Battery cell

Abstract

Battery Cell The invention relates to a battery cell (1) with an outer casing (2) enclosing an inner space (3), in which the battery cell elements are arranged within the inner space (3), in which at least one fastening element is fixed to the outer casing (2), by means of which a temperature sensor is fixed by form connection and is thermally connected to the outer casing (2). Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Battery cell

[0001] The invention relates to a battery cell, in particular for a motor vehicle battery.

[0002] The properties of a battery cell generally depend on temperature, so it is important to consider the battery cell temperature when ordering it. Therefore, providing the battery cell temperature is important. However, it is problematic to securely and permanently attach a temperature sensor to the battery cell for the entire lifespan of the battery cell, because battery cells are subject to variable thermal expansion due to temperature fluctuations, which can make attaching the temperature sensor difficult.

[0003] Attaching a temperature sensor to a so-called "pocket" cell, also called a flexible pouch cell, raises particular difficulties because the outer envelope of the pocket cell is made of a flexible film which does not provide a very stable surface for attaching a temperature sensor.

[0004] In the prior art, it is known that temperature sensors are directly glued to the surface of the outer casing of battery cells, which, due to the flexible outer casing of the cells, can lead to unreliable attachment and unreliable thermal contact of the respective temperature sensor. If the thermal contact is poorly designed, the temperature sensor will not detect the actual temperature of the battery cell, which is detrimental to the battery cell control.

[0005] The task aims to create a battery cell having a secure thermal attachment and contact for a temperature sensor, even if the battery cell is designed as a pocket cell.

[0006] This goal is achieved by a battery cell with an outer casing enclosing an inner space, in which the battery cell elements are arranged in the inner space, in which at least one fixing element is fixed to the outer casing, by means of which a temperature sensor is fixed by form complementarity and is thermally connected to the outer casing.

[0007] An example of an embodiment of the invention relates to a battery cell having an outer casing that encloses an inner space, with battery cell elements arranged in the inner space, wherein at least one fastening element is fixed to the outer casing, by means of which a temperature sensor is fixed by form complementarity (or form connection or positive connection) and thermally connected to the outer casing. This allows securely fix the temperature sensor, in which the fixing remains reliable throughout the life of the battery cell, even if the battery cell is a pocket cell with an outer casing made of a film material.

[0008] It is also advantageous for at least one fastening element to be a protruding element or to have a protruding element that carries locking elements by means of which the temperature sensor can be locked onto the protruding element. Preferably, the protruding element is made of plastic and the locking elements are designed with a defined degree of flexibility so that the temperature sensor can be attached.

[0009] 1 It is also advantageous for the protruding element to be designed as a pin with locking tabs, in which the pin optionally has a tip, in particular a removable tip. The tip can be designed as an insertion aid, which can then be removed if desired.

[0010] It is also advantageous to arrange several fastening elements or protruding elements, which are designed in particular as a pin with locking lugs, in which the locking elements are arranged at a certain distance from each other. This also allows for secure positioning and fastening of a temperature sensor.

[0011] In another embodiment, it is also advantageous for the temperature sensor to be designed with a base plate, in particular to which one or more temperature sensor elements are fixed, wherein the temperature sensor is fixed to the outer casing by means of the base plate via at least one protruding element. This allows the respective temperature sensor element to be securely positioned on the temperature sensor, and the base plate serves as a stable mounting base.

[0012] It is also advantageous for the base plate to have at least one opening, in which the fastening element or the protruding element engages through the opening and, by means of the locking elements, engages behind the respective edge of the opening by means of a form connection or complementary form. This provides a simple fastening solution.

[0013] It is also advantageous for the base plate to have a peripheral edge region, in which the fastening elements or spaced protruding elements house the base plate between themselves, and for the locking elements to engage behind the edge region of the base plate by means of a form connection. This provides an alternative fastening solution.

[0014] It is also advantageous that the temperature sensor be, in addition, thermally connected and / or bonded to the outer casing by means of a casting compound and / or adhesive, such as in particular a cellular material. This allows for better thermal coupling, especially if the substrate is, for example, irregular or textured.

