurality of individual battery modules. The battery modules are usually structurally identical to one another and are electrically connected in series and / or in parallel with one another, such that the electrical voltage present at the high-voltage battery corresponds to a multiple of the electrical voltage provided by means of each of the battery modules. Each battery module in turn comprises a plurality of batteries, which are usually arranged in a common module housing and which are connected to one another electrically in series and / or in parallel.Each of the batteries in turn usually comprises a plurality of battery cells, which are also referred to as galvanic element. These have in each case two electrodes, namely an anode and a cathode, and also a separator arranged therebetween and also an electrolyte with freely movable charge carriers. The batteries are connected to the respective battery module or the high-voltage battery, for example, by means of busbars which are fastened on the outside to terminals of each battery after they are positioned accordingly. For this purpose, the batteries are, for example, initially arranged in a trough-shaped housing or housing part of the battery module or of the high-voltage battery.During operation of the high-voltage battery or of the battery module, electrical energy is taken from the individual batteries or fed into them during charging. Due to the electrical losses that arise in this way, the batteries are heated. However, at the elevated temperature, performance of the batteries is reduced. Also, if the heating is excessive, premature aging of the materials of the anodes and the cathodes occurs. Therefore, it is usually provided that the batteries are warmed off via the housing of the battery module or of the high-voltage battery and / or are charged with ambient air. Furthermore, a heating element is usually present, by means of which the batteries are heated at comparatively low ambient temperatures, so that a range of the motor vehicle is increased.DE 10 2012 213 273 A1 discloses an energy storage device which has a supporting structure by means of which a plurality of energy cells are held. At the ends of the energy cells arranged parallel to one another and configured as round cells, a printed circuit board is arranged in each case, which has an electrically conductive layer facing the energy cells, whereas a thermally conductive layer is present on the opposite side.The object of the invention is to specify a particularly suitable battery system and a particularly suitable motor vehicle, wherein assembly is advantageously simplified and / or performance is increased.With regard to the battery system, this object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1 and with regard to the motor vehicle by the features of claim 9. Advantageous refinements and refinements are the subject matter of the respective dependent claims.The battery system includes a number of batteries. In particular, the number of batteries is between 10 batteries and 500 batteries, between 50 batteries and 300 batteries or between 84 batteries and 208 batteries. Expediently, all batteries are identical in construction to one another, which simplifies production. Each battery preferably has at least one battery cell, which suitably comprises an anode and a cathode, which in particular form the electrodes of the battery. Expediently, a separator is arranged between the anode and the cathode. The electrodes preferably comprise a metallic conductor, which is also referred to as a carrier. This is made of a metal and provided with an active material. The active material preferably serves for absorbing working ions, such as lithium ions, and is suitable and provided and configured for this purpose. As the active material, for the cathode, for example, a lithium metal oxide such as lithium cobalt (III) oxide (LiCoO2), NMC, for example, NMC622or NMC811, NCA or LFP, and for the anode, GIC, LTO or graphite, Si-based, is used. In particular, the active material is a constituent of a respective layer which is applied to the respective conductor. The layer expediently comprises a conductive additive, such as conductive carbon black, and, for example, a binder. For example, aluminum is used as the metal of the conductor of the cathode and copper is used as the metal of the conductor of the anode. In particular, the arresters are of foil-shaped configuration and expediently have a thickness of less than 0.1 mm. In particular, the battery cell is formed by means of the anode, the cathode and the separator. For example, a plurality of such battery cells are stacked one on top of the other to form a stack, wherein a separator is arranged in each case between the individual battery cells. Alternatively, for example, the separators or at least a part of the potential arresters are produced by means of a continuous strip which is thus assigned to different battery cells. Expediently, the strip and thus also the battery cells are wound to an angle, so that the battery has a wound configuration.Each battery preferably comprises a housing, which is also referred to in particular as a battery housing or cell housing. The battery cell is surrounded by the housing, which is thus arranged within the housing. Expediently, the housing is closed in a fluid-tight manner and is filled with an electrolyte in particular in the assembled state. Two connections are introduced into the housing, which are electrically conductive and are electrically contacted with the battery cell arranged therein. Thus, when the respective battery is charged, a specific electrical voltage is present at the respective terminals, and it is possible in particular to feed electrical energy into the respective battery via the terminals. For this purpose, in particular all batteries are designed to be rechargeable, and they are thus so-called secondary