BATTERY BOX FOR A TRACTION BATTERY

Abstract

A battery box for a traction battery of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle may include a plurality of bracing elements secured to an associated node element of a plurality of node elements on each side and arranged to define a lattice structure. The plurality of node elements and the plurality of bracing elements may each have a respective hollow profile. The plurality of bracing elements and the plurality of node elements may externally delimit at least one cube-shaped accommodation space. A battery module of a traction battery may be braceable and securable in the at least one cube-shaped accommodation space.

Claims

1. A battery box for a traction battery of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle, comprising: a plurality of bracing elements secured to an associated node element of a plurality of node elements on each side and arranged to define a lattice structure; the plurality of node elements and the plurality of bracing elements each having a respective hollow profile; and the plurality of bracing elements and the plurality of node elements externally delimiting at least one cube-shaped accommodation space, wherein a battery module of a traction battery is braceable and securable in the at least one cube-shaped accommodation space.

2. The battery box according to claim 1, wherein at least one of: the respective hollow profile includes an outer wall delimiting an inner space of the respective hollow profile; and the respective hollow profile includes the outer wall and an inner wall, wherein an outer inner space is defined between the outer wall and the inner wall, and the inner space is delimited by the inner wall.

3. The battery box according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of node elements include a first connecting structure and each of the plurality of bracing elements includes a second connecting structure complementing the first connecting structure, wherein the plurality of bracing elements are secured to the associated node element in form-fitting manner via the first connecting structure and the second connecting structure.

4. The battery box according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of bracing elements are secured to the associated node element in at least one of a materially bonded manner, a force-fitting manner, and a form-fitting manner.

5. The battery box according to claim 2, further comprising at least one fluid line node arranged in the inner space of a respective node element of the plurality of node elements and at least one fluid line arranged in the inner space of a respective bracing element of the plurality of bracing elements, wherein the at least one fluid line node and the at least one fluid line are secured to and in fluid communication with each other.

6. The battery box according to claim 5, wherein the at least one fluid line node and the at least one fluid line have complementary plug-in contours, via which the at least one fluid line node and the at least one fluid line are connected to each other in a form-fitting manner and a fluid-conducting manner.

7. The battery box according to claim 5, wherein the at least one fluid line node and the at least one fluid line are secured to each other in a fluid-conducting and materially bonded manner.

8. The battery box according to claim 2, further comprising at least one electrical wire node arranged in the inner space of a respective node element of the plurality of node elements and at least one electric wire in the inner space of a respective bracing element of the plurality of bracing elements, wherein the at least one electrical wire node and the at least one electric wire are connected to each other electrically conductively and in at least one of a materially bonded manner, a form-fitting manner, and a force-fitting manner.

9. The battery box according to claim 2, wherein at least one of: one of the inner space and the outer inner space of the plurality of node elements are filled with a structural filler material; and one of the inner space and the outer inner space of the plurality of bracing elements are filled with the structural filler material.

10. The battery box according to claim 9, wherein the structural filler material includes at least one of a metallic foam, a resin-based foam, and a plastic-based foam.

11. The battery box according to claim 9, wherein the structural filler material includes at least one of a metallic packing material and a plastic-based packing material.

12. The battery box according to claim 1, wherein at least one of i) the plurality of node elements and ii) the plurality of bracing elements are composed of at least one of a metal and a plastic.

13. The battery box according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of node elements include a plurality of casted node elements.

14. The battery box according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of bracing elements include at least one of i) a plurality of rolled bracing elements and ii) a plurality of extruded bracing elements.

15. The battery box according to claim 1, further comprising at least one battery module arranged in the at least one cube-shaped accommodation space.

16. The battery box according to claim 1, further comprising a housing in which the lattice structure is secured in one of a form-fitting manner and a force-fitting manner.

17. The battery box according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of bracing elements are secured to the associated node element via at least one of a welding connection, a soldering connection, an adhesive bonding connection, a mechanical pressing connection, a clamping connection, and a bolt connection.

