Battery

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery (1), in particular a vehicle battery, comprising a housing (2) in which several battery cells are arranged, wherein a positive terminal (3) and a negative terminal (4) are arranged on an outside of the housing (2). According to the invention, a control unit is arranged in the housing (2) and a control unit connection (5) and a degassing hose connection (6) are arranged on the outside of the housing (2), wherein the housing (2) has a bottom, a top (8) spaced apart from the bottom, and between the bottom and the top (8) two long circumferential sides (9) and two short circumferential sides (10) arranged opposite and spaced apart from each other, which form a circumferential wall of the housing (2), wherein all connections (3, 4, 5, 6) are arranged in a common connection area (13) on the top (8) of the housing (2), which adjoins one of the two short circumferential sides (10).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a battery according to the features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] A battery is known from the prior art, as described in US 2022 / 0416312 A1, wherein the battery comprises a battery pack with cell module arrangements. Furthermore, DE 10 2022 206 575 A1 discloses a cover for battery modules of a battery system, as well as a corresponding battery system.

[0003] The invention is based on the objective of providing a battery that is improved compared to the prior art.

[0004] The problem is solved according to the invention by a battery having the features of claim 1.

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

[0006] A battery has a casing in which several battery cells, in particular electrochemical cells, are arranged. A positive terminal and a negative terminal are located on one outside of the casing.

[0007] The battery is, in particular, a vehicle battery, specifically a low-voltage battery, especially a 12V battery, i.e., specifically an on-board battery for a low-voltage electrical system, especially a 12V electrical system, of a vehicle. The battery is, in particular, a lithium-ion battery.

[0008] According to the invention, a control unit is arranged in the housing. This control unit is in particular an integrated control device, especially battery monitoring electronics, and in particular a battery management system.

[0009] On the outside of the housing are a control unit connector, particularly for connecting a signal plug, and a degassing hose connector, particularly for connecting a degassing hose. Through the degassing hose connector and the degassing hose advantageously attached to it, gases and vapors can be safely vented to the outside, particularly into the vehicle's external environment. The control unit connector enables communication between the battery's control unit and the vehicle.

[0010] The housing comprises, in particular, a bottom, a top spaced apart from the bottom, and between the bottom and the top, two long circumferential sides arranged opposite and spaced apart from each other, and two short circumferential sides arranged opposite and spaced apart from each other, which form a circumferential wall of the housing. The length of the circumferential sides refers in particular to the circumferential direction of the housing, especially parallel to the top and bottom.

[0011] It is therefore specifically provided that the top of the housing has two long edges and two short edges. At each long edge, the top abuts the respective long circumferential side, particularly towards the underside, and at each short edge, the top abuts the respective short circumferential side, particularly towards the underside.

[0012] It is specifically provided that all connections, i.e., the positive terminal, the negative terminal, the control unit connection, and the degassing hose connection, are arranged in a common connection area on the top of the housing, which adjoins one of the two short circumferential sides and thus, in particular, one of the two short edges. These connections are, in particular, each completely within this common connection area; that is, they do not protrude beyond this common connection area.

[0013] It is specifically provided that this common connection area has a greater distance to the other short circumferential side or short edge to which it does not abut than to the short circumferential side or short edge to which it does abut. It is specifically provided that the distance of the common connection area to the short circumferential side or short edge to which it abuts is zero, and to the other short circumferential side or short edge to which it does not abut is greater than zero, in particular greater, in particular significantly greater, than half the length of the respective long circumferential side or long edge of the housing.

[0014] It is specifically provided that the respective connection, i.e. the positive terminal connection, the negative terminal connection, the control unit connection and the degassing hose connection, is arranged at a distance from the short circumferential side or short edge to which the common connection area adjoins.

[0015] It is specifically provided that all connections, i.e. the positive terminal connection, the negative terminal connection, the control unit connection and the degassing hose connection, each have a small distance to the same short circumferential side or short edge and a comparatively larger distance, in particular a significantly larger distance, in particular a distance many times greater, to the other short circumferential side or short edge.

