Test equipment for testing the electrical insulation of at least one electric battery cell and associated test method

Abstract

The invention relates to a test equipment (1) for testing the electrical insulation of at least one object (100, 1000), the test equipment (1) being characterized in that it comprises: at least one contact panel (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) configured to come into contact with the object being tested, each contact panel comprising a rigid support plate (111, 121, 131, 141) formed from at least one electrically conductive material, the plate (111, 121, 131, 141) supporting at the level of a test face, a coating formed, preferably made of an electrically conductive foam (112, 122, 132, 142) and configured to come into contact with the object by exerting pressure on said object in a test position of the object; and an electrical resistance measuring device (2), on the one hand electrically connected to the contact panel or at least one of the contact panels (11, 12, 13, 14, 15), and on the other hand, configured to be electrically connected to the object to be tested. (Fig.1).

Description

Title of the invention: Testing equipment for testing the electrical insulation of at least one electric battery cell and associated testing method. Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates, in general, to the technical field of insulation tests of a product surface, in particular for electric battery cells.

[0002] The invention relates more specifically to a test equipment for testing the electrical insulation of at least one surface of an object such as an electric battery cell, and to the associated test method. Prior art

[0003] Motor vehicles with electric or hybrid traction or propulsion include one or more battery modules connected to a power network to supply an electric motor (traction or propulsion).

[0004] The battery modules are grouped in a casing and thus form a battery block, also often referred to by the English expression "battery pack", this casing generally containing a mounting interface and connection terminals.

[0005] Each battery module includes at least one electrochemical cell generating current by chemical reaction, for example of lithium-ion (or Li-ion), Ni-Mh, Ni-Cd or lead type.

[0006] An electrochemical cell comprises, in particular, a stack of positive electrodes connected to each other and a stack of negative electrodes connected to each other, separated by a separator, known as a "stack". The positive electrodes connected to each other form a positive terminal, and the negative electrodes connected to each other form a negative terminal.

[0007] It is known to assemble, in series and / or in parallel, a plurality of electrochemical cells in order to produce battery modules using an interconnection device ensuring electrical contact between the terminals of two neighboring electrochemical cells.

[0008] Each electrochemical cell is housed in a metal casing. The casing is generally made of aluminum. Once the set of electrochemical cells is integrated into the casing, a cover plate is laser-welded to the casing to achieve the structural connection and sealing of the electrochemical cell.

[0009] Lithium-ion electrochemical cells must be electrically isolated during use to ensure the safety and reliability of the electrochemical cell and the battery pack.

[0010] It is known that electrical insulation is implemented after the assembly process of electrochemical cells by bonding an electrically insulating film, made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), for example, to the surface of the casing. This film can be bonded after the cover has been welded to the casing because it is bonded at room temperature and does not cause a temperature rise in the electrochemical cell that could damage it, unlike deposition techniques carried out at high temperatures. Alternatively, other insulators can be used, such as fluid coatings. For example, an electrically insulating paint.

[0011] However, the insulating film or fluid insulating coating applied to a surface can be easily scratched or damaged by external substances or hard particles, for example, during production or operation. It also happens that the film or coating peels off the casing or flakes off, resulting in electrical insulation failure and affecting the safety performance of the electrochemical cells. Description of the invention

[0012] The invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing in particular a solution enabling the implementation of electrical insulation verification tests of battery cells in a simple, fast and efficient manner.

[0013] To this end, according to a first aspect of the invention, a test device is proposed for testing the electrical insulation of at least one object, the test device being characterized in that it comprises: • at least one contact panel configured to come into contact with the object under test, each contact panel comprising a rigid support plate formed from at least one electrically conductive material, the plate supporting, on one test face, a coating formed, preferably made of an electrically conductive foam and configured to come into contact with at least one surface under test of the object by exerting pressure on said object in a test position of the object; and • a measuring device for a value representative of the electrical insulation of the surface to be tested of the object, on the one hand electrically connected to the contact panel or at least one of the contact panels, and on the other hand, configured to be electrically connected to the object to be tested.

