BATTERY HOUSING AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A BATTERY HOUSING

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery housing (1) for an electrical battery, comprising a basic body (2) which extends in a direction of extent (E) and at least partially delimits a housing interior space (3) on the inside. The battery housing (1) moreover comprises at least one stiffening rib (4), which is shaped integrally on the inside or the outside of the basic body (2) and protrudes from the basic body (2). The stiffening rib (4) of the battery housing (1) runs on the basic body (2) in a rib direction (R) oriented at an angle to the direction of extent (E). In this respect, a body material of the basic body (2) comprises first reinforcing fibres (5), which run substantially in the direction of extent (E) and a rib material of the stiffening rib (4) comprises second reinforcing fibres (6), which run substantially in the rib direction (R).

Claims

1. Battery housing (1) for an electrical battery, in particular for a motor vehicle, having a basic body (2) which extends in a direction of extent (E), in particular a longitudinal direction (L), and at least partially delimits a housing interior space (3) on the inside, having at least one stiffening rib (4), which is integrally shaped on the inside or the outside of the basic body (2), protrudes from the basic body (2) and extends on the basic body (2) in a rib direction (R) oriented at an angle to the direction of extent (E), wherein a body material of the basic body (2) comprises first reinforcing fibres (5), which run substantially in the direction of extent (E), wherein a rib material of the stiffening rib (4) comprises second reinforcing fibres (6), which run substantially in the rib direction (R).

2. Battery housing (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rib direction (R) runs perpendicular to the direction of extent (E).

3. Battery housing (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the battery housing (1) comprises a plurality of stiffening ribs (4), which are integrally shaped on the basic body (2) in a manner respectively spaced apart from one another.

4. Battery housing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the body material comprises a first plastic matrix, in which the first fibres (5) are embedded; and/or in that the rib material comprises a second plastic matrix, in which the second fibres (6) are embedded, wherein the first and the second plastic matrix comprise a respective plastic, preferably the same plastic.

5. Battery housing (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the first and/or the second plastic matrix comprises a thermoplastic or consists of a thermoplastic.

6. Battery housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first fibres (5) comprise glass fibres or carbon fibres or consist of glass fibres or carbon fibres; and/or in that the second fibres (6) comprise glass fibres or carbon fibres or consist of glass fibres or carbon fibres.

7. Battery housing (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first fibres (5) respectively have a fibre length of 0.05 mm to 100 mm, preferably of 1 mm to 10 mm, most preferably of 10 mm to 100 mm, measured in the direction of extent (E); and/or in that the second fibres (6) respectively have a fibre length of 0.1 mm to 0.9 mm, measured in the rib direction (R).

8. Battery housing (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first fibres (5) have a diameter of 9 μm to 15 μm, measured perpendicular to the direction of extent (E); and/or in that the second fibres (6) have a diameter of 9 μm to 15 μm, measured perpendicular to the rib direction (R).

9. Battery housing (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the basic body (2) completely surrounds the housing interior space (3) in a section (9) perpendicular to the direction of extent (E), wherein the stiffening rib (4) is shaped preferably around the complete periphery of the basic body (2) in the section (9) perpendicular to the direction of extent (E).

10. Battery housing (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the basic body (2) has a profile (7), in particular a rectangular hollow profile (8), which is extruded in the direction of extent (E).

11. Method for producing a battery housing (1), in particular according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following measures: a) extruding a body raw material comprising first fibres (5) in a direction of extent (E), in particular a longitudinal direction (L), with the result that a basic body (2) of the battery housing (1) that extends in the direction of extent (E) or longitudinal direction (L) is created, which basic body at least partially delimits a housing interior space (3) of the battery housing (1) on the inside, b) moulding a rib raw material comprising second fibres (6) onto the basic body (2), with the result that at least one stiffening rib (4) running in a rib direction (R) which is oriented at an angle to the direction of extent (E) is integrally shaped on the inside or the outside of the basic body (2).

12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that, in measure a), the first fibres (5) are aligned substantially in the direction of extent (E) when the body raw material is being extruded, with the result that the first fibres (5) in a body material of the basic body (2) that comprises the first fibres (5) are arranged running in the direction of extent (E), in measure b), the second fibres (6) are aligned substantially in the rib direction (R) when the rib raw material is being moulded on, with the result that the second fibres (6) in a rib material of the stiffening rib (4) that comprises the second fibres (6) are arranged running substantially in the rib direction (R).

13. Method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the stiffening ribs (4) are moulded on according to measure b) in an injection mould (11), in which the basic body (2) that was created in measure a) is placed at a time before carrying out measure b).

14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the basic body (2) that was created in measure a) has a rectangular hollow profile (8) which is extruded in the direction of extent (E), a parting plane (T) of the injection mould (11), in which the stiffening rib (4) is moulded on according to measure b), is determined by a diagonal (12) of the rectangular hollow profile (8).