batteries.The batteries are suitably arranged in a certain manner. Particularly preferably, the batteries are arranged in rows, for example in two rows. The housing of the batteries is in particular cuboidal or at least cylindrical, wherein the base area of the cylinder has, for example, oval corners or corners which are rounded in comparison with a rectangle. The arrangement of the batteries to form the battery system is thus simplified. For example, the batteries are fastened to one another, in particular by means of a corresponding fastening element.The battery system includes a carrier configured as a component. The carrier has a plurality of conductor tracks which are electrically contacted with the batteries. In this case, the conductor tracks are electrically contacted, for example, electrically with at least one of the connections of the respective batteries. In this case, each conductor track bears, for example, only mechanically against the respectively assigned terminal or is in particular also mechanically fastened there. For example, the conductor tracks for this are soldered or particularly preferably welded to the respective connection. Expediently, the conductor tracks are electrically contacted with all terminals of the batteries, and the carrier thus serves as an interconnection module of the battery system. For example, the batteries or at least a part thereof are electrically connected in series and / or electrically in parallel by means of the conductor tracks. Alternatively, the batteries are connected to a component which is separate from the carrier and which, for this purpose, is in particular electrically contacted with the conductor tracks. It is thus possible to change the connection of the batteries in the battery system by replacing this component, so that an area of use of the battery system is enlarged. Thus, only an exchange of the component is necessary for adaptation to the respective field of application, whereas the remaining components of the battery system can be used unchanged.The carrier abuts the batteries, in particular therefore each of the batteries. In this case, the carrier preferably bears flat against the latter, with the result that a flat section of the carrier is in mechanical contact with a flat section of each battery. Particularly preferably, a direct mechanical contact of the carrier with the respective battery takes place. Particularly preferably, the carrier is fastened to the batteries, so that on the one hand the carrier is stabilized by means of the batteries. On the other hand, the position of the batteries with respect to one another is predefined by means of the carrier, which increases robustness. Consequently, there are thus two different contact points between each of the batteries and the carrier, namely on the one hand the electrical contact with at least one of the conductor tracks and on the other hand the mechanical contact on account of the flat contact. In particular, the two contact points are spaced apart from one another.The support is disposed between the batteries and a thermocouple, the support conveniently being mechanically directly adjacent the thermocouple. As a result, the battery system has a stack or sandwich arrangement. In addition, the thermocouple is thermally contacted with the batteries by means of the carrier. For this purpose, the carrier is in particular in thermal contact with both the thermocouple and the batteries. For this purpose, the carrier has, in particular, a thermal conductivity of at least 5 W / (m·K), 10 W / (m·K), 15 W / (m·K) or 20 W / (m·K).By means of the thermocouple, it is possible in particular to heat the batteries. Consequently, during operation, thermal energy is provided in particular by means of the thermocouple and for this purpose is heated, for example. The thermal energy is transferred to the batteries via the carrier and the batteries are thus heated. This occurs in particular at comparatively low ambient temperatures, so that a load on the batteries during operation is reduced.Alternatively or in combination, it is possible to cool the thermocouple in an operating mode, so that heat is extracted from the thermocouple via the carrier of the batteries. Due to the thermal contacting of the carrier both with the batteries and with the thermocouple, an improved heat transfer takes place, so that operational reliability is increased.The thermocouple itself is preferably configured planar and in particular mechanically planarly connected to the carrier. In this way, a heat transfer is improved. The thermocouple is, for example, actively designed. For this purpose, the thermocouple comprises, for example, a plurality of Peltier elements and / or lines through which a fluid, which in particular has a specific temperature, flows during operation. Alternatively, the thermocouple is, for example, configured only passively and in particular is thermally contacted with further components which expediently have a predetermined temperature during operation of the battery system.Thus, by means of the carrier, on the one hand, an electrical contacting of the batteries and, on the other hand, a thermal contacting with the thermocouple takes place. Since the carrier is present as a component, mounting in one working step is possible, and therefore mounting is simplified. Due to the adjustment of the temperatures of the batteries by means of the thermocouple, a performance of the battery system is increased. In summary, two functions are thus taken over by means of the carrier, and automated production of the battery system is also possible. To produce the battery system, the batteries are suitably first arranged and the carrier is subsequently fastened to these. Subsequently, the thermocouple is in particular fastened thereto, or it is for example already fastened to the carrier when it is fastened to the