MOUNTING DEVICE FOR A COMBINED BATTERY

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a mounting device for a composite battery for providing different voltages and currents for a consumer from at least one battery cell, a composite battery with the mounting device and a battery pack with corresponding composite batteries.

[0002] Battery cells or batteries, whether in the various commercially available, non-rechargeable forms as primary cells or in one of the mostly device-specifically configured, rechargeable forms as accumulators or secondary cells, enable in particular a grid-independent provision of electrical energy wherever it is needed and thus a location-independent operation of electrical devices from mobile phones to electrically powered vehicles.

[0003] The wide range of applications for battery cells is accompanied by a wide variety of requirements, particularly with regard to performance, energy content, shape and size, which each energy storage device used must meet, whereby all commercially available battery cells are available in a standardized form with regard to their relevant parameters.

[0004] A compound battery usually comprises several individual standardized battery cells, for example in the form of individual lithium round cells of the standard type 18650, and can therefore be configured in a specific way for a particular application in terms of voltage, power and shape by the number and connection of these.

[0005] To ensure the reliable supply of electrical energy from composite batteries, especially with rechargeable batteries, accumulators, or battery packs, it is necessary to take precautions against deep discharge and overcharging, as well as to limit the current load on each cell. This involves both protective devices at the cell level and safety devices for monitoring the function of all individual cells combined in a composite battery.

[0006] At the cell level, overpressure protection devices, such as predetermined breaking points within the cell can, are installed. These open automatically and irreversibly at a predetermined internal cell pressure, thus preventing further damage to a battery cell. In contrast, electronic protection circuits are used to monitor the function of a compound battery. These make it possible to monitor the compound voltage and voltage differences between the individual battery cells and to electronically interrupt the relevant current path if excessively high currents occur.In addition, or in addition, a compound battery can also be equipped with thermal sensors for individually measuring the temperature of each individual cell or for the simultaneous temperature measurement of several cells. These sensors interact with the electronic protection circuit to interrupt the current flow from the compound battery, thus more reliably preventing overheating of the compound battery and its destruction. Safety devices of this type are therefore just as essential for the functional reliability of a compound battery as they are for the safe use of any technical device powered by it.

[0007] Accordingly, pre-assembled composite batteries with protective electronics, temperature monitoring, cooling, and overcurrent protection, for example for use in motor vehicles, are offered for sale. These batteries are firmly connected to each other by spot welding, and for which the replacement of defective battery cells is neither intended nor readily possible for end users, also for safety reasons. Composite batteries, such as those used in power tools, usually do not have cell-level protection.

[0008] However, such pre-assembled composite batteries also have disadvantages. Particularly disadvantageous with regard to the acquisition and operating costs of such composite batteries is that even a single defective cell in the case of cells connected in series, or a defective temperature monitor, can lead to the failure of the entire cell assembly or battery pack, without the end user being able to adequately replace the defective cell or reuse the still intact cells from the composite battery or battery pack of a defective device, such as a cordless screwdriver, laptop, e-bike, or cordless lawnmower. In addition, in many composite batteries or battery packs, the individual cells are encapsulated in a plastic matrix, making it impossible to replace a single cell without destroying the composite battery or battery pack.In many cases, it is also not possible to continue using the protective electronics after a single voltage loss in just one series stage, as this is switched off irreversibly.

[0009] The fact that a possibly otherwise fully functional composite battery can only be disposed of at great expense due to the lack of repair options is undoubtedly a disadvantage, also with regard to environmental protection.

[0010] There is therefore a need for composite batteries or battery packs that allow the end user to replace defective battery cells easily, cost-effectively, and, above all, safely. Furthermore, for environmental reasons, in addition to providing repairability, it is desirable to reuse the individual cells remaining intact in a composite battery or battery pack after a cell failure in new composite batteries or battery packs that can be configured by the end user, without requiring any special equipment or compromising operational reliability.

[0011] In order to adapt the electrical energy provided by a compound battery as far as possible to the respective requirements of a device to be operated with it, it is also necessary to be able to use the individual battery cells both in series and in parallel.

[0012] An example of a compound battery with secondary cells, in which these are operated alternately in a series circuit and a series circuit by means of control electronics and conventional mechanical relays or semiconductor switches, is known from US 2008 / 0054870 A1 (basis for the preamble of claim 1).

[0013] DE 10 2018 009 445 A1 discloses battery packs for mobile or stationary applications in which round cells are arranged in plug-in modules in the form of a self-supporting holding matrix made of plastic and can be connected together in parallel and / or in series by soldering to contact plates or, alternatively, by spot, laser or ultrasonic welding.

[0014] EP2416405A1 describes an overcurrent protection device at cell level in the form of a spot-welded connecting wire at the positive pole of an individual cell, which is dimensioned in such a way that it is thermally destroyed by an increased current flow in the event of a short circuit within the cell, thus preventing a discharge of cells connected in parallel.

[0015] Thus, on the basis of the state of the art, it is possible to arrange round cells in plastic plug-in modules in a flexible manner in a composite battery or battery pack, to electrically contact the individual battery cells in a series or series circuit, whereby this contact can be made either in a non-detachable manner, in the form of welded or soldered connections, or in a controlled manner, by means of mechanical relays or semiconductor switches, and also to ensure the largely safe operation of such a composite battery through the use of fuses and electronic protective circuits.

[0016] However, it is not possible for an end user to replace defective battery cells of such a composite battery in a simple, cost-effective and safe manner, nor to reconfigure previously used, still functional individual cells in an equally simple, cost-effective and safe manner for new applications with regard to voltage, power and shape.

[0017] From EP 2 535 789 A1 a computer mouse with several battery cells and a switching device for optionally connecting the battery cells in series or in series to extend the battery life and adjust the power is known.

[0018] The present invention is intended to provide an assembly device for a composite battery for providing different voltages and currents for a consumer, which is suitable for overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art and which enables an end user to produce a composite battery or a battery pack as required in a simple, cost-effective and safe manner, even using still functional, used battery cells.

