METHOD FOR CONTACTING THE BATTERY CELLS OF A BATTERY MODULE, AND BATTERY EXTINGUISHING DEVICE THEREFOR

Abstract

In a method and apparatus for contacting battery cells of a battery module by welding, module of at least two battery cells is inserted into a battery module holder, whereupon electrical connectors of the at least two battery cells are welded together. The battery module holder is in a battery extinguishing container that is open toward the top for access by a welding device and is connected via at least one extinguishing agent line to a liquid extinguishing agent reservoir for transfer of the liquid extinguishing agent from the reservoir into the battery extinguishing container.

Claims

1. A method for contacting the battery cells of a battery module by welding, comprising inserting into a battery module holder a battery module comprising at least two battery cells configured to be connected to one another and then welding together electrical connectors of the at least two battery cells, wherein the battery module holder is disposed in a battery extinguishing container that has an opening toward a top thereof, the battery extinguishing container is connected via at least one liquid extinguishing agent line to a reservoir containing liquid extinguishing agent, the reservoir and the at least one liquid extinguishing agent line being configured to transfer the liquid extinguishing agent from the reservoir into the battery extinguishing container, prior to the welding the battery module being disposed beneath an upper edge of the opening of the battery extinguishing container as a result of being inserted into the battery module holder, whereupon the electrical connectors are welded together by way of a welding device through the opening of the battery extinguishing container.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, if a tire occurs, the battery extinguishing container is flooded with the liquid extinguishing agent from the reservoir up to a fill level above the battery module.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir is disposed above and laterally offset from the battery extinguishing container, and the liquid extinguishing agent is transferred exclusively by way of gravity from the reservoir through the at least one liquid extinguishing agent line into the battery extinguishing container.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the liquid extinguishing agent is introduced into the battery extinguishing container through the at least one liquid extinguishing agent line which is below the battery module and configured to fill the container from the bottom to the top with the liquid extinguishing agent while predominantly supplying the liquid extinguishing agent below a rising liquid extinguishing agent level formed in the battery extinguishing container.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of displacement bodies are disposed in the battery extinguishing container so as to at least partially surround the battery module.

6. A battery extinguishing device comprising a battery extinguishing container, a battery module holder disposed in the battery extinguishing container and configured to receive a battery module comprising battery cells configured to be welded together, and the battery extinguishing device further comprising a reservoir configured to be filled with liquid extinguishing agent, the reservoir being connected to the battery extinguishing container by way of at least one liquid extinguishing agent line configured to transfer the liquid extinguishing agent into the battery extinguishing container.

7. The battery extinguishing device according to claim 6, further comprising a pump configured to pump the liquid extinguishing agent from the reservoir through the at least one liquid extinguishing agent line into the battery extinguishing container.

8. The battery extinguishing device according to claim 6, wherein the reservoir is disposed above and laterally offset from the battery extinguishing container, and the reservoir is configured to transfer the liquid extinguishing agent into the battery extinguishing container exclusively by the action of gravity.

9. The battery extinguishing device according to claim 6, further comprising a respective valve in each of the at least one liquid extinguishing agent line proximate the reservoir or proximate the battery extinguishing container, each of the respective valves being configured so that opening thereof effects transfer of the liquid extinguishing agent into the battery extinguishing container.

10. The battery extinguishing device according claim 6, wherein the at least one liquid extinguishing agent line leads into the battery extinguishing container proximate a bottom of the battery extinguishing container and a horizontal, plane at which the battery module is attached to the battery module holder or below the attached battery module.

11. The battery extinguishing device according to claim 6, wherein, the at least one liquid extinguishing agent line is flexible and the battery extinguishing device further comprises at least one connecting flange to each of which a respective one of the at least one liquid extinguishing line is detachably attachable, and each of the connecting flanges comprises a valve.