batteries. Comparatively few manual operations are required, which is why production is simplified.The batteries are arranged in particular in a housing of the battery system. In this way, the batteries are at least partially protected from external influences. By means of the housing, for example, the thermocouple is formed or at least partially closed. The housing of the battery system is preferably made of a metal, for example a steel, such as a stainless steel, or an aluminum alloy. For production, for example, a die casting method, deep drawing method, casting pressing or extrusion molding is used.Preferably, the battery system is a component of a motor vehicle in the intended state. The battery system is suitable for this purpose, in particular provided and configured. In the intended state, the battery system is, for example, a component of an energy store of the motor vehicle. Preferably, the batteries are divided here into a plurality of battery modules which are in turn structurally identical to one another. For example, the battery system is formed by one of the battery modules, or the respective battery module comprises the battery system. Alternatively, for example, the energy store is formed by means of the battery system.The motor vehicle is preferably land-bound and preferably has a number of wheels, of which at least one, suitably several or all, are driven by means of a drive. In particular, one, preferably several, of the wheels is designed to be controllable. It is thus possible to move the motor vehicle independently of a specific roadway, for example rails or the like. It is thereby expediently possible to position the motor vehicle essentially as desired on a roadway which is manufactured in particular from an asphalt, a tar or concrete. The motor vehicle is, for example, a utility vehicle, such as a truck (truck) or a bus. However, the motor vehicle is particularly preferably a passenger car (passenger car).By means of the drive, the motor vehicle is expediently moved. For example, the drive, in particular the main drive, is at least partially configured electrically, and the motor vehicle is, for example, an electric vehicle. The electric motor is operated, for example, by means of the energy store, which is suitably designed as a high-voltage battery, or at least partially by means of the battery system. An electrical direct voltage is expediently provided by means of the high-voltage battery / the battery system, wherein the electrical voltage is, for example, between 200 V and 800 V and, for example, substantially 400 V. Preferably, an electrical converter is arranged between the energy store / the battery system and the electric motor, by means of which converter the energization of the electric motor is adjusted. In an alternative, the drive additionally has an internal combustion engine, so that the motor vehicle is designed as a hybrid motor vehicle. In an alternative, a low-voltage on-board power supply system of the motor vehicle is fed by means of the energy store / the battery system, and an electrical DC voltage of 12 V, 24 V or 48 V is provided in particular by means of the energy store / battery system.In a further alternative, the battery system is a component of a industrial truck, an industrial plant, a hand-guided device, such as a tool, in particular an cordless screwdriver. In a further alternative, the battery system is a component of an energy supply and is used there, for example, as a so-called buffer battery. In a further alternative, the battery system is a component of a portable device, for example a portable mobile telephone, or another wearable. It is also possible to use such a battery system in the camping sector, model construction sector or for other outdoor activities.Preferably, the carrier has a connector plug which comprises a contact. By means of the connection plug, in particular, the contact is spaced apart from the batteries, so that connection of the contact to a corresponding mating contact is simplified. Each contact preferably comprises corresponding contact pins, which are designed, for example, male or female. In particular, the connector plug comprises as many contact pins or contacts as the carrier comprises conductor tracks, wherein in particular one of the conductor tracks is assigned to each contact pin. By means of the contact, an electrical contacting of the batteries with a further component is thus made possible, for which purpose the contact is inserted into a corresponding mating contact. The connector also allows specific batteries of the battery system to be interrogated and / or charged / discharged in a targeted manner. For example, the carrier comprises only one connector plug with the contact or the carrier comprises a plurality of connector plugs which are identical in construction to one another, for example, wherein each connector plug has a corresponding contact. For example, the contacts differ here or are structurally identical to one another.The carrier preferably comprises two connector plugs, wherein for example only the positive potentials of the batteries are assigned to one of the connector plugs and only the negative potentials of the batteries are assigned to the other. By means of the connector plugs and the contacts, an interconnection of the batteries with a component which is separate from the carrier and is inserted into the contacts for this purpose is thus made possible. For example, the interconnection is effected only by means of a corresponding mating plug, which is why production costs are reduced. Alternatively, the mating connector electrically contacts further components of the battery system or other components in the assembled state, which are not a component of the battery system, for example.For example, the connector plug is designed to be rigid. In this way, for example, an assembly of the battery system is