RECHARGEABLE BATTERY

Abstract

A rechargeable battery may include a housing and a plurality of rechargeable battery cells accommodated in an internal volume of the housing. The housing may include a first housing part and a second housing part. A tension rod may undoably couple the first housing part and the second housing part. The tension rod may include a bolt and a bolt head. The bolt may be guided through the internal volume and may include a structure configured to form an undoable connection with a counter-structure arranged on the first housing part. The second housing part may include a feed-through orifice open to the internal volume and a surrounding environment of the housing. A plug may, when in an open position, open up a fluidic drain path from the internal volume to the surrounding environment of the housing. The plug may also, when in a closed position, shut off the drain path.

Claims

1. A rechargeable battery, comprising: a housing including a first housing part and a second housing part; a plurality of rechargeable battery cells accommodated in an internal volume of the housing defined between the first housing part and the second housing part; the internal volume at least partially full, during operation, of a liquid fluid for temperature control of the plurality of rechargeable battery cells such that at least one of the plurality of rechargeable battery cells is surrounded by the fluid; a tension rod undoably coupling the first housing part and the second housing part to one another; the tension rod including a bolt and a bolt head; the bolt guided through the internal volume and including a structure configured to form an undoable connection with a counter-structure arranged on the first housing part; the second housing part including a feed-through orifice open to the internal volume and to a surrounding environment of the housing; the bolt guided through the feed-through orifice; the bolt head resting against the second housing part such that the tension rod undoably couples the first housing part and the second housing part to one another; a plug which, when in an open position, opens up a fluidic drain path from the internal volume to the surrounding environment of the housing such that the fluid flows out of the internal volume into the surrounding environment; and wherein, when the plug is in a closed position, the plug shuts off the drain path.

2. The rechargeable battery according to claim 1, wherein: the plug is disposed on the bolt head of the tension rod; and the drain path extends through the feed-through orifice.

3. The rechargeable battery according to claim 2, wherein the plug is structured as a drain screw configured to interact with a drain thread disposed in the bolt head.

4. The rechargeable battery according to claim 2, wherein the plug is structured integrally with the bolt head such that (i) when the undoable connection between the bolt and the first housing part is established, the plug is disposed in the closed position and, (ii) when the undoable connection is undone, the plug is disposed in the open position.

5. The rechargeable battery according to claim 4, wherein the bolt head defines the plug such that the tension rod is structured as a drain plug.

6. The rechargeable battery according to claim 1, wherein the tension rod has a one-piece construction.

7. The rechargeable battery according to claim 1, wherein the tension rod is arranged centrally in the housing and extends transversely relative to a height direction extending between the first housing part and the second housing parts.

8. The rechargeable battery according to claim 1, wherein: an intermediate plate is arranged between two rechargeable battery cells of the plurality of rechargeable battery cells, the two rechargeable battery cells arranged transversely adjacent to the bolt; and the intermediate plate includes a plate orifice through which the bolt is guided.

9. The rechargeable battery according to claim 1, wherein, when the plug is in the closed position, a seal is arranged between the plug and the second housing part.

10. The rechargeable battery according to claim 9, wherein the plug includes a groove opening to an outside and in which the seal is accommodated.

11. The rechargeable battery according to claim 1, wherein the structure of the bolt and the counter-structure on the first housing part are configured to establish one of a screw connection and a bayonet connection when engaged.

12. The rechargeable battery according to claim 1, wherein the counter-structure is structured as a sleeve accommodated in the first housing part.

13. The rechargeable battery according to claim 2, wherein, when the plug is in the closed position, the plug is recessed in the feed-through orifice.

14. The rechargeable battery according to claim 1, wherein the plug includes, on a side remote from the internal volume when in the closed position, a tool structure configured to interact with a tool for displacing the plug between the closed position and the open position.

