HOUSING ARRANGEMENT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a housing arrangement for accommodating electrical storage means, in particular for an electric motor-driven motor vehicle.

[0002] An electric vehicle includes, among other things, an electric motor as a power source, which is electrically connected to electrical storage devices. In drive mode, the electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy to propel the vehicle. The electrical storage devices, also known as a battery or accumulator, are typically housed in a battery box attached to the vehicle body on the underside.

[0003] From the generic document JP 2021-64448 A, a battery housing is known that has a frame with an opening and a tray inserted into the frame. The frame is closed from above by an upper cover and from below by a lower cover. The frame is composed of a framework made of several extruded profiles made of an aluminum or magnesium alloy. Alternatively, the frame can also be made of high-strength steel. The tray is made of an aluminum or magnesium alloy.

[0004] DE 10 2016 121 247 A1 discloses a battery carrier with a tray for accommodating batteries and a lid closing the tray. The tray is a one-piece, thin-walled sheet metal component made of an aluminum alloy with a yield strength Rp0.2 greater than 250 MPa. Reinforcing struts and a surrounding frame made of profiles are arranged on the outside of the tray.

[0005] DE 10 2019 203 400 A1 discloses a battery housing with a tray. Reinforcements in the form of profiles made of hardened steel material are arranged along the surrounding tray wall.

[0006] WO 2021 / 009256 A1 discloses a housing arrangement comprising a frame, a base, and a cover, which form a receiving space for electrical storage devices. The frame comprises several frame elements made of a metallic material with a variable sheet thickness along its length. The base is connected to the frame in such a way that a sealed trough is formed. The base can have an integrated cooling structure through which a coolant can flow.

[0007] DE 10 2018 106 399 A1 discloses a housing assembly with a tray assembly and a cover assembly. The tray assembly comprises a first molded part and a second molded part, which are made of flexibly rolled metallic material and connected to one another so that they have a variable sheet thickness in the longitudinal direction of the respective molded part.

[0008] DE 10 2016 120 826 A1 discloses a battery housing for an electric motor-driven vehicle. The battery housing comprises a tray part with a base and molded-on side walls, and a frame structure surrounding the tray part on the outside, forming a hollow chamber.

[0009] The present invention is based on the object of proposing a housing arrangement for accommodating electrical storage means which has good sealing properties, high resistance to corrosion and low weight.

[0010] According to the invention, a housing arrangement for accommodating electrical storage means for an electric drive of an electrically driven motor vehicle is proposed, comprising: a floor pan with a floor and a circumferentially closed pan frame, which is made of a metallic material by forming; a structural frame which comprises a plurality of frame elements connected to one another to form a circumferential frame and a plurality of reinforcing elements extending between two opposite frame elements, wherein the frame elements and the reinforcing elements are each made of a steel material and are connected to one another to form the structural frame, and wherein the structural frame is inserted into the floor pan and connected to it; wherein the yield strength of a steel material of the structural frame is at least 10% greater than the yield strength of the metallic material of the pan frame;and a lid detachably connectable to the tub frame, wherein the tub frame and the lid enclose a receiving space for electrical storage means;

[0011] One advantage is that the design of the individual components of the housing assembly can be easily adapted to different technical requirements. For example, the pan frame, due to its forming process from a formable material, has particularly good sealing and corrosion protection functions. This is because the pan frame forms the outer region of the housing assembly, so that no additional welds are required to attach other components. All other components located inside the pan frame, in particular the structural frame, are thus optimally protected against corrosion. The average sheet thickness of the pan frame can be reduced to the minimum necessary for these technical requirements. In general, average sheet thicknesses of the pan frame between 1.0 mm and 3.0 mm are possible, whereby a reduced sheet thickness can be, for example, less than 1.4 mm or even less than 1.2 mm.The pan frame is functionally decoupled from the structural frame and therefore does not have to perform any structural mechanical functions. This allows the material quality, sheet thickness, and, if applicable, the coating of the base pan to be optimized for sealing and corrosion protection. This allows for good functional performance and a low weight for this large, and therefore particularly weight-critical, component.

