Method and device for making accessible the interior of a closed battery housing, in particular for electric vehicles, and battery housing for same

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for making accessible the interior of a closed battery housing (1), in particular of electric vehicles, in particular during the recycling and / or repair of the battery, wherein on a cover (2) or on an outer surface of the closed battery housing (1) at least one engagement element (3) is arranged in the region of the outer side of the battery housing (1), and a lifting device (15) via the at least one engagement element (3) exerts a force (17), directed away from the battery housing (1), onto the cover (2) or outer surface, as a result of which, preferably under the influence of cold (11, 14), the cover (2) or the outer surface is mechanically separated and lifted from the remainder of the battery. The invention also relates to a device suitable for this and to a correspondingly designed battery cover (1).

Description

[0001] Method and device for making the interior of closed battery housings, in particular for electric vehicles, and battery housings therefor accessible

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a method for making the interior of closed battery housings accessible according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a device suitable for carrying out the method according to the preamble of claim 28 and to a battery housing therefor according to the preamble of claim 50.

[0004] The production of batteries has become increasingly important due to the mass production of electric vehicles. Furthermore, the ranges required for customer acceptance of electric mobility require charging capacities for the batteries, which require the interconnection of a large number of similarly constructed individual cells that are connected together to form a vehicle battery and operated together. Various battery and cell shapes are currently in use for this purpose.

[0005] Due to the weight of such batteries or accumulators in a vehicle battery, it is necessary to arrange and hold the individual cells in such a way that the arrangement is compact and stable even in dynamic driving situations. Such individual cells are either inserted into appropriate, sometimes complex holders and then individually fastened and interconnected there. Increasingly, arrangements of individual cells are being used in vehicle batteries which are permanently connected to one another to form a kind of solid block. Blocking individual cells in this way can be achieved, for example, by gluing or potting the individual cells together after the desired arrangement has been created. For example, the companyTesla designs of vehicle batteries are known in which the individual cells consist of cylindrical units with a round cross-section. A multitude of such cylindrical units are inserted into a battery box in a matrix-like manner and spaced apart from one another. The individual cells therefore form a row- and column-like arrangement of cylindrical units, with the cylindrical edges of the individual cells maintaining a certain distance from each adjacent individual cell. A liquid and thermally conductive adhesive is introduced (e.g., pressed) into this usually small gap, which bonds the intermediate cell.

[0006] Confirmation copy should fill the space and fix the individual cells in their spaced arrangement after curing.

[0007] Regardless of how the individual cells are arranged and secured within the battery, the battery is usually sealed off from the environment using a battery case that completely encloses and encapsulates the battery cells. Such battery cases are usually made of highly thermally conductive materials, such as aluminum sheets, and are designed to be sufficiently robust to protect the individual cells against mechanical stress, for example, resulting from accidents, and ideally remain sealed even after accidents. This also reduces the fire risk of such batteries, which are particularly flammable due to the materials used, such as lithium.

[0008] Battery boxes are typically designed so that the individual cells can be installed from one direction within the trough-like, recessed, sealed battery box, contacted with each other, and, if necessary, glued or sealed as described. The battery box is then sealed off on the open installation side with a lid. To ensure the lid is attached to the battery box as airtight as possible, it is glued flat to at least the corresponding edges of the battery box. For example,For batteries made up of individual cells that are glued and potted together, the battery cover is usually glued over the entire inner surface. The simplest way is to fill the potting compound for attaching the individual cells to one another far enough inside the battery box that it comes into contact with the inward-facing surface of the battery box lid that is placed on top of the battery box, and this glues this directly to the potting compound between the individual cells. This means that once the glue has set, the battery box, individual cells and cover form a largely fully glued unit that is mechanically very stable. Even if the individual cells are not fully potted / glued, the lid and battery box can be glued in many places, e.g. on struts, reinforcements, ribs or the like, in order to ensure high mechanical stability of the battery.

[0009] However, a significant disadvantage of this design is that during later recycling of this type of vehicle battery, the assembly of individual cells must be removed again in order to access and reclaim the expensive and limited battery raw materials. It can also be advantageous during repairs to vehicle batteries to be able to specifically replace individual cells in such a spaced arrangement of individual cells that are no longer functional or are no longer sufficiently functional due to defects. To do this, however, it must also be possible to selectively remove individual cells from the assembly described, with as little manipulation of the rest of the vehicle battery as possible.

[0010] However, in order to access the interior of the battery box containing the individual cells to be recycled or replaced without having to destroy the entire battery, e.g., by shredding, the battery box lid must be re-openable. For lids that are only glued at the edges, this may be possible using thermal processes with required temperatures of approximately 250°C (80°C must never be exceeded inside the lid). These processes either heat the contact area between the edge of the battery box and the battery box lid, thereby softening the adhesive, or significantly cool the contact area between the edge of the battery box and the battery box lid, thereby embrittlement.In this edge area with the softened or embrittled adhesive, the contact between the edge of the battery box and the battery box cover can then be mechanically separated and the battery box cover can then be removed from the battery box.

[0011] The separation of bonded components, such as the individual cells of a vehicle battery in this case, is often problematic. For example, WO 2021 / 259424 A1 discloses that body components can be separated using cold and an additional short mechanical impact. The cold so severely reduces the adhesive's functionality that the components can be easily removed, for example, by lightly impacting the bond joint with a chisel. Surrounding components or bonded joints are not damaged, and the bond's full functionality is fully restored after a brief warm-up to the ambient temperature.

[0012] To reduce the temperature of objects, a cooling medium is generally used which is first brought to a low temperature and then brought into direct or indirect cold-transporting contact with the object. For example, liquid carbon dioxide, after expansion, acts as a cooling medium in the form of cold gas with dry ice particles. For example, it is known from DE 10 2007 052 ​​390 B4 to expand liquid carbon dioxide into carbon dioxide gas with dry ice particles in order to cool a surface to be cooled to temperatures of approximately -30°C. During expansion, the liquid carbon dioxide forms a mixture of carbon dioxide gas and carbon dioxide snow, with the carbon dioxide snow enabling a particularly improved cold transfer to the surface to be cooled.In addition, it is known to add a cold-stable liquid in the area of ​​evaporation of the liquid carbon dioxide, which enables further cooling and particularly intensive transfer of the cold to the surface to be cooled.

[0013] In the case of battery box covers that are glued together over the entire surface or over larger sections as described above, a small-area separation is not possible, and thermal heating inside the cover is also not permitted due to the thermally sensitive individual cells underneath.

[0014] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a method and a device with which safe and effective access to the interior of closed battery housings is possible in order to enable recycling or repair of the vehicle battery.

[0015] The solution to the problem of the invention arises with regard to the method from the characterizing features of claim 1, with regard to the device from the characterizing features of claim 28, and with regard to a battery housing from the characterizing features of claim 50, each in conjunction with the features of the corresponding preamble. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims.

