Method for manufacturing at least one cooling plate for a battery cell cooling device
The described manufacturing process for battery cell cooling plates addresses the issues of limited contact area and fluid leakage by forming monobloc cooling plates with complex shapes, improving thermal regulation and safety.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SOGEFI AIR & COOLING (SAS)
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-26
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-29
AI Technical Summary
Existing cooling strips for battery cells have limited contact area with the cell surface, leading to significant temperature differences and suboptimal thermal performance, which affects cell performance and lifespan, and existing designs with welded connections pose a risk of fluid leakage.
A manufacturing process that forms cooling plates with complex shapes using pressure injection molding, eliminating the need for welding by creating monobloc cooling plates that conform to the cell shape, enhancing thermal regulation and safety.
The process improves thermal regulation by increasing contact area with the cells, minimizing temperature differences, and eliminates the risk of coolant leaks, thereby enhancing the performance and safety of battery cells.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Method for manufacturing at least one cooling plate for a battery cell cooling device
[0001] The invention relates to the field of manufacturing processes for at least one cooling plate of a battery cell cooling device.
[0002] It is known to cool battery cells, particularly cylindrical ones, by means of flexible, semi-rigid, or rigid strips through which a coolant circulates. These strips wind between rows of cells and have corrugations that conform to the external surface of the cells. These strips may, for example, be made of extruded aluminum and may be covered with an electrically insulating film.
[0003] However, several drawbacks to existing cooling strips can be identified. The contact area between the cooling strip and the external surface of the cell generally covers only thirty percent of the cell's perimeter. This results in a significant temperature difference between the different areas of the cell, which can exceed ten degrees Celsius, and is detrimental to the cell's performance and lifespan. Cooling strips consisting of an extruded profile, which may or may not have horizontal channels, and are therefore constant along the entire length of the strip, do not offer satisfactory thermal performance. Indeed, since the flow of the cooling fluid is unidirectional and laminar, a hot film develops on the walls and limits heat exchange with the cells.All of these drawbacks prevent optimal cooling and therefore the lowest possible average cell temperature, which is also detrimental to the cell's performance and lifespan.
[0004] Publication EP4439792A1 discloses, in particular, a battery cell mounting device that allows for simple assembly and manufacturing, while ensuring efficient cooling to prevent the batteries from overheating. In this device, a plurality of battery cells can be supported by the battery cell mounting device, which includes a frame base having a plurality of fingers extending upwards from the frame base in a parallel fashion, a frame top having a plurality of hollow towers extending upwards from the frame top and covering the fingers of the frame base, a coolant inlet through which coolant can be admitted into the battery cell mounting element, and a coolant outlet. The cooling system allows the coolant(s) to be released from the battery cell mounting element. The frame base and frame top together form a plurality of cooling fins configured to guide the coolant(s) through the battery cell mounting element from the coolant inlet to the coolant outlet. In this design, the cooling channels are arranged vertically to allow the coolant to flow from top to bottom. Furthermore, the frame base and frame top can be mechanically and / or physically joined.The mechanical and / or material assembly of the frame base and the upper part of the frame may include one or more mechanical connections and a material connection, for example by mechanically assembling and / or welding the upper part of the frame to the frame base. This welded assembly has the disadvantage that there is a risk of fluid leakage that could come into contact with the cells, thus compromising safety.
[0005] The present invention aims to overcome at least one of these drawbacks and seeks to propose a manufacturing process which, on the one hand, creates shapes that envelop the battery cells in order to improve thermal regulation performance and, on the other hand, avoids the use of welding during the manufacture of the cooling plate.
[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing at least one cooling plate of a battery cell cooling device comprising at least:
[0007] - a step of making available a first part, during which a a first tubular piece made of deformable material and elongated along a longitudinal direction, of constant hollow cross-section and preferably oblong, and whose first and second longest sides extend along the vertical direction is provided,
[0008] - a step of supplying a first mold, during which a first mold comprising a first cavity configured to form on the first side of the first part at least the outer face of an inner wall of a first cooling plate conforming at least in part to the lateral surface of the battery cells of a first row,
[0009] - a step of supplying a second mold, during which a a second mold comprising a second cavity configured to form on the second side of the first part at least the outer face of the outer wall conforming at least in part to the lateral surface of the battery cells of an adjacent row,
[0010] - an assembly step, during which the first mold and the second mold are assembled together in a watertight manner with the first and second cavities facing each other so as to form a molding space between which the first piece is placed,
[0011] - a subsequent step of forming by injection under pressure of a fluid following the step assembly, during which a fluid is injected under pressure into the molding space and at the end of which the first cooling plate with a hollow internal section is configured to allow the circulation of at least one cooling fluid inside it in at least one direction extending parallel to the longitudinal direction.
