CONNECTION DEVICE FOR ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING ELECTRIC STORAGE UNITS

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection device (10) for electrically connecting electric storage units (110), in particular of a motor vehicle, the connection device comprising at least two insulation layers (11) and comprising connection elements (12) arranged between the insulation layers (11), wherein the connection elements (12) are outwardly electrically insulated by the insulation layers (11), and each connection element (12) has, on a first end, at least one cell connector (14) provided for connecting the electric storage units (110), and/or a terminal connection (15), wherein the cell connector and/or the terminal connection is/are integrally bonded with the connection elements (12).

Claims

1. A connecting device (10) for electrically connecting electrical storage units (110), the connecting device comprising at least two insulation layers (11) and connecting elements (12) arranged between the insulation layers (11), wherein the connecting elements (12) are electrically insulated to an outside by the insulation layers (11), and the connecting elements (12) each have, at a first end, at least one cell connector (14), which is configured for the connection of the electrical storage units (110), and/or a terminal connection (15), wherein the cell connector and/or the terminal connection is formed cohesively with the connecting elements (12).

2. The connecting device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the connecting elements (12) each have, at a second end, a connection contact (16) configured to produce an electrically conductive connection to an electronics unit (24).

3. The connecting device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the cell connectors (14) and/or the terminal connection (15) is arranged at an edge side on the insulation layer (11) and is surrounded at least in certain portions by at least one insulation layer (11).

4. The connecting device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least one insulation layer (11) is of foil-like form and has at least plastic or aluminum oxide.

5. The connecting device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the insulation layers are cohesively connected to one another at least in certain portions.

6. The connecting device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the connecting elements (12) are in the form of leadframes, and/or the connecting elements (12) have a thickness between approximately 50 m and approximately 5 mm.

7. The connecting device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least one cell connector (14) or one terminal connection (15) is of multi-layer form.

8. The connecting device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least one protective element (18) for improving the electrical and/or electromagnetic compatibility is provided at least in certain portions, wherein the protective element (18) is cohesively connected to at least one insulation layer (11).

9. The connecting device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least one reinforcement element (19) is provided for stiffening purposes.

10. The connecting device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the cell connectors (14) each have at least one deformation element (20) for elastic deformation purposes.

11. The connecting device (10) as claimed claim 1, characterized in that, on at least one connecting element (12), there is arranged at least one electrical resistance (21) for measuring a voltage drop.

12. The connecting device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that further comprising at least one fixing means (22) for positioning on an external component.

13. The connecting device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least one electrically conductive contact element (23) is arranged on the cell connector (14) and/or on the terminal connection (15).

14. A battery module (100) having a multiplicity of electrical storage units (110), wherein the electrical storage units (110) are connected to one another in electrically conductive fashion by means of a connecting device (10) according to claim 1.

15. A method for producing a connecting device having the features of claim 1, the method comprising the steps: a) positioning connecting elements on a first insulation layer, b) arranging a second insulation layer on the first insulation layer and the connecting elements, whereby the connecting elements are electrically insulated to an outside and form an intermediate layer, and c) cohesively connecting the first insulation layer to the second insulation layer, resulting in a sandwich-like structure.

16. The connecting device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least one insulation layer (11) is of flexible form and has at least plastic or aluminum oxide.

17. The connecting device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the insulation layers are welded or adhesively bonded to one another, at least in certain portions.

18. The connecting device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the connecting elements (12) are in the form of leadframes, and/or the connecting elements (12) have a thickness between approximately 100 m and approximately 2 mm.

19. The connecting device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the connecting elements (12) are in the form of leadframes, and/or the connecting elements (12) have a thickness between approximately 300 m and approximately 1 mm.

20. The connecting device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the connecting elements (12) are is of multi-layer form.

21. The connecting device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the connecting elements (12) are is of multi-layer form, having at least aluminum, copper or nickel.

22. The connecting device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least one reinforcement element (19) is provided for stiffening purposes, wherein the reinforcement element (19) is arranged between the insulation layers (11).

23. The connecting device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the cell connectors (14) each have five deformation elements (20) for elastic deformation purposes, wherein at least one deformation element (20) is of undulating or polygonal design.

24. The connecting device (10) as claimed in claim 1 further comprising at least one fixing means (22), on the reinforcement element (19), for positioning on an electrical storage unit (110) or a battery module (100).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] In the figures that follow, identical reference designations will be used for the same technical features even in different exemplary embodiments. In the figures:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a connecting device according to the invention,

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of the connecting device according to the invention,

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a possible embodiment of a battery module according to the invention,