12. The battery extinguishing device according to claim 11, wherein each of the connecting flanges: a. is disposed proximate a bottom of the battery extinguishing container and below a horizontal plane at which the battery module is attached to the battery module holder; or b. is disposed above an upper edge of an opening toward a top of the battery extinguishing container or above a maximum intended fill level of the battery extinguishing container, each of the connecting flanges being connected to the battery extinguishing container via a respective line which leads into the battery extinguishing container proximate a bottom of the battery extinguishing container and below the horizontal plane at which the battery module is attached to the battery module holder.

13. The battery extinguishing device according to claim 6, further comprising at least one displacement body which is detachably attached in the battery extinguishing container and configured to reduce the volume thereof to be filled with the liquid extinguishing agent.

14. The battery extinguishing device according claim 6, wherein the battery module holder is configured as a welding bench which carries a battery module holding frame by way of supports, the welding bench being attached to a bottom of the battery extinguishing container.

15. The battery extinguishing device according to claim 14, wherein the battery module holding frame is configured to receive a plurality of the battery modules, the battery module holding frame being configured to bring the battery module to be welded into a working position, by way of translation and/or rotation of the module holding frame, and only the battery module to be welded is disposed below an upper edge of an opening toward a top of the battery extinguishing container and in a region of the battery extinguishing container configured to be flooded with the liquid extinguishing agent.

16. The battery extinguishing device according to claim 6, wherein a predetermined amount of a treatment agent is situated in an interior of the battery extinguishing container, the treatment agent being mixable with the liquid extinguishing agent added to the battery extinguishing container.

17. The battery extinguishing device according to claim 6, wherein a radial interior cross-sectional area of each of the at least one liquid extinguishing agent line throughout an entire length thereof is at least 250 cm.sup.2.

18. The battery extinguishing device according to claim 6, wherein the battery extinguishing container comprises a bottom configured to slidingly receive thereunder tines of a forklift truck.

19. The battery extinguishing device according to claim 14, wherein a plurality of lifting eyes are disposed on the welding bench.

20. The battery extinguishing device according to claim 6, comprising a plurality of the battery extinguishing containers simultaneously connected to the reservoir via a plurality of the liquid extinguishing agent lines or configured to be alternately connected to the reservoir via the at least one liquid extinguishing agent line.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein the welding is by way of a robotic laser welding arm.

22. The battery extinguishing device according to claim 9, wherein the valve is a flap valve or a sliding valve and is located proximate the battery extinguishing chamber.

23. The battery extinguishing device according to claim 11, wherein the valve is a flap valve or a sliding valve.

Description

[0051] Exemplary embodiments will be described based on the drawings.

[0052] FIG. 1 shows, in an overview, a battery extinguishing device of the type according to the invention, comprising a battery extinguishing container 1 and a reservoir 2 for extinguishing agent. In order to weld the battery cells together, a battery module is disposed in the unfilled battery extinguishing container 1 or in the battery module holder thereof. Liquid extinguishing agent is stored in the reservoir 2 for the event in which a fire arises.

[0053] Here, the reservoir 2 is connected to the battery extinguishing container 1 by way of multiple extinguishing agent lines 3. Each extinguishing agent line 3 leads into the battery extinguishing container 1 via a connecting flange 4 below the battery module, and into the bottom of the reservoir 1 via a dedicated valve 5. The reservoir 2 is disposed above the battery extinguishing container 1 and, here, preferably laterally offset therefrom, so that the extinguishing agent 2a flows on its own into the battery extinguishing container 1 due to the action of gravity, here, from the bottom, after a respective valve 5 has been opened. The volume of the battery extinguishing container 1 to be filled and the amount of extinguishing agent 2a are tailored to one another so that, after the extinguishing agent 2a has completely flowed into the battery extinguishing container 1, the extinguishing agent 2a is at a fill level 18 that is above the highest point of the battery module 6, and preferably at least 100 mm thereabove.

[0054] For welding, the laser beam 11 can pass through ab outcoupling lens 12 of an indicated robotic arm 13 from above, through the opening, enclosed by the opening edge 10, into the interior of the battery extinguishing container 1 and carry out the welding.

