Battery tray

Abstract

To provide a battery tray for cooling a battery, the battery tray being applicable to various different battery sizes or making it possible to manufacture trays of various different sizes without additional investment costs.SOLUTION: A battery tray 1 for a motor vehicle, suitably for an electric drive vehicle, is for at least one battery module having a plurality of battery cell modules. The battery tray 1 includes a front module 2, a rear module 3, and at least one intermediate module 4. Each module includes one bottom surface part 5 and at least one wall part 6. On the bottom surface part 5 or in the bottom surface part, a passage for cooling media is disposed. The modules are configured as cast members and are joined to one another to be connected as the closed battery tray 1 for shutting pressure and shutting media.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery tray for at least one battery module having a plurality of battery cell modules for an automotive vehicle, preferably an electric drive vehicle, the battery tray comprising a front module, a rear module and at least one intermediate module, the modules each having a bottom portion and at least one wall portion, in which or in which passages for a cooling medium are arranged.

[0002] Motor vehicles that are exclusively or at least additionally equipped with an electric drive must be equipped with a correspondingly large battery capable of storing energy for the electric drive. The battery itself is accommodated in a battery tray, which on the one hand protects the battery against the effects of external weather and on the other hand prevents substances contained in the battery from escaping into the environment. The size of the battery tray is adapted to the number of battery cells to be accommodated and the installation space available in the vehicle.

[0003] Battery trays are known from the prior art, which are made from metal sheets and profiles. They are characterized by a tray-like housing in which a number of battery cells are arranged. In order to ensure that the battery tray has an appropriate rigidity, a surrounding profile is often arranged on the outside, which at the same time serves as a wall surrounding the tray. High demands are made on the sealing and manufacturing tolerances. It is further known that operating the battery cells at high temperatures accelerates their aging and thus shortens their service life. To counter this adverse effect, it is known to provide the trays with active cooling in the form of flow-through cooling channels.

[0004] DE 10 2017 005 329 A1 discloses a method for producing battery trays made of metal sheets that can be individually adapted to the required battery size. A disadvantage here is that no active cooling is provided in the trays.

[0005] DE 10 2015 217 810 A1 discloses a housing for batteries, in which a cast part is provided with an open passageway which is covered by an additional plate. The disadvantage here is that the battery tray cannot be individually enlarged or adapted to the size of the battery, since the shape of the passageway extends in a closed manner and is not expandable.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to propose a battery tray in which cooling of the batteries takes place and which can be adapted to different battery sizes or larger and smaller battery trays can be produced without additional investment costs.

[0007] This object is achieved according to the invention in that the modules are constructed as cast parts and are joined together to form a pressure-tight and medium-tight closed battery tray.

[0008] A battery tray according to the invention for at least one battery module having a plurality of battery cells for an automotive vehicle, preferably an electric drive vehicle, includes a front module, a rear module and at least one middle module, each of which has a bottom portion and at least one wall portion.

[0009] Both the front and rear modules preferably have a wall extending around the bottom portion, except for the end faces configured as connection areas. In another alternative embodiment of the battery tray, the front module may correspond to the rear module, or vice versa. The intermediate module has a wall portion on each of the two outer faces facing each other, and the two opposite end faces are provided with connection areas that allow the modules to be connected to each other.

[0010] In or on the bottom part, respectively, channels for the cooling medium are arranged, which flow through the battery tray or module according to the invention in order to cool the batteries. The modules are constructed as cast parts and, by joining together, form a medium-tight and pressure-tight battery tray. The battery tray according to the invention is a closed tray, which is formed from a number of modules, so that the size of the tray can be adapted accordingly to the size of the batteries, for example by supplementing the battery tray with further intermediate modules, since these intermediate modules are compatible with one another due to the uniform connection areas of the modules. By joining the individual modules together, the channels of the individual modules are connected to one another in a medium-tight and pressure-tight manner. The battery trays or modules are also connected to one another in a medium-tight and pressure-tight manner in the connection areas, so that no fluid can penetrate into or out of the battery tray.