[0014] Such equipment has the advantage of allowing simple testing of the electrical insulation of at least one surface of the object, preferably in a single test step. The invention also allows the use of a single piece of equipment on a plurality of surfaces and / or objects of different sizes and shapes. In particular, the use of a foam coating on the support plate allows the contact panel to adapt to the shape of the surface of the object being tested while maintaining electrical contact to perform adequate and accurate tests on the object under test.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the representative value of the electrical insulation of the surface to be tested of the object is an insulation resistance value or a dielectric strength value.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the rigid support plate comprises one or more metallic material(s), preferably made of metal, more preferably made of aluminum.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the object to be tested comprises at least one cell, or a battery module comprising at least one cell. Naturally, any object that has an electrically conductive and insulated component can be tested by the test equipment. This could be, for example, a component of a module separate from the cell.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the equipment comprises a plurality of contact panels electrically connected together.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the equipment includes a horizontal contact panel, forming a support platform on which the object to be tested rests, in the test position.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the equipment includes at least one vertical contact panel configured to make lateral contact with the object by exerting pressure on said object in the object's test position.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the equipment comprises a plurality of vertical contact panels, preferably four, the vertical contact panels being arranged to surround a test area in which the object to be tested is placed in the object's test position.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the 4 vertical contact panels surround the object to be tested and allow the object to be immobilized.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the equipment comprises one or two pairs of vertical contact panels, the contact panels of the same pair being arranged opposite each other on either side of the test area so as to form jaws to clamp the object to be tested in the test position.

[0024] According to one embodiment, each pair of vertical contact panels comprises a fixed contact panel and a movable contact panel, the movable contact panel enabling the object to be immobilized in the test area and pressure to be applied to the object to clamp it.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the equipment includes means of movement, configured to move all or part of the contact panels between a rest position, in which the test area is free of any object, and the test position.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the means of movement allow the movable vertical contact panels to be moved to clamp the object to be tested.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the electrically conductive foam of the coating is an antistatic foam. More precisely, the electrically conductive foam is an antistatic foam defined in Anglo-Saxon terms as an "ESD" (electrostatic discharge) type foam, the "ESD" foam allowing the dissipation of electrostatic discharges from the object to be tested.

[0028] According to one embodiment, - the electrically conductive foam of the coating has, in a stable, uncompressed state, a constant thickness to allow the equipment to measure the representative value of the electrical insulation of the object being tested as homogeneously as possible; and / or - the electrically conductive foam of the coating has, in a stable uncompressed state, a thickness greater than or equal to 1 mm, preferably greater than or equal to 3 mm, and / or less than or equal to 15 mm, preferably less than or equal to 10 mm, for example 6 mm.

[0029] In this way, when the electrically conductive foam of the coating is compressed against the surface of the object being tested, the foam compresses to conform as closely as possible to the shape of the object and follow its profile. A minimum and constant thickness as described ensures that an optimal extent of the surface of the object being tested is covered. It should be noted that the larger the tolerances on the object (a part, a cell, a module, or a battery pack), the thicker the electrically conductive foam must be.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the electrically conductive foam of the coating has a density greater than or equal to 20 kg / m³, preferably greater than or equal to 35 kg / m³, and / or less than or equal to 70 kg / m³, preferably less than or equal to 55 kg / m³. Indeed, the more complex the surface shape of an object being tested, the lower the density of the electrically conductive foam of the coating must be to best follow the topography or relief of said surface. These density values ​​represent the right compromise for improving the reliability of the tests.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the electrically conductive foam of the coating has a surface resistance greater than or equal to 1.102 Q and / or less than or equal to 1.105 Q.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the electrically conductive foam of the coating has a volume resistance, less than or equal to 1.103 Q, preferably less than or equal to 2.5.102 Q.

[0033] According to another aspect of the invention, it relates to a method for testing the insulation of at least one battery cell by equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the steps of: • place an object in the test area; • position the equipment in a test position; • measure the resistance with the electrical resistance measuring device to test the electrical insulation of said object.