15. A rechargeable battery, comprising: a housing including a first housing part, a second housing part, and an internal volume defined between the first housing part and the second housing part; a plurality of rechargeable battery cells arranged within the internal volume of the housing such that at least one of the plurality of rechargeable battery cells is surrounded by a liquid fluid that at least partially fills the internal volume during operation for temperature control of the plurality of rechargeable battery cells; a tension rod releasably coupling the first housing part and the second housing part to one another, the tension rod including a bolt and a bolt head, the bolt including a connecting structure configured to form a releasable connection with a complimentary counter-structure of the first housing part; an adjustable plug structured and arranged such that (i) a fluidic drain path extending from the internal volume to a surrounding environment of the housing through which the fluid is flowable is open when the plug is in an open position and (ii) the plug closes the drain path when in a closed position; wherein the second housing part includes a feed-through orifice open to the internal volume and to the surrounding environment of the housing; wherein the bolt is guided through the feed-through orifice and the internal volume; and wherein the bolt head rests against the second housing part.

16. The rechargeable battery according to claim 15, wherein the drain path extends through the feed-through orifice.

17. The rechargeable battery according to claim 16, wherein the plug is structured integrally with the bolt head such that (i) when the releasable connection between the bolt and the first housing part is established, the plug is disposed in the closed position and (ii) when the releasable connection is released, the plug is disposed in the open position.

18. The rechargeable battery according to claim 15, further comprising an intermediate plate arranged between two adjacent rechargeable battery cells of the plurality of rechargeable battery cells, and wherein the bolt extends through a plate orifice disposed in the intermediate plate.

19. The rechargeable battery according to claim 15, wherein: the plug includes a tool structure configured to interact with a tool; and the tool structure is structured and arranged to facilitate adjustment of the plug between the closed position and the open position via the tool.

20. A rechargeable battery, comprising: a housing including a first housing part, a second housing part, and an internal volume defined between the first housing part and the second housing part; a plurality of rechargeable battery cells arranged within the internal volume of the housing such that at least one of the plurality of rechargeable battery cells is surrounded by a liquid fluid that at least partially fills the internal volume during operation for temperature control of the plurality of rechargeable battery cells; a tension rod releasably coupling the first housing part and the second housing part to one another, the tension rod including a bolt and a bolt head, the bolt including a connecting structure configured to form a releasable connection with a complimentary counter-structure arranged on the first housing part; an adjustable plug structured and arranged such that (i) a fluidic drain path extending from the internal volume to a surrounding environment of the housing through which the fluid is flowable is open when the plug is in an open position and (ii) the plug closes the drain path when in a closed position; wherein the second housing part includes a feed-through orifice open to the internal volume and to the surrounding environment of the housing; wherein the bolt is guided through the feed-through orifice and the internal volume; wherein the bolt head rests against the second housing part; and wherein the plug includes an annular grooving opening to an outside and an annular seal is arranged within the groove.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] In the schematic figures

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a greatly simplified, circuit diagram-like representation of a motor vehicle with a rechargeable battery,

[0046] FIG. 2 shows a section through the rechargeable battery with a first housing part, a second housing part and a tension rod,

[0047] FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of the second housing part,

[0048] FIG. 4 shows an isometric view of the tension rod,

[0049] FIG. 5 shows a section through the rechargeable battery in the region of the tension rod in another exemplary embodiment,

[0050] FIG. 6 shows the section from FIG. 5 in a further exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] A rechargeable battery 1, as shown in greatly simplified form in FIGS. 1 to 6, is for example used in a motor vehicle 2 shown in circuit diagram-like form in FIG. 1. The rechargeable battery 1 here serves as an electrical power source which, via an electrical terminal 3 indicated in FIG. 1, supplies the motor vehicle 2 with electrical power, for example to drive it, and/or via which the rechargeable battery 1 is recharged.

[0052] The rechargeable battery 1 comprises a housing 4 with an internal volume 5. During operation, a liquid fluid 6 flows through the internal volume 5, passing into the internal volume 5 via an inlet 7 of the housing 4 and flowing out of the internal volume 5 via an outlet 8 of the housing 4. Rechargeable battery cells 9, for example pouch cells 10, which are temperature-controlled, in particular cooled, with the fluid 6, are accommodated in the internal volume 5. The internal volume 5 is here at least partially full of the fluid 6, such that at least one of the rechargeable battery cells 9 is surrounded by the fluid 6 during operation.

