DE102018213129A1 - Vehicle battery for a motor vehicle and motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Proposed is, inter alia, a vehicle battery (3) for a motor vehicle (1), in particular an electrically operated motor vehicle (1), with a battery housing (10) in which at least one cell pack (4) with at least one battery cell (5) is arranged, wherein the battery housing (10) is formed by a hollow profile strand (11). It is advantageously provided that the battery housing (10) designed as a hollow profile strand (11) has at least one wall section (16a-d) which extends over the entire length of the hollow profile strand (11) and is curved toward the outside of the housing, the curvature (17) of the Wall section (16a-d) is homogeneously formed over the entire length of the hollow profile strand (11).

Description

The invention relates to a vehicle battery for a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1 of the invention. According to claim 9 of the invention, this further relates to a motor vehicle, in particular an electrically operated motor vehicle, with such a vehicle battery.

In the recent past, due to the increasingly scarce supply of fuels for the internal combustion engine drive of motor vehicles, great efforts have been made to provide alternative drive types. The electromotive drive, which is supplied with electrical energy from one or more electrical storage elements, such as accumulators or batteries, is becoming increasingly important. The motor vehicle can be operated exclusively by means of one or more electric motor drives or, as a so-called hybrid vehicle for driving, can have both an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors. Experts are increasingly favoring Li-ion batteries as so-called traction batteries or traction batteries, which in turn advantageously have no memory effect and little self-discharge. When using, in particular, Li-ion batteries, the potential danger from the same should not be underestimated. For example, mechanical damage to the battery housing, for example as a result of a crash event in the motor vehicle, can lead to internal short circuits and, as a result of excessive current, the housing that holds the batteries or batteries can melt and go up in flames. All of these uncertainties require special safety measures in order to safely operate motor vehicles driven by an electric motor and to implement them as series vehicles.

So is from the DE 10 2016 115 647 B3 a battery holder for equipping with at least one battery and for mounting in an electric motor vehicle is known, which has a trough for receiving the battery, which is formed by an outer circumferential frame made of hollow profiles and a bottom. In the assembly position for equipping with at least one battery, the trough has its opening facing upwards, whereas in the installation position in the electric motor vehicle, the tipping opening points downward. The opening can be closed with a lid. A layer with a domed structure and / or a honeycomb structure is arranged on or on the cover, which serves in particular as underride protection. Said layer with the arch structure and / or honeycomb structure can be formed from a metallic material or from a fiber-reinforced plastic.

From the DE 10 2017 202 354 A1 the applicant also knows a battery assembly with a battery housing for receiving at least one cell pack with at least one battery cell, which battery housing is formed by a hollow profile strand. At both ends of the hollow profile strand, at least one housing cover element for closing the hollow profile strand is assigned to the same. The hollow profile strand can be formed by an extruded profile or a pultrusion profile, also referred to as an extruded profile, the extruded profile preferably consisting of a metal and the pultrusion profile preferably consisting of a plastic or a composite material, such as a fiber-reinforced plastic. Such a battery housing advantageously combines features of a carrier component, a system protection space, a crash structure, a temperature control body and a cell frame for absorbing internal and external forces acting on the battery housing.

The object of the invention is in particular with regard to the last-described prior art ( DE 10 2017 202 354 A1 ) while maintaining the advantages of the same to create a further improved vehicle battery with a battery housing, which battery housing preferably withstands external forces acting on the same, resulting, for example, from a contact of the battery housing with the ground (timetable) or from another crash event. In addition, it is an object of the invention to provide a motor vehicle with such a vehicle battery.

Starting from a vehicle battery for a motor vehicle, in particular an electrically operated motor vehicle, with a battery housing, in which at least one cell pack with at least one battery cell is arranged, the battery housing being formed by a hollow profile strand, the object is achieved in that the hollow profile strand formed battery housing has at least one wall section which extends over the entire length of the hollow profile strand and is curved outward from the housing, the curvature of the wall section being homogeneously formed over the entire length of the hollow profile strand.

Due to the entire length of the battery housing designed as a hollow profile strand to the outside of the housing or convexly curved wall section, an increase in the rigidity and strength of the battery housing and accordingly the vehicle battery in general is advantageously recorded with minimal effort, so that arranged inside the battery housing Battery cells enjoy increased protection against external forces acting on the battery housing, which result, for example, from an impact of the vehicle battery on an obstacle.

