STRUCTURE FOR ASSEMBLING A PLURALITY OF BATTERY CELLS INTO A BATTERY MODULE

Abstract

The invention relates to a structure (100) for assembling a plurality of battery cells (1) into a battery module, characterized in that said structure (100) comprises at least one partition (3) and at least two compartments (4) configured to contain a battery cell (1), said at least one partition (3) has a first part and a second part, said first part and said second part each having a first end and a second end, said first part and said second part are connected at each of their first ends, said at least one partition (3) being able to have a first position and a second position. The invention further relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a battery comprising such a structure (100). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: STRUCTURE FOR ASSEMBLING A PLURALITY OF BATTERY CELLS INTO A BATTERY MODULE

[0001] The invention relates to the field of motor vehicle batteries, and more particularly to the means of assembling battery cells into battery modules.

[0002] Known from the prior art is a patent application JP6724552 which describes a housing comprising a battery comprising a plurality of battery cells. The battery housing comprises a flexible side wall. Each battery cell comprises an electrode body comprising a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The battery comprises a separator stored between each cell. The battery comprises a plurality of spacers positioned between the battery cells. The spacers are rectangular in shape. Each spacer comprises a convex portion with a low stiffness constant and a convex portion with a high stiffness constant. The convex portion with a high stiffness constant is in contact with said side wall. The convex portion with a low stiffness constant is in contact with said battery cells.When no force is applied to one of the spacers, said convex portion with a low stiffness constant protrudes relative to the convex portion with a high stiffness. However, disadvantages remain. The described battery case is made of metal, which is a heavy material and difficult for a technician to handle during assembly. Furthermore, metal is an electrically conductive material. It is therefore necessary to add electrically insulating elements between the battery cells in order to prevent possible transmission of electrical energy between said battery cells. The addition of said electrically insulating elements makes said battery heavier and generates additional cost.

[0003] The objective of the present invention is to overcome these drawbacks and to facilitate the assembly of battery cells into battery modules without making said battery heavier.

[0004] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes a structure for assembling a plurality of battery cells into a battery module, said structure comprising a wall and a base, said base forming a plane defined by a first longitudinal direction, by a second transverse and orthogonal direction to the first longitudinal direction and a third vertical direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, said wall being positioned on the periphery of said base, said wall being perpendicular to said base in the third direction, remarkable in that said structure comprises at least one partition positioned in the first direction so that said structure comprises at least two longitudinal compartments in the first direction, each compartment being configured to contain a battery cell, said at least one partition has a first part and a second part, said first part and said second part each having a first end and a second end, said first part and said second part are linked at each of their first ends, said at least one partition being capable of having two positions: - a first position in which the compartments are empty, said second end of the first part being positioned at a first predetermined distance from said second end of said second part; - a second position in which the compartments each comprise a battery cell, said second end of the first part being positioned at a second predetermined distance from said second end of said second part, said second predetermined distance being less than said first predetermined distance.

[0005] Thanks to the invention, the assembled battery module is lightweight and easy to handle during assembly. In addition, the battery cells are electrically insulated from each other.

[0006] Advantageously, said first predetermined distance is between 1 cm and 4 cm.

[0007] Such a gap allows the battery cells to slide into the compartments while generating friction on said battery cells in order to slow down their insertion so that said battery cells do not strike the base of the structure.

[0008] Advantageously, said second predetermined distance is less than 1 cm.

[0009] Preferably, said second predetermined distance is zero.

[0010] A second low or zero distance makes it possible to reduce the overall size of said battery module when it is assembled.

[0011] Advantageously, said structure comprises at least seven partitions and at least eight compartments.

[0012] Thus, a battery module may contain at least eight battery cells.

[0013] Advantageously, said structure is made of plastic.

[0014] Advantageously, said plastic is a thermosetting plastic, preferably polyurethane.

[0015] Such plastic is a heat-resistant electrical insulator. Such a material extends the life of the structure, without weighing down the battery module.

[0016] Preferably, said structure comprises a cover, said cover having a identical number of partitions relative to said structure, each partition of said cover being positioned opposite one of said partitions of said structure in the third direction.

[0017] Thus, each battery cell is entirely held in an enclosed compartment, which helps maintain its position.

[0018] Furthermore, the invention relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a battery comprising a structure for assembling a plurality of battery cells into a battery module previously described.

[0019] The invention will be further detailed by the description of non-limiting embodiments, and on the basis of the appended figures illustrating variants of the invention, in which: - [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a perspective view of a structure for assembling a plurality of battery cells into a battery module according to one embodiment of the invention; - [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a perspective view of a plurality of partitions of the assembly structure of a plurality of battery cells into a battery module; - [Fig.3] schematically illustrates two cross sections of a com partition of the assembly structure of a plurality of battery cells into a battery module whose partitions are respectively represented in a first position and in a second position.