[0016] The method according to the invention is based on a method for making the interior of closed battery housings, in particular of electric vehicles, accessible, particularly during recycling and / or battery repair. Such a generic method is further developed in that at least one engagement element is arranged on a cover or on an outer surface of the closed battery housing in the region of the outer side of the battery housing, and a lifting device exerts a force directed away from the battery housing onto the cover or the outer surface via the at least one engagement element, whereby the cover or the outer surface is mechanically separated from the rest of the battery and lifted off, preferably under the influence of cold.The engagement element is or will be connected to the cover or to an outer surface in such a way that force can be transmitted from the lifting device to the cover or the outer surface, thereby transmitting forces to the cover or the outer surface that enable the cover to be released from the battery housing. Whenever the term “cover” is used for the sake of simplicity in the following, this always refers to the cover of the battery or an outer surface of the battery. The engagement element(s) can be advantageously distributed on the cover or the outer surface in such a way that the force applied by the lifting device is most effective for opening the battery housing. This release of the cover or the outer surface can occur under the influence of cold, which can break the adhesive between the cover and the battery housing orthe interior of the battery becomes embrittled and the bond is broken, for example, by impact or shock-like mechanical stress in the area of ​​the joint between the cover and the battery casing or the interior of the battery. If a first area of ​​the cover or the outer surface has been separated, a force directed away from the battery casing can continue to be exerted on the lifted edge area of ​​the cover via the engagement element on this tongue-like lifted area. This force serves to support the further separation of the cover from the battery casing or the interior of the battery. Figuratively speaking, the cover is detached from the battery casing or the interior of the battery when cold is applied due to the impact and shock-like loads on the embrittled adhesive.from the interior of the battery and thus successively separated by gradually lifting the cover from the battery under the force of the lifting device until the cover is essentially completely detached from the battery and can be separated from the battery case. The inventive procedure only requires local mechanical stress on the cold-embrittled adhesive, with the result that the adhesive bond between the cover and the battery casing or the interior of the battery is always slightly loosened and, through the action of the lifting device, the cover is held in a state lifted from the battery. The lifting action of the lifting device supports and ensures the local separation of the embrittled adhesive.By successively shifting the location of the mechanical stress on the cold-embrittled adhesive, the adhesive can be separated from the cover (figuratively speaking) at the root of the tongue-like lifted area, allowing the cover to be gradually removed. The lifting device simplifies handling of the released area of ​​the cover, as the released area is always moved away from the battery casing and thus away from the area exposed to the mechanical stress. This allows even large, fully bonded covers to be removed from the battery with manageable effort, making the interior of the battery casing accessible with minimal damage.

[0017] In a first conceivable design, it is possible for the at least one engagement element to be permanently attached to the cover or the outer surface of the battery housing. In this way, it can be ensured during manufacture of the battery that a mechanical engagement can take place on the engagement element(s) in order to guarantee optimal mechanical conditions for opening when the battery housing is opened, e.g. for recycling or repair. More than one engagement element can also be distributed over the cover or the outer surface in order to enable optimal force engagement for different areas of the cover or the outer surface by the lifting device that can be connected to the respective engagement element. For this purpose, the lifting device can be connected to different engagement elements on the cover or the outer surface as the battery housing is increasingly opened.

[0018] Of particular importance in one embodiment is that the lifting device and the engagement element have matching transmission elements, with which the force of the lifting device directed away from the battery housing is transmitted via the engagement element to the cover or the outer surface. The transmission elements should, on the one hand, ensure a precise alignment of the lifting device and engagement element and, on the other hand, be able to reliably transmit the forces required to open the battery housing from the lifting device to the engagement element. In this case, it is conceivable to implement the force transmission in a force-locking manner, for example, using pincer-like clamping elements that engage tab-shaped engagement elements.However, it can be advantageous if the engagement elements are equipped with form-fitting transmission elements, and the transmission elements of the lifting device engage form-fittingly with the matching transmission elements of the engagement element(s). This enables both precise positioning and high force transmission between the lifting device and engagement elements. Thus, in one conceivable embodiment, the at least one engagement element can be arranged in at least one edge region of the lid, preferably extending linearly, on the outside of the lid or the outer surface, and can be formed with hole-like recesses as transmission elements in the strip-shaped element, into which, for example, hook-like transmission elements of the lifting device engage.

[0019] In another embodiment, it is conceivable that the at least one engagement element is formed with transmission elements in the form of hole-like depressions in the material of the cover or the outer surface itself in the region of a projection of the cover or the outer surface beyond the outer boundaries of the battery housing. For this purpose, for example, the cover can be designed on one edge of the battery housing so that it protrudes slightly beyond the actual edge area of ​​the battery housing like a tab. Hole-like depressions can be introduced into this tab-like area, for example, into which hook-like transmission elements of the lifting device can engage and thereby release the cover from the battery housing. This area can be reinforced to increase the possible force transmission, preferably with a correspondingly perforated rail or the like.reinforced so that tearing of the holes in the cover area due to the force transmission through the hook-like transmission elements of the lifting device is avoided.

[0020] It is furthermore advantageous if the cover or the outer surface is lifted from the battery housing in a tongue-like manner by the engagement of the lifting device on the at least one engagement element.

[0021] In another embodiment of battery housings, it is also conceivable that at least one edge region of a cover or of an outer surface of the closed battery housing is mechanically separated from the rest of the battery, preferably under the influence of cold, and lifted off like a tongue, a holding device is fastened to this tongue-like lifted edge region along the edge of the cover, which exerts a force directed away from the battery housing onto the lifted edge region of the cover via a lifting device, and in the region of the root of the tongue-like lifted edge region, further sections of the cover are mechanically detached from the battery by the supply of cold and are lifted off the battery by the force of the lifting device until the cover is essentially completely detached from the battery and can be separated from the battery housing.In this case, starting from an edge area of ​​the battery cover or another surface of the battery housing that has previously been manually detached from the battery housing, this edge area is detached to such an extent that a tongue-like, exposed edge section of the cover is created. This manual detachment of the edge section can occur under the influence of cold, which embrittles the adhesive between the cover and battery housing or the interior of the battery and breaks the bond, for example due to impact or shock-like mechanical stress in the area of ​​the joint between the cover and battery housing or the interior of the battery. If such a tongue-like lifted area has been manually separated, a holding device can then be attached to this tongue-like lifted area, for example along the edge.This holding device then serves to mechanically couple a lifting device, which via the holding device exerts a force directed away from the battery housing onto the lifted edge area of ​​the cover. This force serves to assist the further separation of the cover from the battery housing or the interior of the battery, which is carried out mechanically in the area of ​​the root of the tongue-like lifted edge area with the addition of cold, for example by shock and impact loads on the embrittled adhesive between the cover and battery housing or the interior of the battery on other sections of the cover. This also makes it possible to open battery housings which do not themselves have any engagement elements. By means of the holding device which can be attached to the cover, the engagement element is essentially retrofitted to the cover, and as a result, even battery housings which, for example, have smooth covers without engagement elements can be opened according to the invention.

[0022] It is particularly advantageous if the retaining device is glued to the edge of the lid in the area of ​​the tongue-like raised edge. This can be done using a silicone adhesive or other suitable adhesive substances with lower glass breakage temperatures and ensures a flat connection between the edge of the lid and the retaining device.

[0023] In another embodiment, it is also conceivable for the holding device to clamp the lid in the area of ​​the tongue-like raised edge. For example, the holding device can encompass the lid in the area of ​​the tongue-like raised edge and clamp it between itself. It is also conceivable, however, for the edge area of ​​the lid and the holding device to be screwed together, for example with the help of a threaded rod that is attached to the holding device by screws and clamps the tongue-like raised edge. This enables a mechanically stable and resilient connection between the lid and the holding device that does not require curing of an adhesive and can also be easily removed again.

