Battery module and method for securing the battery module

The battery module design addresses the challenge of varying cell expansion by adjusting spacing and pressure to maintain consistent mechanical stress, improving performance and stability in high-performance applications.

JP7853322B2Active Publication Date: 2026-04-28BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
Filing Date
2022-03-01
Publication Date
2026-04-28

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing battery modules face challenges in maintaining precise clamping conditions for individual battery cells under varying operating states, particularly in high-performance applications like solid-state batteries, due to changes in spatial expansion and contraction during charging and discharging.

Method used

A battery module design that allows adjustable spacing between pressure plates to accommodate cell expansion and contraction, using elastic elements to maintain consistent pressure on battery cells, and incorporating frames and springs to manage mechanical stress effectively.

Benefits of technology

Ensures reliable and efficient operation of battery modules by maintaining consistent pressure on cells, enhancing performance and stability across different states.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Patent Text Reader

Abstract

In different operating states of the battery module, the clamping conditions of the individual battery cells of the battery module can be precisely adjusted. A battery module for storing electrical energy, comprising: the battery module 110 includes one or more battery cells arranged next to each other along a lateral axis of the battery module 110 between two pressure plates 112, 114, The battery module 110 - the spacing between the two pressure plates 112, 114 is variable within a spacing range to allow for variation in the spatial expansion along the lateral axis of one or more battery cells; and - the two pressure plates 112, 114 provide a pressure force to one or more battery cells within the entire spacing range; has been formed.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for clamping a battery module and a battery module, particularly a solid battery such as a lithium-ion battery having a solid electrolyte, for example.

Background Art

[0002] A vehicle that is at least partially electrically driven includes a battery or a battery module for storing electrical energy for operating an electric drive motor of the vehicle. The battery module typically includes a number of individual battery cells, particularly a number of pouch cells, and the battery cells are arranged side by side with each other in a housing of the battery module. The battery module is repeatedly charged and discharged during operation of the vehicle, and the individual battery cells may have different spatial expansions (spreads) in the discharged or charged state, respectively. For reliable operation of the battery module, certain, particularly constant conditions regarding the clamping of the individual battery cells should be complied with in different operating states of the battery module.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] This specification relates to a technical problem of enabling precise adjustment of the clamping conditions of individual battery cells of a battery module in different operating states of the battery module, particularly for providing a battery module having particularly high performance.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] The problem is solved by each independent claim. Preferred embodiments are described, in particular, in the dependent claims. It should be noted that additional features of claims dependent on independent claims can form an invention independent of the original and all combinations of features of the independent claims, either without the features of the independent claims or only in combination with some of the features of the independent claims, and such invention may be made subject to the independent claims, divisional applications, or subsequent applications. This also applies to technical suggestions described in the specification that can form an invention independent of one of the features of the independent claims.

[0005] In one embodiment, a battery module for storing electrical energy is described. The battery module may have a rated voltage of 60V or more, a rated voltage of 300V or more, or a rated voltage of 800V or more. The battery module may be configured to store electrical energy to operate the drive motor of a motorized vehicle. A motorized vehicle may, in some cases, include multiple battery modules that together form the battery of the motorized vehicle. Individual battery modules may be connected at least partially in series and / or at least partially in parallel with each other. For example, multiple battery modules may be connected in series to provide a vehicle battery with a large total rated voltage.

[0006] The battery module includes one or more battery cells (in particular 10 or more or 50 or more battery cells) arranged between two pressure plates aligned with each other along the lateral axis of the battery module. The battery cells may be pouch cells, and the lateral axis is perpendicular to the faces and / or layers of the pouch cells. The lateral axis of the battery module may coincide with the lateral axis of the vehicle in which the battery module is located.

[0007] The battery module is configured such that the distance between two pressure plates can be varied within a predetermined range to allow for changes in the spatial expansion (particularly expansion and / or contraction) of one or more battery cells along the lateral axis. In particular, the battery module can be configured such that a change in the spatial expansion (expansion or contraction) of one or more battery cells along the lateral axis results in a corresponding change (expansion or contraction) in the distance between the two pressure plates.