[0019] The object of the invention is achieved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Preferred developments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0020] A first aspect of the present invention relates to an assembly device for a composite battery for providing different voltages and currents for a load from at least one battery cell, in particular at least one round cell of an accumulator, with electrical contacts in the form of a positive pole and a negative pole for withdrawing the stored electrical energy. The assembly device according to the invention comprises a circuit board with electrical lines or conductor tracks and with switch elements for electrically connecting the at least one battery cell to the load, as well as a safety device for monitoring the function of the at least one battery cell.

[0021] The mounting device further comprises a housing for accommodating a plurality of battery cells. The housing is designed in two parts, with a first housing part and a second housing part for releasably enclosing the battery cells. Depending on the number of battery cells to be accommodated in the housing, the first housing part and the second housing part each have a plurality of contact areas arranged in the two housing parts such that each battery cell to be accommodated in the housing touches the first and second housing parts in a respective contact area and can be secured therebetween.

[0022] To enable the battery cells to be held securely in the housing, each contact area of ​​the first or second housing part is designed as a frame for receiving a battery cell. Each of these frames is configured to at least partially enclose a battery cell received therein. To enable even greater positional security for the battery cells in the housing, all contact areas of the first and second housing parts are alternatively designed as frames in a corresponding manner. Each of these frames is also designed to be received by a recess in the circuit board with the battery cell inserted. These recesses or milled out sections in the circuit board can, for example, be rectangular in shape so that they can each accommodate a round cell.

[0023] To electrically connect the battery cells, which are to be held in the recesses of the circuit board, to the circuit board, each recess has a first and a second contact surface. The first contact surface is intended for electrically connecting a positive pole of the battery cell, and the second contact surface is intended for electrically connecting a negative pole of the battery cell to the electrical lines or conductor tracks of the circuit board. The connections between the contact surfaces of the circuit board and the battery cells are designed to be electromechanically detachable.

[0024] The mounting device according to the invention thus provides a releasably non-positively locking mount for the battery cells to be accommodated in the circuit board. This mount differs in a particularly advantageous manner from a conventional cell arrangement on the circuit board by not only enabling more reliable position stabilization of each individual battery cell, but also a more compact design of a composite battery configured therewith. The circuit board of the mounting device according to the invention can thus fundamentally be adapted to a wide variety of cell shapes, cell formats or form factors, cell voltages or composite voltages, and output currents, so that it can also be referred to as a universal circuit board.

[0025] The safety device comprises a fuse for each of the battery cells as an electrical overcurrent protection device, via which the first contact surface is preferably connected to the circuit board lines, preferably with a view to a space-saving circuit board layout. The fuse thus provides protection against thermal damage at the cell level, which can occur particularly as a result of excessively rapid charging and discharging or damage to the separator after deep discharge of a battery cell, and prevents unexpected combustion of a battery cell.

[0026] A second aspect of the present invention relates to a composite battery for providing electrical energy to a consumer. This comprises at least one battery cell with electrical contacts for extracting the stored electrical energy and the mounting device according to the invention for providing different voltages and currents to a consumer from the at least one battery cell. Secondary cells in the form of rechargeable round cells or rechargeable battery cells, in particular lithium-ion round cells, such as those available under the type designations 18650 and 21700, are preferably provided as battery cells. The usability of such secondary batteries makes the mounting device according to the invention suitable for providing electrical energy to virtually all stationary and mobile consumers.By configuring the composite battery with the assembly device according to the invention, the end user is able to safely assemble a safe composite battery with the battery cells of their choice. The end user can also replace individual faulty or used cells of the composite battery in a manner that is both safe and simple. The composite battery configured according to the invention is thus also characterized by its reusability.

[0027] A further aspect of the present invention relates to a battery pack for providing electrical energy to a consumer, comprising a plurality of the composite batteries according to the invention. Due to the configuration of the composite batteries used with the assembly devices according to the invention, the battery pack exhibits all of the aforementioned advantages of the assembly device or composite battery and is thus characterized in particular by its safe and simple configurability in terms of power, voltage, and shape without the need for special tools by the end user. Due to the ability to replace defective or used individual cells at any time in a simple and safe manner while maintaining a consistently high level of operational reliability, the battery pack is particularly suitable for a wide range of applications in the consumer sector.The fact that the end user also has the opportunity to reuse used cells from other battery packs, for example from defective devices, is advantageous not only for cost reasons but also for environmental reasons.

[0028] The battery pack according to the invention comprises a plurality of composite batteries. The individual composite batteries of the battery pack are each connected to one another in series or parallel via their first and second connection sockets in an electromechanically detachable manner. For this purpose, electrically conductive connection elements are provided, each of which can be connected to a first or a second connection socket of a composite battery. The electrical energy of the battery pack is supplied to a consumer via one of the first and second connection sockets of the composite batteries connected by means of the connection elements. The third connection sockets of the composite batteries of the battery pack serve to monitor its function and to equalize the voltage between the individual composite batteries.For the necessary electromechanical connection between the individual third connection sockets, a line element is provided, which is preferably designed as a ribbon cable with plugs corresponding to the third connection sockets.

[0029] The composite batteries of the battery pack are mechanically and releasably connected to one another via the first fastening elements provided in each composite battery, which are preferably provided in the form of holes in the edge area of ​​the housing of each mounting device. Threaded rods with nuts are preferably used as the first connecting elements.By means of the second fastening elements, which in turn are preferably provided in the edge region of each composite battery and are designed as blind holes, and second connecting elements, the composite batteries of the battery pack are releasably held in a vertically or horizontally stacked arrangement, regardless of whether the adjacent composite batteries are positioned opposite each other with the first and second housing parts or whether one of the adjacent composite batteries is positioned opposite the other rotated 180° about its longitudinal axis, so that the two composite batteries are positioned opposite each other with the respective first or second housing parts. For this purpose, the second connecting elements are preferably designed in the form of pins.By arranging the first and second fastening elements in the edge region of the housing of each mounting device orthogonally and parallel to the circuit board, it is ensured that the individual composite batteries of the battery pack are held in a desired vertical and / or lateral arrangement relative to one another by means of the second connecting elements and that, by means of the first connecting elements, a reliable force-locking connection of all composite batteries of the battery pack to one another in a detachable manner is ensured.