[0024] It is advantageous here if additional cold is introduced into the area between the cover and the interior of the battery, which embrittles the adhesive between the cover and the interior of the battery in a targeted manner in those areas that are to be separated from one another by mechanical intervention. This means that particularly strong cooling of the adhesive is only necessary in each case in order to bring the embrittlement, as far as possible in the respective working area, to the level that is particularly advantageous for mechanical separation. In one embodiment, the cold when separating the cover from the interior of the battery can be introduced directly into the area of ​​the root of the tongue-like raised edge area, preferably directly at the adhesive in the area of ​​the root, and then acts directly on the adhesive. However, it is also conceivable to introduce the cold from the side of the cover opposite the adhesive bond, thus indirectly cooling the adhesive bond.A combination of both options is also conceivable.

[0025] In another embodiment, however, it is also conceivable for the cover or the outer surface to be lifted off the battery housing largely over its entire surface by the lifting device simultaneously engaging preferably several engagement elements. In this case, a significantly greater force is applied than with the successive peeling off of the cover and the simultaneous and large-area engagement of the lifting device on the cover, ensuring that the cover is essentially torn off the battery housing. For this purpose, for example, several engagement elements can be distributed around the cover and actuated simultaneously by the lifting device. However, it is also conceivable to arrange a single engagement element on the cover, which extends largely over large parts or the entire cover, and to engage it with a lifting device that acts equally over a large area and to tear the cover off the battery housing all at once.

[0026] In another embodiment, however, it is also conceivable for at least one area gripper acting by negative pressure to be attached to the cover or the outer surface as the engagement element, preferably a suction gripper, via which the lifting device engages the cover or the outer surface and separates the cover or the outer surface from the battery housing. Such a suction gripper can exert high forces on a flat surface such as the battery cover through appropriate negative pressure and thus transfer the mechanical forces of the lifting device acting on the suction gripper to the cover. This would make it possible to exert mechanical forces on the battery cover even without modifying the battery cover.

[0027] It is advantageous if the cover is pre-cooled at least in part from outside the battery before being lifted off. Full-surface or partial pre-cooling of the adhesive, for example by cooling devices arranged on the outside of the cover or acting on it, such as cooling nozzles, cooling elements, cooling pads or cooling baths, allows for easy cooling of the adhesive to be removed, so that any additional cooling that can be introduced into the respective area of ​​mechanical stress on the adhesive bond only needs to effect the residual cooling, thereby enabling faster processing. For example, the cover can be designed with trough-like recesses by means of edges bordering the outside of the cover in order to hold coolant or similar coolant applied, preferably by cooling nozzles, on the cover. This creates a type of cooling bath on the cover, which, for example,can be continuously refreshed via the cooling nozzles and enables intensive cooling of the adhesive located under the lid, resulting in strong embrittlement of the adhesive.

[0028] It can be advantageous here if additional cold is introduced into the area between the cover and the interior of the battery, which embrittles the adhesive between the cover and the interior of the battery in a targeted manner in those areas that are to be separated from one another by mechanical intervention. This means that particularly strong cooling of the adhesive is only necessary in each case in order to bring the embrittlement, as far as possible in the respective working area, to the level that is particularly advantageous for mechanical separation. In one embodiment, the cold when separating the cover from the interior of the battery can be introduced directly into the area of ​​the root of the tongue-like raised edge area, preferably directly at the adhesive in the area of ​​the root, and then acts directly on the adhesive. However, it is also conceivable to introduce the cold from the side of the cover opposite the adhesive bond, thus cooling the adhesive bond indirectly.A combination of both options is also conceivable.

[0029] In an advantageous embodiment, it is conceivable that the mechanical separation between the cover and the interior of the battery is caused by cutting tools capable of impact or shock loads, in particular chisels. The impact or shock loading of cooled and thus embrittled adhesive bonds is generally known and enables, for example, in the case of bonded body parts, a gentle separation of such adhesive bonds without permanently impairing the material properties. Such cutting tools also have the effect that they can be pushed like a type of spreading device between the interior of the battery and the cover or between the battery housing and the cover, and also push the cover away from the interior of the battery. This is also advantageous, especially when the cover is first opened, in order to promote the local failure of the embrittled adhesive.The separation tool can also be designed with a greater or lesser width in order to mechanically stress a shorter or longer line of contact between the cover and the interior of the battery.

[0030] It is conceivable that the cutting tool could be moved manually or automatically in the area between the interior of the battery and the cover. Manual guidance of the cutting tool has the advantage of allowing targeted work depending on the cutting progress, but requires the involvement of a worker and a certain amount of experience. Automatic guidance of the cutting tool, such as a linear movement always along the root of the respective tongue-like raised edge area, is more economical but may require additional monitoring to ensure that the cover is being cut as intended.

[0031] It is also conceivable for the mechanical separation between the cover and the interior of the battery to be effected by impact and / or vibration, preferably vibration in the area of ​​the cover, particularly in the area of ​​the tongue-like, raised edge of the cover. A vibrating tool, for example, can cause the cover or sections of the cover itself to vibrate in such a way that the embrittled adhesive in the respective area of ​​the bond to be separated is subjected to such mechanical stress that it tears open and the cover and the interior of the battery are separated at this point. This further protects the interior of the battery because only the cover is subjected to mechanical stress without a tool being able to penetrate into the interior of the battery and damage any functional components that may be present there. The separation tool can also vibrate.

[0032] It is definitely advantageous if a nozzle for introducing cold into the area between the interior of the battery and the cover is moved along with the cutting tool. This ensures that the cold is always automatically introduced into or near the respective cutting area on the cover or in the root area, without the need for additional handling.

[0033] It is also conceivable that the cold is introduced by means of sublimating liquid carbon dioxide, preferably with the addition of a cold-stable liquid, via a nozzle, preferably into the area between the interior of the battery and the cover.

[0034] The invention further describes a device for making the interior of closed battery housings, in particular of electric vehicles, accessible in particular during recycling and / or repair of the battery, in particular for carrying out the method according to claim 1, wherein at least one engagement element is arranged on a cover or on an outer surface of the closed battery housing in the region of the outer side of the battery housing, and a lifting device engages the at least one engagement element in such a way that a force directed away from the battery housing acts on the cover or the outer surface, which force, preferably under the influence of cold, mechanically separates the cover or the outer surface from the rest of the battery and lifts it off.Key properties and advantages of such a device have already been explained in connection with the method described above and, to avoid repetition, are hereby also referenced for the device. In a first embodiment, it is conceivable for the lifting device to engage the at least one engagement element arranged on an edge region of a cover or an outer surface in such a way that the lifting device mechanically separates the edge region from the rest of the battery and lifts it off like a tongue. Starting from an edge region, the cover is successively opened wider and wider, so that the separation of the cover from the adhesive occurs increasingly locally and gradually.

[0035] In another embodiment, however, it is also conceivable for the lifting device to engage preferably several engagement elements in such a way that, through the simultaneous engagement, the lifting device lifts the cover or the outer surface from the battery housing almost completely. This tears the cover away from the interior of the battery more effectively and separates it from the interior of the battery in one fell swoop. This requires greater forces between the lifting device and the engagement elements, but also speeds up the process overall.

[0036] In another embodiment for any battery boxes, at least one edge region of a lid or an outer surface of the closed battery housing can be mechanically separated from the rest of the battery and lifted off like a tongue, preferably under the influence of cold.A holding device is attached to the lifted edge region of the cover along the tongue-like raised edge, and a lifting device engages the holding device and thus the cover in such a way that a force directed away from the battery housing acts on the lifted edge region of the cover. At least one separating tool engages in the region of the root of the tongue-like raised edge region with the application of cold and mechanically detaches further sections of the cover from the battery. The force of the lifting device lifts these detached sections from the battery until the cover is essentially completely detached from the battery and separated from the battery housing. This makes it possible to open battery boxes that do not already have engagement elements arranged on them due to their design.

