Method and mounting device for mounting a battery module to a housing component

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for mounting a battery module (10) on a housing component (12, 12a), wherein a first and a second joining part (10; 12) are provided, one of which is the battery module (10) and the other the housing component (12, 12a), wherein a viscous and curable thermal interface material (16) is applied to a first joining side (10a; 12a) of the first joining part (10; 12) and the first and second joining part (10; 12) are arranged to each other such that the first and second joining sides (10a; 12a) face each other and the thermal interface material (16) is arranged between them.Prior to assembly, energy (32, 32a) is transferred contactlessly to the viscous thermal interface material (16) applied to the first joining side (10a; 12a) by means of an energy delivery device (28) to accelerate the curing of the thermal interface material (16), and the first and second joining part (10; 12) are then arranged while the thermal interface material (16) is not yet fully cured.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for mounting a battery module to a housing component, wherein a first joining component having a first joining side and a second joining component having a second joining side are provided, wherein one of the two joining components represents the battery module and the other the housing component. Furthermore, a viscous and curable thermal interface material is applied to the first joining side, and the first and second joining components are arranged relative to one another such that the first joining side and the second joining side face one another, and the thermal interface material is located between the first and second joining sides after arrangement. Furthermore, the invention also relates to an assembly device.

[0002] The battery module could, for example, be a battery module for a high-voltage battery for a motor vehicle. On the one hand, heat is generated in such high-voltage batteries of electric vehicles, for example during rapid charging and power demand, which should be dissipated as effectively as possible to increase service life. On the other hand, certain operating conditions require active heat supply, for example, preconditioning for rapid charging of such a high-voltage battery, and so on. To reduce the thermal transfer resistance between the respective interfaces, for example, a battery cell or a battery module and a cooling or temperature control device, so-called thermal interface materials (TIMs) in the form of gap fillers or thermally conductive adhesives can be used.

[0003] Gap fillers differ from thermally conductive adhesives in that gap fillers are not required to transfer loads, whereas thermally conductive adhesives can also transfer loads between the components joined using the adhesive after curing. From a production perspective, i.e., with regard to the formation of the assembly, thermal interface materials are reactive materials that usually consist of two components. Immediately before application to the joining partners, the relevant components are mixed mechanically. From this point on, the crosslinking reaction of the thermal interface material begins, and a continuous increase in viscosity sets in. The onset of this increase in viscosity represents the beginning of the so-called open time.Depending on the assembly situation, a specified viscosity limit defines the final point in time up to which both joining partners can still be assembled using this thermal interface material without damage. This final point in time defines the end of the aforementioned open time. Often, this joining process is followed by further manufacturing operations on the joining partners, which can trigger displacement of the joining partner interfaces. Such displacements pose the risk of a gap opening between the joining partners, for example, through so-called meandering, i.e., the formation of air pockets in the layer of the thermal interface material.Especially when using thermally conductive adhesives, the immediate strength buildup of the thermal interface material is desired to avoid imperfections and defects in the interface. This means the immediate achievement of the so-called handling strength, at which point handling of the joined parts is possible without the risk of the parts shifting relative to each other or causing defects in the interface. Achieving immediate handling strength, especially in fluctuating climatic conditions that have a significant influence on the open time, contradicts the requirement for the longest possible open time to provide a certain tolerance to production interruptions.A long open time therefore has the advantage of providing a very high tolerance for production interruptions and, overall, reducing the risk, especially with regard to changing environmental conditions such as temperature fluctuations, that the thermal interface material will already cure before the two joining partners are properly joined. On the other hand, it is desirable for the thermal interface material to cure as soon as possible after the two joining partners have been properly joined, in order to be able to carry out further production steps with the joined joining partners as quickly as possible without running the risk of damaging the interface or the joint via the thermal interface material.

[0004] Due to the laws of physics, this contradiction cannot yet be resolved, or at least not completely. As a result, concessions must be made regarding the open time and / or imperfections and defects within the thermal interface material layer must be accepted. Complex fixturing devices are often required to hold the joining partners in place until the required handling strength is achieved.

