BATTERY INCLUDING A MODULE AND A MEANS OF MOUNTING

Abstract

An electrical energy storage battery comprising: - a casing (1) having an internal face (Fi) for supporting a module (2), - the electrical energy storage module (2), comprising a fixing sleeve (3) for the module (2) to the internal face (Fi), - a fixing means (5, 6) for the module (2) to the internal face (Fi), comprising on the one hand a protrusion (5) of the internal support face (Fi) extending partly into the bore (A) of the sleeve (3), this protrusion (5) comprising a first thread, and on the other hand a clamping device (6) comprising a clamping head (7) extended by a threaded body (8) cooperating by screwing with the first thread, this sleeve (3) comprising a first end (E1) bearing against the internal face (Fi), and in contact with the internal face (Fi), and a second, opposite end (E2) receiving the support of the clamping head (7), the threaded body (8) penetrating the sleeve (3) from the second end (E2). Figure 1.

Description

Title of the invention: BATTERY COMPRISING A MODULE AND A MOUNTING MEANS

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery, and more particularly to a battery of an electrically powered vehicle supplying an electric motor.

[0002] Throughout this document, the term "battery" shall be understood to mean an assembly comprising battery modules containing electrochemical energy storage cells. These modules include, for example, a casing holding the cells stacked under compression against each other, and each has an outer casing comprising interfaces for mounting the module in a housing, this casing possibly including at least part of the casing. This battery may optionally include electrical or electronic means for managing the electrical energy of these modules. These modules are grouped in the housing or container and form a battery pack, often referred to as a "battery block," this housing generally containing a mounting interface and connection terminals.

[0003] Furthermore, the term "electrochemical energy storage cell" will be understood throughout the text of this document to mean cells that generate current by chemical reaction, for example, lithium-ion (or Li-ion), Ni-Mh, Ni-Cd or lead type.

[0004] In this field, it is known to cool or heat the battery modules by means of a plate through which a heat transfer fluid flows. This plate is in contact with the modules by thermal conduction through a heat exchange surface. This plate must also be positioned and fixed within the casing.

[0005] Generally, the module mounting interface comprises a screw whose free end passes through a nut welded under a sheet of the housing, the screw head bearing against the module. The free end of the screw has an elongated, unthreaded shape, for example, a cone shape, so as to guide the screw during tightening, this free end extending beyond the nut. This interface, although simple, has a drawback due to its height, the height being, for example, along the axis of the screw: Not only does the nut protrude from the sheet of the housing, but the free end protruding from the nut further increases the overall height of this interface.

[0006] Thus, such a battery presents: - either a reduced internal space and therefore a reduced energy density, - either a larger external footprint, and in particular reduced ground clearance if this battery is fixed under a vehicle floor, which is the vast majority of situations.

[0007] The object of the invention is to remedy this problem. To this end, the invention relates to an electrical energy storage battery comprising: - a casing having an inner face for supporting a module, - the electrical energy storage module, comprising a sleeve for fixing the module to the inner face, - a means of fixing the module to the inner face, comprising on the one hand a protrusion of the inner face of support extending partly into the bore of the sleeve, this protrusion comprising a first thread, and on the other hand a clamping device comprising a clamping head extended by a threaded body cooperating by screwing with the first thread, this sleeve comprising a first end bearing on the inner face, and in contact with the inner face, and a second, opposite end receiving the support of the clamping head, the threaded body penetrating the sleeve by the second end.

[0008] Thus, the protrusion allows the module to be centered relative to the housing by penetrating the mounting sleeve. Furthermore, the clamping head of the clamping device allows the mounting sleeve to be pressed against the housing. Most importantly, this protrusion extends into the sleeve and engages with the clamping device via threads, such that the first thread and the threaded body cooperate within an area located in an internal space defined by the housing. In other words, the internal face being, for example, the bottom of the housing, this fastening means not only needs to remain within this bottom, and therefore has a reduced external footprint, but also does not diminish the usable internal space of the housing (i.e., the space available for housing the modules) since it is integrated into the module's sleeve itself.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the protrusion is a second sleeve whose bore includes the first thread. This second sleeve is, for example, a smooth flanged nut, the flange bearing against and / or welded to a face of the housing opposite the inner support face. The smooth portion of the nut is configured so as to center the module relative to the housing.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the clamping device is a screw. Thus, the clamping head is the screw head, and the threaded body of this screw is screwed into the thread of the smooth flanged nut according to the preceding example.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, this screw has a free end opposite the clamping head, the length of the threaded body being configured so that the free end occupies a position between a protruding position of the second sleeve with a value not exceeding 1.5 times the diameter of the screw, and a non-through position of the second sleeve.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, this free end forms a cone for engaging the screw in the second sleeve.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the protrusion is an added element fixed to the housing. For example, the added element is welded to the housing.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the inner face is a double bottom of the housing, or alternatively a boss of the housing on which the first end rests and is in contact.