[0016] It is specifically provided that all connections, i.e. the positive terminal connection, the negative terminal connection, the control unit connection and the degassing hose connection, are arranged entirely on the top of the housing, i.e. they do not protrude beyond the top of the housing at the edges, i.e. in the longitudinal and transverse direction of the top, i.e. in the direction of the circumferential sides or edges.

[0017] It is specifically provided that the connections, i.e., the positive terminal, the negative terminal, the control unit connection, and the degassing hose connection, are arranged side by side and, in particular, spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction of the housing, i.e., in a direction parallel to the respective short circumferential side or edge. Specifically, the positive terminal and the negative terminal are arranged on the outside, i.e., the positive terminal is located closer to one long circumferential side or edge, and the negative terminal is located closer to the other long circumferential side or edge, and the control unit connection and the degassing hose connection are located between the positive terminal and the negative terminal. For example, the connections are arranged in the transverse direction of the housing, i.e., in a direction parallel to the respective short circumferential side or edge.short edge, arranged in the following order: positive terminal connection, degassing hose connection, control unit connection, negative terminal connection.

[0018] The control unit connection is designed as a plug connector, specifically for attaching the signal connector. The degassing hose connection is designed as a plug connector, specifically for attaching and / or sliding on the degassing hose.

[0019] The positive terminal connection is specifically designed as a screw bolt. The negative terminal connection is specifically designed as a screw bolt.

[0020] The top and / or the bottom and / or the respective circumferential side are / are specifically rectangular or at least substantially rectangular in shape. The housing is specifically designed as a cuboid or at least substantially as a cuboid.

[0021] It is specifically provided that a step is formed between the underside and at least one of the circumferential sides, projecting outwards beyond the respective circumferential side, i.e., in particular, a step projecting beyond the cuboid shape of the housing. This at least one step or the several steps, for example between the respective long and / or short circumferential side and the underside, form(s) in particular a foot geometry of the battery, especially for attaching the battery to a mounting frame in the vehicle and / or for gripping it by means of a robot's gripping structure in a vehicle assembly line.

[0022] An external geometry, i.e., a shape, in particular a cuboid shape, of the housing corresponds in particular, at least substantially, to a housing shape of lead-acid batteries, in particular starter batteries, for vehicles, in particular described in EN 50342-2, in particular DIN EN 50342-2:2021-01. This also applies in particular to the base geometry of the battery, so that mounting frames designed for lead-acid batteries in vehicles and / or mounting structures on robots in vehicle assembly lines can continue to be used unchanged for the battery described here.

[0023] Unlike lead-acid batteries, the battery described here, particularly the lithium-ion battery, also features a control unit, specifically an integrated control unit. Therefore, this battery has not just two connections like conventional lead-acid batteries, but four: the positive terminal, also known as terminal 30 or KL30, typically a screw terminal; the negative terminal, also known as terminal 31 or KL31 or ground connection, typically a screw terminal; the control unit connection for the signal connector; and the degassing hose connection for the degassing hose.

[0024] In contrast to EN 50342-2, as claimed, all connections are now arranged in the common connection area on the top of the housing, adjacent to one of the two short circumferential sides or short edges of the top. This reduces accessibility requirements for disassembly and replacement of the battery in the vehicle. However, as described above, it is specifically provided that all connections, i.e., the positive terminal, the negative terminal, the control unit connection, and the vent hose connection, are arranged entirely on the top of the housing, i.e., they do not protrude beyond the top of the housing at their edges. This advantageously ensures that the corresponding terminal fittings, which are connected to these terminals in the vehicle, can be installed, at least substantially, within a space defined in or adapted from EN 50342-2.No new or additional installation space needs to be created in the vehicle to connect the counterpart connectors to the battery terminals.