[0005] DE 10 2021 119 206 A1 describes a method for introducing a thermally conductive compound into a space between a battery module and a part of a battery housing, wherein the battery module is arranged in a receiving area of ​​the battery housing, and a seal that at least partially delimits the space is provided between the battery module and the part of the battery housing. The thermally conductive compound is then introduced into the space. The seal is provided as a sealing compound that can be cured by external activation, which, in a non-activated state, is brought into a specific end position between the battery module and the battery housing, in which the sealing compound contacts the battery module and the battery housing, and is activated when it is in the specific end position.Activation can be chemical or physical, for example, by light, especially UV radiation, by temperature control, or by applying a voltage. The curing process of the thermal compound itself remains unaffected.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a method and an assembly device which, when joining a battery module to a housing component via a thermal interface material, make it possible, on the one hand, to provide a sufficiently long open time of the thermal interface material in order to be able to carry out the joining process as reliably as possible, and, on the other hand, to enable the thermal interface material to harden as quickly as possible after the joining process has been carried out.

[0007] This object is achieved by a method and an assembly device having the features according to the respective independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent patent claims, the description, and the figures.

[0008] In a method according to the invention for mounting a battery module to a housing component, a first joining component with a first joining side and a second joining component with a second joining side are provided, wherein one of the second joining components represents the battery module and the other of the two joining components represents the housing component. Furthermore, a viscous and curable thermal interface material is applied to the first joining side, and the first joining component and the second joining component are arranged relative to one another such that the first joining side and the second joining side face one another, and the thermal interface material is located between the first and second joining sides after arrangement.Furthermore, prior to the arrangement, energy for accelerating curing of the thermal interface material is transferred contactlessly to the viscous thermal interface material applied to the first joining side by means of a provided energy delivery device, and thereafter the arrangement of the first and second joining components takes place while the thermal interface material has not yet fully cured.

[0009] The invention is based, on the one hand, on the recognition that, in general, the problem or difficulty of providing measures for activating or accelerating the curing of the thermal interface material lies primarily in the fact that, if the thermal interface material is already arranged between the battery module and the housing component, accessibility to the thermal interface material is limited or even impossible. Furthermore, the invention is based on the recognition that it is possible to provide measures for accelerating the curing of the thermal interface material if the two joining components are not yet arranged in relation to one another as intended, without this impairing the subsequent joining process.The energy transfer to accelerate the curing of the thermal interface material using the energy delivery device can, for example, occur shortly before the two components to be joined are joined via the thermal interface material. This can ensure that the thermal interface material is not yet fully cured at the time of joining, but at the same time, this curing can be accelerated. This, in turn, advantageously makes it possible to use a thermal interface material with a sufficiently long open time to minimize the risk of premature curing, especially in the event of production interruptions.At the same time, the handling strength described above can be achieved extremely quickly after joining, for example, by applying energy to the thermal interface material via the energy delivery device immediately or shortly before the joining process, thus accelerating the curing process. Applying energy before the joining process also has the significant advantage that it makes the thermal interface material located on the first joining side much easier to access, allowing the energy to be delivered as directly as possible to this thermal interface material to accelerate the curing process. This can reduce energy losses and minimize the energy absorption by other battery components, such as the battery housing and / or the battery module.This allows for significantly more controlled energy transfer to the thermal interface material, reducing energy consumption by other components of the battery system. This allows for significantly more efficient assembly of a battery module to a housing component.

[0010] Mounting the battery module to the housing component involves joining the two components together using the thermal interface material, or it may simply involve joining the two components. Mounting the battery module and housing component may optionally include additional subsequent assembly steps, but this is not necessarily the case.

[0011] In principle, it is possible for the thermal interface material to be applied to the battery module as the first joining component, or to the housing component as the first joining component, or to be applied to both the battery module and the housing component. However, the method is simplified if the thermal interface material is only applied to one of the two joining components, in this case only to the first joining component. The two joining components are preferably arranged relative to one another in such a way that the thermal interface material, after arrangement, is arranged between the first and second joining sides and preferably completely or almost completely wets a respective first and second joining region of the first and second joining sides. The first joining region can represent the entire first joining side or only a partial region thereof.The second joining area can represent the entire second joining side or only a portion of it. Ideally, after assembly, the first and second joining areas are completely or almost completely covered by the thermal interface material.

