Battery housing with a cooling device integrated into the base of the housing and traction battery with such a battery housing

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery housing (110), in particular for a traction battery (100), for receiving battery cells (120), comprising a housing base (113) and a cooling device (K) arranged in the housing base (113) for cooling the battery cells (120), wherein the housing base (113) is made of plastic and the cooling device (K) is integrated into the housing base (113) made of plastic. The invention further relates to a traction battery (100) for a motor vehicle, which has a battery housing (110) according to the invention.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a battery housing, in particular for a traction battery, according to the preamble of patent claim 1. The invention further relates to a traction battery for a motor vehicle.

[0002] WO 2022 / 006609 A2 describes a battery for a motor vehicle for storing electrical energy. The battery comprises: - a battery housing with a base plate and a cover plate; and - at least one accumulator cell which is accommodated in the accumulator housing.

[0003] The base plate and the cover plate can each comprise at least one solid wood panel. Furthermore, one or more recesses can be formed in such a solid wood panel, which can serve, for example, to accommodate a coolant line.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide an improved battery housing which is in particular comparatively easy to manufacture.

[0005] This object is achieved by the battery housing according to the invention having the features of patent claim 1. The independent patent claim also extends the invention to a traction battery (drive battery) for a motor vehicle having a battery housing according to the invention. Further developments and refinements of the invention are analogously evident for both subject matters of the invention from the dependent patent claims, the following description of the invention (this expressly includes features described as examples and optionally), and the figures.

[0006] The battery housing (battery box) according to the invention for accommodating (multiple) battery cells comprises a housing base and a cooling device arranged in the housing base for cooling the battery cells (accommodated in the battery housing). According to the invention, at least the housing base is made of plastic, and the cooling device is integrated into the housing base.

[0007] According to the invention, the cooling device is integrated into the housing base (made of plastic), i.e. the cooling device is a component of the housing base and in particular is not an inserted component or the like, which simplifies the assembly of the battery. Furthermore, the structural or housing height can be reduced and weight or mass can be saved. According to the invention, the housing base is made of plastic, in particular of thermoplastic plastic (e.g. PP or PA), optionally with fiber reinforcement (e.g. GF / PP or GF / PA), so that elements belonging to the cooling device and / or elements intended for fastening the cooling device can be manufactured or molded comparatively easily during the manufacture of the housing base. The housing base is preferably manufactured as an injection-molded part, i.e. as a plastic injection-molded part, or as a compression-molded part, i.e. as a plastic compression-molded part.Preferably, the housing base is flat and in particular plate-like.

[0008] Furthermore, other housing parts of the battery housing (such as the side wall, the housing cover, any supports, in particular longitudinal and / or transverse supports) can also be made of plastic, in particular of the same plastic. Some of these housing parts can also be formed integrally with the housing base. In particular, this is a battery housing of so-called plastic construction.

[0009] A preferred embodiment provides that the cooling device has at least one channel structure formed by ribs on the inside of the housing base, i.e. on the upper side of the housing base facing the battery cells, which channel structure is closed by a cover plate. Several such channel structures closed by one or more cover plates can also be provided. Ribs are meant to be comparatively thin wall elements which are preferably aligned vertically and can in particular have a wall thickness of 1.5 mm to 5.0 mm or more. The ribs are preferably formed integrally with the housing base and are molded together, in particular during injection-molded or press-molded production of the housing base. For this purpose, the ribs are optionally formed with draft angles (e.g. 0.5°). The ribs orThe resulting channel structure is located only on the inside of the housing base, so that the channel structure is closed at the bottom by the wall of the housing base. The channel structure is located, in particular, vertically below those battery cells that are to be cooled (from below) by this channel structure. The ribs are preferably designed and arranged such that they form a meandering channel structure.

[0010] The channel structure is closed at the top by a cover plate, which is in particular an aluminum plate. The cover plate can have a thickness of 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm. It is preferably provided that the battery cells to be cooled are positioned directly (with flat contact) on the cover plate. The cover plate is preferably applied in such a way that the channel structure is sealed all the way around and that, in particular, adjacent channels (cooling channels) of the channel structure are also sealed from one another, so that coolant can flow directly through the channel structure (i.e. without further inserts or the like). The cover plate is preferably adhesively bonded on, it is preferably provided that the cover plate is adhesively bonded to the housing base at a peripheral edge and, in particular, also to the upper end faces of the ribs. The adhesive used can also function as a seal.The upper end surfaces of the ribs may be formed with groove-like recesses for receiving an adhesive and / or a seal or sealing material.