[0008] The battery module can be configured such that the first of two pressure plates is movably supported (at one support point of the vehicle), and the second of the two pressure plates is immovably supported (at the other support point of the vehicle). Therefore, it is possible to reliably change the distance between the two pressure plates.

[0009] One or more battery cells may have a minimum overall expansion along the transverse axis when discharged. Conversely, one or more battery cells may have a maximum overall expansion along the transverse axis when charged. Therefore, one or more battery cells can be formed such that they expand (along the transverse axis) during the charging process and / or contract (along the transverse axis) during the discharging process. Expansion can range, for example, from 10% of the overall expansion. The maximum overall expansion of one or more battery cells can exceed the minimum overall expansion of one or more battery cells by 5-15%. Such expansion is particularly possible in electrochemical battery cells with solid electrolytes (so-called All Solid State Batteries; ASSBs), especially in lithium-ion cells with solid electrolytes.

[0010] The range of variation in the distance between the two pressure plates can be limited downwards by the minimum overall expansion and upwards by the maximum overall expansion.

[0011] Furthermore, the battery module can be configured such that a pressing force is applied to one or more battery cells by two pressing plates within the entire spacing range. In particular, the battery module can be configured such that a pressing force is applied to one or more battery cells by two pressing plates that varies by up to 20%, and especially up to 10%, within the entire spacing range. Alternatively, or in addition to the above, the battery module can be configured such that a pressing force is applied to one or more battery cells by two pressing plates so as not to fall below a minimum pressure to one or more battery cells within the entire spacing range, and / or not to exceed a maximum pressure to one or more battery cells. For example, the minimum pressure may be 8 bar or more, and / or the maximum pressure may be 12 bar or less.

[0012] Therefore, a battery module is described that is formed to expand and / or contract along a lateral axis in order to allow corresponding expansion and / or contraction of one or more battery cells of the battery module, and in order to always bring a predetermined (and possibly essentially constant) pressure to one or more battery cells. Thus, high performance of the battery module can be reliably achieved.

[0013] The battery module may feature a frame that is movably supported along a lateral axis between two battery cells that are directly positioned side by side. The battery cells may be guided by their individual frames during expansion or contraction to allow for the smoothest possible movement of the battery cells.

[0014] The battery module may include at least one pressing element, which is formed to press and / or pull a first (movably supported) pressing plate toward a second (immovably supported) pressing plate of two pressing plates, so that pressing force is applied to one or two battery cells by the two pressing plates. In this case, the pressing element may include at least one elastic element (e.g., a spring). Thus, it is possible to apply pressing force to one or more battery cells particularly efficiently and reliably.

[0015] The pressing element may include a flat or band-shaped clamping element, particularly a rubber clamping band and / or a serpentine spring, the clamping element being formed to pull the first pressing plate toward the second pressing plate. The flat or band-shaped clamping element can, for example, form an elastic anchor that connects and tightens both pressing plates toward each other. Thus, it is possible to apply pressing force to one or more battery cells particularly efficiently and reliably.

[0016] Alternatively, or in addition to the above, the pressing element may include at least one spring, particularly a leaf spring, a compression spring, a torsion spring, and / or a disc spring, the spring being formed to press the first pressing plate toward the second pressing plate. In this case, the spring can be positioned between the support for the battery module and the first pressing plate. Thus, it is possible to deliver a pressing force to one or more battery cells particularly efficiently and reliably.

[0017] The pressing element can be configured such that the force applied to the first pressing plate by the spring changes depending on the distance between the two pressing plates, by means of a spring arrangement inclined with respect to the lateral axis and / or by the use of a lever. For example, the pressing element may comprise a torsion spring having legs that act on a cam coupled to the first pressing plate. Alternatively, or in addition to this, the pressing element may include a pressing spring (compression spring) that acts on the first pressing plate via a knee lever. Thus, to further enhance the performance of the battery module, it is possible to precisely adjust the transition of force from the pressing element to one or more battery cells via the first pressing plate in response to the expansion of one or more battery cells.