made possible by means of its movement in a specific direction, wherein the contact is inserted into a / the corresponding mating contact. However, the connector plug is particularly preferably designed to be flexible and implemented, for example, at least partially by means of a flexible printed circuit board. In this way, a deformation of the connector plug in the mounted state is made possible, which is why mounting is facilitated on the one hand. On the other hand, space requirement in the assembled state is reduced in this way. The contact is in particular provided at least partially by means of a corresponding contact section which forms, for example, one of the ends of the flexible connection plug.Particularly preferably, the carrier has a sensor, by means of which an operating state of at least one of the batteries can be determined. The sensor is suitable for this purpose, in particular provided and configured. If the connector plug is present with the contact, one of the contact pins or another contact is provided for the sensor in particular and makes electrical contact with the latter. Expediently, the carrier comprises a corresponding (further) conductor track for this purpose. The sensor is, for example, an electrical voltage sensor and for this purpose, for example, electrically contacted by means of one of the conductor tracks with two different terminals of the same batteries or different terminals of different batteries.Alternatively, the sensor is a temperature sensor which is thermally contacted with at least one of the batteries, for example, via further components of the carrier. The sensor is preferably arranged on the edge of the carrier, and in the assembled state, it preferably bears mechanically directly against one of the batteries. It is thus possible to determine a current temperature of the associated battery by means of the sensor. Particularly preferably, the carrier comprises a plurality of such sensors, wherein for example two temperature sensors are present, which are in particular assigned to different ends of the battery system or are at least spaced apart from one another. As a result, it is possible to ascertain a temperature gradient of the battery system, from which, for example, a current state of charge of the individual battery and / or a current load of the battery system is ascertained. Particularly preferably, an activation of the thermocouple is modified as a function thereof, so that, for example, cooling is started or ended. Alternatively, for example, heating of the battery by means of the thermocouple is started or ended. Particularly preferably, in this case, in addition to or instead of one of the temperature sensors, the sensor is present, by means of which an electrical voltage of at least one of the batteries or of the interconnection of the electrical batteries can be measured.In summary, further functions are carried out during operation on the basis of the sensor or sensors by means of the carrier. In this case, it is also possible to mount the carrier in a single working step and also to produce the battery system in an automated manner. If the electrical contacting of the sensor or sensors takes place via the contact, assembly of the battery system is also simplified.The carrier comprises a body made of a plastic. For example, a plastic injection molding method is used for this purpose, which facilitates production of the carrier. The body bears against the batteries, in particular mechanically directly. In this case, the conductor tracks are held by means of the body and are thus stabilized with respect to one another by means of the body. In particular, the plastic of the body is configured to be thermally conductive, which improves a thermal connection to the thermocouple. The plastic is particularly preferably electrically insulating, so that an electrical short circuit between the batteries and / or the conductor tracks via the body is avoided. For example, a polymer or preferably a polyamide is used as the plastic. Alternatively, a polyimide or polyethylene is used. Due to the body, an adaptation of the support to the number of batteries and / or the configuration of the batteries is possible comparatively cost-effectively if the battery system is to be used in different fields of application. In this way, a weight of the battery system is also reduced.A form fit is created at least partially between the batteries and the body. In this case, batteries are partly located in corresponding receptacles of the body. The mounting position of the batteries is thus predefined by means of the body, which further simplifies automation of the production of the battery system. Expediently, the body rests only loosely on the batteries, for which reason production is further simplified. Due to the positive connection, the batteries are at least partially stabilized with respect to one another, which increases robustness. In this way, a transfer of heat of the batteries to the carrier is also improved.For example, the conductor tracks are provided by means of rigid busbars, which are injection-molded in particular by means of the body. Robustness is increased in this way. It is thus also possible to carry comparatively high electrical currents and / or electrical voltage by means of the conductor tracks. Particularly preferably, however, a flexible printed circuit board is connected to the body, by means of which the conductor tracks are provided. In this way, the individual conductor tracks are already arranged at a predetermined distance from one another, and it is possible to produce the body independently of the conductor tracks. In this way, an adaptation of the connection of the batteries by means of adaptation of the flexible printed circuit board, which is also referred to below merely as a printed circuit board, is also made possible, whereas it is merely necessary