Device for leak testing of battery modules

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for leak testing of battery modules, comprising a filling device (300) which is designed and configured to fill a battery module with a gas under overpressure, wherein - the device includes a positioning device (100) for the defined receiving and positioning of a battery module, which is designed and configured to hold the battery module in a defined test position, - the device comprises a limiting device (200) for limiting the deformation of the battery module, which is designed and configured to support outer surfaces of a battery module arranged in the test position, and - the filling device (300) is designed and configured to be moved vertically back and forth between a rest position and a filling position in which the filling device (300) is gas-tightly connected to a battery module held in the test position.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for leak testing of battery modules according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] DE 20 2023 102 567 U1 discloses a device for leak testing of electrochemical cells, in particular with regard to H2 leak tightness, with a chamber for receiving and testing at least one electrochemical cell, wherein the chamber is pressurized, a gas supply unit is provided which pressurizes an electrochemical cell to be tested placed in the chamber with compressed air and thus puts the interior of the electrochemical cell under positive pressure, and a sensor is provided which is suitable for detecting a pressure increase in the chamber.

[0003] The present invention is based on the objective of providing a device for leak testing of battery modules, which enables a leak test that is easy to perform and exactly repeatable, by pressurizing a battery module in an atmospheric environment using a gas detectable by sensor technology, for example helium, and then examining the contours to be tested for leaks with a sniffing device.

[0004] The problem is solved according to the invention by a device for leak testing of battery modules with the features of the characterizing part of claim 1.

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

[0006] In a device for leak testing of battery modules, comprising a filling device designed and configured to fill a battery module with a gas under pressure, it is proposed according to the invention that the device has a positioning device for the defined receiving and positioning of a battery module, which is designed and configured to hold the battery module in a defined test position, the device comprises a limiting device for limiting the deformation of the battery module, which is designed and configured to support outer surfaces of a battery module arranged in the test position, and the filling device is designed and configured to be moved vertically back and forth between a rest position and a filling position in which the filling device is gas-tightly connected to a battery module held in the test position.

[0007] A battery module to be tested is held in a defined test position by the positioning device. To prevent damage to the battery module from the test pressure, its outer surfaces are supported by the limiting device. The filling device is movable up and down, so that a battery module held precisely by the positioning device can be quickly and easily contacted by the filling device and subsequently pressurized with test gas, for example, helium. The battery module can then be checked for leaks at the contours to be tested, for example, using a helium detector. The device according to the invention ensures that the entire test process is quick, easy, and precisely repeatable.

[0008] In one embodiment, the positioning device may comprise at least four support elements whose arrangement relative to one another is selected or adjustable such that a battery module can be horizontally positioned with its underside on the support elements. Adjustment of the support elements, which may, for example, be designed as upright bolts, can be achieved, for instance, by adapters that define a required distance between the support elements and / or a positioning of the support elements relative to the other components of the device.

[0009] In one embodiment, the limiting device may have at least one lower limiting plate and one upper limiting plate, which are arranged, or can be arranged, relative to each other such that the vertical plate spacing between the lower limiting plate and the upper limiting plate essentially corresponds to the module height of the battery module. For this purpose, the lower limiting plate and the upper limiting plate may be attached to at least two support structures and held at the vertical plate spacing by these support structures. Advantageously, the lower limiting plate and the upper limiting plate may be arranged on a slide, or be parts of a slide, which is horizontally movable back and forth between a setup position, in which the slide is away from the positioning device, and a working position, in which the slide is located within the area of ​​the positioning device.

[0010] Further variations may include the provision that - the lower boundary plate comprises two lower sub-plates, - the upper boundary plate comprises two upper sub-plates, - the slide comprises two sub-slides, each sub-slide comprising a lower sub-plate and an upper sub-plate, and - the partial slides can be coupled together and uncoupled from each other as required.

[0011] The filling device can be mounted on the carriage and moved back and forth between the setup position and the working position. Furthermore, the working position of the filling device relative to the battery module can be adjusted, and the filling device can be locked in both the rest position and the filling position.

[0012] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0013] This shows: Fig. 1 schematically a first perspective view of a device according to the invention, and Fig. 2 schematically a second perspective view of the device according to the invention Fig. 1.

[0014] Corresponding parts are marked with the same reference symbols in all figures.

[0015] The device according to the invention is arranged on a base plate 400, comprising a positioning device 100, a limiting device 200 and a filling device 300.

[0016] The positioning device 100 comprises three support bases 112, which are designed to hold two battery modules of different sizes, and a stop 120 for the correct positioning of a battery module. In the illustrated embodiment, the two outer support bases 112 are in use; that is, the device is configured to test the larger of the two possible battery module types. For this purpose, an adapter 111 is arranged on each of these two support bases 112, and each adapter 111 has two support elements 110 in the form of upright pins, which serve to precisely hold a battery module placed on them.

[0017] The limiting device 200 comprises two partial slides 241, which can be connected to form a slide 240 as required by means of a locking element 222. Each partial slide 241 has one or two U-shaped support structures 230 with a lower support arm 231, an upper support arm 232, and a yoke section 233 that holds the two support arms 231, 232 at a vertical distance from each other. The support structures 230 hold a lower partial plate 211 and an upper partial plate 221 on each of the two partial slides 241. The two lower partial plates 211 combine to form a larger lower limiting plate 210 when the two partial slides 241 are connected to form a larger slide 240. The two upper partial plates 221 combine to form a larger upper limiting plate 220 when the two partial slides 241 are connected to form a larger slide 240.