[0012] The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a battery cell cooling device characterized in that the first and second cooling plates obtained according to the method of the invention are joined together by at least a first junction device at their first ends and a second junction device at their second ends, the first junction device having at least one inlet configured for the admission of at least one cooling fluid into the first cooling plate, and an outlet configured to allow the evacuation of at least one cooling fluid from the second cooling plate and the second junction device having at least one inlet configured for the admission of at least one cooling fluid into the second cooling plate,and an outlet configured to allow the evacuation of at least one cooling fluid from the first cooling plate.
[0013] The invention will be better understood from the following description, which relates to several preferred embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, and explained with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:
[0014] [Fig-1] [Fig. 1] represents a perspective view of a first part, during the step of making available a first part of the manufacturing process of at least one cooling plate according to a first example of the invention,
[0015] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a front view of the first part illustrated in [Fig.1],
[0016] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents a perspective view of a first part, during the step of making available a first part of the manufacturing process for at least one cooling plate according to a second example of the invention,
[0017] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents a front view of the first part illustrated in [Fig.3],
[0018] [Fig. 5] [Fig. 5] represents a perspective view of the first part, following of a preforming step of the process according to the second example of the invention,
[0019] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] represents a perspective view of the first part during a step of supplying a first mold and a step of supplying a second mold of the process according to the second example of the invention,
[0020] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] represents a perspective view of the battery cell cooling device obtained by the process of manufacturing a battery cell cooling device from plates obtained according to the first or second example of the invention,
[0021] [Fig.8] [Fig.8] represents a perspective view of the battery cell cooling device illustrated in [Fig.7],
[0022] [Fig.9] [Fig.9] represents a partial perspective view of the battery cell cooling device illustrated in [Fig.8],
[0023] [Fig. 10] [Fig. 10] represents a partial perspective view of the battery cell cooling device illustrated in [Fig. 7],
[0024] [Fig. 11] [Fig. 11] represents a front view of the battery cell cooling device illustrated in [Fig. 7],
[0025] [Fig. 12] [Fig. 12] represents a top view of the battery cell cooling device illustrated in [Fig. 11],
[0026] [Fig. 13] [Fig. 13] represents a cross-sectional view along plane AA of the battery cell cooling device illustrated in [Fig. 11],
[0027] [Fig. 14] [Fig. 14] represents a partial cross-sectional view along plane AA of the battery cell cooling device illustrated in [Fig. 11],
[0028] [Fig. 15] [Fig. 15] represents a perspective view of a first part, during the step of making a first part available of the process according to a third example of the invention,
[0029] [Fig. 16] [Fig. 16] represents a front view of the first part illustrated in [Fig. 15],
[0030] [Fig. 17] [Fig. 17] represents a perspective view of the first part during a step of supplying a first mold and a step of supplying a second mold of the process according to the third example of the invention,
[0031] [Fig. 18] [Fig. 18] represents a perspective view of the battery cell cooling device obtained by the manufacturing process according to the third example of the invention from plates obtained according to the third example of the invention,
[0032] [Fig. 19] [Fig. 19] represents a perspective view of the battery cell cooling device illustrated in [Fig. 18],
[0033] [Fig.20] [Fig.20] represents a partial perspective view of the battery cell cooling device illustrated in [Fig. 19],
[0034] [Fig.21] Fig.21 represents a partial perspective view of the device Battery cell cooling illustrated in [Fig. 18],
[0035] [Fig.22] [Fig.22] represents a front view of the cooling device of battery cells illustrated in [Fig. 18],
[0036] [Fig.23] [Fig.23] represents a top view of the cooling device of battery cells illustrated in [Fig. 22],
[0037] [Fig.24] [Fig.24] represents a cross-sectional view along plane AA of the device Battery cell cooling illustrated in [Fig. 22], and
[0038] [Fig. 25] [Fig. 25] represents a partial cross-sectional view along plane AA of the Battery cell cooling device illustrated in [Fig.22].