The subclaims describe preferred developments or refinements of the invention.

According to this, it is preferably provided that at least one arched wall section, when the vehicle battery is installed inside the motor vehicle, points downward to a timetable of the motor vehicle. As a result, the curvature also acts as an underride guard for the motor vehicle, which makes a separate or additional underride guard, as is preferred by the prior art (10 2016 115 647 B3), unnecessary. Possible power surges against the vehicle battery from below, which can occur when the motor vehicle is possibly placed on the timetable, are introduced into at least one side wall of the battery housing designed as a hollow profile strand by means of the curved wall section, similar to a bridge arch. This increases the profile stability considerably and the cell protection is further optimized.

In a further development of the invention, it is further provided that the battery housing designed as a hollow profile strand has at least one wall section which extends over the entire length of the hollow profile strand and is curved toward the outside of the housing and which, when the vehicle battery is installed inside the motor vehicle, in a different direction than according to the vehicle. points below to a timetable of the motor vehicle. If the wall section in question points, for example, to a vehicle side, increased protection of the battery components arranged in the battery housing, in particular battery cells, is recorded in the event of a side crash event.

In order to further increase the rigidity and strength of the battery housing, it is provided that the battery housing designed as a hollow profile strand has at least one intermediate floor formed in one piece with it and running in the longitudinal direction of the hollow profile strand, whereby at least two separate spaces running along the hollow profile strand are formed in the hollow profile strand be, with a space for receiving the at least one cell packet. The other space running along the hollow profile strand opens up the possibility of integrating a cooling device into the battery housing with simple and inexpensive measures, in that said space functions as a flow channel for a cooling fluid. In addition, this room can also be used for routing cables and / or lines, including media lines.

In a further development of the invention it is further provided that the hollow profile strand has at least one web element running along the hollow profile strand and integrally formed therewith. This advantageously further strengthens the battery housing and also opens up the possibility of using profile strands with large profile widths. Such profile strands make it possible to separate receiving spaces of the battery housing for battery cells or cell packs produced therefrom with the advantage that, for example, in the event of a defect in one of the battery cells or a cell pack, there is increased protection of battery cells or cell packs arranged in adjacent receiving rooms.

The battery housing designed as a hollow profile strand preferably has a square or rectangular cross section, which advantageously corresponds to predominantly cuboid battery cells and cell packages formed therefrom with a high volumetric energy density.

More preferably, said hollow profile strand is advantageously formed by an extruded profile or a pultrusion profile, also referred to as an extruded profile. The extruded profile is preferably made of a metal, such as aluminum, whereas the pultrusion profile is preferably made of a plastic or a composite material. As a result, the scope of components and assembly or the system costs are advantageously minimized, since such profile strands are particularly inexpensive to manufacture, maximizing the volumetric energy density, simple replacement of individual battery cells forming the cell pack or an entire cell pack, and high system flexibility, and furthermore also allow Ensure high system security. The arched configuration of the relevant wall sections of the hollow profile strand, which extends over the entire length of the hollow profile strand, can be reproduced particularly simply and inexpensively by an extruded or pultrusion profile.

As the invention also provides, the battery housing designed as a hollow profile strand is assigned at least one housing cover element at each end, as a result of which the receiving spaces for the electrical components of the vehicle battery, in particular battery cells, can be closed in a fluid-tight manner.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle, in particular an electrically operated motor vehicle, with a vehicle battery of the type described above.