[0015] It is also advantageous for the base plate to be perforated. This allows the adhesive, honeycomb material, or other sealing compound to be applied through the hole, which is also possible after the temperature sensor has been positioned.

[0016] It is particularly preferable that at least one protruding element protrude from the outer casing in a normal direction. This allows the temperature sensor to be safely placed directly on the outer casing.

[0017] The invention is described in detail below based on at least one exemplary embodiment, with reference to the drawings. The drawings depict:

[0018] [Fig-1] a schematic view of an example embodiment of a cell of battery designed as a pocket-sized cell

[0019] [Fig.2] a cross-sectional view of an example of the surface of the outer casing of the battery cell,

[0020] [Fig.3] a schematic view of an example embodiment of a temperature sensor,

[0021] [Fig.4] a cross-sectional view of an example of the surface of the outer casing of the battery cell with a fixing element,

[0022] [Fig. 5] a schematic view of another example embodiment of a temperature sensor,

[0023] [Fig. 6] a cross-sectional view of an example of the surface of the outer casing of the battery cell with a temperature sensor fixed by means of a fastening element, and

[0024] [Fig.7] a cross-sectional view of an example of the surface of the outer casing of the battery cell with a temperature sensor fixed by means of several fixing elements.

[0025] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a battery cell 1, which is, for example, designed as a pocket cell. The battery cell 1 has an outer casing 2 made of a film material, which encloses an inner space 3 in which battery cell elements, such as electrodes, etc., are arranged. Contact tabs 4 protrude from the side of the outer casing 2, allowing the battery cell 1 to be electrically connected.

[0026] The surface of the battery cell 1 is generally not very smooth because the outer casing 2 is made of a reinforced film material. Regions of the surface of the outer casing 2 are designed to tightly enclose the internal space 3, which is why the battery cell 1 is often evacuated after installation, causing some regions of the surface to become irregular.

[0027] A cross-section of such an irregular outer envelope 2 is schematically represented in [Fig. 2]. The irregularity of the outer envelope 2 can be seen.

[0028] Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of a temperature sensor 5, where it can be attached, for example, to the outer casing 2 of the battery cell 1. The temperature sensor 5 has a base plate 6 on which a temperature sensor element 7 is attached or on which several temperature sensor elements 7, 8 are attached. In the example embodiment shown in Figure 3, two such temperature sensor elements 7, 8 with respective power supply lines 9, 10 are provided to allow for redundant temperature measurement. The temperature sensor 5 may also include an enclosure 13, which can serve to protect the temperature sensor 5.

[0029] Fig. 4 shows another example of an embodiment of the arrangement of a fastening element 11 on the outer casing 2 of the battery cell 1. Only one fastening element 11 may be provided, or alternatively, several fastening elements 11 may be provided.

[0030] The respective fastening element 11 is, for example, glued to the outer casing 11 using an adhesive 12 or otherwise mechanically fixed.

[0031] The fixing element 11 serves to connect the temperature sensor 5 to the outer casing 2. The fixing element 11 and the temperature sensor 5 are such that the temperature sensor 5 can be fixed by form connection or form complementarity on the fixing element 11 and can be thermally connected to the outer casing 2 in such a way that it is well thermally connected.

[0032] Preferably, at least one fastening element 11 or at least one projecting element 16 projects from the outer casing 2 in a normal direction.

[0033] Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of a temperature sensor 5 in an alternative configuration, where it can be attached to the outer casing 2 of the battery cell 1, for example. The temperature sensor 5 has a perforated base plate 6 on which a temperature sensor element 7 is attached, or on which several temperature sensor elements 7, 8 are attached. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, two such temperature sensor elements 7, 8 with respective power supply lines 9, 10 are provided to allow for redundant temperature measurement. The temperature sensor 5 may also include an enclosure 13, which can serve to protect the temperature sensor 5.The perforation of the base plate 6 is designed such that at least one first hole is provided as an opening 14, which serves to fix the temperature sensor 5 by form connection using the fixing element 11. One or more additional 15 holes may be provided to achieve a better thermal connection with the outer envelope 2.

[0034] Fig. 6 shows how the temperature sensor 5 is fixed to the outer casing 2 by means of the base plate 6 using at least one fixing element 11.