[0039] A method for manufacturing at least one cooling plate 1, 2 of a battery cell cooling device 3 comprises at least:
[0040] - a step of making a first part available, during which a first tubular part 4, 5 made of deformable material and elongated along a longitudinal direction DL, of constant hollow cross-section and preferably oblong, and whose first and second longest sides 6, 7 extend along the vertical direction is provided,
[0041] - a step of supplying a first mold, during which a first mold 8 comprising a first cavity 9 configured to form on the first side 6 of the first part 4, 5 at least the external face 10 of an inner wall 11 of a first cooling plate 1 conforming at least in part to the lateral surface 12 of the battery cells 3 of a first row RI,
[0042] - a step of supplying a second mold, during which a second mold 13 comprising a second cavity configured to form on the second side 7 of the first part 4, 5 at least the external face 15 of the outer wall 16 conforming at least in part to the lateral surface 12 of the battery cells 3 of a neighboring row,
[0043] - an assembly step, during which the first mold 8 and the second mold 13 are assembled together in a watertight manner with the first and second cavities 9 opposite each other so as to form a molding space between which the first piece 4, 5 is placed,
[0044] - a subsequent step of forming by injection under pressure of a fluid following the step assembly, during which a fluid is injected under pressure into the molding space and at the end of which the first cooling plate 1 of hollow internal section configured to allow inside it the circulation of at least one cooling fluid at least in a first direction extending parallel to the longitudinal direction DL is obtained.
[0045] Advantageously, this process makes it possible to obtain at least one cooling plate 1, 2 of a battery cell cooling device 3 that is monobloc or in one piece and that also has complex shapes that cannot be obtained solely by stamping and that allow it to conform to the shape of the battery cells 3, for example, a circular cylindrical shape, in order to improve thermal regulation performance. Indeed, thanks to the pressure injection forming step, complex and diverse shapes can be obtained on the first and second sides 6, 7. During the forming step, the first side 6 of the first part 4, 5 is deformed by the action of the pressurized fluid and takes the shape of the first cavity 9, and the second side 7 of the first part 4, 5 is deformed by the action of the pressurized fluid and takes the shape of the second cavity. Then, the first cooling plate 1 is obtained.This avoids the need for additional welded connections, as is the case when the cooling plate 1, 2 is obtained by molding two shells and then welding them together. This prevents the risk of coolant leaks and also improves safety.
[0046] Preferably and as illustrated by figures 1 to 2 showing the first example and figures 3 and 4 showing the second example, during the step of making available a first part, the first part 4 is made of metallic material preferably in aluminium and obtained by extrusion and / or drawing.
[0047] Advantageously, this configuration of the process allows the use of either a first part 4 made of extruded aluminum or equivalent (Figures 1 and 2) or a first part 4 made of drawn aluminum or equivalent (Figures 3 and 4), which may, in particular, have a larger diameter than that which can be obtained by extrusion. The first part 4 may be, for example, an extruded or drawn strip or tube with a hollow internal section forming a channel for the circulation of the cooling fluid.
[0048] Preferably, during the pressure injection forming step of a fluid, the fluid used is a liquid preferably containing water.
[0049] Advantageously, during the injection molding step under pressure of a fluid, the first part 4 is hydroformed, which makes it possible to obtain complex and diverse shapes from the first part 4 made of aluminum or similar.
[0050] Preferably and as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the manufacturing process for at least one cooling plate includes a preforming step prior to the assembly step, during which a preform 17 of the first part 4 is formed by stamping and during the assembly step the first part 4 including the preform 17 is placed in the molding space.
[0051] Advantageously, in this case the first part 4 can be pre-formed before the hydroforming step.
[0052] Preferably and as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, during the preforming step a plurality of vertical undulations 18 extending along the vertical direction DV are formed along the longitudinal direction DL of the first part 4 by stamping the first and second sides 6, 7.
[0053] Preferably and as illustrated in figures 5 and 6, during the preforming step the first part 4 is flattened by stamping perpendicular to the first and second sides 6, 7.