15. Method according to one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that, in measure b), a plurality of stiffening ribs (4) are shaped on the inside and/or the outside of the basic body (2), in particular in a manner spaced apart from one another in the direction of extent (E).

Description

[0026] Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and will be explained in greater detail in the following description, with identical reference signs relating to identical or similar or functionally identical components.

[0027] In the figures, in each case schematically:

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of an example of a battery housing according to the invention for an electrical battery,

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a detail of the example of FIG. 1,

[0030] FIG. 3a shows, by way of example, a basic body, in a section perpendicular to a direction of extent, of a battery housing according to the invention in the manner of a snapshot when a method according to the invention for producing the battery housing is being carried out,

[0031] FIG. 3b shows, in a section perpendicular to the direction of extent, an example of a battery housing according to the invention in the manner of a snapshot when the method according to the invention for producing the battery housing is being carried out.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of an example of a battery housing 1 according to the invention for an electrical battery. Such an electrical battery may be part of a motor vehicle and serve in this respect for providing electrical energy or electrical power for an electric drive train of the motor vehicle. The battery housing 1 comprises a housing top part 1a and a housing bottom part 1b. Each of the two housing parts 1a, 1b of the battery housing 1 has a basic body 2 which extends in a direction of extent E. In the example shown, the direction of extent E corresponds to a longitudinal direction L, in which the basic bodies 2 of the battery housing 1 respectively extend. The basic bodies 2 at least partially delimit a housing interior space 3 on the inside. In the example shown, the two housing parts 1a, 1b thus together form a multi-part enclosure 13, which in addition to the housing parts 1a, 1b may comprise one or two caps—not shown in FIG. 1—which may be fastened to two end faces 14 of the battery housing 1 that are opposite one another in the direction of extent E, resulting in a fluid-tight sealing of the housing interior space 3 with respect to the external surroundings. The cap(s) may complete the two housing parts 1a, 1b to form the battery housing 1. The battery housing 1 comprises stiffening ribs 4, which are integrally shaped on the inside or the outside of the basic body 2 of the respective battery housing 1. These stiffening ribs 4, which are integrally shaped on the respective basic body 2, protrude from the basic body 2.

[0033] It can be seen in FIG. 1 that, in the case of the housing top part 1a, the respective stiffening ribs 4 are shaped integrally on the outside, that is to say facing away from the housing interior space 3, of the basic body 2. By contrast, in the case of the housing bottom part 1b the stiffening ribs 4 are shaped integrally on the inside, that is to say facing the housing interior space 3, of the basic body 2. The stiffening ribs 4 protruding from the basic body 2 run in a rib direction R on the basic body 2, the rib direction R being aligned at an angle to the direction of extent E of the basic body 2.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a detail on an enlarged scale of the example according to the invention of a housing top part 1a of the battery housing 1 of FIG. 1. In this respect, FIG. 2 highly schematically illustrates that a body material of the basic body 2 comprises first reinforcing fibres 5. These first reinforcing fibres 5 of the body material of the basic body 2 run substantially in the direction of extent E of the basic body 2. A rib material of the stiffening rib 4 comprises second reinforcing fibres 6. The second reinforcing fibres 6 of the rib material of the stiffening rib 4 run substantially in the rib direction R. Since the direction of extent E and the rib direction R are oriented at an angle to one another, the first reinforcing fibres 5 of the body material of the basic body 2 and the second reinforcing fibres 6 of the rib material of the reinforcing rib 4 likewise run at an angle to one another. In the example shown, the rib direction R runs perpendicular to the direction of extent E. This means that the first reinforcing fibres 5 of the body material of the basic body 2 run substantially perpendicular to the second reinforcing fibres 6 of the rib material of the stiffening rib 4.

[0035] It can also be derived from the example of FIGS. 1 and 2 that the battery housing 1 comprises not only a single stiffening rib, but a plurality of stiffening ribs 4. These stiffening ribs 4 have a substantially similar form. The stiffening ribs 4 of the battery housing 1 are integrally shaped on the inside and/or outside of the basic body 2 in a manner spaced apart from one another. It goes without saying that stiffening ribs 4 can be integrally shaped both on the inside and on the outside of the basic body 2. The body material of the basic body 2 comprises a plastic matrix in which the first fibres 5 are embedded. The rib material of the stiffening rib 4 comprises a second plastic matrix in which the second fibres 6 are embedded. The first plastic matrix of the body material and the second plastic matrix of the rib material may be formed from the same plastic, a similar plastic or a different plastic. The first plastic matrix comprises a thermoplastic or consists of a thermoplastic. As an alternative or in addition, the second plastic matrix comprises a thermoplastic or consists of a thermoplastic. The first fibres 5 of the body material of the basic body 2 comprise glass fibres or carbon fibres or consist of glass fibres or carbon fibres. As an alternative or in addition, the second fibres 6 of the rib material of the stiffening rib 4 comprise glass fibres or carbon fibres or consist of glass fibres or carbon fibres.