[0018] In another embodiment, a motorized vehicle (in particular a passenger car or truck or bus or motorcycle) is described, comprising at least one of the battery modules described herein. The vehicle may include a number of battery modules, for example, that can be arranged in series and / or parallel with each other. Furthermore, the vehicle may include at least one support to which one or more battery modules are fixed.

[0019] The vehicle may include a first battery module and a second battery module. The first and second battery modules may be arranged in the vehicle such that, as the distance between the two pressure plates of each battery module increases in the first and / or second battery modules, the distance between the movable support pressure plate of the first battery module and the movable support pressure plate of the second battery module decreases.

[0020] The first and second battery modules may be equipped with a common pressing element that acts on a movable-supported pressing plate of the first battery module and a movable-supported pressing plate of the second battery module to provide a pressing force to one or more battery cells of the first battery module and a pressing force to one or more battery cells of the second battery module. Thus, it is possible to provide multiple battery modules particularly efficiently in a vehicle.

[0021] In another embodiment, a method for fastening a battery module containing one or more battery cells is described. The method includes arranging one or more battery cells side by side between two pressure plates along the lateral axis of the battery module such that the spacing between the two pressure plates can be varied within a spacing range due to a change in the spatial extent of one or more battery cells along the lateral axis. The method further includes applying a pressing force to one or more battery cells within the entire spacing range. The pressing force can be applied by the two pressure plates (and based on one or more pressing elements). In other words, the method makes it possible to apply a pressing force to one or more battery cells within the entire spacing range. The pressing force can be applied to one or more battery cells via the pressure plates based on one or more pressing elements.

[0022] It should be noted that the methods, apparatus, and systems described herein can be used individually or in combination with other methods, apparatus, and systems described herein. Furthermore, each aspect of the methods, apparatus, and systems described herein can be combined in various ways. In particular, the features of the claims can be combined in various ways.

[0023] The present invention will be described in detail below based on examples. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0024] [Figure 1a] FIG. is a diagram showing an exemplary vehicle having a battery or battery module for storing electrical energy. [Figure 1b] FIG. is a diagram showing an exemplary storage of a battery module in a vehicle. [Figure 2] FIG. is a diagram showing an exemplary storage of a battery module that allows for a spatial expansion of battery cells of the battery module. [Figure 3a] FIG. shows different perspectives of a battery module having an exemplary elastic pressing element. [Figure 3b] FIG. shows different perspectives of a battery module having an exemplary elastic pressing element. [Figure 3c] FIG. shows different perspectives of a battery module having an exemplary elastic pressing element. [Figure 4a] FIG. shows elastic pressing elements formed differently. [Figure 4b] FIG. shows elastic pressing elements formed differently. [Figure 4c] FIG. shows elastic pressing elements formed differently. [Figure 4d] FIG. shows elastic pressing elements formed differently. [Figure 4e] FIG. shows elastic pressing elements formed differently. [Figure 5] FIG. is a flowchart showing an exemplary method for clamping a battery module.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0025] As explained at the outset, this specification relates to the effective and precise adjustment (setting) of conditions for the mechanical stress of battery cells in an electrical battery module, particularly a solid-state battery, under different operating conditions of the battery module. In this regard, Figure 1a shows an exemplary vehicle 100 having a battery module 110 for storing electrical energy and an electrically driven motor 105 operated by the electrical energy from the battery module 110. Here, the battery module 110 is typically mounted in the vehicle 100 within a battery housing (which may enclose multiple battery modules 110).

[0026] Figure 1b illustrates an exemplary housing of a battery module 110 in a vehicle 100. The vehicle 100 may have (at least, or just) two longitudinal supports 101, which are oriented along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle 100. Lateral supports 102 may be positioned between the longitudinal supports 101, which are oriented along the transverse axis of the vehicle 100. The battery module 110 can be supported by one or more longitudinal supports 101 and / or one or more lateral supports 102 of the vehicle 100.