[0025] Advantageously, the connections, i.e., the positive terminal connection, the negative terminal connection, the control unit connection, and the degassing hose connection, are arranged on the top of the housing in such a way that the counterpart connections, when connected to the respective battery terminal, are also completely located on the top of the housing; i.e., these counterpart connections also advantageously do not protrude beyond the top of the housing at the edges, i.e., in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the top surface, i.e., in the direction of the circumferential sides or edges.

[0026] Alternatively or in addition to the above-described arrangement of the terminals such that all terminals, i.e., the positive terminal, the negative terminal, the control unit terminal, and the degassing hose terminal, are arranged entirely on the top of the housing, i.e., do not protrude beyond the top of the housing at their edges, it may, for example, be provided that the respective terminal is arranged completely or partially recessed into the housing, i.e., in the vertical direction of the battery, i.e., in the direction from the bottom to the top of the housing, does not protrude beyond the top of the housing or only does so partially. For example, the respective terminal is arranged in a recess, in particular a trough, formed in the top of the housing.

[0027] The battery described here therefore features an improved form factor with improved accessibility to the terminals, allowing the corresponding connecting components in the vehicle – specifically, a positive terminal cable, a negative terminal cable, the signal connector and / or an associated signal cable, as well as the vent hose – to be shorter. This significantly reduces the space required in the vehicle for these connecting components.

[0028] The described solution addresses the significant challenge of accessing battery terminals in crowded and concealed vehicle spaces. This challenge is exacerbated by the fact that, unlike conventional lead-acid batteries, this battery has four terminals, as described above. To replace the battery, all four terminals must be disconnected before removal, and after installing a new battery, all four terminals must be reconnected. The described design of this battery, particularly the terminal arrangement, significantly simplifies this process.

[0029] The described solution enables, in particular, a compact design, full accessibility of all battery connections from only one side, i.e., from the same side, and the possibility of accommodating the battery between other control units of the vehicle, with only one side of the battery remaining accessible.

[0030] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing.

[0031] This shows: Fig. 1. Schematic representation of a battery in a top view.

[0032] Fig. Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a battery 1 in a top view. The battery 1 is designed as a 12V vehicle battery for a vehicle.

[0033] Battery 1 is a lithium-ion battery. It has a housing 2 in which several battery cells and a control unit are arranged. On one outer side of the housing 2 are a positive terminal 3, a negative terminal 4, a control unit terminal 5 for connecting a signal plug, and a degassing hose terminal 6 for connecting a degassing hose 7. In the example shown, the degassing hose 7 is already connected to the degassing hose terminal 6.

[0034] The control unit connection 5 and the degassing hose connection 6, for example, are each designed as a plug connector connection.

[0035] The positive terminal 3 and the negative terminal 4 are each designed as a screw bolt, for example.

[0036] The housing 2 has a bottom surface, a top surface 8 spaced apart from the bottom surface, and between the bottom surface and the top surface 8, two long circumferential sides 9 and two short circumferential sides 10, arranged opposite each other and spaced apart, forming a circumferential wall of the housing 2. In the illustrated top view of the battery 1, only the top surface 8 and long edges 11 of the top surface 8, where the top surface 8 abuts the respective long circumferential side 9, and short edges 12, where the top surface 8 abuts the respective short circumferential side 10, are visible.

[0037] It is specifically provided that all the above-mentioned connections 3, 4, 5, 6 are arranged in a common connection area 13 on the top surface 8 of the housing 2, which adjoins one of the two short circumferential sides 10 and thus one of the two short edges 12, in the illustrated example to the one shown in Fig. 1. The short circumferential side 10 shown on the right, and thus the short edge 12. These connections 3, 4, 5, 6 are each completely arranged in this common connection area 13.

[0038] This common connection area 13 has a greater distance to the other short circumferential side 10, and thus to the other short edge 12 to which it does not abut, than to the short circumferential side 10, and thus to the short edge 12 to which it does abut. In the example shown, this other short circumferential side 10, and thus the other short edge 12 to which it does not abut, is the one in Fig. 1. Short circumferential side 10 shown on the left, and thus short edge 12.