[0037] In one embodiment, it is conceivable for the holding device to have a preferably L-shaped bracket, which is attached by one leg to the previously tongue-like raised edge region of the lid, and by the other leg to a lifting device. Designing the holding device as, for example, an L-shaped bracket has the advantage that one leg of the bracket can be used to secure it to the raised edge region of the lid, while the other leg provides a favorable area of ​​engagement for the lifting device.

[0038] Thus, in one conceivable embodiment, the holding device can have a clamping device on one leg arranged at the tongue-like raised edge region of the lid, with which the tongue-like raised edge region of the lid is clamped to the holding device, for example, by the clamping device having a rod-like clamping bracket that presses the tongue-like raised edge region of the lid against the holding device. The holding device can thus be easily attached to the raised edge region of the lid for preparation purposes, but can also be released again after the separation process is completed, still ensuring secure force transmission from the lifting device to the lid.

[0039] In a further embodiment, it is conceivable for the lifting device to have a pulling mechanism which pulls the lifted edge region of the cover away at an angle to the cover surface, at least with a component perpendicular to the cover surface. The pulling device here exerts a tensile load on the brittle adhesive bond between the cover and the interior of the battery housing in a direction which, on the one hand, supports the separation of the adhesive bond by the mechanical action of a separating tool and, on the other hand, keeps the already separated sections of the cover away from the propagation of the respective exposure zone of the mechanical load by the separating tool, thereby improving the accessibility of this respective exposure zone. Such an obliquely acting tensile force could, for example, act at an angle of approximately 70° to the cover surface.

[0040] In a further embodiment, such a pulling device can have a preferably hydraulically, pneumatically or electrically actuated pull rod which is attached to the holding device via pulling elements and pulls the cover away from the latter with at least one component perpendicular to the cover surface. Such a pulling device can be arranged, for example, stationary at one end of the battery housing or adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the battery and can be connected to the holding device and secured thereto, for example, via cables or rods. A hydraulically or pneumatically actuated pull rod can exert high forces on the sections of the cover that have already been separated from the adhesive, and the cover can be pulled away from the battery housing. The pulling device can be designed such that the pulling force can be changed during the separation process and adapted to the respective separation behavior of the adhesive.In another embodiment, however, it is also conceivable for the lifting device to have a winding device that successively winds up the tongue-like, lifted edge region of the cover away from the cover surface, at least with a component of the rotational direction perpendicular to the cover surface, and thereby moves along the battery housing. The winding process exerts a similar effect on the exposed sections of the cover as with the pulling device, while simultaneously ensuring a compact and space-saving winding of the cover with synchronization of the winding axis with the progress of the cover separation.

[0041] In a further embodiment, it is conceivable for the cutting tool to be guided manually and / or automatically and for the impact or striking movement of the cutting tool to be carried out manually and / or automatically. For example, the cutting tool can be repositioned by a worker in the area of ​​the cutting zone, who can then identify where further impact or shock load from the cutting tool will have the greatest effect or where separation of the lid has not yet been sufficiently achieved. Automatic guidance of the cutting tool, on the other hand, offers the advantage of being able to fully or partially automate the cutting process and thus make it more economical. The automatic execution of the impact or striking movement, e.g. using hydraulic, pneumatic or mechanical energy, relieves the worker and is a prerequisite for automatic separation.Additionally, it can be helpful for the initial opening of the lid if the cutting tool is applied to the area between the lid and the battery casing under pre-tension and pressed firmly against this area. Then, the initial impact or striking movement of the cutting tool is applied directly to the area between the lid and the battery casing, allowing the lid and battery casing to be immediately separated locally without any loss of energy.

[0042] It is particularly advantageous if the cutting edges of the cutting tool, in particular a chisel, are designed in such a way that the cutting tool is pressed against the inside of the cover and guided along the inside of the cover when subjected to mechanical impact or shock. Since the adhesive between the cover and the inside of the battery always has a certain thickness and the cover should be removed without damaging the inside of the battery, it is advisable to let the cutting tool glide along the usually quite solid cover and thus guide it as far away from the inside of the battery as possible. For this purpose, it is advantageous if the cutting tool or chisel has bevels with different bevel angles. For example, the wedge-shaped cutting area of ​​the cutting tool or chisel canThe chisel has a wedge surface intended for contact with the battery cover, with a wedge angle of essentially 0°, and a wedge surface with a wedge angle of more than 0°. As a result, the cutting tool or chisel is pressed in one direction, namely toward the cover, by sliding the cutting tool or chisel along the adhesive layer and, figuratively speaking, works its way through the adhesive layer, guided by the inner surface of the cover. Such asymmetrically shaped cutting tools or chisels can have different wedge angles depending on the adhesive material and can be adapted to different processing situations by varying the wedge angles.

[0043] In another embodiment, however, it is also conceivable for the lifting device to have a preferably automatically movable manipulator that engages the at least one engagement element and pulls the cover away, preferably obliquely to the cover surface, with at least one component perpendicular to the surface of the cover. Such a manipulator provides the necessary movement devices and forces required for the safe execution and, if necessary, variation of the release of the cover from the battery housing and also offers the possibility of easily adapting its movements to different conditions, such as different adhesive properties, geometric dimensions of the battery housing, etc.

[0044] In a further embodiment, the manipulator can have at least one fork- or prong-like arrangement of transmission elements that engage and hold in matching hole-like recesses on the at least one engagement element. Such a positive coupling of the manipulator to the engagement element ensures a precise alignment of the transmission elements to one another, even if the geometry of the lid changes during lifting, while simultaneously ensuring a high transferable force to the lid.

[0045] In a further embodiment, in addition to the pulling movement, the manipulator can perform a rotational movement with at least one component perpendicular to the surface of the lid, with which the lid can also be tilted sideways. By twisting the manipulator sideways, the fork- or prong-like arrangement of the manipulator's transmission elements can, figuratively speaking, tilt sideways, so that the forces on the section of the adhesive to be released vary and a shorter tear-off edge of the adhesive is created. This simplifies the removal of the adhesive because the acting forces are transferred over a shorter length of the tear-off edge. The changing load due to the tilting also repeatedly changes the direction of force within the adhesive, which additionally causes the adhesive to fail due to the dynamic load.

[0046] It is particularly important if the battery housing is opened in a closed cabin by introducing an inert gas, preferably carbon dioxide gas, and displacing the ambient atmosphere from the cabin. In this case, the unopened battery housing is brought through locks or similar into a cabin that is sealed off from the environment and can be flooded with an inert gas. This displaces the ambient air, including the oxygen it contains, from the cabin, thus providing an essential part of the fire and explosion protection. In addition, any coolant used is kept within the cabin and can be extracted specifically after the battery housing has been opened and reused after appropriate treatment and separation from the air components. In addition, when using e.g.Carbon dioxide as an inert gas displaces the ambient air upwards within the cabin due to the higher specific weight of carbon dioxide compared to air and can be extracted there in a targeted manner until only carbon dioxide is extracted.

[0047] The invention further relates to a battery housing for a battery, in particular a battery for electric vehicles, in which at least one engagement element for a lifting device is arranged on a cover or on an outer surface of the closed battery housing in the region of the outer side of the battery housing, with which the cover or the outer surface can be separated from the battery housing. In particular, by preferably permanently attaching such an engagement element, the battery housing can be equipped during production so that it can be deliberately reopened for recycling or repairs without resulting in the complete destruction of the battery.If, in a further embodiment, the lifting device and the engagement element have matching transmission elements with which the force of the lifting device directed away from the battery housing is transmitted via the engagement element to the cover or the outer surface, the force of the lifting device can be specifically controlled so that only the cover is lifted from the battery housing, without undue impairment of the interior of the battery. This allows the battery to be opened and, if necessary, resealed, for example, for repairs. During recycling, the interior of the battery housing can be opened and components to be recycled can be removed in a targeted manner and without destruction.