[0012] The structural frame, or at least individual elements thereof, can be optimized with regard to the structural mechanical tasks, i.e., strength and / or rigidity, without having to compromise on corrosion protection. The dimensions of the individual frame elements and / or reinforcement elements can be individually selected depending on the expected loads. By specifically reducing the thickness of the frame parts and / or reinforcement elements in areas subject to less stress, material can be saved, so that the housing assembly ultimately has a low weight without compromising its mechanical properties and can therefore be manufactured cost-effectively.By deliberately increasing the thickness of the frame parts and / or reinforcing elements in areas subject to higher loads, particularly in crash-relevant areas, greater strength can be achieved so that the housing arrangement can absorb a high load without being destroyed.

[0013] In the context of the present disclosure, the "average thickness" of a component with variable thickness may, for example, be the average thickness accumulated over the length of the respective component, or the average thickness between a largest and a smallest absolute thickness of the component. For components with constant thickness over the length, the average thickness is equal to the nominal thickness.

[0014] The sheet material of the tub frame can have an elongation at break of preferably at least 15%. This value can refer to the starting material, i.e., before the sheet material is formed into the tub frame, or to the formed tub frame as a finished product. In the context of the present disclosure, the elongation at break A describes the permanent change in length (Lu-L0) after the specimen fracture, based on the initial gauge length L0, i.e., A = (Lu-L0) / L0 * 100%. The elongation at break A of the tub frame material is preferably greater than that of a structural frame material. Options for determining the elongation at break and conducting the test are described, for example, in DIN EN ISO 6892-1 and ASTM E8 / E8M, respectively. In particular, a tensile specimen with a rectangular cross-section or for flat products can be used.The initial gauge length L0 of the sample can be, for example, 50 mm, for which the specified elongation at break A of greater than or equal to 15% applies at least, although other sample lengths according to DIN EN ISO 6892-1 or ASTM E8 / E8M are also possible.

[0015] The tub frame can, for example, be manufactured as a one-piece formed part from an easily formable steel material or light metal, such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The material used should, in particular, have a tensile strength and / or yield strength (Rp0.2) of less than 450 MPa. The tub frame is preferably manufactured from a one-piece sheet metal blank, which is processed into the tub frame through forming operations, in particular deep drawing, and optionally cutting operations. For particularly large tub frames, several individual sheet metal elements can, if necessary, first be manufactured separately and then joined together in a material-to-material bond, for example by welding, before this blank assembly is then formed into the tub frame as a single part. During the forming process, the tub frame is manufactured with beveled wall areas that form a draw-out slope.

[0016] According to a first embodiment, the tray frame can be manufactured as a single piece with an integrated base. In this case, the tray frame and base form a single-piece base tray that is accordingly gas- and liquid-tight. The base tray can optionally have a cooling structure. A base tray with an integral cooling structure can be manufactured, for example, by roll-bonding two aluminum strips, subsequently separating them into composite blanks, forming them into the tray shape, in particular by deep-drawing, and inflating the cavities. In this embodiment, the tray frame and base form a single-piece base tray made of the same material.

[0017] According to a modified embodiment, the tank frame and the base can also be initially manufactured separately and then sealed together. The base has the integrated cooling structure through which a coolant can flow. The tank frame and cooling base can be connected to each other in a liquid- and gas-tight manner, for example, using a hybrid joining technique consisting of adhesive bonding, friction welding, or riveting. In this embodiment, the tank frame and cooling base can be made of different materials, for example, the tank frame from a cold-formable steel and the cooling base from aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

[0018] The cooling base or cooling structure can be made from several aluminum strips joined together by roll bonding. The aluminum strips are joined together in connecting areas by heating and rolling and then cut to length into individual blanks. Hollow areas are then created by applying pressure to the areas outside the connecting areas, causing them to deform into cavities. The hollow areas of the cooling base are preferably formed in only one of the two superimposed aluminum sheets, i.e., one sheet element is flat, while the other sheet element is deformed. The flat sheet element and the connected, formed sheet element can have the same or different sheet thicknesses, which can, for example, be between 0.8 mm and 2.0 mm.The cooling floor can be made of an integral roll bonding element or several interconnected roll bonding elements.