[0054] Advantageously, this configuration is particularly useful if the diameter of the first part 4 made available during the step of making a first part available has a larger diameter than the desired diameter for the first / second cooling plate 1, 2. This situation can be encountered in particular if the first part 4 is a drawn aluminum tube or similar as in the second example illustrated in figures 3 and 4.
[0055] Preferably and as illustrated by figures 15 and 16 which show the third example, during the step of making available a first part, the first part 5 is made of plastic material and obtained by extrusion or air forming.
[0056] Advantageously, this configuration of the process allows the use of a first part 5 made of plastic material obtained by extrusion or air forming.
[0057] Preferably, during the injection molding step under pressure of a fluid, the fluid used is a gas, preferably comprising compressed air.
[0058] Advantageously, during the injection molding step under pressure of a fluid, the first part 5 is air-formed, which makes it possible to obtain complex and diverse shapes from the first part 5 made of plastic or similar material.
[0059] Preferably, the first cavity 9 of the first mold 8 comprises a plurality of forming undulations 9' to form, during the pressure injection forming step of a fluid, at least the external face 10 of the inner wall 11 of the first cooling plate 1 and the second cavity of the second mold 13 comprises a plurality of forming undulations to form, during the pressure injection forming step of a fluid, at least the external face 15 of the outer wall 16 of the first cooling plate 1.
[0060] Advantageously, the undulations obtained 30 allow to conform to the shape of the cells 3. The shape of the forming undulations 9' is complementary to that of the cells 3.
[0061] Preferably, each forming undulation hollow 9' of the first cavity 9 is configured to form, during the pressure injection forming step of a fluid, a plurality of first inter-cell protrusions 29A of the wall interior 11 configured to penetrate the free space between two adjacent cells 3 of the RI row and each forming undulation hollow of the second impression is configured to form during the pressure injection forming step of a fluid a plurality of second inter-cell protrusions 29B of the outer wall 16 configured to penetrate the free space between two adjacent cells 3 of the neighboring row.
[0062] Advantageously, the first inter-cell protrusions 29A serve to maximize the contact area between the inner wall 11 and the lateral surfaces 12 of the cells 3 in row RI, and the second inter-cell protrusions 23B serve to maximize the contact area between the outer wall 16 and the lateral surfaces 12 of the cells 3 in the adjacent row. As a result, the average temperature of the cells 3 and the temperature difference between the different zones of the cell 3 are minimized. Furthermore, pressure losses are improved due to the local increase in the internal inter-cell cross-section.
[0063] Preferably, the steps are repeated on a second part identical to the first part 4, 5 so as to manufacture the second cooling plate 2.
[0064] Advantageously, the first and second cooling plates 1, 2 can be obtained by the same process.
[0065] The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a battery cell cooling device 3 characterized in that the first and second cooling plates 1, 2 obtained by the method of manufacturing at least one cooling plate 1, 2 of a battery cell cooling device 3 according to the invention are joined together by at least a first junction device 19 at their first ends 21, 22 and a second junction device 20 at their second ends 23, 24, the first junction device 19 having at least one inlet 25 configured for the admission of at least one cooling fluid into the first cooling plate 1,and an outlet 26 configured to allow the discharge of at least one cooling fluid from the second cooling plate 2 and the second junction device 20 having at least one inlet 27 configured for the admission of at least one cooling fluid into the second cooling plate 2, and an outlet 28 configured to allow the discharge of at least one cooling fluid from the first cooling plate 1.
[0066] Advantageously, in this configuration the assembly of the first and second cooling plates 1, 2 by the first joining device 19 and the second joining device 20 is localized at the first ends 21, 22 and the second ends 23, 24. Furthermore, thanks to this arrangement the first flow of the cooling fluid in the first cooling plate 1 can flow in the opposite direction to the second flow of the cooling fluid flowing in the second cooling plate 2.
[0067] The invention also relates to the cooling device obtained from the first and second cooling plates 1, 2 obtained by the manufacturing process of a cooling device according to the invention.
[0068] The cooling device obtained from the first and second cooling plates 1, 2 obtained by the process according to the first example or the second example is illustrated in figures 7 to 10 and according to the third example is illustrated in figures 18 to 25.