[0048] Such engagement elements can be arranged in at least one edge region of the cover, preferably extending linearly, e.g., as a strip-shaped element with hole-like recesses. However, it is also conceivable for the at least one engagement element to be formed from hole-like recesses in the material of the cover itself or the outer surface in the region of a projection of the cover or the outer surface beyond the outer boundaries of the battery housing. For this purpose, the cover is designed to be somewhat larger than the battery housing and thus protrudes, at least in sections, like a tab over the battery housing. Engagement elements arranged in this region, e.g., designed as perforations, then serve for engagement by the lifting device. The perforations or even the entire tab-like projecting region of the cover can be reinforced, preferably with a correspondingly perforated rail or the like.

[0049] For prolonged cooling of the adhesive to be released, it is conceivable for the lid or the outer surface to be trough-shaped by edges bordering the lid or the outer surface on the outside, in order to retain coolant or similar cooling agent, preferably applied by cooling nozzles, on the lid or the outer surface. This allows coolant applied by cooling nozzles, for example, to be retained on the lid for extended periods without the coolant being able to drain from the lid, and the coolant can thus transfer its coldness to the adhesive to a high degree.

[0050] A particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention and the device suitable therefor is shown in the drawing.

[0051] They show:

[0052] Figure 1 - a schematic representation of the structure of a device according to the invention for making the interior of closed battery housings accessible with an engagement element arranged on the cover and a fork-like lifting device,

[0053] Figure 2 - a device according to Figure 1 with a separating tool arranged on the battery housing, Figure 3 - a device according to Figure 1 with a separating tool arranged on the cover

[0054] Attack element and tiltable forks of a manipulator as a lifting device,

[0055] Figure 4 - a device according to Figure 1 with holes arranged on the edge of the lid itself and angled forks of the lifting device,

[0056] Figure 5 - a trough-like edge of the lid of the battery housing for collecting and holding a cooling liquid that can be sprayed on by means of nozzles.

[0057] Figure 6 - a schematic representation of the structure of a device for

[0058] Making the interior of closed battery cases accessible,

[0059] Figure 7 - a device according to Figure 6 with cooling elements arranged on the battery housing,

[0060] Figure 8 - an enlarged view of the effective zone according to Figure 6 when making the interior of closed battery housings accessible with a separation tool.

[0061] Figure 1 shows a schematic structure of a device according to the invention for making the interior of closed battery housings 1 accessible. With this device, a cover 2 of the battery housing 1, which is, for example, fully bonded to the interior of the battery, can be successively detached from the interior of the battery housing 1, thus exposing the interior of the battery housing 1. Such fully bonded battery housings 1 are one, but not the exclusive, area of ​​application of the present invention. However, the invention will be explained using such fully bonded batteries.

[0062] The battery housing 1 has an approximately rectangular outer shape and encloses a cuboid-shaped volume in which battery cells (not shown in detail) are arranged and approximately glued together. The battery housing 1 has a cover 2 that can be placed after the battery cells have been populated and contacted, wherein the cover 2 can be connected to the battery housing 1 and the interior of the battery, for example, with the same adhesive that is used to glue the battery cells together. As a result, the inner surface of the cover 2 is fully glued to the interior of the battery housing 1 or the battery and can no longer be easily removed. To remove the cover 2, the method according to the invention is used, in which, for example, in an edge-side section of the cover 2Under the influence of cold (not shown here), for example by spraying liquid carbon dioxide onto the cover 2 and using separating tools 10 such as special chisels, the adhesive between the inner surface of the cover 2 and the battery becomes brittle and can then be separated by impacts or blows in the direction of impact 13 that can be applied via the separating tool 10. The battery housing 1 is fixed in the direction of load by means of counterholders 4, which are only indicated schematically, and cannot move.

[0063] For this purpose, an engagement element 3 in the form of a type of strip with transversely arranged perforations 5 is fastened to the cover 2, which can, for example, already be attached to the cover 2 during manufacture of the battery. It is conceivable to arrange only one such engagement element 3 on the edge of the cover 2, as shown in Figure 1. However, it is also conceivable to arrange several engagement elements 3 distributed over the cover 2 on this cover 2 or even an engagement element 3 extending largely over the whole or large parts of the cover 2. It is also conceivable to provide the engagement element 3 with more than two perforations 5 or to provide another design for a positive or non-positive interaction with the lifting device 15. For example, a pliers-shaped lifting device 15 could engage an unperforated tab-like engagement element 3.

[0064] In the illustration in Figure 1, the lifting device 15 is designed with two fork-shaped prongs 6 to match the perforations 5 of the engagement element 3, the diameter and spacing of which match the perforations 5 of the engagement element 3. The prongs 6 are pushed into the perforations 5 in the insertion direction 19 with the aid of movement devices not shown here, for example with multiple movement axes of the lifting device 15, and thus establish a positive connection between the lifting device 15 and the engagement element 3, which can transfer the forces exerted by the lifting device 15 in the pulling direction 17 to the cover 2 and thereby lead to the release of the cover 2 from the battery housing 1. In the configuration shown in Figure 1, the cover 2 is released from the battery housing 1 at the edge below the engagement element 3 and forms a tongue-like released section.The tongue-like portion of the lid 2 thus released from the adhesive is then subjected to further force from the lifting device 15 on the engagement element 3 in the pulling direction 17, whereby the lid 2 is pulled away from the battery housing 1 with at least a vertical component. Figuratively speaking, the lid 2 gradually peels away from the battery interior and the adhesive, as is known, for example, from a can of food. This process continues until the lid 2 has completely detached from the battery housing 1.

[0065] Figure 2 shows a modification of the method according to Figure 1, in which the cover 2 is gradually released by pushing or striking the separating tool 10, designed here as a chisel, into the wedge-shaped area between the interior of the battery and the inner surface of the cover 2 and thus in direction 13 into the area of ​​the adhesive, thereby separating the embrittled adhesive. If the separating tool 10 is moved laterally along the section 16 of the cover 2 that has been released from the adhesive in a tongue-like manner, and in the process exerts the described pushes or blows in direction 13, the cover 2 is separated slightly more from the adhesive in a strip-like manner and can be pulled further downwards and away from the battery housing 1 by the lifting device 15.The interior of the cover 2 is successively separated from the adhesive from top to bottom and from left to right until the last connection between the cover 2 and the battery housing 1, or the interior of the battery, is severed and the cover 2 can be removed. The interior of the battery housing 1 is then exposed and can be further processed for recycling battery cells or replacing individual battery cells.

[0066] This firstly improves the separation of the embrittled adhesive because the force applied by the lifting device 15 causes the crack in the adhesive layer to widen further and the adhesive to tear further open. Secondly, the effective area of ​​the separating tool 10 is opened as the bond is further loosened, and the tongue-like section 16 of the cover 2 that has been detached from the adhesive does not interfere with the further separation of the adhesive bond. Furthermore, such a separating tool can also be used to purely mechanically assist the first section of opening the cover 2 by specifically positioning the separating tool 10 in the area between the battery housing 1 and the cover 2 and pushing it into this area in which the cover 2 is to be first lifted off the battery housing 1. This makes the initial release of the cover 2 easier and more precisely defined, and there is no unwanted tearing of the cover 2 in undesired places.