• 1 äußerst schematisch ein mit einer erfindungsgemäß ausgebildeten Fahrzeugbatterie ausgestattetes Fahrzeug,
• 2 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines aus mehreren Batteriezellen zusammengesetztes Zellpakets zum Einsatz in besagter Fahrzeugbatterie, deren Batteriezellen untereinander elektrisch verschaltet sind,
• 3 das Zellpaket nach 2, ergänzt um eine die Batteriezellen umgebende Isolation sowie zwei seitlich desselben angeordnete Führungsprofile,
• 4 das Zellpaket nach 3 zum Zeitpunkt der Montage desselben in ein Batteriegehäuse nach dem Stand der Technik,
• 5 eine perspektivische Vorderansicht des mit einem Zellpaket bestückten Batteriegehäuses nach 4, und
• 6 eine perspektivische Einzeldarstellung eines Batteriegehäuses mit einer erfindungswesentlichen Weiterbildung desselben, wobei das Batteriegehäuse zur Aufnahme von beispielgebend zwei Zellpaketen ausgebildet ist.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown schematically in the drawings. However, it is not limited to this, but covers all configurations defined by the claims. For the purposes of the present description, the usual direction of travel of a motor vehicle should be “-x” (“minus x”), the direction opposite to its usual direction of travel with “+ x” (“plus x”), based on the usual direction of travel (-x ) the direction in the horizontal seen transversely to the x-direction to the right with "+ y", starting from the usual direction of travel (-x) the direction in the horizontal seen transversely to the x-direction to the left with "-y", the direction seen vertically transversely to the x direction with "+ z", and the direction vertically transversely to the x direction seen with "-z". This designation of the spatial directions in Cartesian coordinates corresponds to the coordinate system generally used in the motor vehicle industry. In addition, terms such as "front", "rear", "top""bottom" and terms with a similar meaning including the terms "right" and "left" are used in the way they are usually used to indicate the direction of a motor vehicle. Show it:

• 1 extremely schematically a vehicle equipped with a vehicle battery designed according to the invention,
• 2 1 shows a perspective view of a cell package composed of a plurality of battery cells for use in said vehicle battery, the battery cells of which are electrically connected to one another,
• 3 the cell packet after 2 , supplemented by insulation surrounding the battery cells and two guide profiles arranged on the side,
• 4 the cell packet after 3 at the time of assembly in a battery housing according to the prior art,
• 5 a perspective front view of the battery housing equipped with a cell pack after 4 , and
• 6 a perspective individual representation of a battery housing with a further development thereof essential to the invention, the battery housing being designed to accommodate two cell packs as examples.

1 first shows a motor vehicle 1 with an electric motor 2 as the drive motor and a vehicle battery which forms a traction battery, in particular a high-voltage battery 3 ,

According to this exemplary embodiment, it is therefore a purely electrically operated motor vehicle 1 , The vehicle battery 3 is in the underbody area of the motor vehicle 1 arranged. Of course, the invention also includes what is known as a hybrid vehicle, which in addition to one or more electric motors 2 also has an internal combustion engine, or any other vehicle 1 which is a vehicle battery 3 of the type described below or can have (not shown in the drawing).

The vehicle battery 3 has at least one in 2 cell package shown in a single representation 4 on which consists of a plurality of battery cells 5 , here seventy-two battery cells 5 is composed. The battery cells 5 are electrically interconnected and form both a high-voltage and a low-voltage interface 6 . 7 out. In addition, the interconnected battery cells 5 with insulation surrounding it 8th preferably surrounded by a plastic (cf. 3 ).

The battery cells 5 are cuboid-shaped in accordance with this exemplary embodiment and form an elongated, likewise cuboid-shaped cell packet 4 summarized. This results in a high volumetric energy density of the cell packet 4 created. The cell package 4 is according to this embodiment seen in the longitudinal direction of the same on both sides of a guide profile 9 assigned and connected to the same in a positive, non-positive and / or material manner, for example by gluing ( 3 ). The said leadership profiles 9 increase the stability of the cell package formed 4 and facilitate the assembly of the same in a prepared battery case 10 ,

The battery case 10 is due to a hollow profile strand that can be cut to length depending on the currently required energy requirement and the available installation space 11 formed and according to this embodiment has a to the outer contour of the cell package 4 largely complementary inner contour, especially over a rectangular hollow profile cross-section ( 4 and 5 ). The said hollow section strand 11 is a housing cover element on both ends 12 . 13 assigned (cf. 5 ).

According to this exemplary embodiment, the battery housing extends 10 exemplary in the vehicle longitudinal direction (X direction). Of course, the battery case 10 or the hollow section strand 11 any orientation within the vehicle 1 take so that the invention is not limited to said vehicle longitudinal direction (X direction). However, the orientation in the vehicle longitudinal direction (X direction) is preferably selected, as a result of which the cell packet is highly crash-proof 4 receiving battery case 10 is guaranteed in the event of a frontal crash.