[0053] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the rechargeable battery 1 is included in a circuit 11 through which the fluid 6 circulates. In addition to the rechargeable battery 1, the circuit 11 also includes a heat exchanger 12 for temperature control of the fluid 6, in particular a cooler 13 for cooling the fluid 6, wherein the heat exchanger 12 may have a temperature-control medium 14 flowing through it in a fluidically separate manner from the fluid 6, such that heat exchange between the fluid 6 and the temperature-control medium 14 occurs during operation. The fluid 6 in particular cools the rechargeable battery cells 9. The liquid fluid 6 may accordingly be a coolant 15. The fluid 6 is preferably dielectric, such that it does not establish any electrical connections.

[0054] FIG. 2 shows a section through the rechargeable battery 1 in the region of a tension rod 16, wherein a first housing part 17 and a second housing part 18 can be seen. FIG. 3 shows an isometric external view of the second housing part 18 and FIG. 4 shows an isometric view of the tension rod 16.

[0055] The housing 4 accordingly comprises the first housing part 17 and the second housing part 18, which bound, in particular enclose, the internal volume 5 of the housing 4. The rechargeable battery cells 9 are arranged in succession in a stack direction 19 in the internal volume 5. The housing parts 17, 18 are arranged opposite one another in a height direction 20 which extends transversely in relation to the stack direction 19. One of the housing parts 17, 18, for example the first housing part 17, may be a trough-shaped housing sump 21, and the other housing part 17, 18, for example the second housing part 18, may be a housing cover 22, or cover 22 for short, which closes the housing sump 21. The rechargeable battery cells 9 are advantageously accommodated in the housing sump 21 and preferably fixed, in particular undoably, in the housing sump 21. The tension rod 16 fastens the housing parts 17, 18 undoably to one another, wherein FIG. 2 shows a fastened position 23 of the tension rod 16, in which the tension rod 16 fastens the housing parts 17, 18 to one another. The tension rod 16 here comprises a bolt 24 and a bolt head 25, wherein, in the fastened position, the bolt 24 projects out from the bolt head 25 in the height direction 20. In the fastened position 23 which is shown, the bolt 24 extends through the internal volume 5 and is guided through the internal volume 5. The bolt 24 comprises a structure 26 which, with a counter-structure 27 on the first housing part 17, thus in the present case on the housing sump 21, forms an undoable connection 28 for undoably fastening the housing parts 17, 18 to one another. In the example shown, the structure 26 is merely provided in an end portion, which faces or is adjacent to the first housing part 17, of the bolt 24. The structure 26 and counter-structure 27 may here for example form a screw connection 29 or a bayonet connection 30. In the example shown, the counter-structure 27 is additionally constructed in a sleeve 31 which is accommodated in an associated receptacle 32 arranged on that side of the first housing part 17 which faces the internal volume 5 and is thus on the inner side. As is in particular furthermore apparent from FIGS. 2 and 3, the bolt 24 is guided through a plate orifice 33 of an intermediate plate 34, wherein the plate orifice 33 serves as a guide 35 for the bolt 24 and extends in the height direction 20. The intermediate plate 34 is arranged between two rechargeable battery cells 9 which succeed one another in the stack direction 19, wherein these rechargeable battery cells 9 in each case lie, preferably flat, against the side of the intermediate plate 34 remote from the bolt 24.

[0056] The second housing part 18, in the present case thus the cover 22, comprises a feed-through orifice 36 which is arranged opposite the counter-structure 27, in the present case thus the sleeve 31 or the receptacle 32, in the height direction 20. The feed-through orifice 36 is open on the one hand to the internal volume 5 and on the other hand to the surrounding environment 37 of the housing 4. The bolt 24 is guided through the feed-through orifice 36. In other words, in order to fasten the housing parts 17, 18 to one another, the tension rod 16 is guided first through the feed-through orifice 36 and then through the plate orifice 34. In the fastened position 23, the bolt head 25 rests against the second housing part 18 in such a way that the tension rod 17 fastens the housing parts 17, 18 to one another and prestresses them against one another.