[0030] The battery pack according to the invention is thus modular in design and can be designed in a variable shape and size depending on the number of integrated batteries or mounting devices. A particular advantage is not only that the battery pack's external appearance can be adapted to given spatial conditions in almost any way, but also that it can be reliably and detachably secured in almost any position using the first fastening elements and first connecting elements.

[0031] Preferred embodiments of the invention result from the remaining features mentioned in the subclaims.

[0032] Thus, it is preferred to provide the first and second contact surfaces in each of the recesses of the circuit board of the mounting device according to the invention in the form of a metallic contact spring for electrical connection to the contacts of a battery cell. The contact surfaces designed according to the invention make it possible to electrically contact a battery cell securely and detachably in the mounting device by simply inserting and removing the cells, and without the risk of thermal damage, as can occur in conventionally constructed composite batteries and accumulators as a result of the welding or soldering processes used to contact the individual cells.

[0033] The fuse device of the assembly device, which provides overcurrent protection for each battery cell, is preferably designed in the form of an electrical plug-in fuse that is detachably connected to the circuit board's conductor tracks via a socket. The socket is not detachably connected to the circuit board's conductors, in particular by a rivet or screw connection. The plug-in fuse according to the invention ensures that in the event of a short circuit in a battery cell, for example due to a damaged separator, the cells connected in parallel cannot discharge via the damaged cell, thus preventing the damaged cell or the cell assembly from burning down.The preferred method of attaching the sockets to the circuit board ensures, in particular, that they cannot detach from the circuit board due to the high temperatures that occur, unlike soldered sockets, even in the event of a defect in a connected battery cell. A composite battery configured with the mounting device according to the invention thus offers significant safety advantages over known composite batteries or battery packs.

[0034] The fuse devices of the assembly device can be adapted in particular to battery cells with different power densities and are thus also designed for the use of lithium cells with very low internal resistance. The assembly device according to the invention can thus also be used to configure particularly powerful compound batteries, such as those required for cordless screwdrivers. Since the preferred fuse devices can be installed and replaced without any special equipment, the assembly device according to the invention is also characterized by its particularly easy serviceability and user-friendliness. The plug-in fuses used are preferably commercially available "mini" types from the automotive sector, which are available for a wide range of maximum current values ​​and are also characterized by their high availability.

[0035] The individual safety devices for functional security at the cell level or plug-in fuses are preferably each arranged in the region of the positive pole of an inserted battery cell. The plug-in fuses are preferably arranged horizontally, i.e., in their longitudinal direction parallel to the surface of the circuit board. This arrangement has the advantage that a visual inspection of the condition of each individual plug-in fuse of the mounting device is possible without loosening the plug connections, i.e., just by looking at the mounting device, which in turn contributes to the particular service-friendliness and user-friendliness of the mounting device according to the invention. The lower overall height of the horizontal arrangement of the plug-in fuses also advantageously reduces the space required by the mounting device and thus by the composite battery configured therewith.The possibility of separating the power lines on the circuit board from the positive pole of a battery cell used in the assembly device according to the invention in the form of a separate circuit component arranged in series between them for functional safety at cell level enables, in contrast to the devices known from the prior art, in particular good accessibility and replaceability of the safety device.

[0036] In addition to a safety device for each battery cell, the safety device of the assembly device according to the invention comprises protective electronics to prevent deep discharge and overcharging of each battery cell. For this purpose, the protective electronics advantageously comprise a voltage compensation regulator of a battery management system. Alternatively, or in combination, the safety device comprises temperature monitoring with temperature sensors to monitor the temperature of each or individual battery cells of the composite battery during operation. For this purpose, a temperature sensor is preferably assigned to each recess in the circuit board of the assembly device in order to further increase the operational reliability of a composite battery configured therewith.Particularly preferred is an arrangement of the safety device directly on the circuit board of the mounting device in electrical connection with the conductor tracks provided for this purpose, whereby the functional reliability of a composite battery configured with the mounting device according to the invention is ensured in a particularly user-friendly manner and without additional circuitry effort.

[0037] The electrical lines or conductor tracks of the circuit board of the assembly device according to the invention are preferably designed as power lines with a larger cross-section or as control lines with a smaller cross-section, depending on the electrical power to be transmitted. The signal flow via the control lines preferably serves to monitor the function and temperature of the battery cells and to equalize the voltage between them. The power lines comprise first power lines for a series connection of the battery cells and second power lines for a parallel connection of the battery cells. Each first and second power line connected to a positive pole of a battery cell, or each first and second power line connected to a negative pole of a battery cell, can be electrically connected to the corresponding connection of the consumer via the first busbar.The busbars are preferably arranged on two opposite longitudinal sides of a large surface of the circuit board of the mounting device. The mounting device according to the invention thus enables the provision of a composite battery whose individual battery cells can be flexibly configured while complying with strict safety requirements, without the enormous cabling effort typically required within the composite battery. Composite batteries and battery packs with the mounting device according to the invention are therefore not only easier but also faster to configure than conventionally constructed composite batteries and battery packs, which has a direct, beneficial effect on manufacturing costs.

[0038] It is particularly preferred to provide the power lines in the form of the respective first and second power lines and busbars on a first large surface of the circuit board, and the control lines on a second large surface of the circuit board. In other words, the power lines and the control lines of the mounting device according to the invention are preferably arranged on two opposite sides of the circuit board, or rather, on its top and bottom sides. This not only enables extensive electromagnetic decoupling, but also a decoupling between the two types of lines that is immediately noticeable to a user, thus enabling simpler configuration and more trouble-free operation of a composite battery.

