Electrical energy storage and vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical energy storage device (2) for a vehicle, comprising a housing (1) with a receiving tray (1.1) and a housing cover (1.2), wherein a plurality of electrically interconnected individual cells (4) are arranged in the receiving tray (1.1). According to the invention, a stiffening element (3) extending between the individual cells (4) is arranged in the receiving tray (1.1), comprising at least one longitudinal strut (3.1) extending in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the receiving tray (1.1) and at least one transverse strut (3.2) extending in the direction of a transverse axis of the receiving tray (1.1). The invention further relates to a vehicle with such an electrical energy storage device (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an electrical energy storage device for a vehicle, comprising a housing with a receiving tray and a housing cover, wherein a plurality of electrically interconnected individual cells are arranged in the receiving tray. The invention further relates to a vehicle.

[0002] From DE 10 2012 008 633 A1, a battery module for an electrically powered motor vehicle is known. The battery module has a plurality of battery cells and a deformation element which is designed to absorb mechanical energy acting on the battery module from the outside by means of plastic deformation of its shape.

[0003] The invention is based on the objective of providing an electrical energy storage device for a vehicle and a vehicle.

[0004] The problem is solved according to the invention by an electrical energy storage device which has the features specified in claim 1, and by a vehicle which has the features specified in claim 10.

[0005] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0006] An electrical energy storage device for a vehicle comprises a housing including a receiving tray and a housing cover, wherein a plurality of electrically interconnected individual cells are arranged in the receiving tray. According to the invention, a stiffening element extending between the individual cells is arranged in the receiving tray, comprising at least one longitudinal strut extending in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the receiving tray and at least one transverse strut extending in the direction of a transverse axis of the receiving tray.

[0007] The stiffening element stiffens and stabilizes both the electrical energy storage device and the vehicle body shell, in particular the vehicle floor, in which the electrical energy storage device is located or integrated. The stiffening element forms part of the vehicle's body shell structure. This stiffening element significantly reduces the risk of damage to the electrical energy storage device and the associated fire risk, especially in the event of a vehicle collision. Specifically, the stiffening element, which runs within the housing, largely prevents collision-induced deformation of the electrical energy storage device, thus significantly reducing the risk of damage to individual cells and the associated risk of thermal runaway of one or more individual cells.

[0008] By arranging the stiffening element within the housing of the electrical energy storage device, the number of individual cells is reduced, while the housing can be taller, allowing the individual cells, particularly in terms of their height, to be taller in order to compensate for the reduction in the number of individual cells.

[0009] In one embodiment of the electrical energy storage device, the receiving shell has a number of recesses in its edge region, through which at least one free end of either the at least one longitudinal strut or the at least one transverse strut projects outside the receiving shell. Thus, the at least one longitudinal strut and the at least one transverse strut project section by section from the receiving shell, so that the housing is stiffened beyond its dimensions by means of the stiffening element.

[0010] In another embodiment, at least one longitudinal strut and / or at least one transverse strut of the stiffening element is connected to the receiving shell by a material, form, and / or force-fit connection, at least in the area of ​​the recesses. This means that a solid bond is formed between the housing and the stiffening element, resulting in a compact and stable unit between the receiving shell and the stiffening element.

[0011] In one possible embodiment, the respective free ends of at least one longitudinal strut and at least one transverse strut are flange-shaped, allowing them to be joined, in particular, to the vehicle body. For this purpose, the respective flange area has a comparatively large joining surface to create a robust connection between the stiffening element and the vehicle body.

[0012] In a further development, the respective free ends of at least one longitudinal strut and at least one transverse strut are designed for a material-fit attachment of the housing to a vehicle body shell. This allows for a robust connection between the stiffening element and the vehicle body shell, ensuring that the electrical energy storage device is securely held to the vehicle body shell, particularly in the vehicle floor area.

[0013] In another possible embodiment, the stiffening element comprises two longitudinal struts and two transverse struts, with the transverse struts arranged parallel to each other. The longitudinal struts and the transverse struts are arranged and fastened to each other in such a way that the electrical energy storage device is optimally stiffened and stabilized.

[0014] In one embodiment of the electrical energy storage device, the first sections of the longitudinal struts, each with free ends, run parallel to each other at a predetermined distance. In a second section adjacent to the first, the longitudinal struts converge towards each other, and further third sections of the longitudinal struts, also with free ends, run parallel to each other at a further distance, which is less than the predetermined distance. Thus, both the longitudinal sides and the end faces of the electrical energy storage device's housing are stiffened, thereby reducing deformation of the electrical energy storage device and the resulting damage to individual cells in the event of a vehicle collision.

