Battery housing and method for closing and opening the battery housing

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery housing (1) for a high-voltage battery, comprising a housing base (3) and a housing cover (2) which are connected via an adhesive connection (6), wherein a separating cord (5) is arranged in the region of the adhesive connection (6) inside the battery housing (1). The battery housing according to the invention is characterized in that the separating cord (5) is self-adhesive.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a battery housing for a high-voltage battery according to the type defined in more detail in the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for closing such a battery housing and a method for opening such a battery housing.

[0002] Battery housings for high-voltage or HV batteries are known from the prior art. Such high-voltage batteries, where the term "high-voltage" is defined according to ECE 100R, are often used as so-called traction batteries, i.e., batteries for storing electrical drive power for at least partially electrically powered vehicles. They typically comprise a battery housing, which usually has a housing base and a housing cover, which are connected to each other via an adhesive bond.

[0003] Now, so-called separating cords, also referred to as cutting cords, cutting threads, or the like, are known from the prior art for separating such adhesive bonds. For example, DE 10 2012 019 084 A1 describes a method and a device for producing an adhesive bond, in which a cutting thread is laid parallel to the adhesive bead. This cutting thread is wetted with the adhesive of the adhesive bead and pressed against the component to which the adhesive bead is applied.

[0004] DE 10 2012 019 087 A1 also deals with such a cutting cord. Unlike DE 10 2012 019 084 A1, the cutting cord is pre-assembled inside the housing, e.g., glued.

[0005] The separating cord, referred to as a cutting cord in the cited prior art, then allows the adhesive bead to be cut later, thus severing an adhesive bond. DE 10 2016 107 369 A1 describes such a design for a high-voltage battery, in which such a cutting cord is placed between an inner web and the adhesive bead. The problem here is that at least one through-hole must be present in the housing cover in order to be able to grip the cutting cord when needed. This creates an additional opening that must be sealed, which is covered with a plug in the described application. However, such a plug typically has significant disadvantages with regard to the tightness to be achieved.

[0006] For further prior art, reference can also be made to DE 10 2019 103 049 A1. This document shows an adhesive bond between a housing base and a housing cover of a battery housing. The structure is designed such that, in addition to the actual adhesive bond, an electrically conductive contact layer is provided to establish an electrically conductive connection between the housing base and the housing cover, which is advantageous for reasons of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).

[0007] For further prior art, reference can be made to EP 2 650 142 B1. This describes an adhesive tape with a cutting line. To improve adhesion, the cutting line can be self-adhesive or coated with an adhesion-enhancing primer.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a battery housing structure which is improved compared to the prior art, as well as a method for closing and opening such a battery housing.

[0009] According to the invention, a battery housing having the features in claim 1, and in particular in the characterizing part of claim 1, solves this problem. A method for closing the battery housing and a method for opening the battery housing are specified in claims 8 and 9.

[0010] In the battery housing according to the invention, a housing base and a housing cover are connected via an adhesive bond. A separating cord is arranged inside the battery housing in the area of ​​the adhesive bond. According to the invention, this separating cord is self-adhesive.

[0011] Such a self-adhesive separating cord is extremely simple and efficient to install. It can be very easily applied in the area where the adhesive bond is to be created later, regardless of the adhesive application, for example by gluing it to a flange of the housing base or housing cover facing the later bonding. It then stays reliably in place, completely eliminating the risk of slipping or similar during bonding. The separating cord itself is placed inside the battery housing, i.e. on the side facing inwards towards the adhesive bond, and remains in this area without the need for an opening in the housing cover, as is the case with prior art. If necessary, the self-adhesive separating cord can simply be grasped and pulled out using an auxiliary tool that pierces the adhesive bond, in order to then use it to sever the adhesive bond.This ensures that the structure is reliably sealed, so that moisture transfer into the interior of the battery housing can be reliably excluded.

[0012] The battery housing according to the invention also provides for an electrically conductive connection to be formed in the region of the adhesive connection via an electrically conductive elastic material. In addition to the adhesive connection, an electrically conductive connection is thus realized in order to ensure the electromagnetic compatibility of the battery housing and to create an electrically conductive connection between the housing base and the housing cover. According to an extremely advantageous development, the electrically conductive elastic material can be designed as a self-adhesive tape. Such a tape, which is also known as an EMC tape, can be applied easily and efficiently to one of the housing parts, for example the housing cover, before the bonding process.

[0013] A further very advantageous embodiment provides for the self-adhesive separating cord to be arranged in the edge between the electrically conductive elastic material and the adhesive connection. According to a very advantageous development, the electrically conductive elastic material can face the interior of the housing and the adhesive connection can face the exterior of the battery housing. It is particularly preferred if, according to a very advantageous development, the separating cord is glued into the edge between the elastic electrically conductive material and the corresponding housing part. On the one hand, this ensures that the separating cord is mounted at a fixed, defined location. On the other hand, gluing it in at this point offers the additional advantage that it would definitely be noticeable during assembly if the elastic electrically conductive material, for example in the form of an EMC tape, had been forgotten during assembly.Thus, the arrangement of the self-adhesive separating cord at this point not only ensures its exact positioning, but also provides an additional control step, which would be noticeable if the electrically conductive elastic material had not been installed.

