Battery for an electrically powered vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery (100) for an electrically operated vehicle, comprising a battery housing (50) having a transverse direction (60) and a longitudinal direction (70), in which at least one cell module (20) is arranged, which has a plurality of battery cells (10) which are arranged one behind the other in a stacking direction (12) and form at least one cell stack (14), wherein the at least one cell stack (14) is arranged in the stacking direction (12) between a first end plate (22) and a second end plate (24) and is laterally delimited by a first side plate (26) and a second side plate (28). The first and second side plates (26, 28) are fixedly connected to the first and second end plates (22, 24). The first and second end plates (22, 24) and the first and second side plates (26, 28) are supported on a frame structure (52) of the battery housing (50). The invention further relates to a motor vehicle, in particular an electrically operated vehicle, with at least one battery (100).

Description

The invention relates to a battery for an electrically operable vehicle and to a motor vehicle, in particular an electrically operable vehicle, having at least one battery.Cell modules for batteries of electrically operable motor vehicles are usually constructed from end plates, side plates, battery cells and tension mats. End plates and side plates form the module housing. The battery cells are braced in the battery module by means of the end plates transversely to a longitudinal extent of the battery cells. Tensioning mats are usually arranged between the battery cells.These cell modules are arranged in a battery housing which has structures in order to form transverse and longitudinal load paths through the battery, with the result that forces can be conducted around the battery or through the battery in the event of a crash. These cross and longitudinal braces in the battery housing require installation space which cannot be used by cell active material. In addition, the transverse and longitudinal braces increase the weight of the battery.DE 10 2016 009 930 A1 discloses a motor vehicle battery having at least one cell module, which has a plurality of battery cells, and having a battery housing for receiving the at least one cell module. The battery housing has at least one cross strut and / or at least one side wall. In this case, the at least one cross strut and / or the at least one side wall is provided to at least partially absorb axial compressive forces of the cell module.EP 3 565 023 B1 describes a battery which has a battery housing and a plurality of cell modules. Each cell module includes a battery cell stack and a module container that receives the battery cell stack. The module container has a pair of crash plates facing each other. The crash plates are physically connected to each other by a connecting member.DE 10 2020 212 682 A1 describes a high-voltage battery for an electrically operated vehicle, having a battery housing in which at least one cell module is arranged. The cell module has a cell stack with a plurality of battery cells stacked one behind the other in a stacking direction. At least one force transmission segment is arranged in the cell stack as a component separate from the battery cells. In the event of a crash, the force transmission segment is incorporated in a crash load path, via which the crash force can be transmitted to a vehicle side facing away from the crash.An object of the invention is to provide a weight- and cost-reduced battery for an electrically operated vehicle.A further object is to provide a motor vehicle, in particular an electrically operable vehicle, having at least one weight- and cost-reduced battery.The aforementioned objects are achieved with the features of the independent claims.Advantageous embodiments and advantages of the invention are evident from the further claims, the description and the drawing.According to one aspect of the invention, a battery for an electrically operable vehicle is proposed, having a battery housing, having a transverse direction and a longitudinal direction, in which at least one cell module is arranged, which has a plurality of battery cells which are arranged one behind the other in a stacking direction and form at least one cell stack, wherein the at least one cell stack is arranged in the stacking direction between a first end plate and a second end plate and is bounded laterally by a first side plate and a second side plate. The first and second side plates are fixedly connected to the first and second end plates. Here, the first and second end plates and the first and second side plates are supported on a frame structure of the battery case.In the proposed battery, the mechanical structure of the cell modules is arranged in a blocking fashion and is used for load paths.The battery can be installed in the vehicle, for example, with its longitudinal direction in the direction of travel.Alternatively, the battery can also be installed in the vehicle with its transverse direction in the direction of travel.The cell modules with end plates and side plates are arranged in as close a packing as possible to the housing structure in such a way that continuous load paths through the battery result.The cell modules can be aligned both in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction with respect to the stacking direction and is expediently selected such that all required load cases are fulfilled.This advantageously results in a gain in installation space which can be used for cell active material and enables an increase in the energy density in the battery.Furthermore, a favorable weight and cost reduction results by integrating existing mechanical