to adapt the body to the external dimensions of the batteries, independently of the connection. Thus, flexibility is further increased and an area of use of the battery system is increased. Particularly preferably, the connector plug is also formed by means of the flexible printed circuit board, provided this is present.For example, the flexible printed circuit board is encapsulated by injection molding with the plastic of the body. Particularly preferably, however, the circuit board abuts on the outside of the body, for which reason assembly is simplified. Particularly preferably, the body is arranged between the flexible printed circuit board and the batteries, so that an electrical short circuit between the printed circuit board and the batteries is avoided. In this way, it is also possible to adapt the body to the shape of the batteries and in particular to create the form fit between them, so that a heat transfer from the batteries to the carrier is improved.In a development, the busbars are fastened to the printed circuit board, by means of which busbars, for example, the batteries are electrically contacted with one another, wherein the conductor tracks of the printed circuit board are also electrically contacted with the busbars. The conductor tracks of the carrier are thus formed with the conductor tracks of the printed circuit board and the busbars, or at least comprise these. In this way, it is possible in particular to detect an electrical potential present at the busbars by means of the conductor tracks of the printed circuit board, wherein a comparatively large electrical current can be carried by means of the busbars. Particularly preferably, the possible sensor, if present, is likewise fastened to the printed circuit board, for which reason assembly is simplified. Alternatively, the sensor is embedded in the body, for example, which increases robustness. In this way, it is also possible to position the sensor comparatively close to the batteries, in particular if the sensor is a temperature sensor.For example, the printed circuit board is merely planar. Alternatively, the printed circuit board has one or more bends, i.e. edges, so that it is configured as a three-dimensional object. The printed circuit board is therefore particularly preferably bent along an edge, such that the printed circuit boards are arranged on at least two different sides of the batteries. Thus, a mounting position of the circuit board with respect to the batteries is predetermined, and therefore, manufacturing is further simplified. Particularly preferably, the printed circuit board has two mutually parallel edges, along which the printed circuit board is bent, so that it has at least partially a U-shaped cross section perpendicular to the course of the edges. In this case, the batteries, which are expediently arranged in a row, are at least partially surrounded by the printed circuit board. In this way, robustness is further increased. In this case, for example, the bent regions of the printed circuit board are continuous, or gaps are introduced between these, so that bending along the edges is simplified.Particularly preferably, the conductor tracks, or at least the part of the conductor tracks which is electrically contacted with the batteries, are arranged in the regions of the printed circuit board which are offset away from the thermocouple by means of the edge, that is to say in one of the planar sections which are bent off by means of the edges. In particular, these regions do not abut the thermocouple and are expediently arranged perpendicular to this thermocouple. Due to such an arrangement, electrical contacting and also mechanical connection of the conductor tracks to the batteries, in particular the connections, is not impaired by the thermocouple. In this case, the possible connections of the battery are preferably likewise offset away from the thermocouple and are assigned in particular to a side of the battery system which is remote from the thermocouple and / or arranged perpendicular thereto. Suitably, each of the batteries has two terminals associated with opposite sides with respect to the respective battery. Thus, an electrical contacting with the carrier is facilitated.Due to this, in particular a subsequent electrical contacting of the batteries is made possible, i.e. after the thermocouple has already been mounted. It is also possible, for example, to replace one of the batteries of the battery system. In addition, it is possible and preferably realized that the printed circuit board is configured planar on the side facing the thermocouple, so that a comparatively effective thermal connection of the carrier to the thermocouple takes place. At least however, there is a partial form fit there. In this case, it is also possible, for example, for the busbars that are possibly present, which have a comparatively large thickness, wherein the thermal connection is not impaired.The sensor or sensors, if present, are expediently located on that part of the printed circuit board which faces the thermocouple. At least however, the conductor track(s) of the printed circuit board electrically contacted therewith is / are arranged on this side. In this way, an influence on the sensors due to the electrical contacting with the batteries and the electrical potentials provided by means of the batteries is reduced and thus susceptibility to faults is reduced. In other words, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is increased.For example, only the thermocouple is present. Particularly preferably, however, the battery system comprises a further thermocouple which is thermally contacted with the batteries, for example directly or preferably via a contact element. In this case, the batteries are arranged between the two thermocouples, such that the layer structure has a further or two further layers, provided that the