[0018] Three slide rails 250 are held in rail brackets 251 on the base plate 400. The partial slides 241, either individually or together when connected by the locking element 222 to form a larger slide 240, can be moved horizontally back and forth on the slide rails 250 between a setup position, in which the partial slides 241 or the slide 240 are located away from the positioning device 100, and a working position, in which the partial slides 241 or the slide 240 are located within the area of ​​the positioning device 100. For this purpose, the partial slides 241 have sliding bearings 242 under their lower support arms 231, which are slidably mounted on the slide rails 250. The slide 240 can be locked against the base plate 400 in both the setup position and the working position by means of two opposing locking elements 243.

[0019] When the carriage 240 is in the setup position, the support elements 110 are freely accessible so that a battery module can be placed on them. When the carriage 240 is in the working position, the lower limit plate 210 is positioned below the battery module and the upper limit plate 220 is positioned above the battery module.

[0020] The lower limit plate 210 and the upper limit plate 220 are held relative to each other by the support structures 230 at a vertical plate distance h which essentially corresponds to a module height of the battery module, that is, the battery module is held tightly between the lower limit plate 210 and the upper limit plate 220 when the carriage 240 is in the working position, so that undesirable deformations of the battery module due to the internal pressure caused by a test gas are supported.

[0021] The support elements 110 of the positioning device 100 are just high enough to allow the lower limiting plate 210 under the battery module and the upper limiting plate 220 above the battery module to be moved into or out of the working position when the limiting device 200, i.e., in the exemplary embodiment, the slide 240, is moved.

[0022] The filling device 300 comprises a support plate 310 on which a sliding plate 320 is mounted on two guide elements 311 in a vertical direction between an upper rest position and a lower filling position, in which the filling device 300 is gas-tightly connected to a battery module held in the test position. The sliding plate 320 can be vertically movably mounted back and forth and locked in each of the two positions by means of a clamping element 321. Two filling nozzles 330 are attached to the sliding plate 320 and held at a horizontal distance s by an adapter 331. In the lower working position, these nozzles can be brought into a flow-conducting connection with appropriately spaced filling openings of the battery module in order to pressurize the battery module under test with a test gas. Reference symbol list 100 positioning device 110 support element 111 adapters 112 Support base 120 strokes 200 Limiting device 210 lower boundary plate 211 lower partial plate 220 upper boundary plate 221 upper partial plate 222 Locking element 230 supporting structure 231 lower support arm 232 upper support arm 233 Joch section 240 sleds 241 partial sleds 242 plain bearings 243 Locking element 250 sliding rail 251 Rail block 300 filling device 310 Support plate 311 Guide element 320 sliding plate 321 Clamping element 330 filling nozzles 331 Adapter 400 base plate h perpendicular plate spacing horizontal nozzle spacing 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 20 2023 102 567 U1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Device for leak testing of battery modules, comprising a filling device (300) designed and equipped to fill a battery module with a gas under overpressure, characterized by , that - the device includes a positioning device (100) for the defined receiving and positioning of a battery module, which is designed and configured to hold the battery module in a defined test position, - the device comprises a limiting device (200) for limiting the deformation of the battery module, which is designed and configured to support outer surfaces of a battery module arranged in the test position, and - the filling device (300) is designed and configured to be moved vertically back and forth between a rest position and a filling position in which the filling device (300) is gas-tightly connected to a battery module held in the test position. [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized by , that the positioning device (100) comprises at least four support elements (110) whose arrangement relative to each other is selected or adjustable in such a way that a battery module with a module underside can be arranged horizontally on the support elements (110). [3] Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, that the limiting device (200) has at least a lower limiting plate (210) and an upper limiting plate (220) which are arranged or can be arranged relative to each other such that a vertical plate spacing (h) between the lower limiting plate (210) and the upper limiting plate (220) corresponds substantially to a module height of the battery module. [4] Device according to claim 3, characterized by , that the lower boundary plate (210) and the upper boundary plate (220) are attached to at least two support structures (230) and are held by the support structures (230) at the vertical plate spacing (h). [5] Device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by, that the lower limit plate (210) and the upper limit plate (220) are arranged on a slide (240) or are parts of a slide (240) that is horizontally movable back and forth between a setup position in which the slide (240) is away from the positioning device (100) and a working position in which the slide (240) is arranged in the area of ​​the positioning device (100). [6] Device according to claim 5, characterized by , that - the lower boundary plate (210) comprises two lower sub-plates (211), - the upper boundary plate (220) comprises two upper sub-plates (221), - the slide (240) comprises two sub-slides (241), each sub-slide (241) comprising a lower sub-plate (211) and an upper sub-plate (221), and - the partial slides (241) can be coupled to each other and uncoupled from each other as required. [7] Device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by , that the filling device (300) is arranged on the carriage (240) and can be moved back and forth with the carriage (240) between the setup position and the working position. [8] Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by , that the working position of the filling device (300) is adjustable relative to the battery module. [9] Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by , that the filling device (300) can be locked in the rest position and in the filling position. [10] Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by , that the filling device (300) comprises at least two filling nozzles (330) which are arranged or can be arranged relative to each other such that a horizontal nozzle spacing (s) between the filling nozzles (330) corresponds essentially to a spacing of corresponding filling openings of the battery module.

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