[0014] According to a very advantageous development, the battery housing can also have a marking in the area of ​​the ends of the separating cord. These ends, which according to an advantageous development can be bent back in a U-shape against the running direction, are thus located in an area where the battery housing has a marking on the outside. This allows the ends to be very reliably located with the auxiliary tool mentioned above, allowing the battery housing to be opened if necessary by using the separating cord to separate the adhesive bond.

[0015] The inventive method for closing a battery housing provides that, in a first step, the elastic, electrically conductive material, in particular in the form of an EMC tape, is attached to one of the housing parts. In a second step, the self-adhesive separating cord is then glued between the electrically conductive elastic material and the housing part, after which, in a third step, the adhesive bead is applied to form the adhesive bond. Finally, in a fourth step, the housing parts are joined together to establish the adhesive bond.

[0016] As already mentioned, to open such a battery housing, the adhesive bond can be pierced with an auxiliary tool to grasp the separating cord, preferably in the region of its end marked according to the advantageous embodiment described above. The separating cord is then pulled outside the battery housing, allowing the adhesive bond to be severed using the separating cord.

[0017] Further advantageous embodiments of the battery housing also emerge from the exemplary embodiment which is illustrated in more detail below with reference to the figures.

[0018] Showing: Fig. 1 a schematic sectional view through a section of a battery housing; and Fig. 2 a view of the housing cover with the prepared adhesive connection from below.

[0019] In the presentation of the Fig. 1 shows a cross-section of a section of a battery housing, designated as a whole by 1. In the upper area, a housing cover 2 or a section thereof is shown. In the lower area, a housing base 3 is shown. Between the housing cover 2 and the housing base 3, on the inner side of the battery housing 1, which is here on the left, an electrically conductive elastic material, designated 4, for example in the form of a self-adhesive EMC tape, is applied. A self-adhesive separating cord, designated 5, is glued into the edge between the flange of the housing cover 2 and this elastic, electrically conductive material 4. A bead of adhesive is then applied, for example, to the housing cover 2, before the adhesive just described is placed on the housing base 3.The adhesive bead is pressed and forms a tight adhesive connection 6, which here is between the housing cover 2 and the housing base 3 on the right side facing the outside in the illustration of the . Fig. 1 is shown.

[0020] In the presentation of the Fig. 2, this structure can be seen again in a view along line II-II from below, i.e. without the lower housing part 3. The electrically conductive elastic material 4 is applied to the housing cover 2 in the left-hand area. In the area shown, the self-adhesive separating cord 5 then follows, which is led back in a U-shape in the area of ​​one of its ends. On the far right, the adhesive connection designated 6 can be seen, which in the area shown here splits into two strands in order to run inside and outside a hole designated 7 for the receipt of a screw. The housing cover 2 and the lower housing part 3 are additionally clamped by means of such a screw connection. This can be done in particular as long as the adhesive has not yet hardened, in order to press it together without having to hold the battery housing 1 in a clamping device. The screws then later serve as additional security for the connection.

[0021] In the area where the separating cord 5 is bent in a U-shape, a marking can be arranged in the outer area of ​​the battery housing 1, so that in the event that the battery housing has to be opened again, the illustration of the Fig. 2 an auxiliary tool can be pierced from the right through the adhesive connection 6 in order to grab the end of the separating cord 5, pull it outwards through the puncture in the adhesive connection 6 and then separate the adhesive connection 6 in the usual way so that the housing cover 2 can be lifted off the housing base 3.

Claims

[1] Battery housing (1) for a high-voltage battery, with a housing base (3) and a housing cover (2), which are connected by an adhesive connection (6), wherein a separating cord (5) is arranged in the area of ​​the adhesive connection (6) inside the battery housing (1), characterized by , that the separating cord (5) is self-adhesive, whereby in the region of the adhesive connection (6) an electrically conductive connection is formed via an electrically conductive elastic material (4). [2] Battery housing (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the electrically conductive elastic material (4) is designed as a self-adhesive tape. [3] Battery housing (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the self-adhesive separating cord (5) is arranged between the electrically conductive elastic material (4) and the adhesive connection (6). [4] Battery housing (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized bythat the electrically conductive elastic material (4) faces the interior of the battery housing (1) and the adhesive connection (6) faces the exterior of the battery housing (1). [5] Battery housing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the self-adhesive separating cord (5) is glued into an edge between the electrically conductive elastic material (4) and the housing part (2) to which it is attached. [6] Battery housing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by a mark in the area of ​​the ends of the self-adhesive separating cord (5). [7] Battery housing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the self-adhesive separating cord (5) is bent into a U-shape at at least one of its ends and is guided back for a partial section in the opposite direction to the direction in which it was introduced. [8] Method for closing a battery housing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that in a first method step the electrically conductive elastic material (4) is attached to one of the housing parts (2), in a second method step the self-adhesive separating cord (5) is glued between the electrically conductive elastic material (4) and the housing part (2), after which in a third method step the adhesive bead is applied to form the adhesive connection (6), after which in a fourth method step the housing parts (2, 3) are joined together. [9] Method for opening a battery housing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the adhesive connection (6) is pierced with an auxiliary tool in order to grasp the self-adhesive separating cord (5), preferably in the region of one of its ends, and to pull it outside the battery housing (1) through the adhesive connection (6), after which the adhesive connection (6) is severed by means of the separating cord (5).

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