The hollow section strand 11 is formed by a simple and inexpensive extruded profile or a pultrusion profile or extruded profile. The former is preferred for the production of metal battery housings 10 such as battery cases 10 made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy application, whereas the latter is preferred for producing a battery housing 10 made of a plastic or a composite material, in particular a fiber-reinforced plastic, is used. Like that 4 and 5 can be seen here is a battery case 10 shown which is a single cell packet 4 of the kind described above. In practice, however, depending on the currently required energy requirement and the available space for the respective application, two or more such cell packs may be required 4 to apply and interconnect. These cell packets 4 can each in a battery case 10 or in a common battery case 10 be arranged.

6 shows a battery case 10 , which is designed, for example, two cell packs arranged axially next to one another in the vehicle transverse direction (Y direction) 4 take. However, the invention is not limited to the number and arrangement of the cell packs described above 4 in a common battery case 10 , but records any possible number and arrangement of the cell packs 4 to each other. So you can have two or more cell packs 4 for example, can also be arranged one above the other as seen in the vehicle vertical direction (Z direction). Any combination of said arrangements of cell packets 4 , namely axially parallel next to and on top of one another and axially one behind the other, is of course also covered by the invention (not shown in the drawing).

The cell packs 4 are in one piece with this through a hollow profile strand according to this embodiment 11 formed battery case 10 trained and in the longitudinal direction of the hollow profile strand 11 extending web elements 14 separated from each other. That is, there are two separate recording rooms 15a and 15b to accommodate one cell packet each 4 created. According to this exemplary embodiment there is a complete separation of said receiving spaces 15a . 15b realized by the web element 14 over the entire length and the entire height of the hollow profile strand 11 extends. The battery case 10 on the one hand experiences further reinforcement. On the other hand, this makes the cell packs easier to use 4 , for example when equipping the battery housing 10 with the same, and in the event of a defect in one of the cell packets 4 or a battery cell 5 a certain protection of neighboring cell packages 4 or battery cells 5 given. Alternatively, web elements can also be used 14 be provided, which are only partially in length and / or in the height of the hollow profile strand 11 extend (not shown in the drawing).

Again 6 can be seen further, this shows as a hollow profile strand 11 trained battery case 10 now in contrast to the prior art according to the outside of the housing or convexly curved wall sections 16a to 16d on. The arched wall sections 16a to 16d extend over the entire length of the hollow profile strand 11 or battery housing 10 , the curvature in question 17 of the wall sections 16a to 16d each over the entire length of the hollow profile strand 11 is homogeneous. In the cross section of the hollow section strand 11 seen, the wall sections curved toward the outside of the housing or convex 16a to 16d accordingly a bridge arch-like course.

According to 6 in the present case, the wall sections are curved 16a to 16d that are inside the motor vehicle 1 installed condition of the vehicle battery 3 towards the vehicle bottom (16a, 16b) to a timetable 18 (see. 1 and 6 ) of the motor vehicle 1 towards and to the side ( 16c . 16d) of the motor vehicle 1 Clues. As for the vehicle down to the timetable 18 pointing wall sections 16a . 16b As far as they are concerned, they each extend below one of the receiving spaces formed 15a . 15b of the battery case 10 , In the area of the web element 14 connect them to each other and to the web element 14 on. On the other hand, the wall sections close 16a . 16b one each as the side wall of the battery housing 10 acting wall section 16c . 16d on.

In the event of a power surge on the underbody area of the motor vehicle 1 arranged vehicle battery 3 or their battery case 10 , resulting, for example, from mounting the motor vehicle 1 on the timetable 18 , said power surge is due to the bridge-like course of the vehicle down to the timetable 18 pointing wall sections 16a . 16b advantageous in the web element 14 and in at least one wall section functioning as a side wall 16c . 16d initiated. This increases the profile stability and cell protection is significantly increased.

As for the curved wall sections facing the vehicle side 16c . 16d As far as this is concerned, according to this exemplary embodiment, they have a particularly advantageous effect in the event of a side crash event. A power surge resulting from this is advantageous in at least one of the vehicle down to the timetable 18 pointing wall sections 16a . 16b and into a wall section facing the vehicle 19 the as a hollow section strand 11 trained battery case 10 initiated.

The said wall section pointing upwards 19 is designed flat according to this embodiment. As an alternative and accordingly also covered by the invention, this can also be based on the vehicle-to-vehicle schedule 18 pointing wall sections 16a . 16b be formed, resulting in an even greater stiffening of the hollow profile strand 11 results. In this case, the upper wall sections formed are arched toward the top of the vehicle (not shown in the drawing).