[0039] The switching elements for selectively opening and closing an electrical connection between a battery cell and the first or second power lines are advantageously provided at nodes of the electrical lines or conductor tracks of the circuit board of the assembly device according to the invention. The nodes thus serve to select a circuit variant in which the individual battery cells of the composite battery configured with the assembly device according to the invention can be operated, or to define the various series and parallel configurations thereof. As switching elements for electrically connecting the battery cells in the series circuit and the parallel circuit, one-way switches and changeover switches in the form of electromechanical switches such as plug-in bridges with sockets, solder bridges, relays, and / or electronic switches are preferably used in the assembly device.

[0040] Particularly preferred switch types are jumpers with sockets for establishing a detachable electrical connection or solder bridges for establishing a non-detachable electrical connection. The sockets used with the jumpers are each permanently connected to the electrical wires of the circuit board. To minimize contact resistance, it is advantageous to design the sockets at the individual nodes with multiple contacts for each circuit alternative and to establish the electrical connection via jumpers with corresponding multiple contacts.

[0041] For example, a jumper with four contacts in a linear arrangement can be provided, with which two of the three lines on the circuit board can be connected via two correspondingly spaced socket contacts at the line ends in order to prepare the mounting device according to the invention for a series or parallel connection of the battery cells to be accommodated. The line layout on the circuit board ensures that one line end can be connected to only one of the two other line ends using the jumper. For this purpose, three socket contacts are provided at the line end via which the connection to the other two line ends is to be established alternately, and two socket contacts are provided at each of the other two line ends.The cable end with the three socket contacts is shaped like a right angle, with a socket contact at the tip of the angle and a socket contact in each of the two angle legs for interacting with two of the four jumper contacts each. One of the two cable ends, each with two socket contacts, is formed in a straight line to the angle leg forming the cable end and can be configured for series connection of the battery cells using the jumper. The other of the two cable ends is formed in a straight line with the other angle leg and can be configured for parallel connection of the battery cells using the jumper. The inventive design of the plug contacts reliably prevents short circuits resulting from improper cable connections when a user configures a composite battery using jumpers.

[0042] The mounting device thus enables switching between series and parallel connection of the individual battery cells to be mounted in a simple, cost-effective, and reliable manner and without any special effort, such as the use of welding equipment and / or special tools. If electronic switches or electronically controllable switches are used instead of plug-in or solder bridges, the individual circuit variants can be created particularly easily, even with a closed housing of a composite battery configured with the mounting device. The electronic switches are controlled by setting elements on the outside of the housing or via the third connection socket using the protective electronics included in the mounting device, which, in a special version, is also designed to control the electronic switches.

[0043] A particular advantage of the assembly device is that, as a result of this inventive layout of the circuit board, the number of required switching elements for any voltage configuration of a compound battery configured with the assembly device is limited as follows: Anzahl der Schaltelemente = 2 × Anzahl der Batteriezellen − 1 , provided that the corresponding switching elements are designed as changeover switches in accordance with the wiring logic described above.

[0044] The circuit concept according to the invention with plug-in bridges, electronic switching elements and / or solder bridges thus enables an end user to independently define a desired circuit variant of the battery cells of a composite battery in a simple and intuitive manner and to adapt a composite battery for further uses at any time.

[0045] Furthermore, it is preferred to provide connection sockets on the circuit board of the mounting device according to the invention, which can be electrically connected via the busbars to the battery cells to be accommodated by the mounting device in order to supply the electrical energy stored therein to a consumer. For this purpose, a first connection socket is electrically connected via the first busbar to the first contact surfaces, and a second connection socket is electrically connected via the second busbar to the second contact surfaces. The electrical connections are preferably designed to transmit continuous currents of up to 35 A.As already stated, the first busbar, and thus the first connection socket, can preferably be connected via the power lines and the first contact surfaces to the positive poles of the battery cells to be accommodated by the mounting device, while the second busbar, and thus the second connection socket, can be connected via the power lines and the second contact surfaces to the negative poles of the battery cells to be accommodated by the mounting device. In addition, a third connection socket is preferably provided for monitoring the function of the protective electronics and for voltage equalization between the individual composite batteries, also known as balancing. This balancing / data connection, together with the two high-current connections, forms the interfaces of a composite battery configured with the mounting device according to the invention.

[0046] Each of the contact areas encompassed by the first and second housing parts of the mounting device preferably has an opening in the region of the cell cup. These openings thus enable direct heat dissipation from the battery cells fixed between the contact areas of the first and second housing parts. However, particularly when using the mounting device in a humid environment, it may also be advantageous to omit these openings entirely. In this case, sufficient heat dissipation is preferably ensured by appropriately dimensioning the interior of the housing of the mounting device and / or a housing material with good thermal conductivity, such as aluminum.

[0047] Furthermore, it is preferred to design the first and second housing parts in such a way that the circuit board with the battery cells is at least partially enclosed on the first and second large surfaces of the circuit board, respectively. The second housing part is either firmly connected to the circuit board, for example releasably by means of a screw connection or permanently by means of an adhesive connection, while the first housing part is releasably connected to the second housing part and / or the circuit board by force, for example by means of snap elements. Alternatively, it is preferred to releasably fasten the circuit board indirectly between the first and second housing parts via frictional engagement, retaining pins, and / or snap elements.

[0048] The connection sockets mounted on the circuit board are preferably accessible via openings in the seam area of ​​the two housing parts and are indirectly fixed in the assembly device using the connecting elements provided between them, corresponding to the battery cells.

[0049] Advantageously, the contact points between the first and second housing parts and between each of these housing parts and the battery cells and connection sockets to be accommodated therein are each provided with a circumferential elastic sealing area, for example made of silicone, to prevent the ingress of dust and splash water.