[0011] The channel structure formed by ribs can be designed with a circumferential stepped seam, the height of which is specifically adapted to the thickness of the cover plate, so that the applied or glued cover plate forms a plane or is flush with the surrounding inner surface of the housing base. The horizontal seam surface (of the stepped seam) can also be used as an adhesive surface for edge bonding (and sealing) of the cover plate. The contours of the stepped seam and the cover plate are self-explanatory and coordinate with each other.

[0012] Preferably, at least two connection openings are also provided for the inlet and outlet of a cooling fluid to the channel structure. These connection openings are preferably accessible from the outside or on the underside of the housing base facing away from the battery cells and are located in particular on (accessible) vertical wall surfaces. The vertical or perpendicular wall surfaces can be formed during injection-molded or compression-molded production of the housing base, in particular by means of a slide, with draft angles (e.g., 0.5°) being provided if necessary. The connection is preferably made via bores and connection or coupling elements.

[0013] Another possible embodiment provides that the housing base has at least one recess (which means a base opening), in particular a rectangular recess, into which a cooling element made of metal, preferably sheet metal, in particular aluminum sheet, with cooling channels through which coolant can flow is inserted. The cooling element is preferably formed from joined sheet metal shells. The cooling element can also be formed from other suitable materials or semi-finished products (e.g., from an extruded profile). The cooling element is a separate, prefabricated component that is connected to the housing base. For this purpose, the cooling element has, in particular, a circumferential joining flange that is joined, in particular glued, to a corresponding joining flange on the housing base. The joining connection can be provided either on the inside or on the outside of the housing base, i.e.The cooling element can be inserted into the recess from the inside or outside, depending on the case. Preferably, the cooling element and the housing base are designed such that the inserted cooling element forms a plane with the surrounding inner surface of the housing base or is flush with it. Preferably, the battery cells to be cooled are positioned directly (with flat contact) on the cooling element or the cooling element is arranged directly below the battery cells to be cooled.

[0014] The battery housing according to the invention is intended in particular as a battery housing for a traction battery and can therefore also be referred to as a traction battery housing.

[0015] A traction battery according to the invention for a motor vehicle comprises: - a battery housing according to the invention; and - a plurality of battery cells, in particular prismatic battery cells, which are accommodated in the battery housing or arranged in the interior of the battery housing in such a way that they can be cooled from below by means of the cooling device integrated into the housing base, whereby cooling from above or from the side can optionally also be provided.

[0016] The battery cells can be combined to form battery modules (cell modules). The battery housing can have additional housing parts not described in detail, such as a side wall, a housing cover (upper housing base), and / or at least one support (arranged in the interior), wherein, in particular, several supports designed as longitudinal and / or transverse supports can be provided.

[0017] The directional information, position information and the like used to describe the invention refer to a preferred installation position of the battery housing or the traction battery in a motor vehicle.

[0018] Within the scope of the invention, both the features described above and those explained below are applicable not only in the respective combination of features specified, but also in other combinations of features or in isolation. This also applies to the features shown in the figures.

[0019] The invention is explained in more detail below in a non-limiting manner with reference to the schematic figures. The features shown in the figures and / or explained below can, even independently of specific combinations of features, be general features of the invention and can further develop the invention accordingly. Combinations of the possible embodiments shown in the figures and described below are also feasible within the scope of the invention. Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of a traction battery with a battery housing according to the invention. Fig. 2 shows a sectional view according to the Fig. 1 indicated section (AA) a channel structure of the cooling device of the battery housing. Fig. 3 shows an enlarged sectional view according to the Fig. 2 indicated section (BB) a rib of the canal structure. Fig. 4 shows analogous to Fig. 1 another design option for the battery housing.

[0020] The Fig. 1, a traction battery 100 shown only in part, has a battery housing (battery box) 110 with battery cells 120 accommodated therein. The battery cells 120 can be combined to form battery or cell modules. The battery housing 110 has a plurality of supports 111, a housing cover 112, and a housing base 113. The housing base 113 is made of plastic and is manufactured in particular as a one-piece injection-molded or compression-molded part.