[0027] The battery module 110 includes one or more battery cells 111, in particular pouch cells. Each individual flat battery cell 111 can be arranged in the vehicle 100 such that the surface of the battery cell 111, particularly each individual layer of the battery cell 111, is located within a plane defined by the longitudinal and height axes of the vehicle 100. The individual battery cells 111 are then arranged side-by-side along the lateral axis of the vehicle 100. Therefore, the thickness of the battery cell 111 extends along the lateral axis of the vehicle 100.

[0028] The battery module 110 comprises two pressure plates 112, 114, between which one or more battery cells 111 are positioned. Each of the individual pressure plates 112, 114 is positioned in a plane drawn by the longitudinal axis and height axis of the vehicle 100. The two pressure plates 112, 114 are connected to each other via anchors 113, each anchor extending along the lateral axis of the vehicle 100. The pressure plates 112, 114 can be tightened via the anchors 113 to impart pressure to the one or more battery cells 111 located between them. For example, the anchors 113 can impart pressure of approximately 10 bar to each individual battery cell 111. Pressure on the individual battery cells 111 may be necessary for the reliable operation of the battery cells 111.

[0029] Individual battery cells 111 can be formed to expand during the charging process and / or contract during the discharging process, particularly in the case of lithium-ion cells (lithium-ion batteries) having a solid electrolyte. In this case, the expansion and / or contraction can result in a change in the thickness of the individual battery cells 111, particularly along the lateral axis of the vehicle 100 or battery module 110. For example, the thickness of an individual battery cell 111 may change by about 10% between the discharged and charged states.

[0030] The change in thickness will result in corresponding changes in the pressure or stress applied to or within each battery cell 111 via the pressure plates 112 and 114. In particular, the pressure or stress may be increased during charging of the battery module 110, while it will be reduced during discharge. Therefore, the mechanical stress conditions of each battery cell 111 will change depending on the operating state of the battery module 110, which may lead to a reduction in the performance of the battery module 110.

[0031] Figure 2 shows an exemplary storage configuration of the battery module 110 that allows for changes in the volume of the battery module 110 during its operation. In particular, the storage configuration shown in Figure 2 allows for changes in the thickness of individual battery cells 111 of the battery module 110 (along the lateral axis of the vehicle 100 or the battery module 110). In the example shown in Figure 2, the second pressure plate 114 of the battery module 110 is fixed to the supports 101, 102 via one or more fixed supports. On the other hand, the opposing first pressure plate 112 of the battery module 110 is movably supported in the supports 102, particularly the lateral supports, via one or more floating supports, so that the movably supported first pressure plate 112 can move toward and / or away from the fixedly supported second pressure plate 114 (thus allowing for changes in the thickness of individual battery cells 111).

[0032] The two pressing plates 112 and 114 can be connected to each other via an anchor 113, which has a variable length to allow for variations in the overall thickness (along the transverse axis) of the battery cell 110. In particular, the anchor 113 can be formed to expand in accordance with the expansion of the battery module 110, and in this case to apply an essentially constant pressure to the individual battery cells 111 (ideally independent of the expansion of the anchor 113). For this purpose, each anchor 113 may have (or be formed as) one or more elastic clamping elements.

[0033] Figures 3a and 3c show different views of the battery module 110, in which the two pressing plates 112 and 114 are connected to each other at two opposing edges via a clamping element 313, for example, an elastic (rubber) band. The clamping elements 313 are formed to expand or contract to allow the expansion of the battery cells 111. In the example shown in Figures 3a and 3c, each individual battery cell 111 is arranged on a cell frame 311, which can move away from each other when the individual battery cells 111 expand and move towards each other when the individual battery cells 111 contract. The individual battery cells 111 are electrically connected to each other via cell contacts 315 (for example, for series connection of the individual battery cells 111).