[0050] The first and second housing parts of the mounting device each have a circumferential edge region on the side facing away from the circuit board, the height of which projects beyond the battery cells to be inserted and thus enables secure resting on a flat surface or the edge region of a first or second housing part of a correspondingly designed further mounting device with battery cells inserted therein, or a corresponding further composite battery.

[0051] Preferably, each of these edge regions has recesses or edge region openings in order to ensure heat dissipation and thus cooling of the battery cells to be accommodated in the mounting device according to the invention or of a composite battery configured therewith during operation.

[0052] Furthermore, it is preferred to provide the first and / or second housing part with a venting device on the side facing the circuit board in order to cool the hot gas released by a battery cell at high pressure in the event of a thermal failure, while reducing the pressure, to such an extent that contact with the oxygen in the ambient air reliably prevents a fire hazard and thus damage to the mounting device. Optionally, the venting device comprises a flame arrester in a recess in each of the tubular cavities.

[0053] The venting device comprises a tubular cavity with at least one inlet on the inside of the housing facing the circuit board and with at least one outlet on the outside of the housing facing away from the circuit board. The tubular cavity thus forms, in addition to the interior of the housing with the circuit board delimited by the two housing parts, a separate housing region that is connected, on the one hand, to the interior of the housing containing the circuit board via at least one inlet and, on the other hand, to the housing environment via at least one outlet.

[0054] It is particularly preferred to provide the venting device along one of the two longitudinal sides of the housing or the circuit board, and to form the partition between the interior of the housing with the circuit board and the outer wall of the housing in the form of two corresponding partial walls in the first and second housing parts, which abut one another in their longitudinal extent during use of the mounting device and encompass the at least one inlet. Advantageously, the housing of the mounting device is made of a heat-resistant plastic or aluminum.

[0055] The various embodiments of the invention mentioned in this application can be advantageously combined with one another.

[0056] The invention is further explained below in exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show: Figure 1 shows a circuit diagram of a compound battery with individual cells protected at cell level for optional operation in a parallel circuit or in a series circuit according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a mounting device for a compound battery according to the invention according to Fig. 1 in front view without housing; Figure 3 the mounting device according to Fig. 2 in rear view; Figure 4 a schematic representation (a) of the series connection and (b) the parallel connection of the individual cells according to Fig. 1 ; Figure 5 shows a section of a mounting device according to Fig. 2 with a battery cell and a frame of a second housing part in a circuit board; Figure 6 shows the section of the mounting device with the battery cell and the second housing part with the frame according to Fig. 5in section AA; Figure 7 a schematic representation of a composite battery according to the invention with six battery cells with (a) an associated first housing part and (b) a mounting device corresponding Figure 2 with six battery cells in a second housing part and (c) a schematic representation of the composite battery according to (a) and (b) in section BB; Figure 8 a schematic representation of an electrical circuit of three mounting devices according to Figure 2 a battery pack according to the invention; Figure 9 shows a schematic external view of a battery pack according to the invention with three compound batteries connected in series.

[0057] In Figure 11 shows a circuit diagram of a composite battery 7 configured with the mounting device 1 according to the invention. For the selective operation of the battery cells 71 of the composite battery 7 in a series circuit or in a parallel circuit, each battery cell 71 is electrically connected at its positive pole to a first busbar 37 via a first contact surface 31 and a fuse device 51 for overcurrent protection by means of second power lines 36 and changeover switches 42. Via a second contact surface 32, each battery cell 71 is electrically connected at its negative pole to a second busbar 38 by means of second power lines 36 and switch 41. The electrical energy thus provided can be tapped by a consumer via the first and second busbars 37, 38.

[0058] Figure 2shows a front view of the mounting device 1 according to the invention for a composite battery 7 without a housing. In the illustrated embodiment, the first large surface 21 of the circuit board 2 encompassed by the mounting device 1 has three recesses 23, each with associated first and second contact surfaces 31, 32 in the form of electrically conductive spring contacts. A plug-in fuse for overcurrent protection, removably inserted into a socket via a fuse device 51, is provided in direct electrical connection with the first contact surface 31. A second power line 36 leads from the socket of the fuse device 51 to a node 33.This comprises contact surfaces for electrical connection to a switch element in the form of a changeover switch 42 for an alternative connection of battery cells 71 to be accommodated in the recesses 23 in a parallel circuit via the second power lines 36 or in a series circuit via the second power lines 36 and first power lines 35. The positive pole of the battery cells 71 connected in series can thus be connected via the second power lines 36 and a first busbar 37 to the corresponding input of a protective electronics 52 included in the safety device on the first large area 21 of the circuit board 2 included in the mounting device 1, while the negative pole of the battery cells 71 connected in series can be connected via the second power lines 36 and a second busbar 38 to the corresponding input of the protective electronics 52.The mounting device 1 according to the invention is connected to a load via a first and second connection socket 39, 310, which are connected to the first busbar 37 and the second busbar 38, respectively, via the protective electronics 52. A third connection socket 311 enables access to the protective electronics 52 for functional monitoring and control purposes.

[0059] Figure 3 shows the rear view of the Figure 2illustrated mounting device 1 according to the invention without a housing. On the second large surface 22 of the circuit board 2 encompassed by the mounting device 1, a temperature sensor 54 for monitoring the temperature of the battery cell 71 to be accommodated in a respective recess 23 is arranged at each of the three recesses 23. Each temperature sensor 54 is electrically connected via control lines 34 to a temperature monitor 53 for detecting the cell temperature. In the illustrated embodiment, the temperature monitor 53 is arranged as a separate circuit element on the second large surface 22 of the circuit board 2, wherein the third connection socket 311 provides, on the one hand, access to the temperature monitor 53 and, on the other hand, an operative connection to the protective electronics 52 on the first of the large surfaces 21 of the circuit board 2.The electrical connections required for this are designed as control lines 34; however, an arrangement of the temperature monitoring device 53 on the first large surface 21 of the circuit board 2 with corresponding feedthrough of the control lines 34 is equally possible and represents an equally preferred alternative. In both cases, the safety device of the mounting device 1 according to the invention comprises protective electronics 52, a temperature monitoring device 53, protective devices 61, and temperature sensors 54.