Again 6 can still be seen, is within the recording rooms formed 15a . 15b one intermediate shelf each 20 arranged. The mezzanine 20 is in one piece with the hollow section strand 11 formed and also runs in the longitudinal direction of the hollow profile strand 11 , According to this embodiment, the respective intermediate floor delimits 20 the bulge 17 of the relevant vehicle down to the timetable 18 pointing wall section 16a . 16b or the bridge-like course of the same, which in the present case advantageously has a narrower length along the hollow profile strand 11 bleeding space 21 is formed. Said room 21 can advantageously serve as a media guide, in particular act as a flow channel for a cooling fluid. The mezzanine 20 Insofar acts as a shelf for the respective cell package 4 and enables heat exchange between the battery cells 5 of the cell packet concerned 4 and the cooling fluid. In addition, this room can also be used for routing cables and / or lines, including media lines.

That with reference to 6 described battery case further developed according to the invention 10 the vehicle battery 3 puts on concrete two axially parallel next to each other in separate recording rooms 15a . 15b the same stored or storable cell packs 4 from. However, the invention is not limited to this specific configuration of the battery housing 10 , but, as already explained above, also detects one with at least one curved wall section 16a to 16d trained battery case 10 in which only one cell packet 4 is arranged or more than two cell packets 4 are arranged, the latter can be arranged axially parallel next to one another and / or one above the other and / or axially one behind the other (not shown in the drawing). Even if there are more than two cell packs arranged one above the other in parallel 4 are preferred intermediate floors 20 for in particular supporting the cell packet in question 4 intended. For upper cell packs 4 of a cell stack can be used to create a flow channel (room 21 ) for a cooling fluid at least two spaced-apart, mutually corresponding intermediate floors 20 be provided along the hollow profile strand 11 extend (not shown in the drawing). Furthermore, even with more than two axially parallel cell packs arranged next to each other 4 they can be separated from one another by means of web element (s) 14.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

motor vehicle

2

electric motor

3

vehicle battery

4

cell package

5

battery cell

6

High-voltage interface

7

Low-voltage interface

8th

isolation

9

guide profile

10

battery case

11

Hollow profile strand

12

Case lid member

13

Case lid member

14

web element

15a, b

housing spaces

16a-d

wall sections

17

bulge

18

driving Planum

19

wall section

20

false floor

21

room

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is only included for better information for the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• DE 102016115647 B3 [0003]
• DE 102017202354 A1 [0004, 0005]

Claims (9)

Vehicle battery (3) for a motor vehicle (1), in particular an electrically operated motor vehicle (1), with a battery housing (10) in which at least one cell pack (4) with at least one battery cell (5) is arranged, the battery housing (10 ) is formed by a hollow profile strand (11), characterized in that the battery housing (10) designed as a hollow profile strand (11) has at least one wall section (16a-d) which extends over the entire length of the hollow profile strand (11) and is curved toward the outside of the housing. The curvature (17) of the wall section (16a-d) is homogeneous over the entire length of the hollow profile strand (11). Vehicle battery (3) after Claim 1 , characterized in that at least one arched wall section (16a, 16b), when the vehicle battery (3) is installed inside the motor vehicle (1), points downward to a timetable (18) of the motor vehicle (1). Vehicle battery (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the battery housing (10) designed as a hollow profile strand (11) has at least one wall section (16c, 16d) which extends over the entire length of the hollow profile strand (11) and is curved toward the outside of the housing. Which, when the vehicle battery (3) is installed inside the motor vehicle (1), points in a direction other than downward to a timetable (18) of the motor vehicle (1). Vehicle battery (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the battery housing (10) designed as a hollow profile strand (11) has at least one intermediate base (20) formed integrally therewith and extending in the longitudinal direction of the hollow profile strand (11). Vehicle battery (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the battery housing (10) designed as a hollow profile strand (11) has at least one web element (14) formed integrally with the same and extending in the longitudinal direction of the hollow profile strand (11). Vehicle battery (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the battery housing (10) designed as a hollow profile strand (11) has a square or rectangular cross section. Vehicle battery () according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hollow profile strand (11) is formed by an extruded profile or a pultrusion profile. Vehicle battery () according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one housing cover element (12, 13) is in each case assigned to the battery housing (10) designed as a hollow profile strand (11). Motor vehicle (1), in particular electrically operated motor vehicle (1), with a vehicle battery (3) according to one of the preceding claims.

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