[0036] The first fibres 5 have a fibre length of 0.05 mm to 10 mm, for example of 10 mm to 100 mm, measured in the direction of extent E. The second fibres 6 have a fibre length of 0.1 mm to 0.9 mm, measured in the rib direction R. The first fibres 5 have a diameter of 9 μm to 15 μm, measured perpendicular to the direction of extent E. The second fibres 6 have a diameter of 9 μm to 15 μm, measured perpendicular to the rib direction R.

[0037] FIG. 3b shows, in a section perpendicular to the direction of extent E, a further example according to the invention of the battery housing 1 in the manner of a snapshot when a method according to the invention for producing the battery housing 1 is being carried out. It can be seen here that the basic body 2 of the battery housing 1 completely surrounds the housing interior space 3 in the section 9 perpendicular to the direction of extent E. In this respect, the at least one stiffening rib 4 is shaped around the complete periphery of the basic body 2 in the section 9. The basic body 2 has a profile 7 which is extruded in the direction of extent E. In the example shown, the basic body 2 has a rectangular hollow profile 8 which is extruded in the direction of extent E.

[0038] FIG. 3a shows, in the manner of a snapshot in a section perpendicular to the direction of extent E, a basic body 2 for a battery housing 1 according to the invention when the method according to the invention for producing the battery housing 1 is being carried out. Said method comprises a measure a), in which a body raw material comprising first fibres 5 is extruded in a direction of extent E. In the example shown, the direction of extent E corresponds to a longitudinal direction L along which the body raw material is extruded. This extrusion may take place by means of pultrusion. In this case, the body raw material according to measure a) is extruded in the direction of extent E or longitudinal direction L in such a way that a basic body 2 of the battery housing 1 that extends in the direction of extent E or longitudinal direction L is created. The basic body 2 of the battery housing 1 that was created in measure a) at least partially delimits a housing interior space 3 of the battery housing 1.

[0039] In the snapshot shown in FIG. 3b, when the method for producing the battery housing 1 is being carried out, a further measure b) of the method is also illustrated. According to this measure b) of the method, a rib raw material comprising second fibres 6 is moulded onto the basic body 2. The rib raw material is moulded onto the basic body 2 in measure b) in such a way that at least one stiffening rib 4 which runs in the rib direction R oriented at an angle to the direction of extent E is integrally shaped on the inside or the outside of the basic body 2. In the example shown, the stiffening rib 4 is integrally shaped on the outside of the basic body 2. In this case, the stiffening rib 4 may be connected in a materially bonded and/or form-fitting manner to the basic body 2.

[0040] It can moreover be seen in FIGS. 3a and 3b that, in measure a), the first fibres 5 are aligned substantially in the direction of extent E during the extrusion of the body raw material. Here, in measure a), the first fibres 5 are aligned in the direction of extent E when the body raw material is being extruded in such a way that the first fibres 5 in a body material of the basic body 2 that comprises the first fibres 5—after the extrusion according to measure a)—are arranged running substantially in the direction of extent E. It is moreover shown that, in measure b), the second fibres 6 are aligned substantially in the rib direction R when the rib raw material is being moulded on. Here, in measure b), the second fibres 6 are aligned in the rib direction R when the rib raw material is being moulded on in such a way that the second fibres 6 in a rib material of the stiffening rib 4 that comprises the second fibres 6—after the moulding on according to measure b)—are arranged running substantially in the rib direction R.

[0041] FIG. 3b additionally shows that the stiffening rib 4 is moulded on according to measure b) for example in an injection mould 11, in which the basic body 2 of the battery housing 1 that was created in measure a) is placed at a time before carrying out measure b). The basic body 2 of the battery housing 1 that was created in measure a) has a rectangular hollow profile 8 which is extruded in the direction of extent E. In this respect, a parting plane T of the injection mould 11, in which the stiffening rib 4 is moulded on according to measure b), is determined by a diagonal 12 of the rectangular hollow profile 8. Here, in measure b), a plurality of stiffening ribs 4, which for example are arranged spaced apart from one another in the direction of extent E, may be shaped on the inside and/or outside of the basic body 2.

[0042] In measure b), in addition to the moulding on of the ribs 4, it is also possible for the housing interior space 3 of the battery housing 1 to be closed in a fluid-tight manner in the direction of extent E of one end by moulding on a cover in the region of one of the end faces 14. This means that, after carrying out measure b), the housing interior space 3 remains in fluidic communication with the external surroundings only via a single opening on the end face of the battery housing 1, which opening is opposite the moulded-on cover with respect to the direction of extent. This remaining opening can be closed by means of a cap which can be fastened to the battery housing 1, it being possible for any housing-side fastening geometries, such as a sealing flange, screwing points, or the like, which are required for this purpose to be created likewise in measure b). The cover and cap are not shown in the figures for reasons of clarity.