Seal for a gas duct between an underride guard and a battery, the seal encompassing the vehicle

Abstract

Seal (108) for a gas channel (106) between an underride guard (104) and a battery (102), in particular a high-voltage battery, wherein the seal (108) has a first lip (302) for contact with a terminal component of the battery (102) and a second lip (304) for contact with a terminal component of the underride guard (104), wherein the seal (108) is designed to compensate for relative movement between the terminal components, wherein the first lip (302) is designed to conform to the terminal component of the battery (102) under pressure in the gas channel (106) with constant or increasing contact force in a self-locking manner, wherein the second lip (304) is designed to conform to the terminal component of the underride guard (104) under pressure in the gas channel (106) with constant or increasing contact force in a self-locking manner. Vehicle comprising the seal.

Description

The invention relates to a seal for a gas channel between an underride guard and a battery and a vehicle comprising the seal. In the event of a thermal incident in the battery (TPOPA or UNR100.3), hot gas from a battery cell must be safely vented from the vehicle via designated gas ducts. In vehicles equipped with underbody protection for the battery, this protection serves as both a gas duct and a passive gas cooling system. DE 102022105536 A1 discloses a vehicle with a bulkhead for a gas duct between a battery system and an underride protection plate. DE102023117814A1 discloses a degassing channel arrangement for a motor vehicle battery for removing gases from a battery cell. A channel wall of a degassing channel constitutes a first part of a support wall of a support, which surrounds a first support interior of the support. A first sealing unit is arranged in the support interior, which seals and separates a first sub-area of ​​the first support interior from a second sub-area of ​​the first support interior, which comprises the channel interior of the degassing channel. DE102023102290B3 discloses a battery assembly comprising a battery module, a plate, and a protective element assembly. The battery module housing has a first degassing opening. A protective element assembly comprises a protective element, a first sealing element, and a second sealing element. DE102014213682A1 relates to a battery comprising a battery housing. The interior of the battery housing is sealed against the contact opening by a seal arranged between a first and a second battery component. The seal has a first leg extending from the first battery component to the second battery component, with each leg having a first sealing area in contact with both the first and second battery components. The seal further comprises a second leg with a second sealing area that can be brought into contact with either the first or the second battery component. The second leg is deformable by pressure prevailing inside the battery housing such that the contact pressure of the second sealing area against the first or the second battery component is increased. When the hot gas is vented, high pressures are generated that cause the underride guard to inflate and generate relative movement. The seal creates a volume that collects, guides, and directs the hot gas out of the vehicle. Due to the inflating of the underride guard, a conventional seal loses its preload. The seal for a gas channel between an underride guard and a battery, in particular a high-voltage battery, according to claim 1, provides that the seal has a first lip for contact with a connection component of the battery and a second lip for contact with a connection component of the underride guard, wherein the seal is designed to compensate for a relative movement between the connection components, wherein the first lip is designed to self-lock against the connection component of the battery under pressure in the gas channel with constant or increasing contact force, wherein the second lip is designed to self-lock against the connection component of the underride guard under pressure in the gas channel with constant or increasing contact force.This means the seal has a geometry that can compensate for relative movement and has a self-locking effect by conforming precisely to the connecting components. To improve this conformity, the first lip, located between a contact point for the battery's connecting component and the second lip, has a first curvature towards the second lip. Under pressure in the gas channel, the first lip is designed to conform to the battery's connecting component by reducing this first curvature. The geometry stipulates that the first lip extends from the contact point for the battery connection component to one of the contact points for the underride guard connection component. The geometry is designed so that the second lip extends between the two contact points for the underride guard's connection component, with the two lips arranged in an L-shape. This allows for a high degree of tolerance compensation between the underride guard's connection component and the battery's connection component. In particular, to compensate for relative movement or to improve the fit, it may be provided that at least one lip or the seal is elastic. In particular, to improve the fit, the first lip may be designed to have a restoring force that pushes the first lip towards the battery connection component, or the second lip may have a restoring force that pushes the second lip towards the underride guard connection component. A vehicle, particularly one with an electric drive, comprises a battery and an underride guard, the underride guard being located at least partially beneath the battery, with a gas duct formed between the battery and the underride guard, and a seal positioned between the battery and the underride guard. This seal between the battery and the underride guard constitutes a vehicle assembly that is easy to assemble and handle during production and customer service. The seal can be designed to define a volume of the gas channel, which is configured to collect hot gas escaping from the battery during a thermal event and to direct it out of the vehicle. The seal defines the volume in which the hot gas generated during the thermal event is specifically collected and guided. The seal withstands the high pressure generated by the hot gas within this volume. Further advantageous embodiments can be seen in the following description and the drawing. In the drawing: Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a vehicle with a battery, Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of the underside of the battery with a seal for a gas channel, Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of an arrangement of the seal between the battery and an underride guard of the vehicle, Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation of a section through the seal in a first state, Fig. 5 shows a schematic representation of a section through the seal in a second state. Figure 1 schematically depicts a vehicle 100 with a battery 102. In this example, the vehicle 100 is an electrically powered vehicle. The vehicle 100 has an electric drive. The battery 102 is a high-voltage battery. Underride protection 104 is arranged on the underside of the vehicle 100. In this example, the underride protection 104 comprises an underride protection plate. The underride protection 104 is arranged between the battery 102 and the underside of the vehicle 100. A gas channel 106 is arranged between the battery 102 and the underride guard 104. A seal 108 is arranged between the battery 102 and the underride guard 104. The seal 108 defines a volume of the gas channel 106. The gas channel 106 is designed to collect hot gas escaping from the battery 102 in the event of a thermal incident in the battery 102 and to direct it out of the vehicle 100. Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of the underside of the battery 102 with the seal 108 for the gas channel 106. Fig. 3 shows a schematic arrangement of the seal 108 between the battery 102 and the underride guard 104 of the vehicle 100. The seal 108 for the gas channel 106 is located between the underride guard 104 and the battery 102. The seal 108 has a first lip 302 for contact with a connection component of the battery 102 and a second lip 304 for contact with a connection component of the underride guard 104. The seal 108 is designed to compensate for relative movement between the connecting components. At least one lip is elastic, for example. It is possible for both lips to be elastic. It is possible for the seal 108 itself to be elastic. In this example, the first lip 302 has a restoring force designed to push the first lip 302 towards the battery connection component 102. In this example, the second lip 304 has a restoring force designed to push the second lip 304 towards the underride guard connection component 104. The first lip 302 extends from a contact point 306 for the battery connection component 102 to the second lip 304. The second lip 304 extends between two contact points 308 for the underride guard connection component 104. The two lips 302, 304 are arranged in an L-shape. The first lip 302 extends from the contact point 306 for the connection component of the battery 102 to one of the contact points 308 for the connection component of the underride guard 104. Fig. 4 shows a schematic section through the seal 108 in a first state of the seal 108. In the first state, no pressure from hot gas acts on the seal 108. The first lip 302 has a first curvature 402 towards the second lip 304 between a contact point 306 for the connection component of the battery 102 and the second lip 304. The second lip 304 has a second curvature 404 towards the first lip 302 between the two contact points 308 for the connecting component of the underride guard 104. Fig. 5 shows a schematic section through the seal 108 in a second state of the seal 108. In the second state, a pressure 502 acts on the seal 108 through hot gas in the gas channel 106. The first lip 302 is designed to self-lock against the connecting component of the battery 102 under pressure 502 in the gas channel 106 with constant or increasing contact force. The second lip 304 is designed to self-lock against the connecting component of the underride guard 104 under pressure 502 in the gas channel 106 with constant or increasing contact force. The first lip 302 is designed to conform to the connection component of the battery 102 under pressure 502 in the gas channel 106 by reducing the first curvature 402. The second lip 304 is designed to conform to the connection component of the underride guard 104 under pressure 502 in the gas channel 106 by reducing the second curvature 404.