[0012] The joining area of ​​a respective joining side can be defined as the area of ​​the respective joining side that is directly opposite the joining area of ​​the other joining side. For example, the first joining area can represent the entire first joining side, which is smaller than the second joining side of the second joining component, in which case the second joining area only represents a portion of the second joining side, but not the entire joining side.

[0013] The thermal interface material can be designed as described above. The features and properties of the thermal interface material, as known from the prior art and / or already mentioned above, can also apply to the thermal interface material used in the invention. The thermal interface material can be a thermally conductive adhesive or a gap filler. The thermal interface material is preferably a multi-component thermal interface material comprising at least two components that are mixed together before being applied to the first joining side.

[0014] The battery module can comprise one or more battery cells. These can be configured, for example, as lithium-ion cells. The joining side provided by the battery module can be partially or completely formed by sides of the respective battery cells encompassed by the battery module. In other words, the thermal interface material can directly contact the battery cells of the battery module after the two joining components have been arranged relative to one another.

[0015] The housing component can simultaneously be configured as a cooling device or temperature control device. For this purpose, the housing component can, for example, comprise cooling channels through which a coolant can flow. The joining sides are preferably substantially planar or flat. This enables the gap to be filled with the thermal interface material between the battery module and the housing component to be as homogeneous as possible, thus ensuring the most homogeneous heat dissipation during operation.

[0016] The type of curing acceleration can advantageously be controlled by adjusting the time for which energy is transferred to the thermal interface material via the energy delivery device and / or by adjusting the amount of energy delivered by the energy delivery device per unit of time. This allows for a high degree of flexibility and adaptability to the specific requirements of the assembly process in question. Adaptation to different thermal interface materials is also possible.

[0017] As already mentioned, it is preferred that the two joining components be arranged relative to one another as immediately as possible after the energy is transferred from the energy delivery device to the thermal interface material. This means that there is a time period between the energy transfer by the energy delivery device to the thermal interface material and the joining of the two joining sides, which preferably amounts to a maximum of a few minutes or even less than one minute. In particular, this time period can also be only a few seconds, for example, less than 10 seconds.

[0018] To enable contactless energy transfer from the energy delivery device to the thermal interface material, it is preferred to use an electromagnetic field or electromagnetic radiation for this purpose. Therefore, a further very advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the energy delivery device comprises a radiator, in particular an IR (infrared) radiator, by means of which the viscous thermal interface material is heated by irradiating the thermal interface material with electromagnetic rays, in particular IR rays, provided by the radiator. Such irradiation can be provided and controlled in a particularly simple and efficient manner and thus represents a particularly suitable and convenient way of transferring energy to the thermal interface material without contact.For this purpose, the first joining side of the first joining component, wetted with the still viscous thermal interface material, can simply be irradiated with the radiation provided by the energy delivery device and then joined to the second joining side of the second joining component. In principle, any radiation, i.e. radiation in any wavelength range, is suitable for accelerating the curing process, for example electromagnetic radiation in the UV and / or visible wavelength ranges. However, it is very advantageous to use IR radiation, as this allows for a particularly simple, efficient, and cost-effective implementation. The radiation provided by the radiator does not have to comprise exclusively infrared radiation, but can also, for example, additionally comprise electromagnetic radiation in other wavelength ranges.For example, a hot body can be used to provide infrared radiation. Such an infrared radiator can thus easily heat the thermal interface material, which can then easily accelerate the curing of the thermal interface material.

[0019] Accordingly, a further highly advantageous embodiment of the invention is provided if the energy delivery device is designed as a heating device that heats the viscous thermal interface material applied to the first joining side without contact. Such heating can thus be provided in a simple manner, as described, using infrared radiation, optionally in combination with radiation in other wavelength ranges. A heatable body, for example, a heating plate, can be used to provide such a heating device.