[0015] This double bottom is not necessarily over the entire surface of the bottom of the housing. This double bottom is, for example, located around the protrusion; in particular, this double bottom is a stiffening cross member of the internal support face, specifically a bottom cross member of the housing.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, this double bottom of the housing or this boss of the housing having respectively: a void of a height, and a variation in height of the inner face, of 16 mm maximum each.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, the module comprises: - a first and second module end, - two sides connecting the two ends together, the fixing sleeve being integral with an outer face of one of the sides.

[0018] This arrangement allows for a fixing sleeve to be on one side of the module, and in particular on each side of the module, i.e. on two opposite sides. The positioning of the fixing sleeves can therefore be chosen at any point according to the length of the module, i.e. between its two ends.

[0019] This sleeve, for example, has an axis orthogonal to the inner face. This sleeve is, for example, coaxial with the protrusion. This sleeve is, for example, integral to the module by assembly, shrink fitting, or formed from the material on the module side.

[0020] Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following description of a particular, non-limiting embodiment of the invention, made with reference to the single [Fig. 1] in which:

[0021] [Fig.1]: represents a schematic cross-sectional view of an electrical energy storage battery according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0022] Figure 1 discloses an electrical energy storage battery comprising, according to the invention: - a housing 1 having an internal face Fi for supporting a module 2, - the electrical energy storage module 2, comprising a fixing sleeve 3 for attaching the module 2 to the internal face Fi, - a means of fixing 5, 6 of the module 2 to the inner face Fi, comprising on the one hand a protrusion 5 of the inner face Fi of support extending partly into the bore A of the sleeve 3, this protrusion 5 comprising a first thread, and on the other hand a clamping device 6 comprising a clamping head 7 extended by a threaded body 8 cooperating by screwing with the first thread, this sleeve 3 comprising a first end El bearing on the inner face Fi, and in contact with the inner face Fi, and a second end E2, opposite, receiving the support of the clamping head 7, the threaded body 8 penetrating the sleeve 3 by the second end E2.

[0023] For example, the electrical energy storage module 2 includes a heat exchange surface S.

[0024] For example, and not illustrated, this battery includes a conduction heat exchange plate with the heat exchange surface S, inserted between this heat exchange surface S and the internal support face Fi, this plate comprising in its thickness a hollow part intended to receive a heat transfer fluid, and a solid part crossed by a hole over its entire thickness.

[0025] As not illustrated, this casing is closed by a cover to form a hermetically sealed internal space containing the modules. This cover may, for example, be formed by a section of the floor of a motor vehicle, but not necessarily. For example, this battery, that is, a battery as defined above, may be assembled outside the vehicle (casing, module, cover) and then, once assembled, attached to the motor vehicle, particularly under its floor. This vehicle may, for example, be electrically powered, with the battery powering an electric motor. For example, this vehicle may be a hybrid vehicle, or a fully electric vehicle. Applications are also possible outside the automotive sector, for example, for construction site power stations such as generators, or electrical energy storage facilities.

[0026] This battery may include electrical or electronic means for managing the electrical energy of these modules, for example, but not limited to: a charger, a current converter, a battery pack control unit, an inverter, charge and discharge control boards for each module and / or each cell, a junction box including electrical isolation contactors for the battery pack or for switching on and off external circuits connected to the battery pack. All these electrical or electronic means may be integrated at the level of each cell and / or each module.

[0027] The inner face Fi of the module 2 support is, in this example, the bottom of the housing 1, this housing 1 forming a container closed by a lid not shown. [Fig. 1] illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of this bottom.

[0028] It should be noted that in [Fig. 1], for simplicity, only the sections of module 2, fixing sleeve 3, and protrusion 5 are hatched, according to standard practice in industrial drawings. In particular, the hatching of module 2 is purely for the purpose of readability of the figure; it is clearly understood that this module 2 is not a solid block of material but, as previously described, contains, among other things, the cells.

[0029] The heat exchange surface S is here a bottom of the module 2, opposite the bottom of the housing 1 and therefore of the internal face Fi, but this arrangement is not mandatory: the internal face Fi can be for example not the bottom of the housing 1, but another part of the housing 1 such as the cover or any face of the housing 1 opposite the heat exchange surface S, thus the heat exchange surface S is not necessarily the bottom of the module 2 but can be a top or side Cl of the module 2, which is why the bottom, like the top of the module 2 is also called "side" (S) in this example.