[0034] Figure 3a shows a viewpoint of the battery module 110 from one side (i.e., the height axis corresponds to the vertical axis in Figure 3a, and the lateral axis corresponds to the horizontal axis in Figure 3a). Figure 3b shows a cross-section passing through the battery module 110 indicated by the arrow in Figure 3a. Figure 3c shows a cross-section passing through the battery module 110 where the vertical axis corresponds to the height axis and the horizontal axis corresponds to the longitudinal axis. Figure 3c illustrates how the battery module 110 is movably supported in the lateral support portion 102 of the vehicle 100 to allow expansion and / or contraction of the battery module 110 along the lateral axis.

[0035] Therefore, a flat clamping element 313 made of a suitable material (e.g., rubber) can be used, which allows a 10% change in cell length or cell thickness at a (possibly nearly) constant force (e.g., a pressure of 10 bar against the cell surface). The clamping element 313 can be formed such that the force resulting from a 10% change in cell length or cell thickness differs from the average force by a maximum of 10% or a maximum of 20%. The clamping element 313 can be coupled to the pressure plates 112, 114 located on the battery module 110 in an engaging and / or mating manner. The 10% change in cell length or cell thickness can be made possible by the fixed support configuration / floating support configuration of the battery module 110.

[0036] The cells 111 can be supported by the frames 311, and the individual frames 311 can be stacked to form guides for each other. One cell 111 can be placed between each of two frames 311. Thus, the number of frames 311 per module 110 may be one less than the number of cells 111. The two pressing plates 112, 114 can form the start frame and the end frame, respectively. In some cases, an intermediate layer (e.g., as an adhesive or loose intermediate layer) can be placed between each of the individual cells 111, and the intermediate layer is formed to accept shear stress based on the relative motion of the cells 111 and / or to allow for as even pressure distribution as possible. In this case, shear stress can arise, in particular, from the expansion of the individual cells 111 in all spatial directions.

[0037] The clamp elements shown in Figures 3a to 3c can generally be called pressing elements 313, and these pressing elements are formed to apply pressure to one or more cells 111 via pressing plates 112 and 114.

[0038] Figures 4a to 4e illustrate different configurations of the pressing element 313 that enable the expansion of the battery cell 110 under (at least approximately) constant pressure to the battery module 110 or individual battery cells 111. Figure 4a shows the use of one or more serpentine springs as clamping elements 313, where the serpentine springs have a predetermined preload (e.g., 50% elongation) in the non-expanded state of the battery module 110 in order to deliver force to the battery cell 111.

[0039] Figure 4b shows the use of a leaf spring as a pressing element 313 to impart stress within the battery cell 111. The leaf spring can be positioned, for example, between the (longitudinal) support portion 101 of the battery module 110 and the loosely supported first pressing plate 112 to apply pressure to the loosely supported first pressing plate 112. Thus, the leaf spring is supported on one side with respect to the support portion 101 and on the other side with respect to the first pressing plate 112. In the example shown in Figure 4b, a fixed support portion 314 for supporting the battery module 110, and in particular for supporting the second pressing plate 114, can be positioned at the vehicle center 401. The battery arrangement structure shown in Figure 4b can be arranged mirror-symmetrically in the other half of the vehicle 100. A disc spring can be used instead of, or in addition to, the leaf spring.

[0040] Figure 4c shows the use of a compression spring 402 (as a compression element 313) positioned between the (longitudinal) support 101 and the loosely supported first compression plate 112 to apply pressure to the first compression plate 112. As illustrated in Figure 4c, the compression springs 402 can be positioned in symmetrically at an angle to the lateral axis, so that the force vector changes as the battery module 110 expands, and in some cases, a cumulative force transition is possible (as the compression spring 402 tilts to one side when the battery module 111 expands, the force ratio of the compression spring 402 in the stroke direction for the expansion of the battery module 110 becomes smaller). Therefore, the transition of force applied to the first compression plate 112 can be adjusted by changing the angle of the compression springs 402.