[0035] In this case, at least one fastening element 11 is designed as a protruding element 16 or has such a protruding element 16. The protruding element 16 carries locking elements 17, which protrude laterally and by means of which the temperature sensor 5 can be locked onto the protruding element 16.

[0036] In the illustrated embodiment, the base plate 6 has at least one opening 14, in which the fixing element 11 or the protruding element 16 engages through the opening 14 and, by means of the locking elements 17, engages behind the edge of the opening 14 by form connection, thus fixing the temperature sensor 5.

[0037] Figures 4 and 6 show that the protruding element 16 is designed as a pin with locking lugs 17, wherein the pin optionally has a tip 18, in particular a removable tip. The tip 18 serves as an insertion aid to insert the pin into the hole as an opening 14 in the base plate 6. The tip can then be removed.

[0038] Fig. 7 shows another example of an embodiment in which several fixing elements 11 or protruding elements 16 are arranged, which are designed in particular as a pin having locking elements 17, for example in the form of locking tabs, in which the protruding elements 16 or the fixing elements 11 are arranged at a certain distance from each other.

[0039] The base plate 6 has a peripheral edge region 19, in which the fixing elements 11 or the spaced protruding elements 16 house the base plate 6 between themselves and the locking elements 17 engage behind the edge region 19 of the base plate 6 by connection or complementarity of form.

[0040] In addition, the temperature sensor 5 can also be thermally connected and / or bonded to the outer casing 2 by means of a casting compound and / or adhesive, such as, in particular, a cellular material. The perforated base plate can be fixed with this material.

[0041] The elements, objects, indications and information illustrated in the figures are referenced as follows:

[0042] 1: Battery cell

[0043] 2: Outer casing

[0044] 3: Interior space

[0045] 4: Contact tabs

[0046] 5: Temperature sensor

[0047] 6: Base plate

[0048] 7: Temperature sensor element

[0049] 8: Temperature sensor element

[0050] 9: Power lines

[0051] 10: Power lines

[0052] 11: Mounting element

[0053] 12: Adhesive

[0054] 13: Housing

[0055] 14: Opening

[0056] 15: Hole

[0057] 16: Element

[0058] 17: Locking element

[0059] 18: Tip

[0060] 19: Edge region

[0061] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and represented in the attached drawings. Modifications remain possible, particularly with regard to the composition of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Battery cell (1) with an outer casing (2) enclosing an inner space (3), in which the battery cell elements are arranged in the inner space (3), in which at least one fastening element (11) is fixed to the outer casing (2), by means of which a temperature sensor (5) is fixed by form complementarity and is thermally connected to the outer casing (2).

2. Battery cell (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one fastening element (11) is or has a protruding element (16) which carries locking elements (17) by means of which the temperature sensor (5) can be locked onto the protruding element (16).

3. Battery cell (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the salient element (16) is designed as a pin which has locking elements (17), in which the pin optionally has a tip (18), in particular a removable tip (18).

4. Battery cell (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that a plurality of fastening elements (11) or protruding elements (16) are arranged, which are in particular designed as a pin having locking lugs, the protruding elements (16) being arranged at a certain distance from each other.

5. Battery cell (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the temperature sensor (5) is designed with a base plate (6), in particular on which is fixed a temperature sensor element (7), in which the temperature sensor (5) is fixed to the outer casing (2) by means of the base plate (6) by means of at least one protruding element (16).

6. Battery cell (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the base plate (6) has at least one opening (14), in which the fixing element (11) or the protruding element (16) engages through the opening (14) and, by means of the locking elements (17), engages behind the edge of the opening (14) by complementary shape.

7. Battery cell (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the base plate (6) has a peripheral edge region (19), in which the spaced fixing elements (11) or protruding elements (16) house the base plate (6) between them and the locking elements (17) engage behind the edge region (19) of the base plate (6) by connection or complementarity of form.

8. Battery cell (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the temperature sensor (5) is additionally thermally connected and / or bonded to the outer casing (2) by means of a casting compound and / or adhesive, such as in particular a cellular material.

9. Battery cell (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the base plate (6) is perforated.

10. Battery cell (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one fastening element (11) protrudes from the outer casing (2) as a protruding element (16) in a normal direction.

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