[0019] Viewed in cross-section, the tub frame may have a Z-shaped profile, with a lower flange area that merges into or is connected to the base, a surrounding wall area that extends away from the base, and an adjoining upper flange area that serves to attach the lid. The extension of the wall area toward the upper flange area serves as a draft angle for the forming tool.

[0020] The upper flange area forms, in particular, a flat sealing surface for sealing connection with a mating surface of the cover, which is particularly detachably connectable to the tank frame. The lower flange area merges integrally into the base in the one-piece design or, in the two-piece design, forms a flat sealing surface for sealing connection with a mating surface of the cooling base.

[0021] The structural frame comprises several frame elements that are assembled to form a continuous frame, and several reinforcing elements that extend between two lateral frame elements or support them against each other. The frame elements and / or reinforcing elements can be adapted to the respective technical requirements in terms of their strength and rigidity. For example, at least some of the frame elements and / or at least some of the reinforcing elements can have a variable sheet thickness along the length of the respective element.

[0022] Depending on specific technical requirements, the frame elements can be designed as a two-part hollow profile consisting of a C-shaped outer profile and a connected C-shaped inner profile, or as a single-part profile. By using a two-part or hollow profile, particularly high bending resistance moments can be achieved, which, depending on the material and sheet thickness, can exceed 6500 mm3, for example.

[0023] The frame elements and the reinforcement elements can be made of the same or different steel materials. For example, at least some or all of the frame elements of the structural frame can be made of a martensitic hardening steel, in particular a manganese-boron alloyed tempering steel, such as 17MnB3, 22MnB5, 26MnB5, or 34MnB5, although other steel grades are also possible. At least some, preferably all, of the frame elements of the structural frame can be provided with a corrosion protection layer, in particular of an aluminum alloy. This provides good protection against corrosion. The final shape of a component made of martensitic hardening steel material is preferably produced by hot forming, which can also be referred to as press hardening.For this purpose, the pre-coated starting part, which can have a tensile strength of at least 500 MPa, is first heated to austenitizing temperature, then placed in the hot-forming tool while hot, formed, and rapidly cooled to create a martensitic microstructure. The finished, i.e., formed and hardened component can have a final tensile strength of at least 900 MPa, preferably at least 1300 MPa.

[0024] The reinforcement elements can be made, in particular, from a cold-rolled steel, for example, a micro-alloyed steel such as HC 420, a dual-phase steel such as DP800 or DP1000, or a complex-phase steel. These steels are formed from a blank into the finished component by cold forming. Cold-formed steels are easy to form, allowing even more complex reinforcement element geometries to be created. The reinforcement elements can also be provided with a corrosion-protection layer, particularly made of a zinc alloy. However, the use of hot-formed steel is also possible, as described in connection with the frame elements. In this case, an aluminum alloy is preferably used as the corrosion-protection layer.

[0025] The reinforcement elements can comprise cross and / or longitudinal beams arranged between the frame elements and firmly connected to them, for example, by welding. The reinforcement elements support the connected frame elements against each other. Overall, this creates a robust structural frame that can be inserted into the floor pan as a prefabricated unit and connected to it.

[0026] According to one possible embodiment, at least some of the reinforcement elements can have threads, which can be produced in particular by punching, deep-drawing, stamping, and / or cutting processes. The threads can serve to fasten a cover part and / or battery modules that can be inserted between the reinforcement elements, or can be designed for this purpose.

[0027] To secure the housing assembly to a vehicle body, multiple through-bolt assemblies may be provided, each of which may include a sealed support sleeve penetrating a reinforcement element. The number of through-bolts in the housing assembly may, for example, be 2 to 5 per reinforcement element.

[0028] Depending on the technical requirements, at least some reinforcing elements may have a variable sheet thickness over a longest length, wherein the sheet thickness may be increased in particular in the area of ​​the formed threads and / or in the area of ​​the screw-throughs and / or in the area of ​​the end fastening sections connected to the frame.

