Battery housing for at least two battery modules

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery housing (1) for at least two battery modules (6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2) or at least two rows (6, 7) of battery modules (6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2), wherein each of the battery modules (6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2) or each row (6, 7) of battery modules (6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2) extends along a longitudinal direction (L), having a lower housing part (2) and an upper housing part (3). The invention is characterised by a partition wall assembly (9), which extends between the housing parts (2, 3) in the longitudinal direction (L) and in a vertical direction (H) orthogonal thereto, wherein the partition wall assembly (9) has a partition wall (13) made of plastic, in the material of which at least one data line and / or control line (15) is embedded.

Description

[0001] Battery housing for at least two battery modules

[0002] The invention relates to a battery housing for at least two battery modules or at least two rows of battery modules according to the type defined in more detail in the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] Battery housings in various designs for accommodating battery modules are known from the prior art. For example, DE 10 2018 123651 A1 describes a polymer battery frame for battery packs. DE 10 2011 087 040 A1 describes a structure for electrically connecting energy storage modules with two electrical connection terminals.

[0004] Furthermore, the applicant's unpublished application with German file number 102021 005 097 describes a battery housing with a partition assembly designed for the electrical and, in particular, thermal insulation of individual areas within a battery housing that can accommodate battery modules. The partition assembly can comprise, for example, plastic materials and mineral insulating materials.

[0005] DE 20201 104 761 U1 shows a traction battery with a partition assembly. This includes supply lines and cables, which are secured by plastic retaining clips.

[0006] DE 10 2018 209 271 A1 describes an installation device for cables in a high-voltage battery for a vehicle. The cables are cast directly into the surrounding plastic. Further prior art includes a two-row cell block from the applicant in DE 10 2013 015 785 A1, a polymer battery frame in DE 10 2018 123 651 A1, and a contact arrangement for an energy storage device in DE 10 2011 087 040 A1.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a battery housing with an improved separation between individual areas for accommodating battery modules, which in particular enables simple and efficient assembly.

[0008] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a battery housing having the features in claim 1, and here in particular in the characterizing part of claim 1.

[0009] Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the battery housing result from the dependent claims.

[0010] In the battery housing according to the invention, the partition wall assembly comprises a partition made of plastic. Instead of routing data and / or control lines, which can form a serial bus system, for example, along the partition wall in the battery housing, which is correspondingly complex and complicates assembly, the solution according to the invention provides for the plastic material of the partition wall to be used to embed a data and / or control line in this material. The plastic material of the partition wall offers the ideal options for accommodating the line accordingly and directly electrically insulating it. The data and / or control line then runs within the partition wall and can be installed together with it easily and efficiently.Instead of complex cabling, which has to be fixed in the battery housing or on a partition assembly, there is a simple component embedded in the material of the partition.

[0011] The battery housing according to the invention further provides that the partition is connected to one of the housing parts via a deformable material as a tolerance compensation. For example, such a material, which can in particular be a felt-like material, can be glued to the side of the partition facing one of the housing parts in order to compensate for potential manufacturing tolerances when the partition is pressed between the upper and lower housing parts, while still reliably separating the areas separated by the partition.

[0012] In particular, the deformable material can be designed to compensate for tolerances between the partition and the upper housing part, for example, the housing cover. The partition can then be connected to the lower housing part accordingly, and the housing cover can be placed on the partition with the appropriate tolerance compensation over the deformable material to close the battery housing.

[0013] According to an exceptionally advantageous development of the battery housing according to the invention, it can be provided that the at least one data and / or control line is designed as a solid metallic component. It can be formed, for example, as a sheet metal strip made of aluminum, copper, or another metallic material. Instead of complex cables, it is then sufficient to inject this solid metallic component over the entire length of the partition wall during production of the partition wall, for example by injection molding, in order to ensure the simple and efficient integration of the data and / or control line and to electrically insulate it through the material of the partition wall.