[0069] The resulting cooling device may include a plurality of first cooling plates 1 and second cooling plates 2 to enclose a plurality of rows of battery cells 3.
[0070] The first cooling plate 1 and the second cooling plate 2 have the function of enclosing a row RI of one or more cells 3 in order to regulate their temperature.
[0071] The first cooling plate 1 and the second cooling plate 2 are substantially parallel to each other and at a distance from each other.
[0072] Cell 3 is preferably of circular cylindrical shape, but this example is not limiting.
[0073] The first part 4, 5 preferably has a tubular shape with a single internal channel. Its cross-section is preferably oblong. In this case, the first and second longest sides 6, 7 are substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart except at the ends where they are joined.
[0074] The first mold 8 includes the first impression 9 which forms at least one negative of the external face 15 of the outer wall 16. At the end of the forming step, the internal face of the outer wall 16 preferably has a shape identical to the external face 15.
[0075] The second mold 9 includes the second impression which forms at least one negative of the outer face 10 of the inner wall 11. At the end of the forming step, the inner face of the inner wall 11 preferably has a shape identical to the outer face 10.
[0076] The first impression 9 and the second impression preferably have forming undulations 9'. In this case, the inner walls 11 and the outer walls 16 obtained preferably have undulations 30 which allow them to conform to the circular cylindrical shape of the cells 3 at the level of the lateral surface 12.
[0077] The shape of the hollows of the forming undulations 9' preferably forms a negative of the first inter-cell outgrowths 29A and / or the second inter-cell outgrowths 29B to be obtained.
[0078] The first inter-cell protrusions 29A and / or the second inter-cell protrusions 29B may be triangular in shape with preferably concave sides, particularly if the cells 3 are circular cylinders to increase the exchange surface area. This example is not limiting, and their shape and dimensions depend essentially on the shape and dimensions of the cells 3.
[0079] The dimension of the internal section of the cooling plate 1, 2 outside the first and second internal inter-cell sections is preferably reduced compared to that of the first and second internal inter-cell sections.
[0080] The first connecting device 19 and the second connecting device 20 allow, on the one hand, the first cooling plate 1 and the second cooling plate 2 to be assembled together and, on the other hand, the intake and exhaust of the cooling fluid to be carried out.
[0081] The inlets 25, 27 and the outlets 26, 28 are preferably tubular in shape. The inlets 25, 27 and the outlets 26, 28 are preferably projecting and perpendicular to the inner walls 11 and / or the outer walls 16.
[0082] The first joining device 19 and the second joining device 20 are preferably made of a plastic material.
[0083] The first joining device 19 and the second joining device 20 can each be made up of several parts assembled together by interlocking or welding for example.
[0084] The first joining device 19 is assembled at the first ends 21, 22 preferably by welding and / or interlocking and / or overmolding and the second joining device 20 is assembled at the second ends 23, 24 preferably by welding and / or interlocking and / or overmolding.
[0085] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the first part 4 during the step of providing a first part of the process according to a first embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the first part 4 is tubular, made of a metallic material such as aluminum, and is elongated along the longitudinal direction DL, with a constant hollow and oblong cross-section. The first and second longest sides 6, 7 are substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart, and are substantially flat except at the junction ends. The first part 4 has a single internal channel. The first part 4 is an extruded tube. Therefore, in this first embodiment of the process, the following steps are carried out successively: the step of providing a first part, the step of providing a first mold, the step of providing a second mold, the assembly step, and the step of forming by pressure injection of a fluid by hydroforming.On the other hand, the preforming step is not necessary given the small diameter of the extruded tube used as the first part 4.
[0086] Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the first part 4, during the step of making a first part available for the process according to a second embodiment of the invention. The first part 4 made available is not identical to that of the first embodiment. It differs essentially in its larger diameter and in the fact that the first part 4 is a drawn tube. Consequently, in this second embodiment of the process, the following steps are carried out successively: the step of making a first part available, the step of supplying a first mold, the step of supplying a second mold, the assembly step, the preforming step, and the step of forming by pressure injection of a fluid by hydroforming. It should be noted that the preforming step is preferable here given the larger diameter of the drawn tube used as the first part 4.