[0029] The lid can be designed in one or more parts, each optionally with variable or uniform material thickness.

[0030] When the cover is connected to the tray frame-base unit, a sealed housing assembly is formed that is inherently leakproof. Leakage of battery fluid from the housing assembly and penetration of dirt into it are effectively prevented.

[0031] Preferred embodiments are explained below with reference to the drawing figures. Herein: Figure 1A shows a housing arrangement according to the invention for accommodating electrical storage means in a perspective exploded view in a first embodiment; Figure 1B shows a detail of the housing arrangement from Figure 1A in cross section; Figure 2A a reinforcement element for a housing arrangement according to the invention as a detail in perspective view; Figure 2B the reinforcement element according to Figure 2A in cross section; Figure 3A the housing arrangement of Figure 1A in plan view; Figure 3B Detail of the housing arrangement from Figure 3Ain an enlarged view; Figure 3C the housing arrangement according to section line 3C-3C from Figure 3B ; Figure 4A shows a housing arrangement according to the invention in a perspective exploded view in a further embodiment; Figure 4B shows a detail of the housing arrangement from Figure 4A in cross section; Figure 5 shows a housing arrangement according to the invention for accommodating electrical storage means in a perspective exploded view in a further embodiment; Figure 6 shows a floor pan and structural frame in a modified embodiment for a housing arrangement according to the invention in a perspective exploded view; Figure 7A shows a housing arrangement according to the invention in a perspective exploded view in a further embodiment; Figure 7B shows the floor pan from Figure 7A as a detail in perspective view from below.

[0032] The Figures 1A and 1B , also known as Figure 1, show a housing arrangement 2 according to the invention, in which electrical storage means (not shown) can be accommodated, in a first embodiment. Such a housing arrangement 2 can be connected to the body of a motor vehicle. The electrical storage means serve to store electrical energy, which can be used to supply power to an electric motor of the electrically driven motor vehicle; they can also be referred to as battery modules.

[0033] The housing assembly 2 has a base pan 3, a structural frame 4, and a cover 5. In the present embodiment, the base pan 3 is assembled in two parts and comprises a formed, one-piece pan frame 6 and a base 7 sealed thereto. The connection can be made, for example, by welding and / or gluing. In the joined state, the base 7 and the pan frame 6 together form the base pan 3 for receiving the structural frame 4 and the storage means. The structural frame 4 comprises a plurality of frame elements 8, 9, 10, 11 connected to one another to form a circumferential frame and a plurality of reinforcing elements 12 extending between two opposite frame elements 8, 9. The frame elements 8, 9, 10, 11 and the reinforcing elements 12 are made of a steel material and connected to one another to form the structural frame 4. The connection can be made, for example, by welding and / or screwing.The structural frame 4 is inserted into the base pan 3 and connected to it. The cover 5 can be detachably connected to the pan frame 6, for example, by means of screw connections (not shown). Overall, a housing with an internal structural frame 4 is achieved, which is protected from environmental influences by the external base pan 3 or the cover 5.

[0034] Further details of the base pan 3, structural frame 4 and cover 5 assemblies are given below.

[0035] The pan frame 6 is manufactured in one piece by forming, for example by deep drawing and subsequent trimming of a sheet metal blank. The wall regions 13 of the pan frame 6 are manufactured in particular with draft angles for the forming tool. The pan frame can be manufactured, for example, from an easily formable steel material or a light metal, such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy, whereby the metallic material used should have an elongation at break (A50) of at least 15%. The tensile strength and / or yield strength (Rp0.2) is preferably less than 450 MPa. The average sheet thickness d6 of the pan frame 6 is preferably less than 1.4 mm, in particular less than 1.2 mm. The average thickness can refer, for example, to the average thickness accumulated over the entire extent of the pan frame, or the average thickness between a largest and a smallest absolute thickness of the pan part.