[0011] Preferably, the modules are each constructed as an integral or single part, i.e. the front module, the rear module and also the intermediate module are each constructed as an integral cast part having a bottom part and at least one wall part, in which or in which passages for the cooling medium are arranged.

[0012] It has proven to be advantageous if the modules are produced as pressure-cast components, as this production method entails a high component precision, which ensures that the modules are interchangeable in the connection areas.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the passages for the cooling medium are arranged on the underside of the bottom part, said passages being respectively arranged in or integrated into the modules or being incorporated together in a one-piece casting.

[0014] It is preferred that the passages have a closed cross section, and these passages are preferably formed by the cast material or the cavities through which the cooling medium flows are directly surrounded by the cast material.

[0015] At least one of the modules to be connected to one another advantageously has a connection area on at least one end face, via which the modules can be connected to one another, the connection area thus being a mutually compatible interface of the modules.

[0016] It is advantageous if the connection region has a step, an offset or a recess extending along the connection region, so that the modules to be connected to one another overlap in the connection region.

[0017] It has turned out to be a preferred embodiment that the modules to be connected to one another are joined in the overlapping connection areas by welding, riveting, screwing and / or gluing. This type of joining provides the required medium-tight and pressure-tightness. Naturally, other joining techniques are also conceivable, provided that a medium-tight and pressure-tight connection is ensured.

[0018] Advantageously, the wall portions have ribs which reinforce the walls and increase the strength of the battery tray.

[0019] Preferably, the battery trays each have a connecting passage configured as a separate element. The connecting passages connecting the passages of the modules to each other are not integrated into the modules but configured as separate elements and arranged on the battery tray. Preferably, the connecting passages are each arranged at the ends of the passages to connect the passages to each other. The passages can be connected to each other in series or in parallel by means of the connecting passages.

[0020] Preferably, the passages for the cooling medium run in parallel and are connected to one another at their two ends by means of a connecting passage in each case.

[0021] It has proven advantageous if the connecting passage is constructed from a plastic or metal plate, in which case the connecting passage can be attached to the module.

[0022] The invention is additionally characterized in that the module according to the invention is manufactured from an aluminum or magnesium alloy, which ensures high stiffness and strength with the lowest possible weight, as well as good thermal conductivity for efficient cooling of the battery.

[0023] All options of the embodiments are freely combinable with each other.

[0024] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, however, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of a battery tray according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view from below of a battery tray according to the present invention, with passages connected in series. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view from below of a battery tray according to the present invention, with passages connected in parallel. [Figure 4]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connection area of ​​two modules.

[0026] In the diagram depicted in FIG. 1, a battery tray 1 according to the invention for a motor vehicle, preferably for an electric drive vehicle, is shown. The battery tray 1 according to the invention is used to accommodate a battery module (not shown) with a number of battery cell modules. The battery tray 1 according to the invention comprises a front module 2, a rear module 3 and at least one intermediate module 4. The modules 2, 3, 4 each have a bottom part 5 and at least one wall part 6. The modules 2, 3, 4 are each constructed as a one-piece cast part, preferably by pressure casting. In or on the bottom parts 5 of the modules 2, 3, 4, passages 7 for a cooling medium for cooling the battery modules are arranged. Furthermore, the modules 2, 3, 4 preferably have a battery cell module support part 12 for fixing the battery cells to the battery tray 1. The modules 2, 3, 4 are joined to one another in connection areas 8. Thanks to the mutually compatible connection areas 8, the battery tray 1 can be adjusted corresponding to the battery modules to be incorporated. That is, if necessary, another intermediate module 4 can be inserted in order to enlarge the battery tray 1 accordingly. The embodiment of the battery tray 1 depicted in figures 1-3 has two intermediate modules 4, but it is also possible to insert only one intermediate module 4 or even further intermediate modules 4. The modules 2, 3, 4 have wall portions 6, where the front module 2 and the rear module 3 have surrounding wall portions 6 except for the connection area 8, and the intermediate module 4 has wall portions 6 facing each other. Ribs 9 of the wall portions 6, which ensure the rigidity and strength of the tray 1, are also clearly visible.