[0087] Figure 5 partially illustrates the first part 4 obtained following the preforming step of the process according to the second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a plurality of vertical undulations 18 extending along the vertical direction DV are present along the longitudinal direction DL of the first part 4. They are obtained by stamping the first and second sides 6, 7. In addition, the first part 4 is flattened by stamping perpendicular to the first and second sides 6, 7.
[0088] Figure 6 illustrates the first part 4 during the step of supplying the first mold 8 and the step of supplying the second mold 13 of the process according to the second embodiment of the invention. In this case, the first part 4 is indeed the one obtained following the preforming step. It is located between the first and second molds 8, 13. Only the first cavity 9 is visible, and it can be observed that it comprises a plurality of forming undulations 9' and in their hollows it includes the negative of the first inter-cell protrusions 29A to be obtained.
[0089] Figures 7 to 14 illustrate the battery cell cooling device 3 obtained by the process of manufacturing a battery cell cooling device 3 from cooling plates 1, 2 obtained according to the first or second embodiment of the invention. In these figures, the first and second cooling plates 1, 2 are parallel to each other and spaced apart. The first cooling plate 1 and the second cooling plate 2 enclose a row RI of several cells 3 in order to regulate their temperature. They are joined together by the first junction device 19 at their first ends 21, 22 and by the second junction device 20 at their second ends 23, 24.The first junction device 19 has the inlet 25 for admitting at least one cooling fluid into the first cooling plate 1, and the outlet 26 configured to allow the discharge of at least one cooling fluid out of the second cooling plate. 2. Similarly, the second junction device 20 has an inlet 27 configured for admitting at least one cooling fluid into the second cooling plate 2, and an outlet 28 configured for discharging at least one cooling fluid from the first cooling plate 1. The first / second junction devices 19, 20 are made of plastic. The first junction device 19 is assembled to the first ends 21, 22 by overmolding, and the second junction device 20 is assembled to the second ends 23, 24 by overmolding. This configuration is particularly preferred if the first and second cooling plates 1, 2 and the first / second junction devices 19, 20 are made of different materials that do not allow welding.
[0090] Figures 15 and 16 illustrate the first part 5 during the step of providing a first part of the process according to a first embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the first part 5 is tubular, made of plastic material, and elongated along the longitudinal direction DL, with a constant hollow and oblong cross-section. The first and second longest sides 6, 7 are substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart, and are substantially flat except at the junction ends. The first part 4 has a single internal channel. The first part 4 is an extruded or aeroformed tube. Therefore, in this first embodiment of the process, the following steps are carried out successively: the step of providing a first part, the step of providing a first mold, the step of providing a second mold, the assembly step, and the step of forming by pressure injection of a fluid by hydroforming.On the other hand, the preforming step is not necessary given the small diameter of the extruded or aeroformed tube used as the first part 5. .
[0091] Figure 17 illustrates the first part 5 during the step of supplying the first mold 8 and the step of supplying the second mold 13 of the process according to the third embodiment of the invention. In this case, the first part 5 is indeed the one that was made available during the supply step. It is located between the first and second molds 8, 13. Only the first cavity 9 is visible, and it can be observed that it comprises a plurality of forming undulations 9' and in their hollows it contains the negative of the first inter-cell protrusions 29A to be obtained.
[0092] Figures 18 to 25 illustrate the battery cell cooling device 3 obtained by the process of manufacturing a battery cell cooling device from cooling plates 1, 2 obtained according to the third embodiment of the invention. The cell cooling device 3 differs from that of Figures 7 to 14 primarily in the method of assembling the first junction device 19 to the first ends 21, 22 and the second junction device 20 to the second ends 23, 24. In this case, the first junction device 19 is assembled to The first ends 21, 22 are welded together, and the second joining device 20 is welded to the second ends 23, 24. This configuration is particularly preferred because the first and second cooling plates 1, 2 and the first / second joining devices 19, 20 are made of identical or similar materials that allow for welding.