[0020] Accordingly, a further very advantageous embodiment of the invention is provided if the energy delivery device comprises an energy delivery plate with an energy delivery side, via which energy is delivered to the thermal interface material. Such an energy delivery plate enables particularly uniform energy transfer to the thermal interface material, since the first joining side, on which the thermal interface material is arranged before the curing is accelerated by the energy transferred to it, is preferably designed to be as even or flat as possible.

[0021] The design with an energy release plate is particularly advantageous when the energy release device is designed as a heating device. In this case, the energy release plate can be a heating plate. At the time of energy release to the thermal interface material, this heating plate has a temperature that is higher than the ambient temperature, in particular significantly higher. The energy transfer, in particular heat transfer to the thermal interface material, can then be easily adjusted by the temperature of the heating plate, the distance between the thermal interface material and the heating plate during the energy transfer, and the exposure time, i.e. the period of time during which the thermal interface material arranged on the first joining side is exposed to heating by the heating plate.

[0022] A further very advantageous embodiment of the invention is achieved if the first joining component is moved past the energy delivery device with the first joining side of the energy delivery device, in particular the energy delivery side of the energy delivery plate, facing the energy delivery device, while the energy delivery device delivers the energy to accelerate the curing of the thermal interface material. For this purpose, for example, the first joining component can be moved past the energy delivery plate with the first joining side, or conversely, the first joining component can be held in position while the energy delivery plate is moved past the first joining component. This procedure has the great advantage that the energy delivery device can be activated even before the first joining component is arranged relative to the energy delivery device in order to transfer energy to the thermal interface material.Especially when the energy delivery plate is designed as a heating plate, this has the great advantage that the heating plate can be preheated to its desired, predetermined temperature. Once the heating plate has reached its final temperature, the first joining component can be moved past the heating plate to heat the thermal interface material in a predetermined manner. This can accelerate the heating process.

[0023] The duration for which the first joining component is exposed to energy transfer by the energy delivery device can, in particular, be a maximum of a few minutes, preferably less than one minute, preferably a maximum of a few seconds, for example, less than 10 seconds. For example, this allows several first joining components wetted with the thermal interface material to be easily guided past the energy delivery device one after the other. This allows for particularly rapid production of high-voltage batteries.

[0024] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a temperature of the thermal interface material is measured without contact before the first and second joining components are arranged relative to one another and during and / or after the transfer of energy from the energy delivery device to the thermal interface material. Such a temperature measurement, in particular also repeated temperature measurement in the form of temperature monitoring, can advantageously be used to determine whether the thermal interface material was heated as intended. Furthermore, overheating can be reliably detected. The contactless temperature measurement can be carried out optically, for example using a laser. Such a temperature measurement is also extremely simple as long as the two joining partners have not yet been arranged relative to one another as intended and joined together.

[0025] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first joining component represents the battery module and the second joining component represents the housing component, which is designed in particular as a housing tray with a housing base and a surrounding frame enclosing a receiving area.

[0026] The receiving area within the frame can also be divided into further, individual sub-areas for accommodating individual battery modules. These sub-areas can be further spatially separated from each other by dividers or partitions within the housing tray.

[0027] Especially when the housing component is designed as such a tray with a surrounding frame, it is preferably advantageous if the first joining component represents the battery module. This allows the joining side, which can represent, for example, the underside and / or top side of such a battery module, to be guided past the energy delivery device much more easily and, above all, closer, or temporarily arranged nearby. The possibility of positioning the first joining component and the energy delivery device much closer together minimizes energy losses and saves energy.

[0028] Furthermore, battery modules can be inserted one after the other into a common housing component, in particular a common housing tray. The curing of the respective thermal interface materials on the individual battery modules can thus also be accelerated one after the other by guiding the individual battery modules past the energy delivery device with their respective wetted joining sides. The time between the energy transfer from the energy delivery device to the thermal interface material of the respective battery module and the insertion of the respective battery module into the housing tray can thus be minimized.