[0060] The Figure 2 and 3 The illustrated embodiment of the assembly device 1 according to the invention is thus suitable for a series arrangement with three battery cells 71, according to the schematic representation according to Figure 4(a)Electrically connected to each other via two first power lines 35. Connection to a consumer is possible via the first busbar 37 connected to the positive pole of the series circuit and via the second busbar 38 connected to the negative pole of the series circuit.

[0061] Figure 4(b) shows the three battery cells 71 in a parallel arrangement. The positive poles of the battery cells 71 are each electrically connected to the first busbar 37 via second power lines 36, while the negative poles are electrically connected to the second busbar 38 for connection to the load.

[0062] A section of a mounting device 1 in plan view according to Figure 2 is in Figure 5schematically shown. A battery cell 71 inserted into the assembly device 1 is partially enclosed by a frame 64 of a first housing part 61 made of plastic and a rectangular recess 23 in a circuit board 2. The battery cell, mechanically held in place in this way, is also electrically connected to the conductor tracks (not shown) on the circuit board 2 via a first and a second contact surface 31, 32. The battery cell 71 is a round cell of the standard type 18650.

[0063] Figure 6 shows the section of the mounting device 1 in a schematic sectional view along the section line AA in Figure 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the first housing part 61 is firmly connected to the circuit board 2 by means of an adhesive connection. The frame 64 penetrates the circuit board 2 and projects beyond it, which on the one hand ensures a defined assignment of the (not shown) first and second contact surfaces 31, 32 on the circuit board 2 to the (not shown) electrical contacts 72 of the battery cell 71 and on the other hand provides a cooling surface in the form of the frame 64 for the battery cell 71. The battery cell 71 lies flat against the contact area 63 of the first housing part 61 surrounded by the frame 64. Further cooling of the battery cell 71 is made possible by an opening 65 in the contact area 63.

[0064] In Figure 7 A composite battery 7 according to the invention with six battery cells 71 of the standard type 18650 is shown in three schematic views. Each shows a plan view Figure 7(a)an associated second housing part 62 and Figure 7(b) an associated first housing part 61 with a mounting device 1 according to Figure 2 and the six battery cells 71. Figure 7(c) shows the compound battery 7 with the second housing part 62 according to Figure 7(a) and the first housing part 61 according to Figure 7(b) in section BB. The two housing parts 61, 62 are injection-molded from a heat-resistant plastic.

[0065] Figure 7(a)shows the second housing part 62 with six openings 65 for heat dissipation in the contact areas 63 of the battery cells 71 in a plan view and thus an outer side of the composite battery 7. For a screw connection to the first housing part 61, first fastening elements 611 in the form of bores are formed in the corners and in the two longitudinal edge region walls. These wall sections also comprise second fastening elements 612 as blind bores for the releasable reception of second connecting elements 82 in the form of pins. The first fastening elements 611 are delimited by inner wall areas in the shape of a circular segment for reasons of stability. In addition, recesses are formed in the longitudinal edge walls between the first and second fastening elements 611, 612.These ensure that the heat emitted by the battery cells 71 via the openings 65 during operation of the composite battery 7 can be reliably dissipated even when the composite battery 7 rests on a flat surface or is used with several composite batteries 7 stacked in a battery pack 8.

[0066] Figure 7(b)shows the inside of the first housing part 61 of the composite battery 7. The edge wall of the first housing part 61 is congruent with that of the second housing part 62 and comprises first and second fastening elements 611, 612 in a corresponding arrangement for detachable connection to the second housing part 62 via the aforementioned first and second connecting elements 81, 82. In addition, along one of the two longitudinal edge walls, a ventilation device 68 in the form of a tubular cavity with an inlet 69 on the inside of the first housing part 61 facing the circuit board 2 and with two outlets 610 in the edge wall is formed.In the illustrated embodiment, the tubular cavity of the venting device 68 is thus vertically delimited by the partition wall with the inlet 69 and the opposite edge wall with the two outlets 610, while the lateral delimitation is provided by a respective partial area of ​​the base surface of the first housing part 61 and the second housing part 62. In addition to the two outlets 610, three recesses for the first, second and third connection sockets 39, 310, 311 of the composite battery 7 are formed in the edge wall of the first housing part 61. These recesses are dimensioned such that the housing interior is protected from dust and splash water when the composite battery 7 is in operation, with each of the three connection sockets 39, 310, 311 also abutting the corresponding edge wall of the second housing part 62.The contact areas 63 in the first housing part 61 are formed as borders 64 to stabilize the position of the adjacent battery cells 71, which borders each penetrate the recesses 23 in the circuit board 2 and enclose half of the outer surface of each battery cell 71. At the end, each of the borders comprises a recess for the first and second contact surfaces 31, 32 provided on the circuit board 2 for electrically contacting the battery cells 71, which contact surfaces are designed as spring contacts. In this embodiment of the composite battery 7 according to the invention, the circuit board 2 is firmly glued to the inside of the first housing part 61 and according to the . Figure 2 and 3 Instead of the three in the Figure 2 and 3 shown recesses, the circuit board 2 here has six recesses 23, each of which encloses a battery cell 71 in a frame 64.

[0067] In Figure 7(c)the composite battery 7 is connected to the second housing part 62 according to Figure 7(a) and the first housing part 61 according to Figure 7(b) shown schematically in section BB. The detachable connection between the two housing parts 61 and 62 is achieved by screws, which are mounted as first connecting means 81 in the holes provided for this purpose as first fastening elements 611.