[0036] As particularly in Figure 1B As can be seen, the tub frame 6, viewed in cross-section, has a Z-shaped or S-shaped profile, in which a lower flange region 14 and an upper flange region 15 are bent in opposite directions from the wall region 13. The lower flange region 14 is bent inwards and has a particularly flat sealing surface for sealing connection to the base 7. The upper flange region 15 is bent outwards and has a particularly flat sealing surface for sealing connection to a counter surface of the cover 5, which can be detachably connected to the tub frame 6 via a plurality of screw connections distributed over the circumference.

[0037] The base 7 has an integrated cooling structure and can therefore also be referred to as a cooling base. When joined, the base 7 and the tray frame 6 together form a liquid- and gas-tight base tray 3. The cooling base is made from several sheet metal elements 16, 17, in particular made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, which are connected to one another by roll bonding. During roll bonding, two superimposed metal strips, one of which is provided with a release agent, are joined to one another by heating and rolling in connecting areas 18. The release agent, which can be applied using a screen printing process, describes the geometry of the later cavities. In the areas not provided with a release agent, the two sheet metal layers are bonded to one another. The unconnected areas are subjected to pressure so that they deform and form the hollow areas 19.In this case, the hollow areas 19 are formed only in the lower of the stacked sheet metal elements. The upper sheet metal element 16 remains flat, thus forming a correspondingly level support surface for the battery modules. The sheet metal thickness of the sheet metal elements 16, 17 can be, for example, between 0.8 and 2.0 mm. For high cooling performance, the sheet metal elements 16, 17 can have a high thermal conductivity, in particular greater than 100 W / mK.

[0038] As is particularly evident from Figure 1AAs can be seen, the base 7 has a plurality of cooling regions 22, which, in the assembled state, are spatially separated from one another by the reinforcing elements 12. The number of cooling regions 22 can be adapted to the number of storage elements. The reinforcing elements 12 are each connected to the base 7 in connecting regions 23 between two adjacent cooling regions 22. Furthermore, connections 24, 25 for circulating coolant through the hollow regions 19 can be seen. In the present embodiment, the base 7 is composed of two interconnected, roll-bonded base elements 20, 20' and accordingly comprises two cooling structures. However, a design comprising a single roll-bonded base element with one cooling structure is also possible.

[0039] The reinforcement elements 12 form connecting webs between the two opposing frame elements 8, 9, which, together with the end frame elements 10, 11 extending transversely thereto, form a closed frame. The number of reinforcement elements 12 can be adapted to the number of storage elements. In this case, the reinforcement elements 12 extend transversely to the longest length of the housing and can therefore also be referred to as cross members or cross braces. Designs with longitudinal members are also possible.

[0040] As particularly in Figure 1BAs can be seen, the frame elements 8, 9, 10, 11, or at least a number thereof, in the present embodiment, have a C-shaped profile in cross-section. An upper and a lower flange section 26, 27 are both bent inwards in the same direction from the wall section 28. The reinforcing elements 12 can have a U-shaped profile in cross-section with bottom flanges for attachment to the floor pan 3 and end flanges for connection to the lateral frame elements 8, 9. The reinforcing elements 12 engage with their ends in the inwardly open cavity of the frame elements 8, 9 formed by the C-profile and are fastened to these, for example by welding.

[0041] The frame elements 8, 9, 10, 11, or at least a portion thereof, are preferably made of a hot-formable steel, in particular a martensitic tempering steel, such as 17MnB3, 22MnB5, 26MnB5, or 34MnB5. The blanks are formed and hardened into the finished component by hot forming, thereby achieving particularly high strength of the elements.

[0042] The reinforcement elements 12, or at least a portion thereof, are preferably made of a cold-formable steel, in particular a cold-rolled micro-alloyed steel such as HC 420, a dual-phase steel such as DP800 or DP1000, or a complex-phase steel. These steels are formed into the finished component by cold forming from a blank. Alternatively, the reinforcement elements 12 can also be made of a hot-formable steel, as previously described.

[0043] For particularly good corrosion resistance, the frame elements 8, 9, 10, 11 and / or reinforcing elements 12 of the structural frame 4 can have a corrosion protection layer, in particular made of a zinc-based alloy for cold-formed steels or an aluminum-based alloy for hot-formed steels. The corrosion protection layer is preferably applied to the steel strip before the forming process.