[0067] The adhesive is separated under the influence of cold, which can be used to embrittle the adhesive. Firstly, the adhesive arranged between the interior of the cover 2 and the battery cells can be preliminarily heated to low temperatures over its entire surface or part of its surface by cooling nozzles or similar devices arranged on the exterior of the cover 2 (only indicated in Figure 5) and maintained at that temperature. Such nozzles are not shown in Figures 1 to 4 for reasons of clarity, but can of course cool parts of the cover 2 or the entire cover 2.

[0068] However, for the actual separation of the adhesive, it is important that the adhesive is subsequently locally exposed to a very strong cooling refrigerant 14 in the respective effective area of ​​the separating tool 10, for example through a nozzle 12, which reliably embrittles the section of adhesive to be processed locally with the separating tool 10. In a conventional manner, liquid carbon dioxide can be injected, for example, where it sublimates and, if necessary, is further cooled with a cold-stable liquid. This carbon dioxide is then injected by the nozzle into the gap beneath the section of the cover 2 that has been separated from the adhesive in a tongue-like manner, thereby strongly cooling this area. It is also conceivable, however, to direct the nozzle onto the outside of the cover 2 in the section to be processed and to cool the adhesive indirectly through the cover 2. A combination of both cooling variants is also conceivable.It is useful to move the nozzle 12 together or parallel to the movement of the cutting tool 10.

[0069] The separating tool 10, designed here as a chisel, can be configured with unequal wedge angles. The chisel 10 has a first wedge surface that is not inclined at all or slightly inclined, and a second, more steeply inclined wedge surface. If the first wedge surface that is not inclined at all or slightly inclined is arranged opposite the inner surface of the cover 2 and the chisel 10 is actuated in the striking or impact direction 13, the chisel 10 is pressed against the inner surface of the cover 2 by the second, more steeply inclined wedge surface sliding on the adhesive and is guided along this surface. This improves the separation of the adhesive from the inner surface of the cover 2, and the adhesive largely remains in the battery, thereby minimizing the risk of damage to components within the battery housing 1.

[0070] Figure 3 shows a modification of the lifting device 15 in that the lifting device 15 with the prongs 6 can be pivoted at least slightly about an axis 8 running around the insertion direction 19. After the prongs 6 have been inserted into the holes 5 of the engagement element 3 and secured by means of a pin 7, this pivoting of the lifting device 15 about the axis 8 can be used to specifically load one of the lateral areas of the dividing line between the lid 2 and the adhesive. This causes the lid 2 to bulge slightly, and the dividing line between the lid 2 and the adhesive is shortened, so that the force exerted by the lifting device 15, which acts to the same extent, acts on a shorter area of ​​the adhesive and places a greater load on it, whereby the adhesive can be more easily separated from the interior of the lid 2.

[0071] Figure 4 shows a modification of the connection between the lifting device 15 and the engagement element 3, in which the engagement element 3 can be formed on the cover 2 from the material of the cover 2 itself. For this purpose, the cover 2 is designed to be slightly longer in one direction than the battery housing 1 and is fastened to the battery housing 1 with a small projection 9. In the area of ​​this projection 9, perforations 5 are then made in the material of the cover 2, which, as with the engagement element 3 according to Figure 1, are intended to interact with the prongs 5 ​​of the lifting device 15. If necessary, the cover 2 can also be reinforced in the area of ​​the projection 9, for example by thickening it or by means of a suitably perforated strip or the like, in order to prevent the cover 2 from tearing open at the perforations 5.The prongs 5 ​​of the lifting device 15 then interact again, as already described, with the engagement element 3 formed in this way and pull the cover 2 off the battery housing 1.

[0072] Figure 5 shows a modification of the lid 2 in that the lid 2 is provided with raised edges acting as rims 18, giving the lid 2 the appearance of a shallow trough. This design of the lid 2 can be used to keep cooling fluid applied to the lid 2 via the nozzles 12, for example, sublimated liquid carbon dioxide with dry ice particles or another cooling fluid, in contact with the lid 2 for as long as possible. The lid 2, which is trough-shaped due to the rim 18, fills with this cooling medium, which cannot drain off easily and intensively cools the lid 2 and the adhesive arranged underneath.

[0073] Figures 6 to 8 show a schematic structure of another device for making the interior of closed battery housings 1 accessible. To release the cover 2, the method according to the invention is used, in which the adhesive in the edge region of the battery housing 1 and between the inner surface of the cover 2 and the battery is first embrittled in an edge section of the cover 2, e.g. under the influence of cold and using separating tools 10 such as special chisels, and can then be severed by impacts or blows in the direction of impact 13 that can be introduced via the separating tool 10. This separation of a narrow strip of the cover 2, e.g. a few tens of millimeters, is typically carried out by hand. The section 16 of the cover 2, which has been separated from the adhesive in this tongue-like manner, is then brought into mechanically load-bearing contact with a holding device 23, here L-shaped.The holding device 33 serves to apply a force to the respective tongue-like portion 16 of the cover 2 that has been detached from the adhesive, pulling the cover 2 away from the battery housing 1 at least with a vertical component. This, on the one hand, improves the separation of the embrittled adhesive, since the force applied by the holding device 3 causes the crack in the adhesive layer to open further and the adhesive to tear open further. On the other hand, the effective area of ​​the separating tool 10 is opened upon further separation of the adhesive bond, and the tongue-like portion 16 of the cover 2 that has been detached from the adhesive does not interfere with the further separation of the adhesive bond.

[0074] In the present example, the force of the holding device 23 on the cover 2 is applied by a lifting device 15 with a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 25, the piston rod 26 of which is connected to the holding device 23 via rods or wires 27 or 29 and a crossbar 28. If the piston rod 26 of the cylinder 25 is retracted, the crossbar 28 and thus also the holding device 23 are pulled away from the battery housing 1 and downward in the pulling direction 17, and the tongue-like section 16 of the cover 2, which has been detached from the adhesive, is pulled further away from the battery housing 1. For this purpose, the holding device 23 is glued or mechanically connected to the edge section of the cover 2, for example via a clamp connection or the like.

[0075] After the initial release of the tongue-like section 16 of the cover 2, which has been detached from the adhesive, the cover 2 is successively released by pushing or striking the separating tool 10, designed here as a chisel, into the wedge-shaped area between the interior of the battery and the inner surface of the cover 2, and thus in direction 13 into the area of ​​the adhesive, thereby separating the embrittled adhesive. If the separating tool 10 is moved laterally along the tongue-like section 16 of the cover 2, which has been detached from the adhesive, and in the process exerts the described pushes or blows in direction 13, the cover 2 is separated again slightly more from the adhesive in a strip-like manner and can be pulled further downwards and away from the battery housing 1 by the holding device 23 and the lifting device 15.The interior of the cover 2 is successively separated from the adhesive from top to bottom and from left to right until the last connection between the cover 2 and the battery housing 1, or the interior of the battery, is severed and the cover 2 can be removed. The interior of the battery housing 1 is then exposed and can be further processed for recycling battery cells or replacing individual battery cells.

[0076] The adhesive is separated under the influence of cold, which can be used to embrittle the adhesive. On the one hand, the adhesive arranged between the interior of the cover 2 and the battery cells can be brought to low temperatures over its entire surface or part of its surface by cooling elements 11, such as cooling pads or the like, arranged on the exterior of the cover 2.

