BATTERY MODULE

Abstract

A battery module has a housing element made of a metallic material and a cover element made of a metallic material, which elements are connected to one another by a plurality of screw connections such that, by forming a common interior configured to receive a plurality of battery cells, an electrical contact is made between the housing element and the cover element. The housing element or the cover element also forms a rib, and a direct mechanical contact is made between the rib of the housing element and the cover element or rib of the cover element and the housing element. A first sealing element is arranged between the housing element and the cover element such that the interior is fluidically sealed against the environment, with the plurality of screw connections and the rib being arranged outside of the first sealing element.

Claims

1. A battery module comprising: a housing element (2) made of a metallic material (3) and a cover element (4) made of a metallic material (5), which elements are connected to one another by a plurality of screw connections (8), such that, by forming a common interior (6), configured to receive a plurality of battery cells (7), an electrical contact is made between the housing element (2) and the cover element (4), wherein the housing element (2) or the cover element (4) also forms a rib (40) and a direct mechanical contact (45) is made between the rib (40) of the housing element (2) and the cover element (4) or between the rib (40) of the cover element (4) and the housing element (2), and a first sealing element (91) is also arranged between the housing element (2) and the cover element (4) such that the interior (6) is fluidically sealed from the environment (10), wherein the plurality of screw connections (8) and the rib (40) are arranged outside of the first sealing element (91).

2. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein a second sealing element (92) is arranged on a side (50) of the rib (40) facing away from the first sealing element (91), wherein said direct mechanical contact (45) is free of the first sealing element (91) and the second sealing element (92).

3. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein a first sealing direction (41) of the first sealing element (91) and a second sealing direction (42) of the second sealing element (92) are substantially perpendicular to one another.

4. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein a support surface (43) of the rib (40) is elevated over a first sealing surface (12) of the housing element (2) or over a second sealing surface (13) of the cover element (4) such that a distance (14) between the first sealing surface (12) of the housing element (2) and the second sealing surface (13) of the cover element (4) is adjustable.

5. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein individual screw connections (8) are arranged at a distance from one another, and/or a first sealing surface (12) of the housing element (2) as well as a second sealing surface (13) of the cover element (4) are arranged at a distance from one another, such that electromagnetic shielding of the interior (6) against the environment (10) is provided.

6. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the screw connections (8) each comprise a screw receiving means (15), in which a sliding means (16) is respectively received, wherein the housing element (2) or the cover element (4) forms a respective screw receiving means (15), and a support surface (18) of the screw receiving means (15) is directly connected with a first contact surface (19) of the housing element (2), or with a second contact surface (20) of the cover element (4).

7. The battery module according to claim 6, wherein the screw receiving means (15) are screw bosses (17).

8. The battery module according to claim 6, wherein a support surface (18) of a screw receiving means (15) is configured to be elevated over a first sealing surface (12) of the housing element (2) or a second sealing surface (13) of the cover element (4) such that, a distance (14) between the first sealing surface (12) of the housing element (2) and the second sealing surface (13) of the cover element (4) is adjustable.

9. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the housing element (2) is configured as a die cast aluminum housing (20), and/or the cover element (4) is designed as a deep-drawn part (40) made of an aluminum alloy.

10. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the first sealing element (91) and/or the second sealing element (92) are each designed as an adhesive (90).

11. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the housing element (2) is made of aluminum (30).

12. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the cover element (4) is made of aluminum (50).

13. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the rib (40) is circumferential.

14. The battery module according to claim 8, wherein the support surface (18) of the screw receiving means (15) is a screw boss (17).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Embodiment examples of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and explained in greater detail in the following description.

[0031] Shown are:

[0032] FIG. 1 a detail of a battery module according to the invention in a perspective view,

[0033] FIG. 2 in a sectional view, a screw connection of a battery module according to the invention, and

[0034] FIG. 3 in a sectional view, a connection between the rib of the housing element and the cover element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a section of a battery module 1 according to the invention in a perspective view.

[0036] The battery module 1 in this case comprises a housing element 2, which is formed from a metallic material 3, in particular aluminum 30. The housing element 2 is in particular designed as a die cast aluminum housing 20.

[0037] The battery module 1 in this case comprises a cover element 4, which is made of a metallic material 5, in particular aluminum 50. The cover element 4 is in particular designed as a deep-drawn part 40 made of an aluminum alloy.

[0038] The housing element 2 and the cover element 4 are in this case connected to one another by forming a common interior 6, which cannot be seen in FIG. 1 and is designed to receive a plurality of battery cells 7. In this case, the plurality of battery cells 7 which are received in the interior 6 are also not discernible in FIG. 1.

[0039] The housing element 2 and the cover element 4 are in this case connected to one another by a plurality of screw connections 8. The connection is in this case designed such that an electrical contact is made between the housing element 2 and the cover element 4. The screw connections 8 here in each case comprise a screw receiving means 15, in which in each case a screw means 16 is received.

[0040] In this case, the housing element 2 or the cover element 4 can, e.g., form the respective screw receiving means 15. In the embodiment example shown in FIG. 1, for example, the housing element 2 forms the respective screw means receptacles 15.

[0041] Furthermore, individual screw connections 8 are arranged at a distance from one another in such that electromagnetic shielding of the interior 6 against the environment 10 is provided. In particular, a distance 11 between two screw connections 8 is selected such that electromagnetic shielding of the interior 6 against the environment 10 is ensured.