[0039] In the example shown, the distance of the common connection area 13 to the short circumferential side 10 and thus short edge 12 to which it borders is zero, and to the other short circumferential side 10 and thus short edge 12 to which it does not border is greater than zero, in the example shown greater, in particular significantly greater, than half the length of the respective long circumferential side 9 or long edge 11 in the circumferential direction of the housing 2.

[0040] In the example shown, the respective connection 3, 4, 5, 6 is spaced apart from the short circumferential side 10 and thus from the short edge 12, to which the common connection area 13 adjoins.

[0041] In the example shown, all connections 3, 4, 5, 6 each have a small distance to the same short circumferential side 10 and thus to the same short edge 12, and a comparatively larger distance, in particular a significantly larger distance, in particular a distance many times greater, to the other short circumferential side 10 and thus to the other short edge 12.

[0042] In the example shown, all connections 3, 4, 5, 6 are completely located on the top surface 8 of the housing 2, i.e., they do not protrude beyond the top surface 8 of the housing 2 at the edges.

[0043] In the illustrated example, connections 3, 4, 5, and 6 are arranged side by side and spaced apart in the transverse direction of the housing 2. The positive terminal 3 and the negative terminal 4 are located on the outside, while the control unit connection 5 and the degassing hose connection 6 are located between the positive terminal 3 and the negative terminal 4. In the illustrated example, connections 3, 4, 5, and 6 are arranged in the transverse direction of the housing 2 in the following order: positive terminal 3, degassing hose connection 6, control unit connection 5, negative terminal 4.

[0044] The upper surface 8, the lower surface and the respective circumferential sides 9, 10 are in particular rectangular or at least substantially rectangular in shape. The housing 2 is in particular designed as a cuboid or at least substantially as a cuboid.

[0045] It is specifically provided that a step is formed between the underside and at least one of the circumferential sides 9, 10, projecting outwards beyond the respective circumferential side 9, 10 (not shown), i.e., in particular, a step projecting beyond the cuboid shape of the housing 2. This at least one step or the several steps, for example between the respective long and / or short circumferential side 9, 10 and the underside, form(s) in particular a foot geometry of the battery 1, especially for attaching the battery 1 to a mounting frame in the vehicle and / or for gripping it by means of a robot's gripping structure in a vehicle assembly line.

[0046] An external geometry, i.e., a shape, in particular a cuboid shape, of the housing 2 corresponds in particular, at least substantially, to a housing shape of lead-acid batteries, in particular starter batteries, for vehicles, in particular described in EN 50342-2, in particular DIN EN 50342-2:2021-01. This also applies in particular to the base geometry of the battery 1, so that mounting frames designed for lead-acid batteries in vehicles and / or mounting structures on robots in vehicle assembly lines can also be used unchanged for the battery 1 described here.

[0047] In contrast to lead-acid batteries, the battery 1 described here, in particular the lithium-ion battery, also has the control unit and a total of four connections 3, 4, 5, 6.

[0048] In contrast to EN 50342-2, all terminals 3, 4, 5, 6 are arranged in the common terminal area 13 on the top surface 8 of the housing 2, which adjoins one of the two short circumferential sides 10 and thus one of the two short edges 12 of the top surface 8. This reduces accessibility requirements for disassembly and replacement of the battery 1 in the vehicle. However, as described above, it is specifically provided that all terminals 3, 4, 5, 6 are arranged entirely on the top surface 8 of the housing 2, i.e., they do not protrude beyond the top surface 8 of the housing 2 at their edges. This advantageously ensures that the corresponding terminal fittings, which are connected to these terminals 3, 4, 5, 6 in the vehicle, can be installed, at least substantially, within a space defined in or adapted from EN 50342-2.No new or additional installation space needs to be created in the vehicle to connect the counterpart connectors to terminals 3, 4, 5, 6 of battery 1.

[0049] Advantageously, the terminals 3, 4, 5, 6 are arranged on the top surface 8 of the housing 2 in such a way that the counterpart terminals are also completely located on the top surface 8 of the housing 2 when connected to the respective terminal 3, 4, 5, 6 of the battery 1, i.e., these counterpart terminals also advantageously do not protrude beyond the top surface 8 of the housing 2 at the edges.

