Method for Electrically Connecting an Energy Storage Cell, and Electrical Energy Storage Cell

Abstract

A method for electrically connecting an energy storage cell includes providing at least one electrical energy storage cell, comprising a first connecting pole, arranging the first connecting pole and a first contact element to each other for forming a first contact point and closing an electrical circuit over the at least one energy storage cell and utilizing the electrical energy stored in the energy storage cell for producing a welding connection at the first contact point.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A method for electrically connecting an energy storage cell, comprising: providing at least one electrical energy storage cell comprising a first connection pole; arranging the first connection pole and a first contact element against one another to form a first contact point; closing an electrical circuit across the at least one energy storage cell and using electrical energy stored in the energy storage cell to produce a welding connection at the first contact point.

12. The method according to claim 11, comprising: precharging the at least one energy storage cell to a defined level.

13. The method according to claim 11, comprising: providing an electronic load in the electrical circuit for load take-up.

14. The method according to claim 11, comprising: establishing the welding connection by producing an arc.

15. The method according to claim 11, providing a raised welding portion in a region of the first contact point to produce or start an arc.

16. The method according to claim 11, comprising: using additional material in a region of the first contact point.

17. The method according to claim 11, comprising: pretensioning an arrangement comprising the at least one energy storage cell and the first contact element using an additional element that presses the first connection pole and the first contact element against one another.

18. The method according to claim 11, comprising: arranging a plurality of energy storage cells, each comprising first connection poles and second connection poles, in an arrangement structure and forming a plurality of first contact points in so doing.

19. The method according to claim 11, comprising: positive and non-positive contacting of the second connection pole of the at least one energy storage cell.

20. An electrical energy store, comprising: a plurality of energy storage cells; wherein each of the plurality of energy storage cells comprises at least a first connection pole; and at least one first contact element, wherein the first connection pole of each of the plurality of energy storage cells is contacted against the at least one first contact element to form a plurality of first contact points; and a plurality of welding connections at the plurality of first contact points formed by closing an electrical circuit across the plurality of energy storage cells and using electrical energy stored in the plurality of energy storage cells to produce the plurality of welding connections.

21. The electrical energy store according to claim 20, comprising: an electronic load in the electrical circuit for load take-up.

22. The electrical energy store according to claim 20, wherein the plurality of welding connects are established by producing an arc.

23. The electrical energy store according to claim 20, comprising: a plurality of raised welding portions in regions of the plurality of first contact points to produce or start an arc.

24. The electrical energy store according to claim 20, comprising: additional material in regions of the plurality of first contact points.

25. The electrical energy store according to claim 20, comprising: at least one additional element configured to pretension an arrangement comprising the plurality of energy storage cells and at least one first contact element that presses the plurality of first connection poles and the at least one first contact element against one another.

26. The electrical energy store according to claim 20, wherein the plurality of energy storage cells each comprise a second connection pole.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a schematically illustrated method sequence for welding;

[0045] FIG. 2 shows schematic views for understanding the method sequence; and

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of two energy storage cells, arranged in an arrangement structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] FIG. 1 shows, in a view on the left, an energy storage cell 10, comprising a first connection pole 11 and a second connection pole 12 arranged opposite. In the present case, the energy storage cell 10 is shown as a so-called round cell. A raised welding portion 14 is formed in the region of the first connection pole 11. The first connection pole 11 is, for example, the positive pole. The raised welding portion 14 or tip serves as a welding element for welding to a first contact element 21. The basic idea is that the energy storage cell 10 is precharged to a specific level and the energy contained in the energy storage cell 10 is directly used to weld the first connection pole 11 and the first contact element 21 to one another. For this purpose, the energy storage cell 10, cf. the second view, is led to the first contact element 21, so that the first contact element contacts the raised welding portion 14. When the energy storage cell 10 is discharged, the raised welding portion begins to melt and a welding pool is formed in the region of a first contact point 31. The raised welding portion 14 serves, in particular, to start an arc. The arrow in the third image indicates that the energy storage cell 10 is adjusted in the direction of the first contact element 21. Once the method is concluded, the energy storage cell 10 is securely welded in the region of the first contact point 31.

[0048] FIG. 2 schematically shows an arrangement structure 40, which comprises first contact elements 21. Schematically illustrated round cells 10, comprising first connection poles 11 and second connection poles 12, are arranged in the arrangement structure 40 and contact the first contact elements 21. Accordingly, first contact points 31 are formed. The entire arrangement can be pretensioned by means of the arrangement of a supporting structure 50, which for its part comprises a corresponding large number of second contact elements 22. For this purpose, the supporting structure 50 is accordingly arrested, for example in a housing, not illustrated further here. The second connection poles 12 form second contact points 32 with the second contact elements 22. In the present case, the second contact elements 22 are formed, for example, as resilient tabs, which are designed to apply a force to the energy storage cells 10 in order to shift them in the direction of the first contact elements 21 or to provide the contacting. When the energy storage cells 10 are discharged, welding can thereby be performed, as it were automatically.

[0049] FIG. 3 shows, in a further schematic illustration, two energy storage cells 10 which are formed as round cells and are arranged in an arrangement structure 40. In the present case, reference sign 20 denotes a cell contacting system, which is formed, for example, as a leadframe. This comprises a large number of first contact elements, which form first contact points 31 with the corresponding first connection poles of the energy storage cells 10. In the energy storage cells shown in FIG. 3, the second connection poles are formed on the same side as the first connection poles. Accordingly, second contact points 32 are formed in the region of the arrangement structure 40.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0050] 10 Energy storage cell [0051] 11 First connection pole [0052] 12 Second connection pole [0053] 14 Raised welding portion [0054] 20 Cell contacting system [0055] 21 First contact element [0056] 22 Second contact element [0057] 31 First contact point [0058] 32 Second contact point [0059] 40 Arrangement structure [0060] 50 Supporting structure