[0029] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the thermal interface material is provided in the form of a thermally conductive adhesive. This advantageously allows the thermal interface material to provide not only good thermal conductivity properties, but also adhesive properties. When configured as a thermally conductive adhesive, i.e., as a thermally conductive adhesive, the thermal interface material can even represent the sole joining element during removal from the production cycle. In other words, the joining connection between the battery module and the housing component can be provided solely by the cured thermally conductive adhesive between the battery module and the housing component, without the need for an additional screw connection between the battery module and the housing component. Such a screw connection or another joining connection can optionally be provided additionally.

[0030] Especially when the thermal interface material is provided as such a thermally conductive adhesive, the invention and its embodiments have particularly great advantages, since even without additional connecting elements between the battery module and the housing component, which are also not required when using a thermally conductive adhesive, the accelerated curing of this thermally conductive adhesive allows for very rapid transition to subsequent assembly and handling steps or manufacturing steps.

[0031] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the thermal interface material is applied to the first joining side by completely immersing at least the first joining side of the first joining component in a bath containing the viscous thermal interface material. This procedure is particularly advantageous when the thermal interface material has a very low viscosity in the viscous state. Immersion can also provide a particularly rapid, complete wetting of the first joining side with the thermal interface material. In such a bath of thermal interface material, the individual components that the thermal interface material can comprise and which, when mixed, initiate the curing process, can already be mixed.

[0032] The invention makes it possible to select the components for the thermal interface material so that the open time is relatively long, enabling efficient use of such a bath. The ability to accelerate the curing process using the energy delivery device allows the necessary handling strength for subsequent process steps to be achieved very quickly. On the other hand, a single-component, slow-curing thermal interface material can also be used to provide such a bath. The ability to accelerate the curing process also makes it possible to carry out subsequent process steps very quickly after joining the two components.

[0033] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the thermal interface material is applied to the first joining side by applying the viscous thermal interface material to at least one partial area of ​​the first joining side and distributing it over the first joining side by doctoring or spreading it beyond the at least one partial area. The thermal interface material is preferably distributed over the entire joining area of ​​the first joining side, which is to be connected to the second joining side via the thermal interface material. A spreading device, doctor blade, or similar device can be used for doctoring. By means of such a doctor blade, the thermal interface material, which is applied, for example, in a point-like or linear manner, can be distributed and spread.In principle, it can also be intended that this spreading by doctoring does not cover the entire joining area of ​​the first joining side. This final spreading can also only take place when the first joining side is pressed against the second joining side. This doctoring method is particularly suitable for a thermal interface material with a relatively high viscosity.

[0034] These two wetting or application methods can also be combined, although this is not preferred.

[0035] Furthermore, the invention also relates to a mounting device for mounting a battery module on a housing component, wherein the mounting device is designed to carry out a method according to the invention or one of its embodiments.

[0036] The advantages mentioned for the method according to the invention or its embodiments apply equally to the assembly device according to the invention.

[0037] The assembly device can, for example, comprise the energy delivery device. Furthermore, the assembly device can also have a gripping and handling device for gripping and / or moving and / or positioning at least one of the two joining components, in particular the first joining component. Furthermore, the assembly device can also comprise a bath containing the thermal interface material and / or an application and / or doctoring device for applying and / or distributing the thermal interface material on the first joining side of the first joining component.

[0038] In addition, the assembly device can also comprise a temperature measuring device for measuring the temperature of the thermal interface material during and / or after the energy transfer by the energy delivery device to the thermal interface material. Furthermore, the assembly device can also comprise a control unit for controlling the sequence of the method for mounting the battery module on the housing component. The individual devices can be configured as already described for the method according to the invention and its exemplary embodiments.

[0039] The invention also includes further developments of the assembly device according to the invention that have features already described in connection with the further developments of the method according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding further developments of the assembly device according to the invention are not described again here.

[0040] The invention also includes a battery for a motor vehicle, in particular a high-voltage battery, which was produced by means of a method according to the invention or one of its embodiments, as well as a motor vehicle with such a battery.