[0068] In Figure 8 the electrical connection of three compound batteries 7, each with a mounting device 1 according to the invention, is Figure 2and three battery cells 71 are schematically shown in a parallel arrangement to form a battery pack 8. For the parallel connection of the three composite batteries 7 of the battery pack 8 according to the invention, all first connection sockets 39 and all second connection sockets 310 are each electromechanically detachably connected to one another. For this purpose, the first and second connection sockets 39, 310 are each preferably designed as threaded pins and are screwed together by means of a connection element 83 in the form of an electrically conductive metal bridge with three corresponding bores. The connection to a consumer is made via one of the first connection sockets 39 and one of the second connection sockets 310 of the three composite batteries 7, again by means of a detachable screw connection.This preferred type of electromechanical connection of the individual composite batteries 7 of the battery pack 8 allows for reliable electrical contact even if the connection sockets may become heated. Functional monitoring of the battery pack 8 and voltage equalization between the individual composite batteries 7 are enabled via the third connection socket 311 provided in each of the three composite batteries 7. For this purpose, the third connection sockets 311 are connected to a conductor element 84 in the form of a ribbon cable.

[0069] Figure 9Finally, it shows a battery pack 8 with three composite batteries 7 connected in series in its schematically represented external appearance. The first and second housing parts 61, 62 of each individual composite battery 7 are closed, without openings 65 in the area of ​​the battery cells 71, and are made of die-cast aluminum. The electrical connection of the three composite batteries 7 connected in series is achieved by two connection elements 83. Each of these connection elements 83 is designed in this exemplary embodiment as an electrically conductive metallic bridge with two bores. The first and second connection sockets 39, 310 of the three composite batteries 7 are designed, as preferred, as threaded pins.The first connection socket 39 of the first composite battery 7 and the second connection socket 310 of the second composite battery 7 arranged thereon in the illustration are screwed together via the first of the two connection elements 83, while the first connection socket 39 of the second composite battery 7 and the second connection socket 310 of the third composite battery 7 arranged thereon in the illustration are electromechanically detachably connected to one another in the same way by means of the second connection element 83. In this case, the connection to an external consumer is made via the second connection socket 310, or the negative pole, of the first composite battery 7 and the first connection socket 39, or the positive pole, of the third composite battery 7. Functional monitoring of the battery pack 8 and voltage equalization between the individual composite batteries 7 are in turn made possible via the third connection sockets 311 provided in each of the three composite batteries 7.

[0070] Each of the three composite batteries comprises a mounting device 1 according to the invention with a circuit board 2 and a first, second and third connection socket 39, 310, 311 corresponding to Figure 2 and a housing with a first and a second housing part 61, 62 corresponding Figure 7The two housing parts 61, 62 are made of plastic and each have an opening 65 for heat dissipation in the contact area 63 of a battery cell 71. Each of the battery cells 71 is partially enclosed inside the housing by a frame 64 for position stabilization, which in turn is surrounded by a recess 23 in the circuit board 2. The frames 64 are each formed in the first housing part 61. The first and second housing parts 61, 62 and the circuit board 2 of each composite battery 7 have first fastening elements 611 in the form of bores in the corners. In addition, the two housing parts 61, 62 of each composite battery 7 each comprise a plurality of second fastening elements 612 in the form of blind holes on the outside in the edge region of their large surfaces, in a normal arrangement with the circuit board 2. Second connecting elements 82 in the form of spacer pins are detachably attached in the blind holes.In this way, the composite batteries 7 of the battery pack 8 are kept at a distance in the desired lateral arrangement. In conjunction with the openings 65 in the first and second housing parts 61, 62, sufficient cooling of the battery cells 71 during operation of the battery pack 8 is thus ensured. The three composite batteries 7 are releasably clamped against one another in their vertical arrangement by a first connecting element 81 in the form of a threaded rod in the bores in the corners of the individual housings using nuts. At the same time, this fixes both the battery cells 71 and the first, second, and third connection sockets 39, 310, 311 of the individual composite batteries 7 between the associated first and second housing parts 61, 62, and protects the housing interior against dust and splash water. List of reference symbols

[0071] 1Mounting device 2PCB 21First large area 22Second large area 23Recess 31First contact area 32Second contact area 33Node 34Control line 35First power line 36Second power line 37First busbar 38Second busbar 39First connection socket 310Second connection socket 311Third connection socket 41On / off switch 42Changeover switch 51Fuse device 52Protective electronics 53Temperature monitoring 54Temperature sensor 61First housing part 62Second housing part 63Contact area 64Bezel 65Opening 66Edge area 67Edge area opening 68Venting device 69Inlet 610Outlet 611First fastening element 612Second fastening element 7Composite battery 71Battery cell 72Electrical contact 8Battery pack 81First connecting element 82Second connecting element 83Connecting element 84Line element

Claims

1. Mounting device (1) for a composite battery (7) for providing different voltages and currents for a consumer from at least one battery cell (71), in particular at least one round cell of an accumulator, having electrical contacts (72) for removing the stored electrical energy, said mounting device (1) comprising a printed circuit board (2) with electrical lines (34, 35, 36, 37, 38) and switching elements (41, 42) for electrically connecting the at least one battery cell to the consumer and a safety device (51, 52, 53, 54) for monitoring the function of the at least one battery cell, characterized in that a housing (61, 62) for receiving a plurality of battery cells comprising a first housing part (61) and a second housing part (62) is provided, wherein each first and second housing part comprises a plurality of contact regions (63), wherein each battery cell can be fixed between in each case at least one contact region of the first and second housing part, wherein each contact region in the first and / or second housing part is designed as an enclosure (64) for receiving in each case one battery cell, and wherein each enclosure is designed for at least partially enclosing a battery cell that can be accommodated therein; the printed circuit board comprises a plurality of recesses (23) for receiving in each case one enclosure (64) with a battery cell, wherein each recess comprises a first contact surface (31) for electrically connecting a positive pole of a battery cell and a second contact surface (32) for electrically connecting a negative pole of the battery cell to the electrical lines, wherein in each case one of the contact surfaces, preferably the first contact surface, is electrically connected to the electrical lines of the printed circuit board via the safety device, and the safety device comprises a safety instrument (51) for each battery cell for electrical overcurrent protection, wherein each battery cell in one of said enclosures is electrically connectable to the printed circuit board in a detachable manner via the respective first and second contact surfaces, and wherein each recess in the printed circuit board is dimensioned such that a battery cell can be enclosed in one of said enclosures in a maximum cross-sectional area of the battery cell.