[0021] A cooling device K is integrated into the housing base 113 for cooling the battery cells 120 arranged above it from below. The cooling device K has a channel structure 116 formed on the inside of the housing base 113 by ribs 114, which is closed at the top by a cover plate 117. The ribs 114 are molded onto the housing base 113 and can be designed with rounded portions and / or draft angles. The cover plate 117 is flush with the surrounding inner surface of the housing base 113, for which purpose the housing base 113 is formed on its inside with a stepped flange surrounding the channel structure 116, into which the cover plate 117 is fitted. The cover plate 117 is connected at a peripheral edge to the housing base 113 as well as to the upper end faces of the ribs 114 (see Fig. 3). The battery housing 110 or its housing base 113 can have further channel structures formed in this way.

[0022] Fig. Figure 2 shows the channel structure 116. The ribs 114 are designed and arranged to create a meandering channel structure 116, although other channel configurations are also possible. The channel structure 116 has a rectangular outer contour, although other contours are also possible. The rectangular outline of the cover plate 117 is shown in dashed lines. The inlet and outlet of cooling liquid to the channel structure 116 (as illustrated by the arrows) occurs on opposite sides via connection openings that are accessible from the outside or underside of the housing base 113 and are located on vertical wall surfaces, as shown in Fig. 1 indicated for the inlet.

[0023] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the ribs 114 are formed on their upper end surfaces with groove-like recesses 115 for an adhesive 118 and / or a sealing material. Preferably, such groove-like recesses 115 extend over the entire length of each rib 114.

[0024] At the Fig.In the embodiment of the battery housing 110 shown in Figure 4, the housing base 113 has a recess or bottom opening 119 into which a prefabricated cooling element 130 made of sheet metal is inserted. The recess 119 is preferably formed during injection-molded or press-formed production of the housing base 113. The cooling element 130 has a plurality of cooling channels 136, which essentially form a channel structure, and is preferably formed from formed and joined sheet metal shells, e.g., a lower sheet metal shell and an upper sheet metal shell. The cooling element 130 has a circumferential joining flange 131 and is glued or bonded to the housing base 113 on the inside or from above, or fastened in another suitable manner. The cooling element 130 can also be fastened or bonded to the housing base 113 on the outside or from below. The cooling element 130 is flush on its upper side with the surrounding inner surface of the housing base 113.The battery housing 110 or its housing base 113 can have further cooling elements 130 designed in this way.

[0025] Further details of the embodiments shown in the figures as well as other embodiments of the invention are described above. 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] WO 2022 / 006609 A2

[0002]

Claims

[1] Battery housing (110), in particular for a traction battery (100), for accommodating battery cells (120), comprising a housing base (113) and a cooling device (K) arranged in the housing base (113) for cooling the battery cells (120), characterized by that the housing base (113) is made of plastic and the cooling device (K) is integrated into the housing base (113). [2] Battery housing (110) according to claim 1, characterized by that the housing base (113) is manufactured as an injection-molded part or a press-molded part. [3] Battery housing (110) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the cooling device (K) has at least one channel structure (116) formed by ribs (114) on the inside of the housing base (113), which channel structure is closed by a cover plate (117). [4] Battery housing (110) according to claim 3, characterized by that the ribs (114) form a meandering channel structure (116). [5] Battery housing (110) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by that the cover plate (117) is an aluminum sheet. [6] Battery housing (110) according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized by that the cover plate (117) is glued on. [7] Battery housing (110) according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized by that the upper end faces of the ribs (114) are formed with groove-like depressions (115) for an adhesive (118) and / or a seal. [8] Battery housing (110) according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized by that at least two connection openings are provided for the inlet and outlet of a cooling liquid to the channel structure (116), wherein these connection openings are accessible from the outside of the housing base (113) and are located on vertical wall surfaces. [9] Battery housing (110) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the housing base (113) has at least one recess (119) into which a cooling element (130) made of metal, in particular sheet metal, with cooling channels (136) is inserted. [10] Traction battery (100) for a motor vehicle, comprising: - a battery housing (110) formed according to one of claims 1 to 9; and - a plurality of battery cells (120) accommodated in the battery housing (110).

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