contact element is present. As a result, the batteries are tempered by the thermocouple during operation from two opposite sides, and therefore reliability is further enhanced. In this case, two opposite sides of the batteries are not covered by means of the thermocouples, so that there is accessibility there, in particular for electrical contacting. Expediently, the contact element and / or further thermocouple bears in a form-fitting manner against the batteries, with the result that heat transfer is improved. For example, the contact element is structurally identical to the carrier, but the conductor tracks have no function. Thus, it is possible to use identical parts, and therefore storage is simplified. However, the contact element has a reduced number of functions in comparison with the carrier. For example, the contact element has the sensor, if any, so that it is possible in particular to determine the temperature of the batteries from opposite sides. In this way, it is also possible to determine how effective a current temperature control of the batteries by means of the thermocouples is.The motor vehicle is preferably land-bound. For example, the motor vehicle is a utility vehicle, such as a truck (truck) or bus. The motor vehicle is preferably a passenger car (passenger car). The motor vehicle has a drive with an electric motor. For example, the drive is a component of an auxiliary unit or particularly preferably a main drive, by means of which the motor vehicle is moved. The motor vehicle further comprises a battery system, by means of which the electric motor is energized. The battery system includes a plurality of batteries and a carrier that abuts the batteries and has a plurality of conductive traces electrically contacted with the batteries. The carrier is arranged, in particular mechanically, between the batteries and a thermocouple which is thermally contacted with the batteries by means of the carrier. The battery system is, for example, a high-voltage battery, or the high-voltage battery comprises a plurality of battery systems, which form a battery module, for example.The advantages and developments described in connection with the battery system are also to be transferred analogously to the motor vehicle and vice versa.Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. Shown therein are: FIG. 1 schematically simplifies a motor vehicle which comprises a battery system having a plurality of identically constructed batteries, FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of one of the batteries, FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view in an exploded illustration of the battery system, which has a carrier and a thermal contact element, FIG. 4 shows a detail of the battery system in a side view, FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the thermal contact element and the carrier comprising a body and a kinked flexible printed circuit board, FIG. 6 is a plan view of the unbuckled circuit board, and FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the printed circuit board according to FIG. 6.Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.FIG. 1 schematically shows, in simplified form, a motor vehicle 2 in the form of a passenger car (passenger car). The motor vehicle 2 has a number of wheels 4, at least some of which are driven by means of a drive 6 which comprises an electric motor. Thus, the motor vehicle 2 is an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. The drive 6 has a converter, by means of which the electric motor is fed. The converter of the drive 6 is in turn energized by means of a battery system 8 in the form of a high-voltage battery. For this purpose, the drive 6 is connected to an interface 10 of the battery system 8, which is introduced into a housing 12 of the battery system 8, which is made of a stainless steel.A plurality of batteries 14 are arranged within the housing 12 of the battery system 8, some of which batteries are electrically connected in series with one another and these are in turn electrically connected in parallel with one another. The electrical connection of the batteries 14 is electrically contacted with the interface 10, so that during operation of the motor vehicle 2 the batteries 14 are discharged or charged (recuperation). Due to the electrical interconnection, the electrical voltage provided at the interface 10, which is 400 V, is a multiple of the electrical voltage provided with each of the batteries 14.FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of one of the batteries 14 which are structurally identical to one another. The battery 14 has a cylindrical battery housing 16, within which battery cells, not shown in detail, are arranged. The battery housing 16 made of aluminum has a rectangular cross section in which the corners are rounded, so that a capsule shape is formed. Each of the mutually opposite end faces of the battery housing 16 has inserted into it a respective terminal 18 made of a copper or another electrically conductive material, which is electrically insulated from the battery housing 16. The terminals 18 are electrically contacted with the battery cells disposed within the battery housing 16 so that an electrical voltage is present at the opposing terminals 18 of each battery 14 during operation.FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view and FIG. 4 is a partial side view of the battery system 8, wherein the housing 12 and the interface 10 are not shown. The batteries 14 of the battery system 8 are arranged in a row, wherein the end faces of each battery housing 16 are arranged perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the batteries 14 and in each case in a common plane. Here, the longitudinal sides of the battery cases 16 abut each other, and the rounded narrow sides of the battery cases 16 form a side of the block to which the batteries 14 