[0030] The heat exchange plate, not shown, is a plate well known to those skilled in the art, and is made by joining two sheets of metal, one on top of the other. The first sheet has a stamped indentation covered by the second sheet, thus forming a hollow section. This assembly is achieved, for example, by electric welding and / or bonding for a good seal. These sheets can be metallic or made of plastic. This hollow section forms, for example, a channel running along the heat exchange plate along a surface corresponding to the heat exchange surface S. The heat transfer fluid is circulated in this channel by a circulation pump, which may or may not be integrated into the hermetically sealed internal space of the coil. The solid section is formed by the junction between the first and second sheets.

[0031] Other cooling plate technologies are known and applicable to this invention, for example, plates produced by a casting or machining process with more or less complex assemblies, or by large plastic deformation of a single sheet by blow molding. The channel may be a narrow channel winding through the plate, or a blade-shaped channel passing through the cooling plate in only one direction; this is irrelevant to the invention presented.

[0032] The clamping device 6, thanks to its clamping head 7, will clamp the sleeve 3 against the inner face Fi. The clamping head 7 shown is only one example among others, and in [Fig. 1] is a screw head with a wide head, that is to say, wider than the bore of the sleeve 3 and therefore covering the second end E2. The sleeve 3 fully absorbs the clamping force of the clamping device 6.

[0033] The protrusion 5 is a second sleeve 5 whose bore includes the first thread. This second sleeve 5 is, for example, a bushing, just like the sleeve 3.

[0034] The clamping device 6 is illustrated as a wide-headed screw, but alternatively could be a smooth shouldered nut.

[0035] Figure 1 shows a significant clearance between sleeve 3 and the second sleeve 5. This clearance will be, for example, sliding if precise relative positioning between module 2 and the inner face Fi is required. This clearance will be wider if there are several sleeves 3 for the same module 2 in order to absorb manufacturing variations. This clearance can be further increased, for example from 3 to 6 mm at the radius, for reasons of over-constraint. Similarly, a person skilled in the art will be able to adapt the shape of sleeve 3 and the second sleeve 5 according to the degrees of freedom to be immobilized.

[0036] This screw 6 has a free end EL opposite the clamping head 7, the length of the threaded body 8 being configured so that the free end EL occupies a position between a protruding position of the second sleeve 5 with a value at most equal to 1.5 times the diameter of the screw, and a non-protruding position of the second sleeve 5.

[0037] For example, this position is flush with the second sleeve 5.

[0038] For example, this position protrudes by a maximum of 16 mm, for example between 16mm and 0mm.

[0039] This free end EL forms, for example, a cone for engaging the screw 6 in the second sleeve 5, but this is not mandatory; this shape may, for example, be cylindrical, or simply absent. This free end EL may, for example, be locally threadless.

[0040] It will be noted of course that the position is dimensioned with respect to the most extreme part of the free end EL, for example the apex of the cone shape.

[0041] the protrusion 5, and therefore the second sleeve 5, is an element added and fixed to the housing 1, like a shouldered bushing or a stamped bridge, but alternatively, not illustrated, this protrusion 5 can be a deep boss on the inner face Fi including a threaded nut in its bottom to receive the clamping device 6.

[0042] For example, the added element 5 is welded to the housing 1 on its shoulder, or screwed, or glued.

[0043] Alternatively, the added element 5 is a stud, in particular a stud welded to the inner face Fi.

[0044] The inner face Fi is a double bottom 9 of the housing 1, as illustrated in [Fig.1], and alternatively a boss of the housing 1. In [Fig.1], the double bottom is in fact a sheet metal cross member in the shape of an inverted U, the ends of the U being welded to the bottom of the housing 1. This U then forms with the bottom of the housing 1 a hollow body that is not flush with the bottom of the housing, this U being located under the sleeve 3. The second sleeve 5 will for example be assembled on this cross member before the welding of this cross member to the bottom of the housing.

[0045] This double bottom 9 of the housing 1 or this boss of the housing 1 respectively presents: a void of a height, and a variation in height of the inner face Fi, of a maximum of 16 mm each, but this can be much less. In fact, this arrangement ensures that, regardless of the height of the void, or the variation in height of the inner face Fi, the free end EL does not protrude from the bottom of the housing.

[0046] This module 2 includes: - a first and second module end, - two sides S, Cl connecting the two ends together, the fixing sleeve 3 being integral with an outer face of one of the sides Cl.