[0041] Figure 4d illustrates the arrangement of the battery modules 110 on both sides with respect to the vehicle center 401. In the battery modules 110 shown in Figure 4d, the expansion of the battery modules 110 is directed toward the vehicle center 401. Therefore, the loosely supported first pressure plates 112 of both battery modules 110 are oriented toward the vehicle center 401. A (common) pressure spring 402 is positioned between the two battery modules 110, and this pressure spring is configured to apply force to the loosely supported first pressure plates 112 of each battery module 110 via a knee lever 403. In particular, to provide a cumulative force transition as the magnitude of expansion increases, the force vector in the stroke direction of the expansion of the battery modules 110 can be changed via the knee lever 403 depending on the magnitude of expansion.

[0042] Figure 4e shows an example in which a torsion spring 405 (as a pressing element 313) is used to enable the expansion of the battery module 110 and to apply force to the loosely supported first pressing plate 112 during this expansion. Figure 4e exemplifies the position of the first pressing plate 112 (shown by a dashed line) when the battery module 110 is expanded. The legs of the torsion spring 405 are supported by a cam 406 of the pressing plate 112, which is fixed to the pressing plate. By changing the lever length of one or more torsion springs 405 during the expansion of the battery module 110, it is possible to produce a cumulative force transition as the magnitude of the expansion of the battery module 110 increases.

[0043] Figure 5 shows a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for securing a battery module 110, which includes one or more (e.g., 10 or more or 50 or more) battery cells 111.

[0044] Method 500 includes arranging one or more battery cells 111 side by side between two pressure plates 112, 114 along the lateral axis of a battery module 110 such that the spacing between the two pressure plates 112, 114 can be varied within a spacing range by changes in the spatial expansion of one or more battery cells 111 along the lateral axis. The expansion of one or more battery cells 111 can be increased by the expansion of one or more battery cells (during the charging process) and / or reduced by the contraction of one or more battery cells 111 (during the discharging process). The spacing range can extend between the minimum expansion (in the discharged state) and the maximum expansion (in the charged state) of one or more battery cells 111.

[0045] Method 500 further includes applying a pressing force to one or more battery cells 111 within the entire spacing range by or through two pressing plates 112, 114. Thus, it is possible to apply (in some cases essentially constant) pressure to one or more battery cells 111 across the entire spacing range.

[0046] The measures described herein allow for the expansion of the battery module 110 due to the adjustable pressure or stress characteristics of individual battery cells 111. Therefore, it is possible to improve the performance of the battery module 110.