[0041] The motor vehicle according to the invention is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car or truck, or as a passenger bus or motorcycle.

[0042] The invention also encompasses combinations of the features of the described embodiments. The invention therefore also encompasses implementations that each comprise a combination of the features of several of the described embodiments, unless the embodiments are described as mutually exclusive.

[0043] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below. Shown are: Fig. 1 is a graphical representation of the curing process of a thermal interface material as a function of time according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 a schematic representation of the application of the thermal interface material to one side of a battery module according to an embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 3 a schematic representation of the acceleration of the curing of the thermal interface material and the insertion of the battery module into a housing component according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0044] The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features of the invention that can be considered independently of one another, each of which also develops the invention independently of one another. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to encompass combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those shown. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

[0045] In the figures, the same reference symbols designate elements with the same function.

[0046] Fig. 1 shows a graphic representation of the curing process of a thermal interface material as a function of time t according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In particular, the temporal development of the strength F of such a thermal interface material is shown from a starting time t0, which corresponds to the time at which, for example, two or more components of such a thermal interface material were mixed together. The individual components of such a thermal interface material can therefore be mixed, in particular mixed mechanically, with the crosslinking reaction of the thermal interface material starting from this mixing time. From this time t0, a continuous increase in the viscosity of the thermal interface material begins. This starting time t0 defines the beginning of the so-called open time Δt1.Depending on the assembly situation of the joining partners to be joined using this thermal interface material, a viscosity limit is specified that defines the end time t1 of the open time Δt1. Up to this end time t1, the two joining partners to be joined can still be assembled using the thermal interface material without damage. If further manufacturing operations are to be carried out on the joining partners afterwards, a certain handling strength FH must be achieved, as is the case at time t2. From this time t2, the thermal interface material is therefore sufficiently cured to ensure that no cracks or other damage to the thermal interface material layer occur during subsequent manufacturing operations. In order to achieve this handling strength FH, a certain time Δt2 is usually required.

[0047] In particular, t3 denotes a point in time at which a specific target strength FZ is reached, and t4 the point in time at which a specific final strength FE is reached. However, these points in time are not relevant within the scope of the present invention.

[0048] In general, it is desirable for the open time Δt1 to be as long as possible to ensure that the two joining partners are joined reliably, even during production interruptions, without premature curing of the thermal interface material. Conversely, the time interval Δt2 between the end t1 of the open time Δt1 and the attainment of the handling strength FH at time t2 should be as short as possible.

[0049] However, these two parameters could not previously be selected independently of each other. A long open time Δt1 also requires a relatively long waiting time Δt2 until handling strength FH is reached.

[0050] The invention and its embodiments now advantageously allow these two opposing requirements to be reconciled much better, as will now be explained in more detail below with reference to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 is explained.

[0051] Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 each show an assembly device 40 and method steps performed by it, as used in a method for mounting a battery module 10 on a housing component 12, in this case a housing tray 14, using a thermal interface material 16. The battery module 10 and the housing component 12 thus represent the joining partners to be joined together. In the following, the battery module 10 is referred to as the first joining partner 10 and the housing component 12 as the second joining partner 12.

[0052] As in Fig. 2, a battery module 10 is initially provided. In this example, the battery module 10 comprises a plurality of battery cells 18. These can be arranged next to one another in a stacking direction, for example, in the form of a cell stack 20. Furthermore, the battery module 10 in this case has a first side 10a, which provides a joining side 10a. This joining side 10a is ultimately intended to be joined via the thermal interface material 16 to a corresponding second joining side 12a of the housing component 12, in particular a housing base 22 of the housing component 12.

[0053] First, the thermal interface material 16, which can be designed, for example, as a thermally conductive adhesive 16a, is applied to this first joining side 10a of the battery module 10. This is done as in Fig. 2, exemplarily by providing a bath 24 containing the viscous thermal interface material 16, i.e., the thermal interface material 16, in a viscous state ZV. Subsequently, the battery module 10 is immersed with its first joining side 10a into this bath 24. As a result, the joining side 10a is wetted with the thermal interface material 16. The immersion is illustrated here by the arrow 26, and the removal of the battery module 10 from the bath 24 by the arrow 27.

