Spacer, battery, vehicle with battery, method for manufacturing the battery

Abstract

A spacer (101) for a battery (401), in particular a high-voltage battery of a vehicle, wherein the spacer (101) can be arranged in a region between a metallic cooling module (403) and electrical contacts (402) of the battery (401), wherein the spacer (101) is electrically insulating in this region and has passages for an electrically insulating body (404) for heat transfer between the cooling module (403) and the contacts (402). Battery, vehicle with the battery, method for manufacturing the battery.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a spacer, a battery, a vehicle with the battery and a method for producing the battery.

[0002] DE102019217668A1 discloses a battery with several round cells arranged side by side, wherein the round cells are arranged in a load distributor which is made of a deformable material and has a grid or honeycomb structure

[0003] The spacer, the battery, the vehicle and the method for manufacturing the battery provide improved protection for a battery against underbody load cases.

[0004] Spacer for a battery, in particular a high-voltage battery of a vehicle, wherein the spacer can be arranged in a region between a metallic cooling module and electrical contacts of the high-voltage battery, wherein the spacer is designed to be electrically insulating in the region and has passages for an electrically insulating body for heat transfer between the cooling module and the contacts.

[0005] Preferably, the spacer has locking lugs or clips for attaching the spacer to the contacts.

[0006] Preferably, the spacer has a grid with, in particular, hexagonal holes that form the passages.

[0007] The battery, in particular the high-voltage battery, has electrical contacts on which the spacer is arranged.

[0008] Preferably, one of the contacts has a fastening nut, wherein the fastening nut is surrounded by an electrically insulating stud bolt or is provided with an electrically insulating overmolding.

[0009] Preferably, the battery provides a busbar for the contacts, wherein the busbar has notches for the locking lugs or clips.

[0010] Preferably, the battery comprises an electrically insulating body for heat transfer, wherein the spacer is immersed in the body.

[0011] Preferably, a thickness of the spacer is less than or equal to a thickness of the body.

[0012] The vehicle, characterized in that the vehicle has the battery.

[0013] The process for manufacturing the battery involves placing the spacer on the battery contacts.

[0014] Further advantageous embodiments can be found in the following description and the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a spacer, Fig. 2 a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the spacer, Fig. 3 a schematic representation of a third embodiment of the spacer, Fig. 4 a schematic representation of a section through a battery, Fig. 5 a schematic of a section through a battery with spacer, Fig. 6 a schematic representation of a first perspective view of the battery with spacers, Fig. 7 a schematic representation of a second perspective view of the battery with spacers.

[0015] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a spacer 101. The spacer 101 is made of an electrically non-conductive material.

[0016] The spacer 101 has locking lugs 102 for securing the spacer 101. Instead of the locking lugs 102 or in addition thereto, clips can be provided for securing the spacer 101.

[0017] The spacer 101 has a grid 103 with holes. In the example, the holes are hexagonal. The holes can also have other shapes, such as round or rectangular. The holes form passages through the spacer 101.

[0018] According to the first embodiment of the spacer 101, the locking lugs 102 are arranged on an edge 104 that protrudes from a plane forming the grid 103. According to the first embodiment of the spacer 101, the edge is arranged on two adjacent sides of the spacer 101. According to the first embodiment of the spacer 101, the locking lugs 102 are arranged on two adjacent sides of the spacer 101.

[0019] In Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the spacer 101. In contrast to the first embodiment, the spacer 101 according to the second embodiment has the edge 104 on three sides of the spacer 101, with the locking lugs 102 arranged on the two opposite sides of the spacer 101.

[0020] The spacer 101 may also have a cap geometry.

[0021] In Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a third embodiment of the spacer 101.

[0022] In contrast to the first embodiment, the spacer 101 according to the second embodiment has the edge 104 on two opposite sides of the spacer 101, wherein the locking lugs 102 are arranged on the two opposite sides of the spacer 101.

[0023] It may be provided that the edge 104 surrounds the spacer 101. It may be provided that the locking lugs 102 are arranged without an edge, for example, directly on the grid 103.

[0024] It can be provided that the same number of locking lugs 102 are arranged on each of the sides or that a different number of locking lugs 102 are arranged on two or more of the sides.

[0025] In Fig. Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of a section through a battery 401. In this example, battery 401 is an underbody battery of a vehicle (not shown). In this example, battery 401 is a high-voltage battery for powering the vehicle.

[0026] An electrical contact 402 for electrically contacting the battery 401 is arranged on an underside of the battery 401, i.e., the side of the battery facing the roadway in the example. A cooler module 403 is arranged on the underside of the battery 401. The cooler module 403 is metallic, for example. The cooler module 403 comprises aluminum, for example. A body 404 for heat transfer is arranged between the cooler module 403 and the battery 401. The body is made of electrically insulating material. The body 404 is designed for heat transfer between the cooler module 403 and the contact 402.

[0027] An insulating foil 405 is arranged between the body 404 and the cooler module 403.

[0028] The cooler module 403 is thermally connected to the electrical contact 402.