[0034] Such a test method has the technical advantage of being simple and quick to set up and adaptable to different shapes and sizes of objects. Preferably, the step of positioning the equipment in a test position allows the contact panels to be arranged around the object to be tested, so that the electrically conductive foam is in contact with the object and under pressure on it. Brief description of the figures

[0035] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, with reference to the accompanying figures, which illustrate: • [Fig-1]: a cross-sectional view of a test equipment for testing the electrical insulation of a battery cell according to a first embodiment of the invention; • [Fig.2]: a top view of the test equipment of [Fig.1] according to the first embodiment of the invention; • [Fig.3]: an overview of the test equipment of [Fig.1] in a rest position of a test procedure; • [Fig. 4]: an overview of the test equipment of [Fig. 1] in a test position of a test procedure; • [Fig.5]: a front view of the test equipment for testing the electrical insulation of a battery module according to a second embodiment of the invention; • [Fig.6]: a front view of the test equipment for testing the electrical insulation of a battery module according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[0036] For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs throughout the figures.

[0037] In the description and claims, to clarify the description and claims, the terminology longitudinal, transverse, and vertical shall be adopted without limitation, with reference to the X, Y, Z trihedron shown in the figures. Detailed description of an embodiment

[0038] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate, respectively, a cross-sectional view and a top view of a test device 1 for testing the electrical insulation of a battery cell 100, the test device 1 as shown in these figures being in a test position. The device 1 has a set of contact panels 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 and an electrical measuring device 2 for a value representative of the electrical insulation of the surface of the object to be tested, the measuring device 2 allowing the set of contact panels to be electrically connected to the cell 100 under test. In this embodiment, the device 2 is an electrical resistance measuring device. Alternatively or in addition, the measuring device 2 can also measure dielectric strength.

[0039] The contact panels 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are configured to each make contact with the cell 100, exerting pressure on the object when the test equipment 1 is in a test position. The passage of an electrical voltage through the cell 100, or more generally the object to be tested, and the associated contact panel(s), allows, by measuring the resistance, the determination of the resistance level, and thus the deduction of the quality of the object's electrical insulation.

[0040] The object to be tested is typically a 100 battery cell as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 4 or a 100 battery module comprising several cells, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.

[0041] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the battery cell 100 to be tested comprises a parallelepiped-shaped case including an interior space of the cell 100 delimited by four lateral walls 101, 102, 103, 104 arranged opposite each other in pairs, a lower wall 105 and an upper wall 106, the upper wall 106 of the cell 100 being made of conductive material. The lateral walls 101, 102, 103, 104 and the lower wall 105 together form a base of the case, forming an assembly commonly referred to as a cup, the upper wall 106 forming the lid for closing the cup.

[0042] In particular, the cell 100 is partially surrounded by an insulating film 110 to ensure electrical insulation of the cell 100 walls, especially when the cell 100 is handled by an operator, or to prevent any risk of unforeseen electrical contact, for example, during operation when the cell 100 is integrated into a battery pack. According to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the insulating film 110 is positioned at least on the side walls 101, 102, 103, 104, on the wall lower 105 so as to cover each of them, and where appropriate on an external peripheral contour of the upper wall 106 of the cell 100 to be tested.

[0043] The test equipment 1 allows for checking the effectiveness of the electrical insulation of the insulating film 110 surrounding the battery cell 100 being tested. According to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the contact panel assembly of the equipment 1 comprises four vertical contact panels 11, 12, 13, and 14, each arranged parallel to a vertical reference axis Z, and one horizontal contact panel 15 arranged parallel to a horizontal reference plane XY. The vertical and horizontal contact panels 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 together define a test area 10 surrounding the battery cell 100 when the equipment 1 is in the test position. This test area 10 is vertically open above to allow access by a user.

[0044] The vertical contact panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 are arranged opposite each other in pairs, so as to be positioned around the battery cell 100, surrounding it. In particular, the vertical contact panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 are arranged parallel to each other in pairs, thus surrounding the test area 10. In such a configuration, each of the vertical contact panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 is configured to come into contact and bear against one of the side walls 101, 102, 103, 104, respectively, in the test position, thus surrounding the side walls 101, 102, 103, 104 of the battery cell 100.

[0045] The vertical contact panels 11, 12 form a first pair of opposing contact panels that clamp the object 100, 1000 parallel to the transverse axis Y, and the vertical contact panels 13 and 14 form a second pair of opposing contact panels that clamp the object 100, 1000 parallel to the longitudinal axis X. In this way, the object 100, 1000 is clamped during the test by the vertical contact panels 11, 12, 13, and 14 along axes perpendicular to each other. Each pair of contact panels acts as a jaw, compressing the object to be tested along a horizontal axis.