[0047] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. In particular, it should be noted that the specification and drawings illustrate only the principles of the proposed methods, apparatus, and systems. Furthermore, the present invention may also encompass the following embodiments: 1. A battery module (110) for storing electrical energy, - The battery module (110) includes one or more battery cells (111) arranged side by side along the lateral axis of the battery module (110) between two pressure plates (112, 114), - The battery module (110) - The spacing between the two pressure plates (112, 114) can be varied within a range of spacing so that spatial expansion along the lateral axis of one or more battery cells (111) can be changed, and - The two pressure plates (112, 114) provide pressure to one or more battery cells (111) within the entire spacing range. A battery module characterized by being formed in a specific way. 2. One or more battery cells (111) have the minimum overall expansion along the lateral axis when discharged. -One or more battery cells (111) have maximum overall extension along the lateral axis when charged, - The largest overall expansion exceeds the smallest overall expansion by a particularly large 5-15%, and - The downward spacing range is limited by the minimum overall expansion, and the upward spacing range is limited by the maximum overall expansion. The battery module (110) described in 1. above, characterized in that it is a battery module (110). 3. The battery module (110) according to 1. or 2. above, characterized in that the battery module (110) is formed such that a pressing force is applied to one or more battery cells (111) by two pressing plates (112, 114) that varies by up to 20%, and especially by up to 10%, within the entire spacing range. 4. The battery module (110) is configured such that the pressing force is applied to one or more battery cells (111) by two pressing plates (112, 114) so ​​that the pressure to one or more battery cells (111) does not fall below the minimum pressure to one or more battery cells (111) within the entire spacing range, and / or does not exceed the maximum pressure to one or more battery cells (111). - The minimum pressure is particularly 8 bar, and / or the maximum pressure is particularly 12 bar. A battery module (110) as described in any one of the above 1. to 3., characterized in that it is a battery module (110). 5. The battery module (110) according to any one of 1 to 4 above, wherein the battery module (110) includes at least one pressing element (313), the pressing element being formed to press and / or pull the first pressing plate (112) of the two pressing plates (112, 114) toward the second pressing plate (114) of the two pressing plates (112, 114) such that pressing force is applied to one or more battery cells (111) by the two pressing plates (112, 114). 6. The battery module (110) according to 5. above, wherein the pressing element (313) includes a flat or band-shaped clamping element, particularly a rubber clamping band and / or a meandering spring, and the clamping element is formed to pull the first pressing plate (112) toward the second pressing plate (114). 7. The battery module (110) according to 5. or 6. above, wherein the pressing element (313) includes at least one spring, in particular a leaf spring, a compression spring, a torsion spring and / or a disc spring, and the spring is formed to press the first pressing plate (112) toward the second pressing plate (114). 8. The battery module (110) according to 7. above, characterized in that the pressing element (313) is formed such that the force applied to the first pressing plate (112) by the spring changes depending on the distance between the two pressing plates (112, 114), particularly by the arrangement of the spring which is inclined with respect to the lateral axis and / or by the use of the lever (403). 9. The battery module (110) according to 7. or 8. above, characterized in that the pressing element (313) comprises a torsion spring having legs that act on a cam (406) coupled to a first pressing plate (112). 10. A battery module (110) according to any one of 7. to 9. above, characterized in that the pressing element (313) includes a pressing spring that acts on a first pressing plate (112) via a knee lever (403). 11. A battery module (110) according to any one of 1. to 10. above, characterized in that the battery module (110) is formed such that the first pressing plate (112) of the two pressing plates (112, 114) is movably supported, and the second pressing plate (114) of the two pressing plates (112, 114) is immovably supported. 12. The battery module (110) according to any one of 1 to 11 above, characterized in that the battery module (110) comprises one frame (311) movably supported along a lateral axis between two battery cells directly arranged side by side. 13. - At least one support (101, 102) and -At least one battery module (110) as described in any one of 1. to 12. above, supported by the support portion (101, 102) and Vehicles including (100). 14. The vehicle (100) includes a first battery module (110) and a second battery module (110), - The first battery module (110) and the second battery module (110) are arranged in the vehicle (100) such that when the distance between the two pressure plates (112, 114) of each battery module (110) increases in the first battery module (110) and / or the second battery module (110), the distance between the movable support pressure plate (112) of the first battery module (110) and the movable support pressure plate (112) of the second battery module (110) is reduced. The vehicle (100) described in 13. above, characterized by the above. 15. The vehicle (100) according to 14. above, wherein the first battery module (110) and the second battery module (110) are equipped with a common pressing element (313) which acts on a movable supported pressing plate (112) of the first battery module (110) and a movable supported pressing plate (112) of the second battery module (110) to produce a pressing force on one or more battery cells (111) of the first battery module (110) and a pressing force on one or more battery cells (111) of the second battery module (110). 16. A method (500) for fastening a battery module (110), wherein the battery module (110) includes one or more battery cells (111), and the method (500) - Arrange one or more battery cells (111) along the lateral axis of the battery module (110) between the two pressure plates (112, 114) so ​​that the spacing between the two pressure plates (112, 114) can be changed within a range of spacing due to changes in the spatial expansion of one or more battery cells (111) along the lateral axis (501), and - Two pressure plates (112, 114) apply pressure to one or more battery cells (111) within the entire spacing range (502) A method that includes this.

Claims

1. A battery module (110) for storing electrical energy, - The battery module (110) includes one or more battery cells (111) arranged side by side along the lateral axis of the battery module (110) between two pressure plates (112, 114), - The battery module (110) - The spacing between the two pressure plates (112, 114) can be varied within a range of spacing so that spatial expansion along the lateral axis of one or more battery cells (111) can be changed, and - The two pressure plates (112, 114) provide a pressing force to one or more battery cells (111) within the entire spacing range. It is formed, The battery module (110) includes at least one pressing element (313), The pressing element (313) includes at least one spring, in particular a leaf spring, a compression spring, a torsion spring and / or a disc spring, the spring being formed to press the first pressing plate (112) toward the second pressing plate (114), A battery module characterized in that the pressing element (313) is formed such that the force applied to the first pressing plate (112) by the spring changes depending on the distance between the two pressing plates (112, 114) by the arrangement of springs inclined with respect to the lateral axis.