[0044] The frame elements 8, 9, 10, 11 and the reinforcing elements 12 can be manufactured separately and subsequently connected to one another, for example by welding. Together, they form the structural frame 4, which in the present case has a ladder-shaped structure, but is not limited thereto. Depending on the technical requirements, at least some reinforcing elements 12 and / or at least some of the frame elements 8, 9, 10, 11 can have different sheet thicknesses over their respective lengths. The structural frame 4 can, in particular, be inserted into the floor pan 3 as a prefabricated or self-supporting unit and connected to it, for example by means of welding or screwing.

[0045] The Figures 2A and 2B show a possible embodiment of a reinforcing element 12. As shown in particular in Figure 2BAs can be seen, the reinforcing element 12 has a U-shaped profile with two laterally projecting flange sections 29, 29' for attachment to the base pan 3. At the opposite ends, the reinforcing elements have laterally bent end flanges 30, 30' for attachment to the longitudinal frame elements 8, 9. Optionally, the reinforcing elements 12 can have a plurality of threads 33 machined into the base section 32, wherein the threads can be produced by piercing, deep-drawing, embossing and / or cutting processes. The threads 33 serve to attach the cover 5 and / or battery modules. The sheet thickness of the cross members is preferably increased, particularly in the areas of the molded-in threads and / or the end flanges 30, 30'.Furthermore, the reinforcing elements 12 can optionally have a plurality of through-openings 34 in the base section 32, through which screw connections from the cover to the base are made possible, which will be described below with reference to FIG. Figure 3 is explained in more detail.

[0046] The Figures 3A, 3B and 3C , also known as Figure 3 , show a possible embodiment for fastening the housing assembly 2 according to the invention to a vehicle body, without being limited thereto. Accordingly, several through-bolt assemblies 35 can be provided, through each of which a screw can be passed from the base to the cover through the housing assembly 2 in order to fasten it to the vehicle body.

[0047] The through-bolt arrangements 35 each have an inner sleeve 36, which is inserted into through-openings 34 of the reinforcement elements 12 and arranged between the two legs 31, 31'. The inner sleeves 36 rest downwards against the base 7 and are fastened to it via a lower fastening sleeve 37. The reinforcement elements 12 can have openings with inwardly drawn support flanges 21 in the area of ​​the fastening sleeve 37. At the upper end, the inner sleeves 36 are screwed to the cover 5 via corresponding fastening sleeves 38. The connections between the inner sleeve 36 and the base 7 on the one hand and the cover 5 on the other hand are sealed so that no moisture or dirt can penetrate into the housing interior 39. The number of through-bolt arrangements 35 per cross member is, for example, a maximum of 5.

[0048] The Figures 4A and 4B , also known as Figure 4, show a housing arrangement 2 according to the invention in a modified embodiment. This largely corresponds to the embodiment according to the Figures 1 to 3 , so that with regard to the similarities, reference is made to the above description. The same or corresponding components are provided with the same reference numerals as in the above Figures 1 to 3 .

[0049] The only difference of the present embodiment according to Figure 4lies in the design of the frame elements 8, 9, which are designed in the form of a two-part hollow profile consisting of a C-shaped outer profile 40 and a connected C-shaped inner profile 41. The outer profile 40 and the inner profile 41 are directed towards each other with their upper flange sections 26, 42 and lower flange sections 27, 43, so that a hollow space is created when viewed in cross-section. The inner profiles 41 can have several weight-reducing openings 44 along their length. Overall, the frame elements 8, 9 on two profiles have greater strength, rigidity, and a particularly high bending moment.

[0050] The Figure 5 shows a housing arrangement 2 according to the invention in a further embodiment. This largely corresponds to the embodiment according to Figure 4, to whose description reference is made with regard to the similarities. Identical or corresponding components are provided with the same reference numerals as in the above Figures 1 to 4 .