2. Mounting device (1) according to claim 1, wherein each first and second contact surface (31, 32) is formed in the form of metallic contact spring.

3. Mounting device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the safety instrument (51) comprises an electrical plug-in fuse and a socket in detachable connection, and wherein the socket is electrically connected to the lines (34, 35, 36, 37, 38) of the printed circuit board (2) in a non-detachable, in particular non-thermally detachable, manner.

4. Mounting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the safety device (51, 52, 53, 54) comprises protective electronics (52), in particular a voltage equalization regulator of a battery management system, for avoiding a deep discharge and overcharging of each battery cell (71) and / or a temperature monitoring (53) for the at least one battery cell with at least one temperature sensor (54).

5. Mounting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the safety device (51, 52, 53, 54) is arranged on the printed circuit board (2) in electrical connection with the electrical lines (34, 35, 36, 37, 38).

6. Mounting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical lines (34, 35, 36, 37, 38) of the printed circuit board (2) comprise: control lines (34) for the functional monitoring of the at least one battery cell (71) and for the voltage equalization between the battery cells, a plurality of first power lines (35) for a series connection of the battery cells, a plurality of second power lines (36) for a parallel connection of the battery cells, a first busbar (37) for establishing an electrical connection between the positive pole of at least one battery cell and the consumer, and a second busbar (38) for establishing an electrical connection between the negative pole of at least one battery cell and the consumer.

7. Mounting device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the first and second power lines (35, 36) are arranged on a first large surface (21) of the printed circuit board (2) and the control lines (34) are arranged on second large surface (22) of the printed circuit board.

8. Mounting device (1) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the switching elements (41, 42) are provided for opening and closing the electrical connection between at least one battery cell (71) and the first power lines (35) or the second power lines (36) at junction points (33) of the electrical lines of the printed circuit board (2).

9. Mounting device (1) according to claim 8, wherein the switching elements (41, 42) are provided for electrically connecting the battery cells (71) in the series circuit and the parallel circuit, wherein the switching elements comprise: at least one electromechanical switch, in particular at least one plug-in bridge with a socket, a solder bridge or a relay, and / or at least one electronically controllable switch.

10. Mounting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims 8 or 9, wherein the printed circuit board (2), in each case in electrical connection with the junction points (33), comprises a first connection socket (39) and a second connection socket (310) in electrical connection with the second busbar (38) for providing the electrical energy of the composite battery, in particular of continuous currents up to 35 A, and a third connection socket (311) for functional monitoring of the protective electronics (52) and for voltage balancing.

11. Mounting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each contact region (63) in the first and / or the second housing part (61, 62) has an opening (65), wherein the first housing part at least partially encloses the printed circuit board (2) with the battery cells on a first large surface (21) of the printed circuit board, wherein the second housing part at least partially encloses the printed circuit board with the battery cells on the second large surface (22) of the printed circuit board, wherein the second housing part is fixedly or detachably connected to the printed circuit board, and wherein the first housing part is detachably connected to the second housing part and / or to the printed circuit board.

12. Mounting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and the second housing part (61, 62) each have a circumferential edge region (66) on the side facing away from the printed circuit board (2), which edge region (66), at its height, projects beyond the battery cells (71) to be received by the mounting device and is formed in each case with a plurality of edge region a openings (67), and wherein the first and / or second housing part comprises, on the side facing the printed circuit board, a venting device (68) for controlled pressure reduction in the event of a thermal destruction of a battery cell received by the mounting device, wherein the venting device is designed as a tubular cavity with at least one inlet (69) on an inner side of the housing (61, 62) facing the printed circuit board and with at least one outlet (610) on an outer side of the housing facing away from the printed circuit board.

13. Mounting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims 11 or 12, wherein the housing (61, 62) has the first, second and third connection sockets (39, 310, 311) and first and second fastening elements (611, 612), in particular in the form of bores and blind bores, for fastening the mounting device.

14. Composite battery (7) for providing electrical energy for a consumer, comprising at least one battery cell (71), preferably at least one round cell of an accumulator, particularly preferably at least one lithium ion round cell, having electrical contacts (72) for removing the stored electrical energy, characterized in that, a mounting device (1) for providing different voltages and currents for a consumer from the at least one battery cell (71) according to one of claims 1 to 13 is provided.

15. Battery pack (8) for providing electrical energy for a consumer, characterized in that a plurality of composite batteries (7) according to claim 14 are provided for providing the electrical energy for the consumer, wherein the plurality of composite batteries are mechanically fastened to one another via first fastening elements (611) provided in each composite battery, in particular in the form of bores, and first connecting elements (81), in particular in the form of threaded rods, and are held detachably in vertically or horizontally stacked arrangement by second fastening elements (612) provided in each composite battery, in particular in the form of blind bores, via second connecting elements (82), in particular in the form of pins, wherein the battery pack can be fastened in a force-fitting manner via the first fastening elements and the first connecting elements, wherein the plurality of composite batteries is electrically connected to one another via first and second connection sockets (39, 310) provided in each composite battery via junction elements (83) in series connection or parallel connection, wherein one of the first and second connection sockets of the plurality of composite batteries is provided for providing the electrical energy of the battery pack for the consumer, and wherein each third connection socket (311) provided in each of the plurality of composite batteries can be connected for function monitoring and for voltage equalization via a line element (84).