[0029] In the example, an electrical contact 402 is shown. The battery 401 has, for example, a busbar with several such contacts 402 on its underside. It can be provided that the battery includes contactors, with one or more contacts 402 arranged on the underside for contacting the contactors.

[0030] The spacer 101 is designed to reduce the risk of the cooling module 403 touching, i.e. making electrical contact with, the electrical contact 402 in the event of deformation of the cooling module due to an external load.

[0031] This danger exists, for example, if the insulating film 405 tears and the body 404 is displaced by the cooling module 403, causing electrical contact between the electrical contacts 402 and the cooling module 403.

[0032] In Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a section through the battery 401 with spacer 101.

[0033] A spacer 101 is arranged on each of the electrical contacts 402 of the battery 401.

[0034] In the example, a busbar comprises the electrical contact 402. In the example, the spacer 101 is clipped to the respective electrical contact 402. In one embodiment, the busbar has notches for the locking lugs or clips. It may be provided that the contact 402 has the notches.

[0035] In an embodiment without notches, it can be provided that the body 404 holds the spacer 401 in particular because of the locking lugs 102.

[0036] The spacer 101 is electrically insulating in a region between a metallic cooling module 403 and the electrical contacts 402. The spacer 101 has passages for the body 404 for heat transfer between the cooling module 403 and the contacts 402. In the example, the spacer 101 is immersed in the body 404. In the example, the thickness of the spacer 101 is less than or equal to the thickness of the body 404.

[0037] The spacer elements 101 ensure a distance between the electrical contacts 402 and the cooler module 403 even if the cooler module 403 is deformed and reliably prevent an electrical connection between the electrical contacts 402 and the cooler module 403.

[0038] In Fig. Figure 6 shows a schematic representation of a first perspective view of the battery 401 with spacers 101. The exemplary battery 601 comprises two contacts 402 for a contactor 602, each having a fastening nut 603. In the example, the fastening nut 603 is surrounded by an electrically insulating stud bolt 604. It may be provided that the fastening nut 603 is provided with an electrically insulating overmolding.

[0039] In Fig. Figure 7 shows a schematic representation of a second perspective view of the battery 401 with spacers 101. In the example, two pairs of spacers 101 for the two fastening nuts of two contactors are shown on the right in Fig. 7. In the example, five additional spacers 101 for electrical contacts of the battery 401 on busbars are shown.

[0040] The battery 401 may have more or fewer contactors or busbars or more or fewer spacers.

[0041] A method for manufacturing the battery 401 provides for the spacer 101 to be arranged on the contacts 402 of the battery 401. For example, the spacer 101 is placed onto one or more contacts 402. For example, the fastening nut is previously surrounded or overmolded with the stud bolt 604.

[0042] For example, the body 404 is positioned on the battery 401, and the spacer 401 is then embedded into the body 404. The body 404 holds the spacer 401 in position.

[0043] For example, the spacer 401 is manufactured and demolded as an injection-molded part, in particular without an additional slide. The spacer 401 can also be made of another electrically insulating material. The material is selected, for example, depending on the expected load.

[0044] The spacer 401 or the stud bolt 604 for the fastening nut 603 can be manufactured as an overmolding of the fastening nut 603 or as an additional component which is subsequently arranged on the fastening nut 603.

[0045] The insulating foil 405, for example, is 2 millimeters + / - 1.4 mm thick. The body 404, for example, is 0.6 mm thick. 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 102019217668A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Spacer (101) for a battery (401), in particular a high-voltage battery of a vehicle, characterized by that the spacer (101) can be arranged in a region between a metallic cooling module (403) and electrical contacts (402) of the battery (401), wherein the spacer (101) is designed to be electrically insulating in the region and has passages for an electrically insulating body (404) for heat transfer between the cooling module (403) and the contacts (402). [2] Spacer (101) according to claim 1, characterized by that the spacer (101) has locking lugs (102) or clips for fastening the spacer (101) to the contacts (403). [3] Spacer (101) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the spacer (101) has a grid (103) with in particular hexagonal holes which form the passages. [4] Battery (401), in particular high-voltage battery, characterized bythat the battery (401) has electrical contacts (403) on which the spacer (101) according to one of claims 1 to 3 is arranged. [5] Battery (401) according to claim 4, characterized by that one of the contacts has a fastening nut (603), wherein the fastening nut (603) is surrounded by an electrically insulating stud bolt (604) or is provided with an electrically insulating overmolding. [6] Battery (401) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by that the battery (401) provides a busbar for the contacts, wherein the busbar has notches for the locking lugs (101) or clips. [7] Battery (401) according to claim 4 to 6, characterized by that the battery (401) has an electrically insulating body (404) for heat transfer, wherein the spacer (101) is immersed in the body (404). [8] Battery (401) according to claim 7, characterized bythat a thickness of the spacer (101) is less than or equal to a thickness of the body (404). [9] Vehicle, characterized by that the vehicle has the battery (401) according to one of claims 4 to 8. [10] A method for producing a battery according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterized by that the spacer (101) according to one of claims 1 to 3 is arranged on contacts (402) of the battery (401).

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