are arranged.One of the rounded narrow sides of each battery housing 16 is situated in a form-fitting manner in a respective corresponding receptacle 20 of a (thermal) contact element 22, which is manufactured from a thermally conductive and electrically insulating plastic, namely a polyamide. The receptacles 20 are, as shown in FIG. 5, in which the battery system 8 is shown, inter alia, with omitted batteries 14, of channel-shaped configuration, in each of which one of the narrow sides of each battery housing 16 is positively inserted. The side of the contact element 22 opposite the batteries 14 is planar and a rectangular further thermocouple 24 lies flat there. The boundary edges of the further thermocouple 24 are flush with the boundaries of the contact element 22, so that compactness is increased. The further thermocouple 24 is made of a metal and into which channels, not shown in detail, are introduced, through which a fluid flows during operation.On the side of the batteries 14 opposite the contact element 22, a carrier 26 is arranged, which has a body 28 made of a plastic, namely polyamide. Here, the body 28 is structurally identical to the contact element 22, such that the body 28 bears flat against the batteries 14, namely in each case against the remaining one in each of the battery housings 16, wherein a form fit is created between the batteries 14 and the body 28.On the side of the body 28 opposite the batteries 14, which side is likewise configured planar, a flexible printed circuit board 30, which is also referred to merely as a printed circuit board, is fastened. In other words, the circuit board 30 is connected, namely fastened, to the body 28. The printed circuit board 30 has two mutually parallel edges 32, along which it is bent.FIG. 6 shows the circuit board 30 in the unbuckled, i.e. planar, state, wherein the lines are drawn along which the circuit board 30 is bent to form the edges 33, so that the latter is configured in a three-dimensional manner. In this case, the printed circuit board 30 is bent along the two edges 32 in such a way that it has a U-shaped cross section. Due to the edges 32, two regions 34 are formed which point in the direction of the batteries 14 and are arranged parallel to the end faces of the battery housings 16 and abut against them. Consequently, the batteries 14 are surrounded by the circuit board 30.On the side of the printed circuit board 30 facing away from the body 28, a thermocouple 36 is arranged in the assembled state and fastened thereto, which thermocouple is identical in construction to the further thermocouple 24. A layered or sandwich construction is thus realized, and the batteries 14 are arranged between the two thermocouples 24, 36. By means of the contact element 22 and the carrier 26, a thermal contacting of the batteries 14 with the respectively assigned thermocouple 24, 36 takes place, so that a temperature control of the batteries 14 during operation takes place or at least can take place by means of the two thermocouples 24, 26. In summary, the carrier 26 is arranged between the batteries 14 and the thermocouple 36, wherein the thermocouple 36 is thermally contacted with the batteries 14 by means of the carrier 26.The printed circuit board 30 has a plurality of conductor tracks 38 which are located on the side which bears against the body 28, with the result that an electrical short circuit between them via the thermocouple 36 is avoided. In this case, the conductor tracks 38 of the printed circuit board 30, of which only a part is shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, are each guided over one of the edges 32, such that these project into the regions 34. Each of the regions 34 has a plurality of slots 40, so that each region 34 is divided by means of the slots 40, which are parallel to the stacking direction of the individual components of the battery system 8, that is to say parallel to the longitudinal sides of the battery housings 16. The busbars 42 and the conductor tracks 38 of the printed circuit board 30 form conductor tracks 44 of the carrier 26, which are referred to below merely as conductor tracks 44. The conductor tracks 44 are thus provided by means of the circuit board 30, namely on the one hand by means of the conductor tracks 38 of the circuit board 30 and the conductor rails 42 fastened thereto.Each busbar 42 and thus by means of the conductor tracks 44 is electrically contacted by two adjacent batteries 14. Thus, by means of the busbars 42, i.e. the conductor tracks 44, contact is made with the batteries 14, and these are arranged in the regions 34 of the printed circuit board 30 offset away from the thermocouple 36 by means of the edges 32. Each of the bus bars 42 covers the two terminals 18 of adjacent batteries 14 and is welded thereto. Due to the slots 40, a separate fastening of the busbars 42 to the terminals 18 is made possible here. In this case, they are assigned to the different end sides of the battery housing 16 in each case to one of the regions 34 and thus also in each case to one of the busbars 42. In summary, the conductor tracks 44 are thus electrically contacted with the batteries 14.The printed circuit board 30 projects over the batteries 14 on a side spaced from the regions 34 by means of two strips for forming two connection plugs 46, of which only one is shown in each case in FIGS. 3-5, and which are likewise of flexible configuration. The end of each connector plug 46 spaced from the batteries 14 is formed by means of a contact 48 which has a housing made of a plastic and contact pins, not shown, enclosed therein. Each of the contact pins of the contact 48 is assigned to one of the conductor tracks 38 of the printed circuit board 30 and electrically contacts it. In the assembled state, each contact 48 is inserted into a further component of the battery system 8, by means of which the interface 10 