[0015] In one embodiment, the longitudinal struts with their first sections are arranged in the direction of travel of the vehicle. In particular, the free ends of the first sections are arranged on an end face of the housing, i.e., the receiving shell, so that the electrical energy storage device is stiffened and stabilized by means of the longitudinal struts in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

[0016] Furthermore, one possible design of the electrical energy storage device envisions that the stiffening element is made of metal and / or plastic. In particular, the stiffening element is made of at least one material that is comparatively rigid and relatively lightweight, so that the weight of the electrical energy storage device, and thus of the vehicle, is not significantly increased by the stiffening element.

[0017] The invention further relates to a vehicle with an electrical energy storage device comprising the receiving tray and the housing cover, wherein the stiffening element extending between individual cells is arranged in the receiving tray, comprising at least one longitudinal strut extending in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the receiving tray and at least one transverse strut extending in the direction of a transverse axis of the receiving tray.

[0018] The stiffening element stiffens the electrical energy storage device and also the vehicle, in particular the vehicle floor, by connecting the electrical energy storage device to the vehicle body shell, so that collision-related deformation of at least the energy storage device can be reduced.

[0019] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

[0020] This shows: Fig. 1. Schematic perspective view of an exploded view of the housing of an electrical energy storage device with stiffening element, Fig. 2. Schematic view of a perspective view of the housing in the assembled state, Fig. 3 schematically a top view of a receiving shell of the housing of the electrical energy storage device with stiffening element, Fig. 4 schematically a sectional view IV of Fig. 3 of the receiving shell with the stiffening element and two individual cells having different heights, Fig. 5 schematically a perspective view of a vehicle body shell before the installation of the electrical energy storage system and Fig. 6 schematically a top view of the vehicle body shell with mounted electrical energy storage.

[0021] Corresponding parts are marked with the same reference symbols in all figures.

[0022] Fig. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an exploded view of a housing 1 of an electrical energy storage device 2 with a stiffening element 3 and in Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the housing 1 in its assembled state.

[0023] Fig. Figure 3 shows a top view of a receiving shell 1.1 of the housing 1 of the electrical energy storage device 2 with an arranged stiffening element 3 and Fig. Figure 4 shows a sectional view IV of the receiving shell 1.1 with the stiffening element 3 and two individual cells 4 of different heights, which are shown as examples and in a highly simplified manner.

[0024] The electrical energy storage device 2 is a traction battery of an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a fuel cell-powered vehicle. Such an electrical energy storage device 2 has a housing 1, which comprises a receiving tray 1.1 and a housing cover 1.2. A plurality of electrically interconnected individual cells 4 are arranged in the housing 1, particularly in the receiving tray 1.1. According to the Fig. The embodiment shown in Figure 4 consists of round cells that have a substantially circular cylindrical cell casing.

[0025] It is generally known that such an electrical energy storage device 2 is arranged and attached in the area of ​​a vehicle floor of a vehicle, the vehicle floor itself being a component of the housing 1.

[0026] In order to protect the electrical energy storage device 2, which is located in the area of ​​a vehicle floor, from deformation in the event of a collision of the vehicle, so that the risk of damage with regard to the individual cells 4 can be reduced at least to the extent that thermal runaway and thus a potential fire hazard can be largely prevented, the electrical energy storage device 2 is designed and arranged on a vehicle as described below.

[0027] How Fig. Figure 1 shows a stiffening element 3 arranged in the receiving shell 1.1. The stiffening element 3 comprises two longitudinal struts 3.1 and two transverse struts 3.2, wherein the longitudinal struts 3.1 and the transverse struts 3.2 are connected to each other. In particular, the stiffening element 3 is made of a comparatively robust and stiff material, for example, metal and / or plastic and / or a fiber-reinforced plastic.

[0028] The longitudinal struts 3.1 each have a first section A1 in which the longitudinal struts 3.1 run parallel to each other at a predetermined distance. In a second section A2 adjacent to the first section A2, the longitudinal struts 3.1 converge, and in a third section A3, the longitudinal struts 3.1 again run parallel to each other at a further distance, which is less than the predetermined distance of the longitudinal struts 3.1 in the first section A1. If the electrical energy storage device 2 is mounted on a vehicle, the longitudinal struts 3.1 with their first section A1 are arranged in the direction of travel x.

[0029] The crossbars 3.2 of the stiffening element 3 run parallel to each other, with one crossbar 3.2 being arranged centrally with respect to a longitudinal axis of the receiving shell 1.1 and another crossbar 3.2 being arranged in front of the centrally arranged crossbar 3.2 with respect to the direction of travel x.

[0030] Both the longitudinal struts 3.1 and the transverse struts 3.2 are of such a length that their free ends E are located outside the housing 1, in particular the receiving shell 1.1. For this purpose, the receiving shell 1.1 has a number of recesses A corresponding to the number of longitudinal struts 3.1 and transverse struts 3.2, which are arranged in an edge region of the receiving shell 1.1. The free ends E of the longitudinal struts 3.1 and the transverse struts 3.2 project through these recesses A and are thus positioned outside the housing 1.

[0031] For example, the free ends E are attached to the edge area of ​​the receiving shell 1.1 in the respective recess A by means of material and / or form and / or force-fit.