[0050] Alternatively or in addition to the arrangement of terminals 3, 4, 5, 6 described above, such that all terminals 3, 4, 5, 6 are completely located on the top surface 8 of the housing 2, i.e., do not protrude beyond the top surface 8 of the housing 2 at their edges, it may be provided, for example, that the respective terminal 3, 4, 5, 6 is completely or partially recessed into the housing 2, i.e., does not protrude beyond the top surface 8 of the housing 2 in the vertical direction of the battery 1, or only partially. For example, the respective terminal 3, 4, 5, 6 is arranged in a recess, in particular a trough, formed in the top surface 8 of the housing 2.

[0051] The one described here and exemplified in Fig.The battery shown in Figure 1 thus features, in particular, an improved form factor with improved accessibility to terminals 3, 4, 5, and 6, so that the corresponding connectors that are connected to these terminals 3, 4, 5, and 6 in the vehicle can be shorter. This, in particular, reduces the installation space required in the vehicle for these connectors.

[0052] The described solution addresses the significant challenge of accessing battery terminals in crowded and concealed vehicle spaces. This challenge is exacerbated by the fact that, unlike conventional lead-acid batteries, the battery 1 described here has four terminals (3, 4, 5, 6), as described above. To replace battery 1, all four terminals must be disconnected before removing the battery, and after installing a new battery 1, all four terminals must be reconnected. The described design of battery 1, particularly the arrangement of terminals 3, 4, 5, 6, significantly simplifies this process.

[0053] The described solution enables, in particular, a compact design, full accessibility of all terminals 3, 4, 5, 6 of battery 1 from only one side, i.e. from the same side, and the possibility of accommodating battery 1 between other control units of the vehicle, with only one side of battery 1 remaining accessible. Reference symbol list 1 battery 2 cases 3 positive terminal connection 4 negative terminal connection 5 Control unit connection 6 Degassing hose connection 7 Degassing hose 8 Top 9 long perimeter side 10 short perimeter page 11 long edge 12 short edge 13 Connection area

Claims

[1] Battery (1), in particular vehicle battery, comprising a housing (2) in which several battery cells are arranged, wherein a positive terminal (3) and a negative terminal (4) are arranged on an outside of the housing (2), characterized by, that a control unit is arranged in the housing (2) and a control unit connection (5) and a degassing hose connection (6) are arranged on the outside of the housing (2), wherein the housing (2) has a bottom, a top (8) spaced apart from the bottom, and between the bottom and the top (8) two long circumferential sides (9) and two short circumferential sides (10) arranged opposite and spaced apart from each other, forming a circumferential wall of the housing (2), wherein all connections (3, 4, 5, 6) are arranged in a common connection area (13) on the top (8) of the housing (2), which adjoins one of the two short circumferential sides (10). [2] Battery (1) according to claim 1, characterized by, that the common connection area (13) has a greater distance to the other short circumferential side (10) to which it does not adjoin, than to the short circumferential side (10) to which it adjoins. [3] Battery (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that all connections (3, 4, 5, 6) are arranged entirely on the top (8). [4] Battery (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the respective connection (3, 4, 5, 6) is arranged at a distance from the short circumferential side (10) to which the common connection area (13) is adjacent. [5] Battery (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the control unit connection (5) and / or the degassing hose connection (6) are designed as a plug connector connection. [6] Battery (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the positive terminal (3) and / or the negative terminal (4) are designed as a screw bolt. [7] Battery (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the top (8) and / or the bottom and / or the respective circumferential side (9, 10) are rectangular. [8] Battery (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that between the underside and at least one of the circumferential sides (9, 10) a step is formed which projects outwards beyond the circumferential side (9, 10) in question. [9] Battery (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by an education as a lithium-ion battery. [10] Battery (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by training as a low-voltage battery, especially a 12V battery.

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