[0014] According to a further very advantageous embodiment of the battery housing according to the invention, the data and / or control line can have contact areas for making contact with connection elements, such as cables in particular. Such contact areas can be led out of the partition in the longitudinal direction in particular at the ends of the partition or, if appropriate, centrally. Here, for example, a plug contact can be attached, which is riveted, soldered or even formed integrally with the component of the data and / or control line. Electrical cables can then be contacted in this area, which can be connected to the suitable elements or electronic components of the individual battery modules on the one hand and to a central battery controller on the other, in order to transmit information from the battery modules to the battery management system via the data and / or control line and vice versa.In particular, the structure can be implemented as a data bus, particularly preferably as a serial data bus. Another very advantageous embodiment of the battery housing according to the invention provides that the partition assembly has at least one metallic element, which is connected to one of the housing parts, in this case, in contrast to the one just described, preferably—but not necessarily—to the lower housing part, or is formed as part of this housing part. In this preferred embodiment, the partition is itself designed to interact with the at least one metallic element in such a way that it is held in its position within this housing part.The metallic element can, for example, consist of pins, sheet metal strips, or the like welded onto the housing part, which interact with corresponding recesses or the corresponding outer shape of the partition wall such that the partition wall can be plugged onto the at least one metallic element or inserted between several metallic elements. Plugging is conceivable in the sense that the fit is designed such that the partition wall remains on the metallic element of the partition wall assembly until the cover is closed to press the partition wall assembly between the cover and the lower part of the housing. For this purpose, a fit in the range of a transition fit between a clearance fit and an interference fit is sufficient.Alternatively, a press fit or locking of the partition with the at least one metallic element would also be conceivable, or in principle also the use of screws as the metallic element, which with the corresponding screw nuts are suitable for fixing the partition during assembly.

[0015] An exceptionally advantageous development of the battery housing according to the invention provides that the at least one metallic element is designed as a fin running in the longitudinal direction of the battery housing or in the form of several fins arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the battery housing. Such a fin, which preferably protrudes in the plane forming the center plane of the partition, allows the partition to be attached very easily and efficiently, particularly if it is designed with a groove or slot on the side later facing the housing part with the fin or fins. The fin then additionally stabilizes the partition over its length or part of its length, allowing it to be made correspondingly thinner, which saves installation space, weight, and material costs.According to an exceptionally advantageous embodiment of the battery housing according to the invention, the fin itself can be formed as part of a support that stabilizes the housing part. The fin alone or, in particular, with a foot of the fin can thus be realized as a support that stabilizes the housing part, in particular the lower housing part. This allows this housing part to be manufactured longitudinally from relatively thin sheet metal, even in the case of long battery housings, which can then be welded to a foot that supports the fin in order to stabilize the structure, in particular in the longitudinal direction. The fin can then interact with the partition wall in the manner described above to form the partition wall assembly.

[0016] A further very advantageous embodiment of the battery housing according to the invention can further provide that the side surfaces of the partition facing the battery modules are provided with electrical and / or thermal insulation. This allows the individual areas accommodating the battery modules within the battery housing to be insulated via the partition of the partition wall assembly. If, for example, thermal runaway occurs in one of the battery modules or in a row of battery modules, which typically leads to thermal runaway of the entire battery module, such thermal insulation in the region of the partition wall can prevent or at least delay the spread of the thermal event to neighboring battery modules.

[0017] According to an exceptionally advantageous development of this variant of the battery housing according to the invention, the electrical and / or thermal insulation comprises a mineral material. Such a mineral material, as described, for example, in the applicant's unpublished application mentioned above, can be commercially available in the form of thin layers, for example, and applied, in particular glued, to the sides of the partition wall.

[0018] In addition to or as an alternative to such electrical and / or thermal insulation using mineral material, it would also be conceivable to cover the partition wall or the surface of the partition wall with a material that expands when exposed to heat, thereby creating thermal insulation. Such materials are known, for example, in the form of paints, which contain ingredients that expand at a certain threshold temperature, thus enhancing their thermally insulating properties through this expansion or foaming.

[0019] Further advantageous embodiments of a battery housing according to the invention also emerge from the exemplary embodiment which is described in more detail below with reference to the figures.

[0020] Showing:

[0021] Fig. 1 Top view of a housing lower part of a battery housing with battery modules in a schematic representation;

[0022] Fig. 2 is a sectional view along line 11-11 in Fig. 1 with a partition wall assembly of the battery housing according to the invention.

[0023] Figure 1 shows a battery housing 1 in a top view. The battery housing comprises a lower housing part 2 and an upper housing part 3, which has been removed in the illustration in Figure 1 and is only visible in Figure 2. In a longitudinal direction L of the battery housing 1, a housing designated 4 for a battery management system 5 is connected to one of the ends. In this housing, electronic components perform control tasks for the entire battery accommodated in the battery housing 1. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, this entire battery consists of two rows of battery modules, each of which consists of two battery modules arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction. In one row 6, these battery modules are designated 6.1 and 6.2, and in the other row 7, they are designated 7.1 and 7.2. Within the respective row 6, 7, battery modules 6.1, 6.2 and 7.1, 7.2 can be separated from each other by optional bulkheads 8, whereby instead of these bulkheads 8, permeable cross members can also be used, e.g. in a type of truss construction to stabilize the battery housing 1 or here the lower housing part 2.