[0055] In the event of a fire, each of the valves 5 can be opened by way of a trigger element 14, which acts on an activation device 15, for example. For this purpose, the activation device 15 transmits a control signal to the valves 5, for example. The trigger element 14 can be manually actuated and, for example, to this end, is preferably designed as an emergency push-button.

[0056] FIG. 2 shows a battery extinguishing container 1, for example that of FIG. 1, in a partially cutaway view. It is apparent here that tines of a forklift truck or pallet truck can slide beneath the bottom 1a through recesses 1b in the bottom 1a and in the side walls 1c, so that the battery extinguishing container 1 can be easily transported.

[0057] A welding bench 1d, which carries a module holding frame 1f by way of supports 1e, is attached to the bottom 1a on the inside of the battery extinguishing container 1. The battery module holder is thus formed of the welding bench 1d, supports 1e and the module holding frame 1f here. A battery module 6 comprising multiple battery cells 6a indicated by dotted lines is disposed in the holding frame 1f, the electrical connectors 6b of which are to be connected by welding. Using clamping levers 7, the connectors 6b of the battery cells 6a to be connected are pressed onto one another. The arrangement of the holding frame 1f on the supports 1e including the battery module 6, the battery cells 6a present therein, and the connectors 6b thereof is shown in FIG. 5 in an enlarged illustration, as compared to FIG. 2. The holding frame if can preferably be placed in a guided manner from above onto the supports 1e.

[0058] FIG. 2 furthermore shows a drain opening 8 in the front side wall 1c here, allowing the extinguishing agent 2a to drain from the battery extinguishing container 1 again after use. Furthermore, multiple displacement bodies 9 are disposed in the interior of the battery extinguishing container 1 which, here, can be attached to the welding bench 1d, by way of which the volume of the battery extinguishing container 1 to be filled can be reduced. These surround the battery module 6 at least partially.

[0059] FIG. 3 shows an alternative design of the battery extinguishing container 1, which can be operated by way of the same reservoir 2 of FIG. 1.

[0060] Here, the connecting flanges 4 are disposed close to the upper opening edge 10. At this position, the flanges 4 can lead directly through the side wall 1c into the container 1, as shown, or further piping can be provided on the inside, by way of which the inflowing extinguishing agent is conducted downwardly and first flows into the battery extinguishing container 1 below the battery module. The connecting flanges 4 can be situated below the intended fill level, provided the lines 3 at the flanges 4 remain connected after the battery extinguishing container has been filled. The flanges 4 can preferably be positioned such that the lower edges 4a thereof are situated above the fill level 18 of the extinguishing agent. In this case, the lines 3 can thus be disconnected from the battery extinguishing container 1 after the same has been filled, without extinguishing agent 2a leaking.

[0061] FIG. 4 shows another possible embodiment, which can likewise be operated by way of the same reservoir 2 of FIG. 1, in which the opening planes of the flanges 4, which here are preferably horizontally oriented, are likewise situated at least above the intended fill level 18 of the extinguishing agent 2a, in particular, in the illustration here, are even disposed at a level that is above the height of the opening edge 10 of the battery extinguishing container. The intended fill level 18 of the extinguishing agent can, for example, coincide with the upper surface of the displacement bodies 9. Here, the flanges 4 are, in each case, connected to a line 16 located outside the battery extinguishing container 1, which leads into the battery extinguishing container 1 below the height 17 of the module attachment plane of the battery module holder, which is indicated with dotted lines, and thus at a level below the lowest point of a battery module 6. In this embodiment as well, the lines 3 can thus be disconnected from the battery extinguishing container 1 after the same has been filled, without extinguishing agent leaking.

[0062] As mentioned above, FIG. 5 shows an enlarged detailed illustration of the holding frame if disposed on the supports 1e, including the battery module 6, the battery cells 6a and the connectors 6b.

[0063] Wherever the described figures show multiple flanges 4 and/or lines 3/16, the invention can also be designed with fewer or more than the number shown, and in particular even with only one line 3 or 16 or one flange 4.