[0051] The special feature of the present embodiment according to Figure 5is that the base pan 3 is manufactured in one piece, i.e. the pan frame 6 and the base 7 form a part which is manufactured by means of a forming process from a blank or a blank composite, in particular by means of deep drawing. The base 7 in this embodiment has no cooling structure, but is formed by the deep-drawn sheet. In order to nevertheless provide a cooling function for the battery modules, an upper cooling base 45 is provided, which is placed on the structural frame 4 or arranged between it and the cover 5. A base pan 3 manufactured in one piece has the advantage that there are no connection points. The fastening of the housing arrangement 2 to the vehicle body can be effected in this embodiment, for example, via the circumferential flange of the pan frame 6, whereby alternatively the Figure 3 shown screw-throughs are possible.

[0052] The Figure 6shows an embodiment with a modified structural frame 4. The cover is not shown here for the sake of simplicity. The present embodiment largely corresponds to the embodiment according to Figure 5 , to whose description reference is made with regard to the similarities. Identical or corresponding components are provided with the same reference numerals as in the above Figures 1 to 5 .

[0053] A special feature of the embodiment according to Figure 6is that the structural frame 4 has transversely and longitudinally extending reinforcing elements 12, 12', which extend between the frame elements 8, 9, 10, 11, so that overall a window-like support structure is formed. The base pan 3 is manufactured in one piece, with the pan frame 6 and the base 7 forming a part which is produced by forming from a blank or a blank composite, in particular by deep drawing. The base 7 in this embodiment has no cooling structure and can be provided with a cooling base on top, as in Figure 5 However, it is understood that the base 7 may also have a cooling structure, as shown for example in Figure 7 shown.

[0054] The Figures 7A and 7B , also known as Figure 7 , show a housing arrangement 2 according to the invention in a further embodiment. This largely corresponds to the embodiment according to Figure 4, so that with regard to the similarities, reference is made to the above description. The same or corresponding components are provided with the same reference numerals as in the above Figures 1 to 6 .

[0055] The special feature of the present embodiment according to Figure 7 is that the floor pan 3 is manufactured in one piece, i.e. the pan frame 6 and the base 7 form a part which is manufactured by means of the forming process from a blank composite of two roll-bonded base elements 20, 20', in particular by means of deep drawing. In this embodiment, the base 7 and the pan frame 6 form an integral floor pan 3, without any connecting points between them. As shown in particular in Figure 7BAs can be seen, the base tray 3 comprises two interconnected, roll-bonded base elements 20, 20', and correspondingly two cooling structures 46, 46', as described above. However, a design consisting of a single roll-bonded board assembly with a cooling structure is also possible.

[0056] Overall, the housing assemblies 2 described above with a formed pan frame 6 have the advantage of being highly leak-proof, as weld seams in wet areas are avoided, thus increasing safety. A functional separation can be achieved between a pure sealing and corrosion protection function on the one hand, and a purely structural-mechanical function on the other. The sealing and corrosion protection function is assumed by the base pan 3, whose sheet thickness and weight can be reduced to a minimum. The structural-mechanical function is assumed by the structural frame 4, which is sealed by the base pan 3 and the cover 5 and can, if necessary, be designed with variable sheet thicknesses for load-optimized performance, for example, from tailor-rolled blanks. List of reference symbols

[0057] 2Housing arrangement 3Bottom pan 4Structural frame 5Cover 6Trough frame 7Bottom 8Frame element 9Frame element 10Frame element 11Frame element 12Reinforcing element 13Wall sections 14Flange section 15Flange section 16Sheet metal element 17Sheet metal element 18Connection section 19Hollow section 20, 20'Bottom element 21Support flange 22Cooling section 23Connection section 24Connection 25Connection 26Flange section 27Flange section 28Wall section 29, 29'Flange section 30, 30'End flange 31, 31'Legs 32Bottom section 33Thread 34Through opening 35Thread assembly 36Inner sleeve 37Fastening sleeve 38Fastening sleeve 39Housing interior 40Outer profile 41Inner profile 42Flange section 43Flange section 44Opening 45Cooling base 46, 46'Cooling structure d6Thickness