2. - One or more battery cells (111) have the minimum overall expansion along the lateral axis when discharged, - One or more battery cells (111) have maximum overall extension along the lateral axis when charged, - The largest overall expansion exceeds the smallest overall expansion by a particularly large margin of 5-15%, and - The downward spacing range is limited by the minimum overall expansion, and the upward spacing range is limited by the maximum overall expansion. The BT module (110) according to feature 1.

3. The battery module (110) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the battery module (110) is formed such that a pressing force that varies by up to 20% within the entire spacing range is applied to one or more battery cells (111) by two pressing plates (112, 114).

4. - The battery module (110) is configured such that the pressing force applied to one or more battery cells (111) by two pressing plates (112, 114) does not fall below the minimum pressure applied to one or more battery cells (111) within the entire spacing range, and / or does not exceed the maximum pressure applied to one or more battery cells (111). - The minimum pressure is particularly 8 bar, and / or the maximum pressure is particularly 12 bar. A battery module (110) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The battery module (110) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the pressing element (313) is formed to press and / or pull the first pressing plate (112) of the two pressing plates (112, 114) toward the second pressing plate (114) of the two pressing plates (112, 114) so ​​that pressing force is applied to one or more battery cells (111) by the two pressing plates (112, 114).

6. The battery module (110) according to claim 5, wherein the pressing element (313) includes a flat or band-shaped clamping element, particularly a rubber clamping band and / or a meandering spring, and the clamping element is formed to pull the first pressing plate (112) toward the second pressing plate (114).

7. The battery module (110) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the pressing element (313) comprises a torsion spring having legs that act on a cam (406) coupled to a first pressing plate (112).

8. The battery module (110) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the pressing element (313) includes a pressing spring that acts on the first pressing plate (112) via a knee lever (403).

9. The battery module (110) is characterized in that the battery module (110) is formed such that the first pressing plate (112) of the two pressing plates (112, 114) is movably supported, and the second pressing plate (114) of the two pressing plates (112, 114) is immovably supported, as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The battery module (110) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the battery module (110) comprises a frame (311) that is movably supported along a lateral axis between two battery cells that are directly arranged side by side.

11. - At least one support part (101, 102) and - Supported by support portions (101, 102), at least one battery module (110) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and Vehicles including (100).

12. - The vehicle (100) includes a first battery module (110) and a second battery module (110), - The first battery module (110) and the second battery module (110) are arranged in the vehicle (100) such that when the distance between the two pressure plates (112, 114) of each battery module (110) increases in the first battery module (110) and / or the second battery module (110), the distance between the movable support pressure plate (112) of the first battery module (110) and the movable support pressure plate (112) of the second battery module (110) decreases. The vehicle (100) according to feature 11.

13. The vehicle (100) according to 12, wherein the first battery module (110) and the second battery module (110) are equipped with a common pressing element (313) that acts on a movable supported pressing plate (112) of the first battery module (110) and a movable supported pressing plate (112) of the second battery module (110) to provide a pressing force to one or more battery cells (111) of the first battery module (110) and a pressing force to one or more battery cells (111) of the second battery module (110).

14. A method (500) for fastening a battery module (110) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the battery module (110) includes one or more battery cells (111), and the method (500) - Arranging one or more battery cells (111) along the lateral axis of the battery module (110) between the two pressure plates (112, 114) side by side along the lateral axis (501), such that the spacing between the two pressure plates (112, 114) can be changed within a range of spacing due to changes in the spatial expansion of one or more battery cells (111) along the lateral axis, and - The two pressing plates (112, 114) apply a pressing force to one or more battery cells (111) within the entire spacing range (502). A method that includes this.

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