structures of the cell module.In production, the complexity during battery assembly can thus be reduced.Furthermore, the use of smaller cell modules, which are used to form the mechanical load paths, can make easier handling of the cell modules possible, since the individual cell modules are not high-voltage components.According to an advantageous configuration of the battery, the at least one cell module can be arranged in the longitudinal direction of the battery housing with respect to the stacking direction, wherein the first and second end plates can be supported in the longitudinal direction on a transverse frame part of the battery housing and the first and second side plates can be supported in the transverse direction on a longitudinal frame part of the battery housing. Advantageously, in this longitudinal arrangement of the stacking direction of the at least one cell module, the end plates provide the transverse load path and the side plates provide the longitudinal load path.According to an advantageous configuration of the battery, the at least one cell module can be arranged in the battery housing in the transverse direction with respect to the stacking direction, wherein the first and second end plates can be supported in the transverse direction on the longitudinal frame part of the battery housing and the first and second side plates can be supported in the longitudinal direction on the transverse frame part of the battery housing. In this orientation of the stacking direction of the at least one cell module, the end plates form the longitudinal load path and the side plates form the transverse load path.According to an advantageous configuration of the battery, a plurality of cell modules can be arranged in the longitudinal direction of the battery housing with respect to the stacking direction of the cells, wherein the first and second end plates of a cell module can be supported in each case on second and first end plates of an adjacent cell module and / or on the transverse frame part of the battery housing. Furthermore, the first and second side plates of a cell module can be supported on second and first side plates of an adjacent cell module and / or on the longitudinal frame part of the battery housing. Advantageously, in this longitudinal arrangement of the stacking direction of the cell modules, the end plates in block formation result in the transverse load path and the side plates in block formation result in the longitudinal load path.According to an advantageous configuration of the battery, a plurality of cell modules can be arranged in the transverse direction of the battery housing with respect to the stacking direction, wherein the first and second end plates of a cell module can be supported in each case on second and first end plates of an adjacent cell module and / or on the longitudinal frame part of the battery housing. Furthermore, the first and second side plates of a cell module can be supported on second and first side plates of an adjacent cell module and / or on the transverse frame part of the battery housing. In this lateral arrangement of the stacking direction of the cell modules, the end plates in block form provide the longitudinal load path and the side plates in block form provide the lateral load path.According to an advantageous configuration of the battery, the first and second end plates and the first and second side plates of the plurality of cell modules can be glued to one another at least partially. In this way, end plates and side plates can form the corresponding load paths for conducting the forces in a favorable manner in the event of a crash.According to an advantageous embodiment of the battery, adjacent first and second end plates can be non-bonded. In particular, a gap can be arranged between adjacent first and second end plates. It can be advantageous if end plates and side plates are only partially glued, in particular between the end plates, in order to allow cell thickness growth in the gap thus formed.According to an advantageous embodiment of the battery, the first and / or second end plate can have a receiving space with a deformable mass for compensating cell thickness growth. Optionally, the cell thickness growth can thus be accommodated in the end plates.According to an advantageous configuration of the battery, an electrical high-voltage wiring and an electrical low-voltage wiring of the at least one cell module can be routed jointly. Thus, an additional cable routing for the high-voltage or low-voltage cabling within the battery can be avoided in an advantageous manner.According to a further aspect of the invention, a motor vehicle, in particular an electrically operable vehicle, is proposed having at least one battery as described above.Further advantages are evident from the following description of the drawings. The drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention. The drawings, specification and claims contain numerous features in combination. The skilled person will expediently also consider the features individually and summarize them to form meaningful further combinations.The following are shown: FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional illustration of a battery for an electrically operable vehicle having a plurality of cell modules arranged in the longitudinal direction according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 shows a top view of a battery according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention with cell modules arranged in the longitudinal direction; and FIG. 3 shows a top view of a battery according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention with cell modules arranged in the transverse direction.In the figures, identical or similar components are