Claims

Seal (108) for a gas channel (106) between an underride guard (104) and a battery (102), in particular a high-voltage battery, wherein the seal (108) has a first lip (302) for contact with a terminal component of the battery (102) and a second lip (304) for contact with a terminal component of the underride guard (104), wherein the seal (108) is designed to compensate for relative movement between the terminal components, wherein the first lip (302) is designed to self-lock against the terminal component of the battery (102) under pressure (502) in the gas channel (106) at constant or increasing contact force, wherein the second lip (304) is designed to self-lock against the terminal component of the underride guard (104) under pressure (502) in the gas channel (106) at constant or increasing contact force. to snuggle up to,wherein the first lip (302) has a first curvature (402) towards the second lip (304) between a contact point (306) for the battery connection component (102) and the second lip (304), wherein the first lip (302) is designed to conform to the battery connection component (102) under pressure (502) in the gas channel (106) by reducing the first curvature (402), wherein the first lip (302) extends from the contact point (306) for the battery connection component (102) to one of the contact points (308) for the underride guard connection component (104), wherein the second lip (304) extends between the two contact points (308) for the underride guard connection component (104), and wherein the two lips (302, 304) are arranged in an L-shape. Seal (108) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one lip is elastic. Seal (108) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seal (108) is elastic. Seal (108) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first lip (302) has a restoring force which is designed to press the first lip (302) towards the connecting component of the battery (102). Seal (108) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second lip (304) has a restoring force which is designed to press the second lip (304) towards the connecting component of the underride guard (104). Vehicle (100), in particular with an electric drive, wherein the vehicle (100) comprises a battery (102) and an underride guard (104), wherein the underride guard (104) is arranged at least sectionally under the battery (102) in the vehicle (100), wherein a gas channel (106) is formed between the battery (102) and the underride guard (104), characterized in that the seal (108) according to one of claims 1 to 5 is arranged between the battery (102) and the underride guard (104). Vehicle (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that the seal (108) defines a volume of the gas channel (106), wherein the gas channel (106) is designed to collect hot gas escaping from the battery (102) in the event of a thermal incident in the battery (102) in the volume and to direct it out of the vehicle (100).

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