[0054] Then we move on to further procedural steps, as described in Fig. 3. In this case, the battery module 10 wetted with the thermal interface material 16 is now provided, wherein the thermal interface material 16 is still in the viscous state ZV. In order to accelerate the curing of the thermal interface material 16, in particular when it is arranged as intended on the housing component 12, an energy output device 28 is provided and used in the present case, which in this example is provided as a heating device 30, in particular in the form of an IR radiator 30a. Such an IR radiator 30a can be provided, for example, in the form of a heating plate or the like. This IR radiator 30a is therefore designed accordingly to emit electromagnetic radiation 32, in particular in the infrared range, i.e. infrared radiation 32a.Before the battery module 10 is inserted into the housing component 12 with the joining side 10a coated with the thermal interface material 16, it is first guided past the heating device 30. This movement is illustrated by the arrow 34. Fig. 3 thus shows how the battery module 10, with the wetted underside 10a, is moved past a heat source, e.g., a heating plate 36, on its way to the battery tray 14 in order to accelerate the chemical reaction that leads to the crosslinking or curing of the thermal interface material 16 shortly before assembly. During the movement 34, the battery module 10 is aligned with respect to the heating device 30 such that the joining side 10a, with the thermal interface material 16 wetting the joining side 10a, faces the radiation elements, e.g., the heating plate 36. Furthermore, the battery module 10 can be moved past the heating plate 36 or the radiation elements 36 in a purely translational, linear movement. This allows for particularly uniform heating of the thermal interface material 16.The thermal interface material 16 is heated by the energy delivery device 28 in such a way that it does not yet fully harden. Preferably immediately afterwards, the battery module 10, which has been guided past the heating device 28, is then inserted into the housing component 12, so that the battery module 10, with the joining side 10a wetted with the thermal interface material 16, is arranged in contact with the corresponding second joining side 22 of the housing component 12. Only then does the thermal interface material 16 fully harden, i.e., transition to the fully cured state ZA. In particular, the... Fig. 1 with t2, at which the thermal interface material 16 reaches the predetermined handling strength FH, is only reached when the battery module 10 is already arranged as intended on the housing component 12, as in Fig. 3 in the right-hand illustration of the battery module 10 in the housing component 12. By supplying heat, as can be achieved by the heating device 30, or generally by supplying energy, as provided by the energy output device 28, it can therefore be achieved that the curing process is accelerated, whereby the time period Δt2 (cf. Fig. 1) is significantly shortened without having to accept an excessively short open time Δt1. The battery module 10 can therefore easily be inserted into the housing component 12 in a timely manner and joined to it as intended via the thermal interface material 16. At the same time, an overall acceleration of the curing of the thermal interface material 16 can be achieved, whereby this acceleration is initiated by the energy delivery device 28 even before the battery module 10 is inserted into the tray 14.

[0055] The introduction of thermal energy by means of radiation 32 can therefore advantageously contribute to better control of the processing window of the thermal interface material 16. If the heat is only introduced into the thermal interface material 16 during assembly or shortly before, for example, the chemical reaction is accelerated and the handling strength FH is reached sooner. This can reduce the waiting time during assembly until the next process step. The open time Δt1, on the other hand, is not violated because the heat is only introduced by means of radiation 32 shortly before assembly. In particular, the heat should be introduced shortly before assembly by guiding the battery module 10, already wetted with the thermal interface material 16, past a heat source, in this case provided by the heating device 30.

[0056] The battery module 10 ultimately inserted into the housing 12 can provide a battery assembly 38, which can be configured, for example, as a high-voltage battery. Further manufacturing and / or assembly steps can follow for this purpose. In particular, the battery assembly 38 can optionally comprise further such battery modules 10, although these are not explicitly shown. These can be inserted into the housing 12 in a manner analogous to that described for the battery module 10 and joined thereto via the thermal interface material 16 or another thermal interface material.