[0046] Each of the contact panels comprises, in particular here, is made up of: • a rigid associated support plate 111, 121, 131, 141, 151 formed from at least one electrically conductive material; and • a coating formed, preferably made of an electrically conductive foam 112, 122, 132, 142, 152 configured to come into contact with at least one surface to be tested of the object by exerting pressure on said object in a test position of the object, the coating being supported by the associated support plate 111, 121, 131, 141, 151 of the contact panel corresponding by being against a test face of the associated support plate 111,121, 131,141,151, oriented towards the side of the test area.

[0047] Preferably, the dimensions of the support plate and the dimensions of the foam are such that the surface area of ​​the test face and the surface area of ​​the contact face of the coating are each larger than a template of the object to be tested. In this way, the foam is compressed by the associated plate against the object to be tested in the test position, thus ensuring an electrical connection to perform the test.

[0048] The vertical contact panel 11, or first contact panel, is positioned transversely opposite a first test side wall 101 of the cell 100, and comprises a support plate 111 and a covering 112 fixedly arranged on the support plate 111. The support plate 111 is preferably a rigid plate which has a parallelepiped shape of length, measured longitudinally with respect to the X axis, and of height, measured vertically i.e. along the Z axis, greater than or equal to, preferably strictly greater than, the length and height of the first side wall 101 of the corresponding cell 100, so that when the equipment 1 is in the test position, the support plate 111 covers the entire first side wall 101 of the cell 100.

[0049] The support plate 111 comprises one or more metallic material(s), preferably the support plate 111 is made of aluminum. In particular, the support plate 111 has a test face corresponding to the surface of the support plate 111 located transversely opposite the first lateral wall 101 of the cell 100.

[0050] The test face of the support plate 111 is intended to be covered by the coating 112 of the vertical contact panel 11. The coating 112 comprises an electrically conductive foam intended to come into contact with the first side wall 101 of the cell 100, the foam preferably being an antistatic foam to limit static electricity phenomena that may occur between the first side wall 101 of the cell 100 and the support plate 111 of the vertical contact panel 11. According to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the foam is bonded to the test face of the support plate 111 of the vertical contact panel 11. In any case, care shall be taken to ensure that a contact surface between the electrically conductive foam 112, 122, 132, 142, 152 and the corresponding support plate 111, 121, 131, 141, 151 of the contact panel 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 associated, i.e. a full surface, without local discontinuity of contact.Otherwise, such a discontinuity would reduce the reliability of the test, or even distort the measured value. An electrically conductive adhesive could be used.

[0051] Preferably, the electrically conductive foam 112, 122, 132, 142, 152 of each of the contact panels 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 has a constant thickness. In particular, the thickness of the electrically conductive foam is greater than or equal to 5 mm, and / or less than or equal to 15 mm, preferably even less than or equal to 10 mm, for example 6 mm.

[0052] Furthermore, the electrically conductive foam 112, 122, 132, 142, 152 of the coating of each of the contact panels 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 has a density greater than or equal to 20 kg / m³, preferably greater than or equal to 35 kg / m³, and / or less than or equal to 70 kg / m³, preferably less than or equal to 55 kg / m³. The foam is deformable so as to be compressed between the vertical contact panel 11 and the cell 100 to be tested when the cell 100 and the equipment 1 are in a test position.

[0053] Finally, the electrically conductive foam of the coating 112,122,132,142, 152 of each of the contact panels 11,12,13,14 and 15 has a surface resistance greater than or equal to 1.102 Q and / or less than or equal to 1.105 Q, and a volume resistance less than or equal to 1.103 Q, preferably less than or equal to 2.5.102 Q.

[0054] Furthermore, the vertical contact panel 12, or second contact panel, of the contact panel assembly is arranged transversely opposite the second side wall 102 of the cell 100, so as to be opposite the vertical contact panel 11 to form the first pair of contact panels. The vertical contact panel 12 comprises a support plate 121 and a coating 122 formed on the support plate 121 having an identical function and arrangement to the support plate 111 and the coating 121 of the vertical contact panel 11, thus allowing the electrical insulation of the second side wall 102 of the cell 100 to be tested.