[0032] The free ends E of the longitudinal struts 3.1 and the transverse struts 3.2 are flange-shaped and form attachment points for attaching the electrical energy storage device 2 to a vehicle body shell 5, as shown in the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 is shown.

[0033] The vehicle body 5 has a continuous recess AN within which the electrical energy storage device 2 is arranged, so that the electrical energy storage device 2 forms part of the vehicle floor and thus of the vehicle body 5.

[0034] The electrical energy storage device 2 is connected to the vehicle body 5 by means of the free ends E of the stiffening element 3, either materially or form-fit and / or force-fit, so that the electrical energy storage device 2 is firmly and securely held to the vehicle body 5. The stiffening element 3 thus increases the stability and rigidity of the electrical energy storage device 2 and also of the vehicle, in particular the vehicle floor. The stiffening element 3 forms a structural element of the body. Since the electrical energy storage device 2, especially due to the stiffening element 3, increases the stability and rigidity of the vehicle, occupant protection in the vehicle can also be enhanced.

[0035] Because the electrical energy storage device 2 is arranged, at least partially, in the recess AN of the vehicle body shell 5, the housing 1, in particular the receiving shell 1.1, can be designed to be taller, so that the cell housings of the individual cells 4, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the height of the individual cells 4 can be increased to compensate for the reduced number of individual cells 4 resulting from the arrangement of the stiffening element 3 in the receiving shell 1.1. For example, the height h of the individual cells 4 can be increased by half. This optimizes the use of both the installation space available for the electrical energy storage device 2 via the recess AN and the receiving space of the receiving shell 1.1 made available by increasing the height of the housing 1, in particular the receiving shell 1.1.

[0036] Furthermore, by arranging the electrical energy storage device 2 in the recess AN, additional protection of the electrical energy storage device 2 is achieved, particularly in the event of a vehicle collision. Impact forces are primarily transferred into the stiffening element 3, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the electrical energy storage device 2. Moreover, arranging the electrical energy storage device 2 in the recess AN of the vehicle body 5 reduces both the assembly time and the complexity of the vehicle body 5. Additionally, the vehicle body 5 and the electrical energy storage device 2 can be assembled together, thus reducing production time. Reference symbol list 1 case 1.1 Receiving tray 1.2 Housing cover 2 electrical energy storage devices 3 stiffening element 3.1 Longitudinal strut 3.2 Cross brace 4 single cells 5 Vehicle body shell A recess AN exception Section A1 to A3 E End h height x direction of travel QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

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

[0000] DE 10 2012 008 633 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Electrical energy storage device (2) for a vehicle comprising a housing (1) including a receiving tray (1.1) and a housing cover (1.2), wherein a plurality of electrically interconnected individual cells (4) are arranged in the receiving tray (1.1), characterized by , that in the receiving shell (1.1) a stiffening element (3) extending between individual cells (4) is arranged, which comprises at least one longitudinal strut (3.1) extending in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the receiving shell (1.1) and at least one transverse strut (3.2) extending in the direction of a transverse axis of the receiving shell (1.1). [2] Electrical energy storage device (2) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the receiving shell (1.1) has a number of recesses (A) in its edge region, through which at least one free end (E) of the at least one longitudinal strut (3.1) or of the at least one transverse strut (3.2) projects outside the receiving shell (1.1). [3] Electrical energy storage device (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that at least one longitudinal strut (3.1) and / or at least one transverse strut (3.2) of the stiffening element (3) are connected to the receiving shell (1.1) by material and / or form and / or force-fit, at least in the area of ​​the recesses (A). [4] Electrical energy storage device (2) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by , that the respective free end (E) of the at least one longitudinal strut (3.1) and the at least one transverse strut (3.2) is flange-shaped. [5] Electrical energy storage device (2) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by , that the respective free end (E) of the at least one longitudinal strut (3.1) and the at least one transverse strut (3.2) is designed at least for the material-bonded attachment of the housing (1) to a vehicle body shell (5). [6] Electrical energy storage device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the stiffening element (3) comprises two longitudinal struts (3.1) and two transverse struts (3.2) and the transverse struts (3.2) are arranged parallel to each other. [7] Electrical energy storage device (2) according to claim 6, characterized by , that first sections (A1) of the longitudinal struts (3.1) having free ends (E) run parallel to each other at a specified distance, the longitudinal struts (3.1) are designed to converge towards each other in an adjacent second section (A2) and third sections (A3) of the longitudinal struts (3.1) having further free ends (E) run parallel to each other at a further distance which is less than the specified distance. [8] Electrical energy storage device (2) according to claim 7, characterized by , that the longitudinal struts (3.1) with their first sections (A1) are arranged in the direction of travel (x) of the vehicle. [9] Electrical energy storage device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the stiffening element (3) is made of metal and / or plastic. [10] Vehicle with an electrical energy storage device (2) which is designed according to one of the preceding claims.

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