[0057] Overall, the examples demonstrate how the invention can provide a method for the surface application of thermal interface material. According to advantageous embodiments, the novel concept comprises wetting the battery modules on their underside, which later faces the cooling base of the battery tray, with the thermal interface material, preferably a thermally conductive adhesive, in a first process step. This occurs outside the battery tray, for example, by doctoring on the thermal interface material or by dipping the battery module with its underside into a bath full of thermal interface material. Next, the module, wetted with thermal interface material on the underside, can be moved toward the battery tray.Shortly before the battery tray, the thermal interface material layer is moved past a heat source, preferably an infrared radiator, accelerating its chemical reaction. Immediately afterward, the module with the thermal interface material layer is placed in the battery tray, and the thermally conductive adhesive begins to build adhesion. The introduced heat energy significantly accelerates the reaction, and handling strength is achieved more quickly. The more heat is applied, the faster handling strength is achieved, but also the faster the module must be placed in the battery tray due to the shorter open time. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

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

[0000] DE 10 2021 119 206 A1

[0005]

Claims

[1] Method for mounting a battery module (10) on a housing component (12, 12a), comprising the steps: - Providing a first joining component (10; 12) with a first joining side (10a; 12a) and a second joining component (12; 10) with a second joining side (12a; 10a), wherein one of the two joining components (10; 12) represents the battery module (10) and the other the housing component (12, 12a); - applying a viscous and curable thermal interface material (16) to the first joining side (10a; 12a); - arranging the first and second joining components (10; 12) relative to one another in such a way that the first joining side (10a; 12a) and the second joining side (12a; 10a) face one another and the thermal interface material (16) is located between the first and second joining sides (10a; 12a) after the arrangement; characterized bythat before the arrangement, energy (32, 32a) for accelerating a curing of the thermal interface material (16) is transferred contactlessly to the viscous thermal interface material (16) applied to the first joining side (10a; 12a) by means of a provided energy emission device (28), and the arrangement of the first and second joining components (10; 12) takes place thereafter while the thermal interface material (16) has not yet fully cured. [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by in that the energy emission device (28) comprises a radiator (30a), in particular an IR radiator (30a), by means of which the viscous thermal interface material (16) is heated by irradiating the thermal interface material (16) with electromagnetic rays (32, 32a), in particular IR rays (32a), provided by the radiator (30a). [3] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the energy output device (28) is designed as a heating device (30) which heats the viscous thermal interface material (16) applied to the first joining side (10a; 12a) without contact. [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the energy output device (28) has an energy output plate (36) with an energy output side, via which energy (32, 32a) is output to the thermal interface material (16). [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the first joining component (10; 12) is moved past the energy output device (28) with the first joining side (10a; 12a) of the energy output device (28), in particular the energy output side of the energy output plate (36), facing the energy output device (28), while the energy output device (28) outputs the energy (32, 32a) to accelerate the curing of the thermal interface material (16). [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that before arranging the first and second joining components (10; 12) to one another, and during and / or after transferring energy (32, 32a) from the energy output device (28) to the thermal interface material (16), a temperature of the thermal interface material (16) is measured without contact. [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by in that the first joining component (10) represents the battery module (10) and the second joining component (12) represents the housing component (12, 12a), which is designed in particular as a housing trough (14) with a housing base and a surrounding frame enclosing a receiving area. [8] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the thermal interface material (16) is provided in the form of a thermally conductive adhesive (16a). [9] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the application of the thermal interface material (16) to the first joining side (10a; 12a) is carried out by - that at least the first joining side (10a; 12a) of the first joining component (10; 12) is completely immersed in a bath (24) containing the viscous thermal interface material (16); and / or - that the viscous thermal interface material (16) is applied in at least one partial area of ​​the first joining side (10a; 12a) and is distributed over the first joining side (10a; 12a) by doctoring beyond the at least one partial area. [10] Mounting device (40) for mounting a battery module (10) on a housing component (12, 12a), which is designed to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims.

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