[0055] Similarly, the vertical contact panels 13, 14 of the contact panel assembly, namely the third and fourth contact panels, are arranged longitudinally opposite a third test side wall 103 and a fourth side wall 104 of the cell 100, respectively, so that the contact panels 13, 14 are arranged opposite each other and form the second pair of contact panels. The contact panel 13 comprises a support plate 131 and a coating 132, and the contact panel 14 comprises a support plate 141 and a coating 142, which also have the same function and arrangement as the support plates 111, 121 and the coatings 112, 122 of the contact panels 11, 12.

[0056] Finally, the horizontal contact panel 15 of the equipment 1 is arranged vertically opposite the lower wall 105 of the cell 100, and comprises a support plate 151 and a cover 152 with the same function and arrangement as the other support plates and covers of the contact panel assembly of the equipment 1. Furthermore, the horizontal contact panel 15 forms a Support platform intended to hold the cell 100 to be tested, the cell 100 being placed on the horizontal contact panel 15 when the equipment 1 is in the test position. The vertical and horizontal contact panels 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 form the test area 10 of the equipment 1, each of the coverings made of foams 112, 122, 132, 142, 152 being oriented towards the side of the test area where the object to be tested must be manually positioned by an operator.

[0057] The vertical contact panels 11, 12, 13, 14 and horizontal 15 of the equipment 1 are electrically connected. More specifically, the support plates 111, 121, 131, 141 and 151 of said contact panels 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 respectively are electrically connected to each other by electrical connections 9, such as electrical wires.

[0058] The measuring device 2 of the equipment 1 includes a first electrical connection 201 connected to one of the contact panels of the contact panel assembly of the equipment 1, and a second electrical connection 202 connected to the upper wall 106 of the cell 100. The measuring device 2 is configured here to measure a resistance between two terminals, for example a megohmmeter.

[0059] The measuring device 2 thus makes it possible to compare the insulation of the cell 100 to be tested with the insulation of one of the contact panels of the set of contact panels, in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the insulation put in place by the insulating film 110 covering the cell 100 to be tested.

[0060] With such equipment, it is possible to test five of the six faces of cell 100, only the cover 106 not being tested because it is not insulated.

[0061] Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the equipment 1 respectively in a rest position and in a test position of a test process carried out on the cell 100.

[0062] According to the embodiments shown in Figures 3 and 4, the equipment 1 is arranged on a work surface 50 and includes movement means 20, 22 configured to move a portion of the contact panels of the set of contact panels between the rest position, shown in [Fig. 3] and in which the test area 10 is free of any object, and the test position, shown in [Fig. 4]. In particular, the movement means 20, 22 allow one of the two contact panels of each pair of associated vertical contact panels 11, 12 and 13, 14 to be moved.Thus, according to this embodiment, each pair of contact panels 11, 12 and 13, 14 comprises a movable contact panel 11, 13 capable of being moved longitudinally or transversely relative to the work surface 50 of the equipment 1, and a fixed contact panel 12, 14 permanently fixed to the work surface 50 of the equipment 1 by means of fastening, for example by plastic brackets screwed to the work surface 50. The horizontal contact panel 15 is preferably immobilized on the work surface 50 of the equipment 1. The weight of the object to be... testing on horizontal contact panel 15, in particular on coating 15 2, is sufficient to ensure sufficient pressure for the test.

[0063] According to the illustrated embodiments, the movement means 20, 22 of the equipment 1 are sliding-rod toggle clamps, allowing the movable contact panels 11, 13 to be translated along longitudinal or transverse directions. The movement means 20, 22 can move the movable contact panels 11, 13 manually by an operator, or be controlled by motors, for example, remotely, manually, or by a control unit.

[0064] According to other embodiments, the means of movement 20, 22 include any device enabling the movable contact panels 11, 13 to pass between a rest position and a test position in order to come into contact with the object by exerting pressure on said object.

[0065] The steps of the process for testing the insulation of the cell 100 to be tested are described below.