is partially formed. This component also interconnects the batteries 14 in a specific manner. In summary, the carrier 26 has the two flexible connector plugs 46 with the respective contact 48 which is electrically connected to the batteries 14.Furthermore, a sensor 50 is electrically contacted with one of the contact pins of each contact 48 via one of the conductor tracks 38 of the printed circuit board 30, which is not electrically contacted with one of the batteries 14. The two sensors 50 are located above the batteries 14 on the side of the printed circuit board 30 facing the thermocouple 36 and therefore not in the regions 34 in which the electrical contacting of the batteries 14 takes place. As a result, no disturbance occurs in the operation of the sensors 50 due to the electric potentials applied to the terminals 18.The sensors 50 serve for ascertaining an operating state of at least one of the batteries 14 and are arranged, for example, directly on the printed circuit board 30, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. Alternatively, at least one of the sensors 50 is embedded in the body 28, as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, the sensor 50 is offset toward the batteries 14. In the variants shown in FIGS. 3-6, the sensors 50 are designed as temperature sensors, the two sensors 50 being located at opposite ends of the block formed from the batteries 14. As a result, it is possible to detect a temperature gradient of the batteries 14 by the sensors 50. Also, for example, an operation of the thermocouples 24, 36 is adapted as a function of the temperature determined by means of the sensors 50, so that cooling or heating of the batteries 14 by means of the thermocouples 24, 36 is started or ended.An alternative embodiment of the printed circuit board 30 is shown in FIG. 7. In comparison with the variant shown in FIG. 6, one of the sensors 50 is electrically contacted with two of the busbars 42 which are located in different regions 34 which are assigned to the same batteries 14 in the assembled state, however. The sensor 50 is configured as an electrical voltage sensor, so that the electrical voltage present at these batteries 14 can be measured as the operating state by means of this. The remaining sensor 50 is still further configured as a temperature sensor. In a variant not shown in more detail, more than two sensors 50 are present, wherein for example all are realized as electrical voltage sensors, or wherein some or all are designed as temperature sensors.The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Rather, other variants of the invention can also be derived from this by the person skilled in the art without departing from the subject matter of the invention. In particular, all the individual features described in connection with the individual exemplary embodiments can also be combined with one another in another manner without departing from the subject matter of the invention.List of reference characters2 Motor vehicle 4 Wheel 6 Drive 8 Battery system 10 Interface 12 Housing 14 Battery 16 Battery housing 18 Terminal 20 Receptacle 22 Contact element 24 Further thermocouple 26 Carrier 28 Body 30 Printed circuit board 32 Edge 34 Region 36 Thermocouple 38 Conductor track of the printed circuit board 40 Slot 42 Busbar 44 Conductor track 46 Terminal plug 48 Contact 50 Sensor

Claims

Battery system (8) having a plurality of batteries (14), and having a carrier (26) which bears against the batteries (14) and has a plurality of conductor tracks (44) which are electrically contacted with the batteries (14), wherein the carrier (26) is arranged between the batteries (14) and a thermocouple (36) which is thermally contacted with the batteries (14) by means of the carrier (26), wherein the carrier (26) has a body (28) made of a plastic which bears against the batteries (14) and by means of which the conductor tracks (44) are held, wherein a positive connection is partially produced between the batteries (14) and the body (28), wherein the batteries (14) are partially situated in corresponding receptacles of the body (28), and wherein the carrier (26) is configured as a component.The battery system (8) according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier (26) comprises a flexible connector plug (46) having a contact (48) electrically connected to one of the batteries (14).Battery system (8) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the carrier (26) comprises a sensor (50) for determining an operating state of at least one of the batteries (14).Battery system (8) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a form fit is created between the batteries (14) and the body (28).Battery system (8) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a flexible printed circuit board (30) is connected to the body (28), by means of which printed circuit board the conductor tracks (44) are provided.Battery system (8) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the printed circuit board (30) is bent along two mutually parallel edges (32) in such a way that the batteries (14) are partially surrounded by the printed circuit board (30).Battery system (8) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the parts of the conductor tracks (44) which are contacted by the batteries (14) are arranged in the regions (34) of the printed circuit board (30) which are offset away from the thermocouple (36) by means of the edge (32).Battery system (8) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized bya further thermocouple (24) which is in thermal contact with the batteries (14), the batteries (14) being arranged between the two thermocouples (24, 36).Motor vehicle (2) having a drive (6) which comprises an electric motor which is energized by means of a battery system (8) according to one of Claims 1 to 8.

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