[0020] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a structure 100 for assembling a plurality of battery cells 1 into a battery module. The structure 100 comprises a wall 2 and a base. The base defines an XY plane comprising a first longitudinal direction X, a second transverse direction Y orthogonal to said first direction X and a third vertical direction Z orthogonal to the first direction X and to the second direction Y. The wall 2 is positioned on the periphery of said base and is perpendicular to said base along the third vertical direction Z. The structure 100 comprises at least one partition 3 along the first direction X so as to create at least two longitudinal compartments 4 in said structure 100. Each compartment 4 is configured to receive one of the battery cells 1. The battery cell 1 exhibits pressure variations during its life cycle.The pressure variations of the battery cell 1 are likely to cause a deformation of said battery cell 1. Thus, by inserting said battery cell into said compartment 4, the battery cell 1 is held between two partitions 3 or between one of the partitions 3 and the wall 2, which prevents its deformation and therefore the disorganization of the battery module. In addition, this increases the service life of the battery cells 1. Preferably, said structure 100 comprises at least seven . partitions 3 and at least eight compartments 4. Thus, this forms a battery module comprising eight battery cells 1. The battery modules are then assembled to form a battery configured to store and distribute electrical energy to an electric motor of a motor vehicle. Preferably, said structure 100 is made of plastic. Plastic is a lightweight material. Consequently, when assembling said structure 100 in a vehicle, the structure 100 does not excessively weigh down the vehicle. Furthermore, the assembly of said structure 100 is facilitated due to the light weight of said structure 100. Advantageously, said plastic is a thermosetting plastic, preferably polyurethane. Thermosetting plastic is a material whose shape is definitive, resistant to heat and electricity. In this way, in the event of overheating of one or more battery cells 1, said structure 100 does not deteriorate.Furthermore, there is no need to add electrically insulating elements between each battery cell 1 because the thermosetting plastic structure 100 is itself electrically insulating.

[0021] As illustrated in [Fig.2] and [Fig.3], said at least one partition 3 comprises a first part 3a and a second part 3b. The first part 3a and the second part 3b each have a first end 5 and a second end 6. The first part 3a and the second part 3b are joined at each of their first ends 5. Each partition 3 is configured to have two positions. In [Fig.2], said wall 2 is not shown to clearly illustrate the arrangement of the partitions 3 within said structure 100. In [Fig.3], diagram A shows the partitions 3 in a first position in which the compartments 4 are empty. Indeed, the battery cell 1 is shown in [Fig.3], but said battery cell is not yet assembled in said compartment 4.Thus, the second end 6 of the first part 3a and said second end 6 of said second part 3b are separated by a first predetermined distance dl. Advantageously, said first predetermined distance dl is between 1 cm and 4 cm. The first predetermined distance dl makes it possible to generate friction of the partitions 3 during the insertion of the battery cell 1 so that the battery cell 1 does not strike the base of the structure 100, which would be likely to damage said battery cell 1. In [Fig. 3], diagram B represents the compartment 4 in which the battery cell 1 is inserted, the partitions 3 being in the second position. The insertion of said battery cell 1 into said compartment 4 is carried out in a direction opposite to said third direction Z.When inserting said battery cell 1, a force is exerted on each partition 3 so that the second end 6 of the first part 3a and said second end 6 of said second part 3b come together. Thus, said second end 6 of said first part 3a and said second end 6 of . said second part 3b are separated by a second predetermined distance d2. The second predetermined distance d2 is less than said first predetermined distance dl. Advantageously, the second predetermined distance d2 is less than 1 cm. Preferably, said second predetermined distance d2 is zero.

[0022] Advantageously, said structure 100 comprises a cover intended to cover said structure 100 in the third direction Z. The cover has an identical number of partitions 3 relative to said structure 100. Each partition 3 of said cover being positioned opposite one of said partitions 3 of said structure 100 in the third direction Z. Thus, the battery cells 1 are perfectly maintained in the closed compartment.

[0023] Furthermore, the invention relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a battery comprising said structure 100 for assembling a plurality of battery cells 1 into a battery module previously described.

Claims

Claims

1. Structure (100) for assembling a plurality of battery cells (1) into a battery module, said structure comprising a wall (2) and a base, said base forming a plane (XY) defined by a first longitudinal direction (X), by a second transverse and orthogonal direction (Y) to the first longitudinal direction (X) and a third vertical direction (Z) orthogonal to the first direction (X) and the second direction (Y), said wall (2) being positioned on the periphery of said base, said wall (2) being perpendicular to said base in the third direction (Z), characterized in that said structure (100) comprises at least one partition (3) positioned in the first direction (X) so that said structure (100) comprises at least two longitudinal compartments (4) in the first direction (X), each compartment (4) being configured to contain a battery cell (1),said at least one partition (3) has a first part (3a) and a second part (3b), said first part (3a) and said second part (3b) each having a first end (5) and a second end (6), said first part (3a) and said second part (3b) are connected at each of their first ends (5), said at least one partition (3) being able to have two positions: - a first position in which the compartments (4) are empty, said second end (6) of the first part (3a) being positioned at a first predetermined distance (d1) from said second end (6) of said second part (3b); - a second position in which the compartments (4) each comprise a battery cell (1), said second end (6) of the first part (3a) being positioned at a second predetermined distance (d2) from said second end (6) of said second part (3b),said second predetermined distance (d2) being less than said first predetermined distance (dl).,

2. Structure according to claim 1 characterized in that said first predetermined distance (dl) is between 1 cm and 4 cm.

3. Structure according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that said second predetermined distance (d2) is less than 1 cm.

4. Structure according to claim 3 characterized in that said second predetermined distance (d2) is zero.

5. Structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that said structure (100) comprises at least seven partitions (3) and at least eight compartments (4).

6. Structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that said structure (100) is made of plastic.

7. Structure according to claim 6 characterized in that said plastic is a thermosetting plastic, preferably polyurethane.

8. Structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that said structure (100) comprises a cover, said cover having an identical number of partitions (3) relative to said structure (100), each partition (3) of said cover being positioned opposite one of said partitions (3) of said structure (100) in the third direction (Z).

9. Electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a battery comprising a structure (100) for assembling a plurality of battery cells (1) into a battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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