[0077] However, for the actual separation of the adhesive, it is important that the adhesive is subsequently locally exposed to a very strong cooling refrigerant 14 in the respective effective area of ​​the separating tool 10, for example through a nozzle 12, which reliably embrittles the section of adhesive to be processed locally with the separating tool 10. In a conventional manner, liquid carbon dioxide can be injected, for example, where it sublimates and, if necessary, is further cooled with a cold-stable liquid. This carbon dioxide is then injected by the nozzle 12 into the gap beneath the section 16 of the cover 2 that has been separated from the adhesive in a tongue-like manner, thereby strongly cooling this area. It is also conceivable, however, to direct the nozzle 12 onto the outside of the cover 2 in the section 16 to be processed and to cool the adhesive indirectly through the cover 2. A combination of both cooling variants is also conceivable.It is useful to move the nozzle 12 together or parallel to the movement of the cutting tool 10.

[0078] The separating tool 10, designed here as a chisel, can be configured with unequal wedge angles, as can be better seen in the enlarged illustration in Figure 3. The chisel 10 has a first wedge surface that is not inclined at all or only slightly, and a second, more steeply inclined wedge surface. If the first wedge surface that is not inclined at all or only slightly, is arranged opposite the inner surface of the cover 2 and the chisel 10 is actuated in the impact or thrust direction 13, the chisel 10 is pressed against the inner surface of the cover 2 by the sliding of the second, more steeply inclined wedge surface on the adhesive and guided along it. This improves the separation of the adhesive from the inner surface of the cover 2, and the adhesive largely remains in the battery, thereby minimizing the risk of damage to components within the battery housing 1. Part number list

[0079] 1 battery case

[0080] 2 lids

[0081] 3 Attack element

[0082] 4 counterholders

[0083] 5 holes

[0084] 6 tines / fork

[0085] 7 pin

[0086] 8 Direction of rotation

[0087] 9 Cover overhang

[0088] 10 chisels

[0089] 11 Cooling bath / cooling element

[0090] 12 nozzles

[0091] 13 Direction of attack

[0092] 14 Refrigerants

[0093] 15 Lifting device

[0094] 16 tongue-like detached section

[0095] 17 Direction of travel

[0096] 18 rand

[0097] 19 Insertion direction

[0098] 20 root

[0099] 21 clamps

[0100] 23 Holding device

[0101] 25 hydraulic cylinders

[0102] 26 Piston rod

[0103] 27 bars

[0104] 28 Crossbar

[0105] 29 bars

Claims

Patent Claims 1. A method for making the interior of closed battery housings (1) accessible, in particular for electric vehicles, particularly during battery recycling and / or repair, characterized in that at least one engagement element (3) is arranged on a cover (2) or on an outer surface of the closed battery housing (1) in the region of the outer surface of the battery housing (1), a lifting device (15) exerts a force (17) directed away from the battery housing (1) onto the cover (2) or the outer surface via the at least one engagement element (3), whereby, preferably under the influence of cold (11, 14), the cover (2) or the outer surface is mechanically separated from the rest of the battery and lifted off.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one engagement element (3) is permanently attached to the cover (2) or the outer surface of the battery housing (1).

3. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the lifting device (15) and the engagement element (3) have matching transmission elements (5, 6) with which the force (17) of the lifting device (15) directed away from the battery housing (1) is transmitted via the engagement element (3) to the cover (2) or the outer surface.

4. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one engagement element (3) is arranged in at least one edge region of the cover (2), preferably extending linearly, on the outside of the cover (2) or the outer surface.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the at least one engagement element (3) is designed as a strip-shaped element with hole-like depressions (5) as transmission elements in the strip-shaped element.

6. The method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one engagement element (3) is designed with transmission elements in the form of hole-like depressions (5) in the material of the cover (2) or the outer surface itself in the region of a projection (9) of the cover (2) or the outer surface beyond the outer boundaries of the battery housing (1).

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the material of the cover (2) or the outer surface is reinforced in the region of the hole-like recesses (5), preferably reinforced with a correspondingly perforated rail or the like.

8. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the edge region of the cover (2) or the outer surface is lifted from the battery housing (1) in a tongue-like manner by the engagement of the lifting device (15) on the at least one engagement element (3). ​​9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the tongue-like raised edge region is mechanically detached from the battery by applying cold (14) and is lifted from the battery by the force of the lifting device (15) until the cover (2) is substantially completely detached from the battery and can be separated from the battery housing (1).

10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one edge region of a cover (2) or an outer surface of the closed battery housing (1), preferably under the influence of cold (11, 14), is mechanically separated from the rest of the battery and lifted off in a tongue-like manner; a holding device (23) is fastened to this tongue-like lifted edge region (16) along the edge of the cover (2), which holding device exerts a force (17) directed away from the battery housing (1) onto the lifted edge region (16) of the cover (2) via a lifting device (15); in the region of the root (20) of the tongue-like lifted edge region (16), further sections of the cover (2) are mechanically detached from the battery under the application of cold (14) and are lifted off the battery by the force of the lifting device (15) until the cover (2) is essentially completely detached from the battery and is separable from the battery housing (1). 1 1. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the holding device (23) is glued to the edge of the lid (2) in the region of the tongue-like raised edge region (16).

12. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the holding device (23) clamps the lid (2) in the region of the tongue-like raised edge region (16).

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the holding device (23) encompasses the lid (2) in the region of the tongue-like raised edge region (16) and clamps it between itself.

14. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cold (14) is introduced from the interior of the battery during separation of the cover (2) directly into the region of the root (20) of the tongue-like raised edge region (16), preferably directly onto the adhesive in the region of the root (20).

15. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cold is introduced from the side of the cover (2) opposite the adhesive bond, thereby indirectly cooling the adhesive bond.

16. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (2) or the outer surface is lifted off the battery housing (1) largely over its entire surface by the simultaneous engagement of the lifting device (15) on preferably several engagement elements (3).

17. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the engaging element (3) is at least one surface gripper acting by negative pressure, preferably a suction gripper, via which the lifting device (15) engages the cover (2) or the outer surface and separates the cover (2) or the outer surface from the battery housing (1).

18. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (2) or the outer surface is pre-cooled from outside the battery, at least in partial areas (11), before being lifted from the interior of the battery.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that the cover (2) or the outer surface is cooled by cooling devices, in particular cooling elements or cooling pads (11), arranged on the outside of the cover (2) or the outer surface.

20. The method according to one of claims 18 or 19, characterized in that the cover (2) is cooled by cooling nozzles (12) directed externally onto the cover (2).

21. The method according to one of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that the cover (2) is formed with a trough-like recess by edges (18) bordering the cover (2) on the outside in order to retain cooling liquid (14) or similar coolant applied, preferably by cooling nozzles (12), on the cover (2).

22. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that cold (14) is introduced into the area between the cover (2) and the interior of the battery, which cold embrittles the adhesive between the cover (2) and the interior of the battery in a targeted manner in the areas that are separated from each other by mechanical interventions.

23. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mechanical separation between the cover (2) and the interior of the battery is caused by impact- or shock-loadable separating tools (10), in particular by chisels (10).

24. The method according to claim 23, characterized in that the separating tool (10) is moved manually or automatically in the area between the interior of the battery and the cover (2).

25. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mechanical separation between the cover (2) and the interior of the battery is achieved by a shock and / or vibration load, preferably a vibration in the area of ​​the cover, in particular in the area of ​​the tongue-like raised edge region (16) of the cover.

26. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a nozzle (12) for introducing the cold (14) into the area between the interior of the battery and the cover (2) is moved together with the separation tool (10).

27. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cold (14) is introduced with the aid of liquid carbon dioxide, preferably with the addition of a cold-stable liquid, via a nozzle (12), preferably into the area between the interior of the battery and the cover (2).

28. A device for making the interior of closed battery housings (1) accessible, in particular for electric vehicles, in particular during recycling and / or repair of the battery, in particular for carrying out the method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one engagement element (3) is arranged on a cover (2) or on an outer surface of the closed battery housing (1) in the region of the outer side of the battery housing (1), and a lifting device (15) engages the at least one engagement element (3) in such a way that a force (17) directed away from the battery housing (1) acts on the cover (2) or the outer surface, which, preferably under the influence of cold (11, 14), mechanically separates the cover (2) or the outer surface from the rest of the battery and lifts it off.

29. Device according to claim 28, characterized in that the at least one engagement element (3) is permanently attached to the cover (2) or the outer surface of the battery housing (1).

30. Device according to one of claims 28 or 29, characterized in that the lifting device (15) and the engagement element (3) have matching transmission elements (5, 6) with which the force (17) of the lifting device (15) directed away from the battery housing (1) is transmitted via the engagement element (3) to the cover (2) or the outer surface.

31. Device according to one of claims 28 to 30, characterized in that the lifting device (15) engages the at least one engagement element (3) arranged on an edge region of a cover (2) or an outer surface in such a way that the lifting device (15) mechanically separates the edge region from the rest of the battery and lifts it off like a tongue.

32. Device according to one of claims 28 to 31, characterized in that the lifting device (15) engages several engagement elements (3) in such a way that the lifting device (15) lifts the cover (2) or the outer surface from the battery housing (1) largely over its entire surface through the simultaneous engagement.

33. Device according to claim 28, characterized in that a holding device (23) can be fastened to the raised edge region (16) of the cover (2) along the edge-side, tongue-like raised edge, and a lifting device (15) engages the holding device (23) and thus the cover (2) in such a way that a force (17) directed away from the battery housing (1) acts on the raised edge region (16) of the cover (2), wherein at least one separating tool (10) engages in the region of the root (20) of the tongue-like raised edge region (16) with the application of cold (14) and mechanically detaches further sections of the cover (2) from the battery, and the force of the lifting device (15) lifts these detached sections (16) from the battery until the cover (2) is essentially completely detached from the battery and separated from the battery housing (1).

34. Device according to claim 33, characterized in that the holding device (23) has a preferably L-shaped angle, which is attached by one leg to the previously tongue-like raised edge region of the lid (2) and by the other leg to a lifting device (15).

35. Device according to claim 33, characterized in that the holding device (23) has a clamping device on one leg arranged on the tongue-like raised edge region (16) of the lid (2), with which the tongue-like raised edge region (16) of the lid (2) can be clamped to the holding device (3).

36. Device according to claim 35, characterized in that the clamping device has a rod-like clamping bracket (21) that presses the tongue-like raised edge region (16) of the lid (2) against the holding device (23).

37. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lifting device (15) has a pulling device (25, 26, 27, 28, 29) that pulls away the lifted edge region (16) of the lid (2), preferably obliquely to the lid surface, with at least one component perpendicular to the surface of the lid (2).

38. Device according to claim 37, characterized in that the pulling device (25, 26, 27, 28, 29) has a preferably hydraulically, pneumatically, or electrically actuated pull rod (26), which is attached to the holding device (23) via pulling elements (27, 28, 29) and pulls away the lid (2) with at least one component perpendicular to the surface of the lid (2).

39. Device according to one of claims 37 to 38, characterized in that the lifting device (15) has a winding device that successively winds up the tongue-like raised edge region (16) of the cover (2) away from the battery housing (1) at least with a component of the direction of rotation perpendicular to the surface of the cover (2) and thereby moves along the battery housing (1).

40. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one separating tool (10) engages in the region of the root (20) of the tongue-like raised edge region, preferably with the application of cold (14), and mechanically detaches further sections of the cover (2) from the battery, and the force of the lifting device (15) lifts these detached sections from the battery until the cover (2) is essentially completely detached from the battery and separated from the battery housing (1).

41. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting tool (10) is guided manually and / or automatically, and the impact or striking movement of the cutting tool (10) is carried out manually and / or automatically.

42. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting edges of the cutting tool (10), in particular a chisel (10), are designed such that the cutting tool (10) is pressed against the interior of the cover (2) and guided along the interior of the cover (2) under mechanical stress.

43. Device according to claim 42, characterized in that the chisel (10) has bevels with different bevel angles.

44. Device according to claim 43, characterized in that the wedge-shaped cutting area of ​​the chisel (10) has a wedge surface intended for contact with the cover (2) of the battery, with a wedge angle of substantially 0°, and a wedge surface with a wedge angle of more than 0°.

45. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lifting device (15) has a preferably automatically movable manipulator that engages the at least one engagement element (3) and pulls the lid (2) away, preferably obliquely to the lid surface, with at least one component perpendicular to the surface of the lid (2).

46. Device according to claim 45, characterized in that the manipulator has at least one fork- or prong-like arrangement of transmission elements (6) that engage and retain matching hole-like recesses (5) on the at least one engagement element (3).

47. Device according to one of claims 45 or 46, characterized in that, in addition to the pulling movement, the manipulator can perform a rotational movement (8) with at least one component perpendicular to the surface of the cover (2), with which the cover (2) can also be tilted laterally.

48. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device has a closed cabin in which, upon opening the battery housing (1), an inert atmosphere can be created by introducing an inert gas, preferably carbon dioxide gas, and displacing the ambient atmosphere from the cabin.

49. Device according to claim 48, characterized in that the cabin has at least one lock for inserting and removing the battery housing 1 to be opened.

50. A battery housing (1) for a battery, in particular a battery for electric vehicles, characterized in that at least one engagement element (3) for a lifting device (15) is arranged on a cover (2) or on an outer surface of the closed battery housing (1) in the region of the outer side of the battery housing (1), with which the cover (2) or the outer surface can be separated from the battery housing (1).

51. Battery housing (1) according to claim 50, characterized in that the at least one engagement element (3) is permanently attached to the cover (2) or the outer surface of the battery housing (1).

52. Battery housing according to one of claims 50 or 51, characterized in that the lifting device (15) and engagement element (3) have matching transmission elements (5, 6) with which the force (17) of the lifting device (15) directed away from the battery housing (1) is transmitted via the engagement element (3) to the cover (2) or the outer surface.

53. Battery housing according to one of claims 50 to 52, characterized in that the at least one engagement element (3) is arranged in at least one edge region of the cover (2), preferably extending linearly.

54. Battery housing according to claim 53, characterized in that the at least one engagement element (3) is designed as a strip-shaped element with hole-like recesses (5) in the strip-shaped element.

55. Battery housing according to one of claims 50 to 52, characterized in that the at least one engagement element (3) is formed from hole-like recesses (5) in the material of the cover (2) or the outer surface in the region of a projection (9) of the cover (2) or the outer surface beyond the outer boundaries of the battery housing (1). ​​56. Battery housing according to claim 55, characterized in that the material of the cover (2) or the outer surface can be reinforced in the region of the hole-like recesses (5), preferably with a correspondingly perforated rail or the like.

57. Battery housing according to one of claims 50 to 56, characterized in that the cover (2) or the outer surface is trough-shaped by edges (18) bordering the cover (2) or the outer surface on the outside, in order to retain cooling liquid (14) or similar coolant, preferably applied by cooling nozzles (12), on the cover (2) or the outer surface.

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