[0093] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown in the accompanying 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. A method for manufacturing at least one cooling plate (1, 2) of a battery cell cooling device (3) comprising at least: - a step of providing a first part, during which a first tubular part (4, 5) made of deformable material and elongated along a longitudinal direction (DL), of constant hollow cross-section and preferably oblong, and whose first and second longest sides (6, 7) extend along the vertical direction is provided, a step of supplying a first mold, during which a first mold (8) is supplied comprising a first cavity (9) configured to form on the first side (6) of the first part (4, 5) at least the outer face (10) of an inner wall (11) of a first cooling plate (1) conforming at least in part to the lateral surface (12) of the battery cells (3) of a first row (RI), a step of supplying a second mold, during which a second mold (13) is supplied comprising a second cavity configured to form on the second side (7) of the first part (4, 5) at least the outer face (15) of the outer wall (16) conforming at least in part to the lateral surface (12) of the battery cells (3) of an adjacent row, an assembly step,in which the first mold (8) and the second mold (13) are assembled together in a tight manner with the first and second cavities (9) facing each other so as to form a molding space between which the first part (4, 5) is placed, a subsequent pressure injection forming step of a fluid following the assembly step, in which a fluid is injected under pressure into the molding space and at the end of which the first plate of, cooling (1) of hollow internal section configured to allow the circulation of at least one cooling fluid inside it at least in a first direction extending parallel to the longitudinal direction (DL) is obtained.
2. A method for manufacturing at least one cooling plate according to claim 1, characterized in that during the step of making available a first part, the first part (4) is made of metallic material, preferably aluminum, and obtained by extrusion and / or drawing.
3. A method for manufacturing at least one cooling plate according to claim 2, characterized in that during the step of forming by pressure injection of a fluid, the fluid used is a liquid preferably comprising water.
4. A method for manufacturing at least one cooling plate according to any one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a preforming step prior to the assembly step, during which a preform (17) of the first part (4) is formed by stamping and in that during the assembly step the first part (4) comprising the preform (17) is disposed in the molding space.
5. Method of manufacturing at least one cooling plate according to claim 4, characterized in that during the preforming step a plurality of vertical undulations (18) extending along the vertical direction (DV) are formed along the longitudinal direction (DL) of the first part (4) by stamping the first and second sides (6, 7).
6. A method for manufacturing at least one cooling plate according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that during the preforming step the first part (4) is flattened by stamping perpendicular to the first and second sides (6,
7. ' )• Method of manufacturing at least one cooling plate according to claim 1, characterized in that during the step of making available a first part, the first part (5) is made of plastic material and obtained by extrusion or air forming.
8. A method for manufacturing at least one cooling plate according to claim 7, characterized in that during the step of forming by pressure injection of a fluid, the fluid used is a gas preferably comprising compressed air.
9. A method for manufacturing at least one cooling plate according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first cavity (9) of the first mold (8) comprises a plurality of forming undulations (9') to form, during the pressure injection forming step of a fluid, at least the outer face (10) of the inner wall (11) of the first cooling plate (1) and the second cavity of the second mold (13) comprises a plurality of forming undulations to form, during the pressure injection forming step of a fluid, at least the outer face (15) of the outer wall (16) of the first cooling plate (1).
10. A method for manufacturing at least one cooling plate according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that each forming corrugation hollow (9') of the first cavity (9) is configured to form during the pressure injection forming step of a fluid a plurality of first inter-cell protrusions (29A) of the inner wall (11) configured to penetrate the free space between two adjacent cells (3) of the row (RI) and each forming corrugation hollow of the second cavity is configured to form during the pressure injection forming step of a fluid a plurality of second inter-cell protrusions (29B) of the outer wall (16) configured to penetrate the free space between two adjacent cells (3) of the neighboring row.
11. Method of manufacturing at least one cooling plate according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the steps are repeated on a second part identical to the first part (4, 5) so as to manufacture the second cooling plate (2).
12. A method for manufacturing a battery cell cooling device (3), characterized in that the first and second cooling plates (1, 2) obtained according to the method of claim 11 are joined together by at least one first joining device (19) at their first ends (21, 22) and a second junction device (20) at their second ends (23, 24), the first junction device (19) having at least one inlet (25) configured for admitting at least one cooling fluid into the first cooling plate (1), and an outlet (26) configured to allow the discharge of at least one cooling fluid out of the second cooling plate (2) and the second junction device (20) having at least one inlet (27) configured for admitting at least one cooling fluid into the second cooling plate (2), and an outlet (28) configured to allow the discharge of at least one cooling fluid out of the first cooling plate (1).