[0027] In FIG. 2 one can clearly see several passages 7 for the cooling medium, which are arranged on the underside of the bottom part 5 of the modules 2, 3, 4. The passages 7 are integrated into the modules 2, 3, 4 or into a one-piece cast part. The passages 7 have a closed cross section, so that a cavity 14 is formed which is surrounded by the cast material. The passages 7 run in parallel and are connected in a medium-tight and pressure-tight manner to the passages 7 of the joined modules 2, 3, 4 via the connection areas 8. At the ends 10 of the passages 7, which are arranged in the rear and front modules respectively, connecting passages 11 are arranged to connect the passages 7 to one another in parallel or in series. The connecting passages 11 are constructed as separate parts and are attached to the joined modules 2, 3, or to the front and rear modules 2 and 3, or to the ends 10 of the passages 7, and are likewise medium-tight and pressure-tight. 2 shows the connection of the passages 7 with the connecting passages 11, which in the depicted embodiment are configured as separate bends and arranged in the modules 2, 3. Of course, in order to reduce the installation costs, it is also possible to configure the separate bends as one piece, in which case the flow passages of the bends are not connected to one another to form a series through-flow. FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the connecting passage 11, in which the passages 7 are connected to the connecting passage 11 in parallel.

[0028] In Fig. 4 a cross-section of the connection area 8 between two modules 2, 3, 4 is shown. It can be clearly seen that an offset 13 is arranged on the modules 2, 3, 4, which extends over the length of at least one end face of the modules. This achieves an overlap of the two modules in the connection area. The modules 2, 3, 4 are preferably further joined along the connection area 8 by, for example, welding, riveting, screwing, gluing and / or another joining means which allows a medium-tight and pressure-tight connection. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] 1 Battery Tray 2 Front Module 3 Rear Module 4 Intermediate Module 5 Bottom part 6 Wall section 7 Passage 8 Connection Area 9. Ribs 10 End of aisle 11 Connecting passage 12 Battery cell module support part 13 Offset section 14 Hollow room passage

Claims

1. 1. A battery tray (1) for at least one battery module having a plurality of battery cell modules for a motor vehicle, the battery tray (1) comprising a front module (2), a rear module (3) and at least one intermediate module (4), each of the modules (2, 3, 4) having a bottom part (5) and at least one wall part (6), in which a passage (7) for a cooling medium is arranged in or in the bottom part (5), the modules (2, 3, 4) each being constructed as an integral or single piece and constructed as a pressure-cast part, the modules (2, 3, 4) being joined together such that a periphery of the bottom part (5) of the modules (2, 3, 4) is surrounded by the wall parts (6) of the modules (2, 3, 4) to form a pressure-tight and medium-tight closed battery tray (1).

2. 2. The battery tray (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the passages (7) for the cooling medium are arranged on the underside of the bottom part (5).

3. 3. The battery tray (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the passage (7) has a closed cross section.

4. 4. The battery tray (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the modules (2, 3, 4) to be connected to one another has a connection area (8) on at least one end face, by means of which the modules (2, 3, 4) are connected to one another.

5. 5. The battery tray (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the connection area (8) has an offset portion (13) and the modules (2, 3, 4) to be connected to one another overlap in the connection area (8).

6. 6. Battery tray (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the modules (2, 3, 4) which are connected to one another are joined by welding, riveting, screwing and / or gluing.

7. 7. Battery tray (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wall portion (6) has ribs (9).

8. 8. The battery tray (1) according to claim 1, wherein the passages (7) for the cooling medium extend in parallel and are connected to one another at the two ends (10) of each of the passages (7) by connecting passages (11).

9. 9. The battery tray (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the passages (7) are connected to one another in parallel or in series by the connecting passages (11).

10. 10. The battery tray (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the connecting passages (11) are each configured as separate parts.

11. 11. The battery tray (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the connecting passage (11) is made of plastic or sheet metal.

12. 12. Battery tray (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the modules (2, 3, 4) are made from an aluminum or magnesium alloy.

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