Claims

1. Housing assembly for accommodating electrical storage means for an electric drive of an electrically drivable motor vehicle, comprising: a base tray (3) with a base (7) and a circumferentially closed tray frame (6), which is produced from a metallic material by forming; a structural frame (4) which comprises a plurality of frame elements (8, 9, 10, 11) connected to each other to form a circumferential frame and a plurality of reinforcing elements (12) extending between two frame elements (8, 9), wherein the frame elements (8, 9, 10, 11) and the reinforcing elements (12) are each made of a steel material and are connected to each other to form the structural frame (4), and wherein the structural frame (4) is connected to the base tray (3); wherein the yield strength of the steel material of the frame elements (8, 9, 10, 11) and reinforcing elements (12) is at least 10 % greater than the yield strength of the metallic material of the tray frame (6); a cover (5) which is releasably connectable to the tray frame (6), wherein the tray frame (6) and the cover (5) enclose a receiving space for electrical storage means, characterised in that the structural frame (4) is arranged in the base tray (3) inside the tray frame (6).

2. Housing assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the base tray (3) is produced in two parts, wherein the tray frame (6) is sealingly connected to the base (7), wherein the base (7) including an integrated cooling structure through which a coolant can flow, and wherein the base (7) is produced from a plurality of aluminium sheets (16, 17) joined by roll bonding, which by rolling are bonded to each other in bonding regions (18) and spaced apart from each other in hollow regions (19), which form the cooling structure.

3. Housing assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the tray frame (6) has a Z-shaped profile when viewed in cross-section, wherein the tray frame (6) extends from a lower flange region (14) via an adjoining wall region (13) in direction of an upper flange region (15), wherein the upper flange region (15) forms a flat sealing face for sealing connection to a counter face of the cover (5), and / or wherein the lower flange region (14) forms a flat sealing face for sealing connection with a counter face of the base (7)..

4. Housing assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the tray frame (6) is made of a metallic material with a yield strength (Rp0.2) of less than 450 MPa, in particular aluminium or an aluminium alloy.

5. Housing assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the base tray (3) comprising the tray frame (6) and base (7) is produced in one piece by forming, in particular by deep drawing.

6. Housing assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that at least some of the reinforcing elements (12) have incorporated threads (33) for fastening the cover (5) and / or battery modules insertable between the reinforcing elements (12), wherein the incorporated threads (33) are produced in particular by punching, deep-drawing, embossing and / or cutting processes.

7. Housing assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that a plurality of through-bolt assemblies (35) are provided in order to fasten the housing assembly (2) to a vehicle body.

8. Housing assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that at least some of the reinforcing elements (12) have a variable sheet thickness over a longest length of the respective reinforcing element, with the sheet thickness being increased in particular in the region of the incorporated threads (33) and / or at end-side connecting portions.

9. Housing assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that at least some of the frame elements (8, 9, 10, 11) of the structural frame (4) are produced from a martensitically hardenable steel by hot forming, in particular from 22MnB5.

10. Housing assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that at least some of the frame elements (8, 9, 10, 11) of the structural frame (4) are provided with an anti-corrosion coating, in particular of an aluminium alloy.

11. Housing assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that at least some of the frame elements (8, 9, 10, 11) of the structural frame (4) have a variable sheet thickness over a longest length of the respective frame element.

12. Housing assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that at least some of the reinforcing elements (12) of the structural frame (4) are produced from a cold-rolled steel with a yield strength of at most 550 MPa by cold forming.

13. Housing assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that at least some of the reinforcing elements (12) of the structural frame (4) are provided with an anti-corrosion coating, in particular of a zinc alloy.

14. Housing assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that at least some of the frame elements (8, 9, 10, 11) of the structural frame (4) are designed in the form of a hollow profile comprising a C-shaped outer profile (40) and a C-shaped inner profile (41) connected thereto.

15. Housing assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the tray frame (6) is made of sheet material with an elongation at break (A50) of at least 15 % and an average sheet thickness of less than 3.0 mm, in particular less than 1.4 mm.