[0047] For example, this module 2 further includes: - a stack of electrochemical cells compressed between the two ends of the module, the two sides S, Cl being joined, the heat exchange surface S being an outer face of one side S, the fixing sleeve 3 being attached to an outer face of the other side Cl.

[0048] These first and second ends are, for example, part of a band holding the stacked cells in compression against each other, and sides S, Cl may be part of the band but also independent of it, that is, not participating in maintaining the compression of the cells. In all cases, these sides, for example, four in number to form a rectangular parallelepiped with the two ends, form an outer casing of module 2 comprising interfaces for fixing this module 2 in the housing 1, this casing therefore being able to include a part of the band. Thus, side Cl carrying the fixing sleeve 3 is, for example, made of a metallic material, in particular aluminum, a tab made of this material or added on, extending orthogonally to side Cl, and this tab comprising the fixing sleeve 3. For example, this tab and the fixing sleeve 3 form a single piece.For example, this side Cl, the lug, and the fixing sleeve 3 form a single piece. For example, this jaw 3 is either press-fitted or press-fitted into the lug. Of course, this lug is not essential; the fixing sleeve 3 can, for example, be attached to side Cl.

[0049] This same side 1 may also include several fixing sleeves 3, aligned and extending along the length of side 1. The battery pack containing several modules, a first module 2 next to a second module 2 may for example have the fixing sleeves 3 staggered with respect to each other.

[0050] The axis of the fixing sleeve 3 is for example parallel to the side Cl and orthogonal to the internal face Fi, the protrusion 5 being concentric to the fixing sleeve 3.

[0051] Electrochemical cells are for example parallelepiped-shaped, or prismatic and whose chemistry is enclosed in a rigid envelope.

[0052] Alternatively, the cells are in the form of pockets.

[0053] These cells are cylindrical in variant form, but in this case, those skilled in the art know that they do not need to be compressed together because the rigid cylinder, by virtue of its shape, prevents the cells from swelling. The strapping then no longer serves to compress the cells but to position them. However, there will be an envelope containing all these cells, forming a module. This envelope is also parallelepiped-shaped and has two ends and four sides, these sides being equivalent to sides S, Cl of the present description, and the fixing sleeve 3 being integral with one outer face of the other side Cl.

[0054] For example, these cells are of the lithium-ion (or Li-ion) type.

Claims

Demands

1. An electrical energy storage battery comprising: - a housing (1) having an inner face (Fi) for supporting a module (2), - the electrical energy storage module (2), comprising a sleeve (3) for attaching the module (2) to the inner face (Fi), - a means for attaching the module (2) to the inner face (Fi), comprising, on the one hand, a protrusion (5) of the inner support face (Fi) extending partially into the bore (A) of the sleeve (3), this protrusion (5) comprising a first thread, and on the other hand, a clamping device (6) comprising a clamping head (7) extending into a threaded body (8) cooperating by screwing with the first thread, this sleeve (3) comprising a first end (E1) bearing against the inner face (Fi), and in contact with the inner face (Fi), and a second, opposite end (E2) receiving the support of the clamping head (7), the body threaded (8) penetrating the sleeve (3) through the second end (E2).

2. Battery according to claim 1, the protrusion (5) being a second sleeve (5) whose bore includes the first thread.

3. Battery according to any one of the preceding claims, the clamping device (6) being a screw (6).

4. Battery according to claim 3 in combination with claim 2, this screw (6) having a free end (EL) opposite the clamping head (7), the length of the threaded body (8) being configured so that the free end (EL) occupies a position between an overhanging position of the second sleeve (5) with a value at most equal to 1.5 times the diameter of the screw, and a non-overhanging position of the second sleeve (5).

5. Battery according to claim 4, this free end (EL) forming a cone for engaging the screw (6) in the second sleeve (5).

6. Battery according to any one of the preceding claims, the protrusion (5) being an element added and fixed to the casing (1).

7. Battery according to claim 6, the added element (5) being welded to the casing (1).

8. Battery according to any one of the preceding claims, the inner face (Fi) comprising a double bottom (9) of the casing (1) or a boss of the housing (1) on which the first end (El) is supported and in contact.

9. Battery according to claim 8, this double bottom (9) of the casing (1) or this boss of the casing (1) having respectively: a void of a height, and a variation in height of the inner face (Fi), of 16 mm maximum each.

10. Battery according to any one of the preceding claims, the module (2) comprising: - a first and second module end, - two sides (S, Cl) connecting the two ends together, the fixing sleeve (3) being integral with an outer face of one of the sides (Cl).

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