denoted by identical reference numerals. The figures merely show examples and should not be understood as limiting.FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional illustration of a battery 100 for an electrically operable vehicle having a plurality of cell modules 20 arranged in the longitudinal direction 70 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.The battery 100 comprises a battery housing 50 having a transverse direction 60 and a longitudinal direction 70, in which a plurality of cell modules 20 are arranged. The battery 100 can be installed in a vehicle, for example, with the longitudinal direction 70 parallel to the direction of travel.Each cell module 20 has a plurality of battery cells 10, which are arranged one behind the other in a stacking direction 12 and form at least one cell stack 14. The at least one cell stack 14 is arranged in the stacking direction 12 between a first end plate 22 and a second end plate 24 and is bounded laterally by a first side plate 26 and a second side plate 28. For the sake of clarity, reference numerals are attached only to one cell module 20. The cells 10 and their arrangement in the cell module 20 are schematically shown in a further cell module 20.The first and second side plates 26, 28 are fixedly connected to the first and second end plates 22, 24. Here, the first and second end plates 22, 24 and the first and second side plates 26, 28 are supported on a frame structure 52 of the battery case 50, or on second and first end plates 24, 22 and on second and first side plates 28, 26 of adjacent cell modules 20.In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the cell modules 20 are arranged in a stacked manner in the longitudinal direction 70 of the battery housing 50 with respect to the stacking direction 12. In this case, the first and second end plates 22, 24 of a cell module 20 are each supported on second and first end plates 24, 22 of an adjacent cell module 20 and / or on the transverse frame part 54 of the battery housing 50. The first and second side plates 26, 28 of a cell module 20 are supported on second and first side plates 28, 26 of an adjacent cell module 20 and / or on the longitudinal frame part 56 of the battery housing 50, respectively. In this longitudinal orientation of the stacking direction 12 of the cell modules 20, the end plates 22, 24 in blocking form provide the transverse load path 80 and the side plates 26, 28 in blocking form provide the longitudinal load path 90.FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a battery 100 according to this exemplary embodiment of the invention with an aligned stacking direction 12 of the cell modules 20 arranged in the longitudinal direction 70. four cell modules 20 are joined to one another in the transverse direction 60 and five cell modules 20 are joined to one another in the longitudinal direction 70.FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a battery 100 according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention with cell modules 20 arranged in the transverse direction 60 of the battery housing 50, with respect to the stacking direction 12 of the battery cells 10, wherein in each case three cell modules 20 are joined to one another in the transverse direction 60 and in each case six cell modules 20 are joined to one another in the longitudinal direction 70.In this case, the first and second end plates 22, 24 of a cell module 20 are each supported on second and first end plates 24, 22 of an adjacent cell module 20 and / or on the longitudinal frame part 56 of the battery housing 50. The first and second side plates 26, 28 of a cell module 20 are supported on second and first side plates 28, 26 of an adjacent cell module 20 and / or on the transverse frame part 54 of the battery housing 50, respectively. In such a transverse arrangement of the stacking direction 12 of the cell modules 20, the end plates 22, 24 form the longitudinal load path 90 in a blocked manner and the side plates 26, 28 form the transverse load path 80 in a blocked manner.Advantageously, the first and second end plates 22, 24 and the first and second side plates 26, 28 of the plurality of cell modules 20 may be at least partially glued together. In this way, end plates 22, 24 and side plates 26, 28 can form the corresponding load paths 80, 90 for conducting the forces in a favorable manner in the event of a crash.In one embodiment, adjacent first and second endplates 22, 24 may be unadhered. In particular, a gap can be arranged between adjacent first and second end plates 22, 24. It can be advantageous if end plates 22, 24 and side plates 26, 28 are only partially glued, in particular between the end plates 22, 24, in order to allow cell thickness growth in the gap thus formed.In another embodiment, the first and / or second end plates 22, 24 may include a receiving space with a deformable mass to accommodate cell thickness growth. Optionally, the cell thickness growth can thus be accommodated in the end plates 22, 24.In a further exemplary embodiment, an electrical high-voltage wiring and an electrical low-voltage wiring of the at least one cell module 20 can be routed jointly. Thus, an additional cable routing for the high-voltage or low-voltage cabling within the battery 100 can be avoided in an advantageous manner.List of reference characters10 Battery cell 12 Stacking direction 14 Cell stack 20 Cell module 22 First end plate 24 Second end plate 26 First side plate 28 Second side plate 50 Battery housing 52 Frame structure 54 Transverse frame part 56 Longitudinal frame part 60 Transverse direction 70 Longitudinal direction 80 Transverse load path 90 Longitudinal load path 100 BatteryReferences included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 10 2016 009 930 A1