[0066] When the test equipment 1 is in its rest position, the contact panels 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the contact panel assembly are electrically connected to each other and delimit the test area 10, which is open and does not include a cell 100 to be tested. To perform the insulation test of a battery cell 100, said cell 100 to be tested is introduced into the test area delimited by the contact panel assembly, onto the support platform formed by the horizontal contact panel 15, so that the electrically conductive foams constituting the coatings of the fixed contact panels preferably come into contact with the side walls 101, 102, 103 and 104 of the cell 100 to be tested.Next, the movement means 20, 22 move the movable contact panels 11, 13 in translation until the pairs of contact panels 11, 12, 13, 14 compress the cell 100 longitudinally and transversely, deforming the foams 112, 122, 132, 142 of the vertical contact panels 11, 12, 13, and 14, thus immobilizing the cell 100 to be tested during the remainder of the process. Finally, the first electrical connection 201 of the measuring device 2 is electrically connected to one of the panels in the contact panel assembly, and the second electrical connection 202 of the measuring device 2 is electrically connected to the upper wall 106 of the cell 100, so that the measuring device 2 displays the electrical resistance of the cell 100 under test.Finally, when the measurements are completed, the measuring device 2 is disconnected from the cell 100 and the moving means 20,22 loosen the movable contact panels 11,13 to allow the cell 100 to be removed from the test area 10.

[0067] Figure 5 illustrates the test equipment 1 for testing the electrical insulation of a Battery module 1000. The battery module 1000 comprises a plurality of battery cells 100 electrically connected to each other and in contact with each other by at least one longitudinal lateral wall. The insulating film 110 of the module 1000 laterally surrounds the cups of each cell 100, i.e., the lateral walls and the bottom wall of each cell 100 in the cell set. The module 1000 further comprises a chassis with four main lateral plates for securing the cells 100 of the cell set together laterally (transversely and longitudinally) around all the cells of the module 1000 to hold the cells fixedly in an ordered configuration. Only one of these four lateral walls 1001 is visible in [Fig. 5].

[0068] In the case of a 1000 module, the underside of the cells, i.e., the lower walls 105 of each of the cell housings 100 forming the base of the associated housing, are not covered and remain accessible. In this way, it is possible to test the module's insulation locally at these lower walls by placing the associated module on the horizontal contact panel 15 and connecting the first electrical connection 201 to the horizontal contact panel 15, and the second electrical connection 202 to the cover 106 of one of the cells 100 of the 1000 module. In a module, the cells are electrically interconnected, so it is not necessary to test all the cells individually. For safety, it is possible to perform two tests: • a first test by electrically connecting the second electrical connection 202 to a negative terminal of the associated module, the first electrical connection 201 being electrically connected to the horizontal contact panel 15; and • a second test by electrically connecting the second electrical connection 202 to a positive terminal of the associated module, the first electrical connection 201 being electrically connected to the horizontal contact panel 15.

[0069] The test equipment 1 used on the battery module 1000 differs from that used on a single battery cell 100 in that it comprises two vertical contact panels 11, 12 forming a pair of contact panels and a horizontal contact panel 15 serving as a support platform for the battery module 1000, the two vertical contact panels 11, 12 of the same pair and the horizontal contact panel 15 being electrically connected to each other by electrical wires 9. In the test position, the two vertical contact panels 11, 12 come into contact with the side walls of the cells located at the longitudinal ends of the module 1000 , so as to compress the module 1000 longitudinally. Preferably, one of the two vertical contact panels of the pair of panels 11, 12 is fixed and the other is movable in translation. The first and second electrical connections 201, 202 of the measuring device 20 of the equipment 1 are connected on one side to one of the support plates of the vertical contact panels 11, 12 or horizontal 15 of the equipment and on the other side to one of the upper walls 106 of the cells 100 of the set of cells of the module 1000, this in order to measure the electrical resistance of said module 1000.

[0070] In such an embodiment, the conductivity of the vertical contact panels 11, 12 is only useful as an electrical path for the measuring device 2, since the vertical contact panels 11, 12 are connected to the horizontal contact panel forming the support via the electrical connections 9. This pair of vertical contact panels 11, 12, however, provides a holding function for the test position by longitudinally compressing the module 1000. Similarly, the test equipment 1 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 could also be used to test the insulation of the cells on the module, in particular the insulation of only one of the six faces of each cell 100 of the corresponding module 1000, the cover 106 and the side faces of the cup not being tested in the case of the module

[0071] The embodiment of [Fig.6] differs from that shown in [Fig.5] in that the test equipment 1 comprises a single horizontal contact panel 15 serving as a support platform for the battery module 1000, the first and second electrical connections 201, 202 of the measuring device 20 being connected on the one hand to the support plate of the horizontal contact panel 15 and on the other hand to one of the upper walls 106 of the cells 100 of the set of cells of the module or to one of the positive and / or negative terminals of the module to measure the electrical resistance of said module 1000.