[0042] The housing element 2 further forms a rib 40 circumferentially on the housing element 2. A direct mechanical contact 45 is made between the rib 40 of the housing element 2 and the cover element 4.

[0043] Furthermore, a first sealing element 91 is arranged between the housing element 2 and the cover element 4. The first sealing element 91 is in this case arranged such that the interior 6 is fluidically sealed against the environment 10. Further, a second sealing element 92 is arranged on a side 50 of the rib 40 facing away from the first sealing element 91. The direct mechanical contact 45, as can be seen from FIG. 1, is in this case free of the first sealing element 91 and the second sealing element 92. The first sealing element 91 and the second sealing element 92 are particularly designed as adhesive 90. Preferably, a structural adhesive is provided.

[0044] Furthermore, it can be seen in FIG. 1 that a first sealing direction 41 of the first sealing element 91 and a second sealing direction 42 of the second sealing element 92 are arranged to be substantially perpendicular to one another.

[0045] FIG. 1 also shows that a support surface 43 of the rib 40 is designed to be elevated over a first sealing surface 12 of the housing element 2 such that a distance 14 is adjustable between the first sealing surface 12 of the housing element 2 and the second sealing surface 13 of the cover element 4.

[0046] Furthermore, a first sealing surface 12 of the housing element 2 as well as a second sealing surface 13 of the cover element 4 are arranged at a distance from one another such that electromagnetic shielding of the interior 6 against the environment 10 is provided. In particular, a distance 14 between the first sealing surface 12 and the second sealing surface 13 is selected so as to ensure electromagnetic shielding of the interior 6 from the environment 10. The direct mechanical contact between the rib 40 of the housing element 2 and the cover element 4 can be advantageous in this respect.

[0047] The plurality of screw connections 8 and the rib 40 are in this case arranged outside of the first sealing element 9.

[0048] FIG. 2 shows a screw connection 8 in a sectional view. In particular, a sectional view through the screw connection 8 between the housing element 2 and the cover element 4 is shown.

[0049] The housing element 2 and the cover element 4 are initially apparent in this case. Further, the first sealing element 91 and the second sealing element 92 can also be seen.

[0050] The interior 6 and the plurality of battery cells 7 can also be seen.

[0051] The screw connection 8 in this case comprises a screw receiving means 15, which is in particular designed as a screw boss 17, and in which a screw means 16 is received.

[0052] A first direct contact 21, in particular a metallic contact, is thus made between a head 161 of the screw means 16 and the cover element 4.

[0053] Furthermore, a second direct contact 22, in particular a metallic contact, is thereby made between the cover element 4 and the screw receiving means 15 of the housing element 2, or rather the screw boss 17 of the housing element 2.

[0054] Further, a third direct contact 23, in particular a metallic contact, is thereby made between the screw receiving means 15 of the housing element 2, or rather the screw boss 17 of the housing element 2, and the screw means 16.

[0055] Via the first direct contact 21, the second direct contact 22, and the third direct contact 23, an electrical contact can generally be made in an electromagnetically compatible connection between the housing element 2 and the cover element 4.

[0056] In particular, a hard screw joint is thereby formed by the metallic contacts. No material from the first sealing element 91 and/or the second sealing element 92 is in this case arranged in the screw region, which could lead to interference of the EMC connection or to the insertion of the screw connection 8.

[0057] The design of the support surface 18 of the screw bosses 17 is preferably geometrically designed such that no stress spikes are created for the sealing bonding. The contour for the sealing surface is designed in a continuous linear manner in order to minimize stress concentrations of the sealing bonding in the area of the screw bosses 17. The outer contour of the screw bosses 17 is in this case geometrically designed such that the width of the permitted gap in combination with the height of the permitted gap meets the EMC requirements.

[0058] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a connection between the rib 40 of the housing element 2 and the cover element 4.

[0059] A screw connection 8 can also be seen in this case.

[0060] Further, the first sealing element 91 as well as the second sealing element 92 can be seen.

[0061] The direct mechanical contact 45 is in this case made between the rib 40 of the housing element 2 and the cover element 4. In particular, it can be seen that the direct mechanical contact 45 is free of the first sealing element 91 and the second sealing element 92. A technical zero gap 44 is thereby formed between the rib 40 and the housing element 4. In particular, this technical zero gap 44 is also crucial for the electromagnetic shielding of the interior 6 against the environment 10.

[0062] In this case, a “hard stop” is again formed between the rib 40 of the housing element 2 and the cover element 4 between two metallic materials. Furthermore, the support surface 43 of the rib 40 is designed to be elevated over a first sealing surface 12 of the housing element 2.

[0063] Further, it can be seen that the housing element 2 and/or the rib 40 in the area of the second sealing element 92 form a bevel 49, on which the second sealing element 92 rests.

[0064] Furthermore, a compensation volume 48 is formed, which is in particular free of material from the second sealing element 92 at the beginning of manufacture of the battery module 1, so that said sealing element can at least be partially pushed into the compensation volume 48 during manufacture. Material from the second sealing element 92 can also be displaced in the opposite direction. An overfilling of the gap can thereby be formed. In particular, corrosive infiltration and capillary effects can be thereby avoided.

[0065] The cover element 4 further comprises a rounding 47, which serves to border and retain the second sealing element 92.