[0004] EP 3 565 023 B1

[0005] DE 10 2020 212 682 A1

[0006]

Claims

Battery (100) for an electrically operable vehicle, having a battery housing (50), having a transverse direction (60) and a longitudinal direction (70), in which at least one cell module (20) is arranged, which has a plurality of battery cells (10) which are arranged one behind the other in a stacking direction (12) and form at least one cell stack (14), wherein the at least one cell stack (14) is arranged in the stacking direction (12) between a first end plate (22) and a second end plate (24) and is bounded laterally by a first side plate (26) and a second side plate (28), wherein the first and second side plates (26, 28) are fixedly connected to the first and second end plates (22, 24), wherein the first and second end plates (22, 24) and the first and second side plates (26, 28) are supported on a frame structure (52) of the battery housing (50).The battery according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cell module (20) is arranged in the longitudinal direction (70) of the battery housing (50) with respect to the stacking direction (12), wherein the first and second end plates (22, 24) are supported on a transverse frame part (54) of the battery housing (50) in the longitudinal direction (70) and the first and second side plates (26, 28) are supported on a longitudinal frame part (56) of the battery housing (50) in the transverse direction (60).The battery according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cell module (20) is arranged in the battery housing (50) in the transverse direction (60) with respect to the stacking direction (12), wherein the first and second end plates (22, 24) are supported on the longitudinal frame part (56) of the battery housing (50) in the transverse direction (60) and the first and second side plates (26, 28) are supported on the transverse frame part (54) of the battery housing (50) in the longitudinal direction (70).The battery according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of cell modules (20) are arranged in the longitudinal direction (70) of the battery housing (50) with respect to the stacking direction (12), wherein the first and second end plates (22, 24) of a cell module (20) are respectively supported on second and first end plates (24, 22) of an adjacent cell module (20) and / or on the transverse frame part (54) of the battery housing (50), and wherein the first and second side plates (26, 28) of a cell module (20) are respectively supported on second and first side plates (28, 26) of an adjacent cell module (20) and / or on the longitudinal frame part (56) of the battery housing (50).The battery according to any one of claims 1 or 3, wherein a plurality of cell modules (20) are arranged in the transverse direction (60) of the battery housing (50) with respect to the stacking direction (12), wherein the first and second end plates (22, 24) of a cell module (20) are respectively supported on second and first end plates (24, 22) of an adjacent cell module (20) and / or on the longitudinal frame part (56) of the battery housing (50), and wherein the first and second side plates (26, 28) of a cell module (20) are respectively supported on second and first side plates (28, 26) of an adjacent cell module (20) and / or on the transverse frame part (54) of the battery housing (50).The battery of any of claims 4 or 5, wherein the first and second end plates (22, 24) and the first and second side plates (26, 28) of the plurality of cell modules (20) are at least partially bonded together.The battery of claim 6, wherein adjacent first and second end plates (22, 24) are unadhered, in particular wherein a gap is disposed between adjacent first and second end plates (22, 24).The battery of any preceding claim, wherein the first and / or second end plate (22, 24) includes a receiving space having a deformable mass for balancing cell thickness growth.Battery according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an electrical high-voltage wiring and an electrical low-voltage wiring of the at least one cell module (20) are routed jointly.Motor vehicle, in particular an electrically operable vehicle, having at least one battery (100) according to one of the preceding claims.

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