[0057] The tension rod 16 is displaced into the undone position 44 shown in FIG. 3 by undoing the connection 28 and at least in part removing, in particular withdrawing, the tension rod 16 in the height direction 20 from the housing 4. In the example shown, in the fastened position 23, the bolt head 25 is entirely recessed in the feed-through orifice 36, such that the bolt head 25 does not project from the side of the second housing part 22 remote from the internal volume 5 and is thus in particular flush with said side. In the example shown, the bolt head 25 here rests against two outer walls 38, spaced from one another in the stack direction 19, of in each case one retainer 39 for retaining rechargeable battery cells 9 in the housing 4.

[0058] Viewed together, FIGS. 2 to 4 furthermore reveal that the tension rod 16 simultaneously serves as a drain plug 40 with which the fluid 6 may, when required, be drained out of the internal volume 5. The bolt head 25 here simultaneously serves as a plug 41 which permits this draining. In a closed position 42, the plug 41 closes a drain path 43, shown in dashed lines in FIGS. 2 and 3, between the internal volume 5 and the surrounding environment 37 for draining the fluid out of the internal volume 5. The identity between the tension rod 14 and the outer plug 40 means that the closed position 42 corresponds to the fastened position 23. In the open position 45, visible in FIG. 3, of the plug 41, which position corresponds to the undone position 44 of the tension rod 16 due the identity between the tension rod 16 and the drain plug 40, the plug 41 opens up the drain path 43, such that the fluid 6 can flow out of the internal volume 5 into the surrounding environment 37. The drain path 43 thus extends from the internal volume 5 through the feed-through orifice 36 into the surrounding environment 37. The second housing part 18 is here advantageously that housing part 18 which, in the associated application, in particular in the motor vehicle 2, is located below the first housing part 17, such that the fluid 6 can flow out along the drain path 43 under the effect of gravity.

[0059] As is in particularly apparent from FIGS. 2 and 4, a seal 46, preferably an annular seal 47, may be arranged between the plug 41 and the second housing part 18, preferably in the feed-through orifice 36, for sealing the drain path 43 in the closed position 42, thus in the fastened position 23 in the example shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. The seal 46 is here accommodated in a groove 48, open to the outside, of the plug 41, thus of the bolt head 25 in the example shown.

[0060] As is furthermore apparent from FIGS. 2 and 4, the plug 41 and thus the bolt head 25 in the example shown comprise a tool structure 49, which may for example be constructed as a hexagonal receptacle 50. The tool structure 49 here interacts with an associated tool (not shown) for the purposes of displacing the plug 25 or the tension rod 16 between the closed position 42 and the open position 45 or between the undone position 44 and the fastened position 23.

[0061] FIG. 5 shows another exemplary embodiment of the rechargeable battery 1, wherein FIG. 5 merely shows the second housing part 18 with the tension rod 16 and the plug 41. In this exemplary embodiment, the plug 41 is separate from the bolt head 25 but integrated in the bolt head 25. For this purpose, an opening 51 is provided in the bolt head 25, which opening sealingly accommodates the plug 41 in the closed position 42. FIG. 5 here shows the fastened position 23 of the tension rod 16 and the closed position 42 of the plug 41. The plug 41 is displaced by removing (not shown) the plug 41 from the opening 51.

[0062] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the plug 41 is separate from the tension rod 16 and spaced from the tension rod 16. A plug orifice 52, which is spaced apart from the feed-through orifice 36 and is open to the internal volume 5 and the surrounding environment 37, is here provided in the second housing part 18 for the plug 41, in which plug orifice the plug 41 is sealingly arranged in the closed position 42. The plug 41 is displaced into the open position 45 (not shown) by being removed from the plug orifice 52.

[0063] In the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the plug 41 is preferably constructed as a drain screw 53, which, for displacement between the open position 45 and closed position 42, interacts with a drain thread (not shown) in the bolt head 25 or in the plug orifice 52.

[0064] In all the examples shown, the tension rod 16 is advantageously produced in one piece, for example entirely by a moulding method, in particular an injection moulding method.