[0072] Naturally, the invention is described above by way of example. It is understood that a person skilled in the art is able to carry out different embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0073] For example, according to one embodiment, the equipment 1 used on a single cell 100 to be tested does not include a horizontal contact panel. The cell 100 is then simply placed on a single horizontal contact panel in the work area to perform the test procedure. The test procedure is not, however, altered by this modification.

[0074] It is emphasized that all the features, as they are apparent to a person skilled in the art from the present description, drawings and attached claims, even if in practice they have only been described in relation to other Specific characteristics, both individually and in any combinations, may be combined with other characteristics or groups of characteristics disclosed herein, provided that this has not been expressly excluded or that technical circumstances render such combinations impossible or meaningless.

Claims

Demands

1. Test equipment (1) for testing the electrical insulation of at least one object (100, 1000), the test equipment (1) being characterized in that it comprises: - at least one contact panel (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) configured to make contact with the object under test, each contact panel comprising a rigid support plate (111, 121, 131, 141, 151) formed from at least one electrically conductive material, the plate (111, 121, 131, 141, 151) supporting, on one test face, a coating formed, preferably made of an electrically conductive foam (112, 122, 132, 142, 152) and configured to make contact with at least one surface to be tested of the object by exerting pressure on said object in a object test position;and - a measuring device (2) of a value representative of the electrical insulation of the surface to be tested of the object, on the one hand electrically connected to the contact panel or at least one of the contact panels (11, 12, 13, 14, 15), and on the other hand, configured to be electrically connected to the object to be tested.;

2. Test equipment (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the object to be tested comprises at least one cell (100), or a battery module (1000) comprising at least one cell (100).

3. Test equipment (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of contact panels (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) electrically connected together.

4. Test equipment (1) according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a horizontal contact panel (15), forming a support platform on which the object to be tested rests, in test position.

5. Test equipment (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises at least one vertical contact panel (11, 12, 13, 14) configured to come into lateral contact with the object to be tested by exerting pressure on said object in the object's test position.

6. Test equipment (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of vertical contact panels (11, 12, 13, 14), preferably four, the vertical contact panels (11, 12, 13, 14) being arranged to surround a test area (10) in which the object to be tested is placed in the object's test position.

7. Test equipment (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises one or two pairs of vertical contact panels (11, 12, 13, 14), the contact panels of the same pair being arranged opposite each other on either side of the test area (10) so as to form jaws to clamp the object to be tested in the test position.

8. Test equipment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises movement means (20, 22), configured to move all or part of the contact panels (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) between a rest position, in which the test area (10) is free of any object, and the test position.

9. Test equipment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrically conductive foam (112, 122, 132, 142, 152) of the coating is an antistatic foam.

10. Test equipment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrically conductive foam (112, 122, 132, 142, 152) of the coating has, in a stable uncompressed state, a constant thickness, greater than or equal to 1 mm, preferably greater than or equal to 3 mm, and / or less than or equal to 15 mm, preferably less than or equal to 10 mm, for example 6 mm.

11. Test equipment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrically conductive foam (112, 122, 132, 142, 152) of the coating has a density greater than or equal to 20 kg / m3, preferably greater than or equal to 35 kg / m3, and / or less than or equal to 70 kg / m3, preferably less than or equal to 55 kg / m3.

12. Test equipment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrically conductive foam (112, 122, 132, 142, 152) of the coating has a surface resistance, greater than or equal to 1.102 Q and / or less than or equal to 1.105 Q.

13. Test equipment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrically conductive foam (112, 122, 132, 142, 152) of the coating has a volume resistance, less than or equal to 1.103 Q, preferably less than or equal to 2.5.102 Q.

14. Method for testing the insulation of at least one object (100, 1000) such as a battery cell (100) by equipment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the steps of: - placing an object (100, 1000) in the test area; - positioning the equipment (1) in a test position; - measuring the resistance with the electrical resistance measuring device (2) to test the electrical insulation of said object (100, 1000).

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