[0024] A partition wall assembly 9 is arranged between the battery modules 6.1 and 7.1 or 6.2 and 7.2, i.e. here between the two rows 6, 7 of battery modules 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2, which can be seen in more detail in the sectional view in Figure 2. The partition wall assembly 9 extends between the lower housing 2, which here is made of sheet steel, for example, and the upper housing part 3, which can also be made of sheet steel and which is also referred to as the housing cover. Connected to the lower housing part 2, for example welded to it, is a metallic component 10 which runs in the longitudinal direction L, i.e. into the plane of the page in the illustration in Figure 2. It consists of a base orBase 11, which is correspondingly connected to the lower housing part 2, and one or more fins 12 arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction L, which project in a height direction H from the lower housing part 2 towards the upper housing part 3. A partition 13 made of plastic is then plugged onto the fin(s) 12, which is provided with a corresponding slot or groove for the fin 12. The partition 13 can therefore simply be plugged onto the fin 12 in the opened battery housing 1 and completes the partition assembly 9. On its side that will later face the upper housing part 3, the partition 13 is provided with a deformable material 14 to compensate for tolerances. For this purpose, a felt-like material can, for example, be glued to the surface of the partition 13 facing the upper housing part 3.

[0025] At least one data and / or control line 15 is integrated into the plastic material of the partition 13. This data and / or control line 15 can, for example, be formed by a strip of aluminum sheet. It can then be used in the manner of a serial bus to be connected to control units of the individual battery modules 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2 via cables 16 visible in the illustration in Figure 1 on the one hand, and via cables 17 on the other hand to the battery management system 5. In this way, various data can be transmitted, for example temperatures, voltages and the like, which help the battery management system 5 to control the battery, for example with regard to its electrical properties, potential cooling and / or heating of the individual battery modules, or the like. This arrangement of the serially arranged connections to the control units of the individual battery modules 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2 is often referred to as daisy chain.

[0026] Of course, instead of a single data and / or control line 15, a plurality of such lines can be provided, for example, and this is optionally indicated in the illustration of Figure 2, a first data and / or control line 15 on one side of the at least one fin 12 and a second on the other side.

[0027] In addition to integrating the data and / or control line 15, which simplifies assembly work and prevents the routing of loose cables along the partition assembly 9, the partition assembly 9 should also have good insulating properties, in particular good thermal insulating properties. For this purpose, it can be provided with a suitable material 18 on the sides of the partition 13 facing the two battery modules 6.2 and 7.2 in the illustration in Figure 2. The material 18 can, for example, be a coating on the partition 13. For example, paints are known which foam under thermal influence and thereby increase their thermal insulation capacity. In addition or as an alternative, mineral layers would also be conceivable, for example, made of mica or similar materials, which are commercially available as thin paper- or cardboard-like layers and can be glued to the partition 13.In principle, these materials could of course also be combined, for example a glued layer of mineral insulating material, which can then be provided with a corresponding coating or paint that foams under the influence of temperature.

Claims

Battery housing (1) for at least two battery modules (6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2) or at least two rows (6, 7) of battery modules (6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2), wherein each of the battery modules (6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2) or each row (6, 7) of battery modules (6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2) extends along a longitudinal direction (L), with a lower housing part (2) and an upper housing part (3), with a partition wall assembly (9) which extends in the longitudinal direction (L) and in a vertical direction (H) orthogonal thereto between the housing parts (2, 3), characterized in that the partition wall assembly (9) has a partition wall (13) made of plastic, in the material of which at least one data and / or control line (15) is embedded, wherein the partition wall (13) is connected to one of the housing parts (2, 3) via a deformable material (14) as tolerance compensation.Battery housing (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the data and / or control line (15) is designed as a solid metallic component. Battery housing (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the data and / or control line (15) has contact areas for contacting connection elements, such as in particular cables (16). Battery housing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that. the partition wall assembly (9) has at least one metallic element (10) which is connected to one of the housing parts (2) or is formed as part of this housing part (2), wherein the partition wall (13) is designed to cooperate with the at least one metallic element (10) in such a way that it is held in its position within the housing part (2). Battery housing (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the at least one metallic element (10) has a fin (12) running in the longitudinal direction (L) or a plurality of fins (12) arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction (L). Battery housing (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the at least one metallic element (10) is part of a support stabilizing the housing part (3) or forms such a support. Battery housing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the battery modules (6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2) facing side surfaces of the partition wall (13) are provided with electrical and / or thermal insulation (18). Battery housing (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the insulation (18) comprises a mineral material. Battery housing (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the insulation (18) comprises a material that expands upon exposure to heat.

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