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a detail of a possible embodiment of a connecting device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a connecting device 10 according to the invention for electrically connecting electrical storage units, in particular of a vehicle. The connecting device 10 has at least two insulation layers 11, wherein, between the insulation layers 11, there are arranged connecting elements 12, cell connectors 14 at least in certain portions, and terminal connections 15 at least in certain portions. The cell connectors 14 are arranged, and cohesively connected to the connecting elements 12, on the longitudinal sides of the connecting device 10. The one upper insulation layer 11 covers the cell connectors 14 at least in a central region, wherein deformation elements 20 are arranged in this region of the cell connectors 14. Furthermore, terminal connections 15 are arranged at the at least one longitudinal side and at the two width sides of the connecting device 10. The terminal connections 15 are also surrounded, in particular in positively locking fashion, at least in certain portions by the insulation layers 11. On at least one cell connector 14, there is arranged a contact element 23, in particular for a voltage tap. The cell connectors 14 are in this case arranged parallel to one another at the longitudinal sides of the connecting device 10. Centrally or in the middle of the connecting device 10, there is situated a connection region 17, wherein connection contacts 16 are arranged in the connection region 17. The connection contacts 16 form the second end of the connecting elements 12, wherein a connection to an electronics unit can be produced by means of the connection contacts 16. By means of the electronics unit, information items of the electrical storage units, in particular battery cells, can be transmitted via the connecting elements 12 and the cell connectors 14 and terminal connections 15 arranged cohesively with the connecting elements 12. In the connection region 17, there is furthermore arranged a reinforcement element 19, wherein the reinforcement element 19, in the manner of a web, stiffens the connection region 17. The connection contacts 16 are arranged circumferentially on the reinforcement element 19. Furthermore, on the reinforcement element 19, there are arranged two fixing means 22 in the form of material apertures 22. Further material apertures 25 are situated along a central axis of the connecting device 10, wherein the material aperture 25 may serve for example for degassing of the electrical storage units. Furthermore, easier access to the electrical storage units can be made possible by the material aperture 25. The connecting device 10 furthermore has, in FIG. 1, an electrical resistance 21 in the region of the connecting elements 12. The electrical resistance 21 serves for the measurement of a voltage drop, such that the electrical current of the electrical storage units can be determined. The connecting elements 12 have, at a first end, cell connectors 14 and/or terminal connections 15 and, at a second end, connection contacts 16. Accordingly, there is a cohesive and thus electrically conductive connection between the cell connectors 14 or the terminal connection 15 and the connection contacts 16. In FIG. 1, the cell connectors 14 have deformation elements 20, which are formed as undulating material recesses 20 in the center of the cell connectors.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a further possible embodiment of the connecting device 10 according to the invention. In FIG. 2, too, the connecting device 10 has an insulation layer 11, which electrically insulates the connecting elements 12 completely, and the cell connectors 14 in certain portions, to the outside. The foil-like insulation layer 11 is in this case cohesively connected to the connecting elements 12 and in certain portions to the cell connectors 14. At a first end of the connecting elements 12, these are formed cohesively with the cell connectors 14, in particular as a punched part. At a second end of the connecting elements 12, there are arranged connection contacts 16, wherein the connection contacts 16 are free from the insulation layer 11. It is accordingly possible for the connection contacts 16 to be electrically connected to an electronics unit. The electronics unit may for example be a BMS and/or CSC system. In FIG. 2, the cell connectors 14 are also equipped with a deformation element 20, which is of undulating form. Furthermore, the insulation layer 11 has material apertures 25 which permit firstly degassing of the electrical storage units and easier access to the electrical storage units. In the connection region 17 of the connection contacts 16, there is arranged a reinforcement element 19, wherein the reinforcement element 19 has two fixing means 22, such that the connecting device 10 can be positioned on an external component using the fixing means 22.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a detail of a possible embodiment of a battery module 100 according to the invention. The battery module 100 has, in FIG. 3, two electrical storage units 110, wherein the electrical storage units 110 are in the form of battery cells 110. The battery cells 110 each have a connection pole 111, on which the connecting device 10 is positioned by means of the cell connectors 14. The illustrated detail of the connecting device 10 is in this case of sandwich-like form and has two insulation layers 11. The cell connector 14 is arranged between the insulation layers 11, wherein the cell connector 14 is likewise composed of two layers 14, and the connecting element 12 is arranged between the two layers 14 of the cell connector 14. It is advantageous that the two layers 14 of the cell connector 14 have aluminum and the connecting element 12 has copper. Aluminum is easy and thus inexpensive to weld to the connection poles 111 of the electrical storage units 110. The connecting element 12 extends out of the two layers 14 of the cell connectors 14 and can thus be connected at a second end, which is not illustrated in any more detail in FIG. 3, to the connection contacts 16.

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a possible embodiment of a connecting device 10 of sandwich-like construction. The detail of the connecting device 10 in FIG. 4 shows a multi-layer construction, wherein two insulation layers 11 cover, at least in certain portions, the two layers of the cell connectors 14. In particular, the insulation layers 11 are arranged in a region which does not serve for the connection of the cell connectors 14 to a connection pole of an electrical storage unit. The connecting element 12 is, in FIG. 4, arranged between the two layers 14 of the cell connector 14. The connecting element 12 preferably has copper, and the layers 14 of the cell connector 14 preferably have aluminum. The connecting element 12 may in this case have a thickness of approximately 50 m and approximately 5 mm. The insulation layer 11 is preferably of foil-like, in particular flexible, form, and has at least plastic or aluminum oxide.

[0034] The above explanations of the embodiments describe the present invention exclusively in the context of examples. It is self-evidently possible for individual features of the embodiments to be freely combined with one another, where technically expedient, without departing from the scope of the present invention.