18. The battery box according to claim 12, wherein at least one of i) the plurality of node elements and ii) the plurality of bracing elements are composed of at least one of steel, aluminum, fibre reinforced plastic, and a polyamide

19. A battery box comprising: a plurality of bracing elements secured to an associated node element of a plurality of node elements on each side, the plurality of bracing elements and the plurality of node elements structured and arranged to define a lattice structure and delimit at least one cube-shaped accommodation space, the at least one cube-shaped accommodation space configured such that a battery module of a traction battery is braceable and securable therein; each of the plurality of node elements including a first connecting structure and each of the plurality of bracing elements inducing a second connecting structure complementing the first connecting structure, the plurality of bracing elements secured to the associated node element in form-fitting manner via the first connecting structure and the second connecting structure. the plurality of node elements and the plurality of bracing elements each having a respective hollow profile; wherein at least one of: the respective hollow profile includes an outer wall delimiting the inner space of the respective hollow profile; and the respective hollow profile includes the outer wall and an inner wall, an outer inner space defined between the outer wall and the inner wall, and the inner space delimited by the inner wall; wherein at least one fluid line node is arranged in an inner space of a respective node element of the plurality of node elements and at least one fluid line is arranged in an inner space of a respective bracing element of the plurality of bracing elements, the at least one fluid line node and the at least one fluid line secured to and in fluid communication with each other.

20. A battery box comprising: a plurality of bracing elements secured to an associated node element of a plurality of node elements on each side, the plurality of node elements and the plurality of bracing elements each having a respective hollow profile, the plurality of bracing elements and the plurality of node elements structured and arranged to define a lattice structure and delimit at least one cube-shaped accommodation space, the at least one cube-shaped accommodation space configured such that a battery module of a traction battery is braceable and securable therein; a housing in which the lattice structure is secured in one of a form-fitting manner and a force-fitting manner; and at least one battery module arranged in the at least one cube-shaped accommodation space.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In the schematic drawings

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a view of a battery box according to the invention;

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of a connection point between a node element and a bracing element of a battery box according to the invention;

[0029] FIGS. 3 to 6 show cross sectional view of variously constructed hollow profiles;

[0030] FIG. 7 shows a view of a node element with a wire node and a fluid line node.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a battery box 1 according to the invention having a plurality of node elements 2 and a plurality of bracing elements 3. The respective bracing elements 3 are each secured to one node element 2 on both sides and form a lattice structure with multiple accommodation spaces 4, each for one battery module not shown here. The respective bracing elements 3 and the respective node element 2 may be made from a metal or a plastic for example. In this embodiment, the battery box 1 has four accommodation spaces 4 and may be expanded to any size. The respective node elements 2 are of different construction and a different number of bracing elements 3 is secured to an individual node element 2. The node elements 2 and the bracing elements 3 are constructed in the form of hollow profiles 5. The construction of the node elements 2 and the bracing elements 3 in the form of hollow profiles 5 may serve to reduce the dead weight of the battery box 1 considerably, and advantageously increase the strength of the battery box 1.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a partial cutaway view of a connection point between one of the node elements 2 and one of the bracing elements 3. The node element 2 and the bracing element 3 are each constructed in the form of hollow profile 5 with an inner space 6a, wherein the respective inner space 6a is delimited in each case by an outer wall 7 of the respective hollow profile 5. The node element 2 has a first connecting structure 8a and the bracing element 3 has a second connecting structure 8b that complements the first connecting structure 8a. The first connecting structure 8a and the second connecting structure 8b provide the means for securing the bracing element 3 to the node element 2 in form-fitting manner, wherein the inner space 6a of the node element 2 adjoins the inner space 6a of the bracing element 3. The first connecting structure 8a and the second connecting structure 8b are constructed to complement each other and in this embodiment have the form of a plug-in connection. Alternatively, a tongue-and-groove joint is also conceivable. In order to increase the strength of the battery box 1, the bracing element 3 is secured to the node element 2 additionally by material bonding in the form of an adhesive film 9.

[0033] FIG. 3 to FIG. 6 show cross sectional views of the variously designed hollow profiles 5. In FIG. 3, the hollow profile 5 has a U-shaped cross section, and the inner space 6a of the hollow profile 5 is delimited by the outer wall 7. In FIG. 4, the hollow profile 5 has a circular cross section, wherein an outer inner space 6b in this embodiment is delimited by the outer wall 7 and an inner wall 10, and the inner space inner space 6a is delimited by the inner wall 10. The inner wall 10 is concentric with the outer wall 7, so that the outer inner space 6b has a uniform thickness. FIG. 5 shows the hollow profile 5 with a square cross section, in which the inner space 6b is located between the outer wall 7 and the inner wall 10 and the inner space 6a is delimited by the inner wall 10. Here, the outer wall 7 and the inner wall 10 are arranged in such manner that at least a region of the outer inner spaces 6b is of uniform thickness. In FIG. 6, the hollow profile 5 is shown with a T-shaped cross section, and the inner space 6a is delimited by the outer wall 7. In the designs shown here, the inner space 6a or the outer inner space 6b of the hollow profile 5 is filled with a structural filler material 11. The structural filler material 11 may be made for example from a metallic or a resin-based or plastic-based foam, or alternatively it may consist of a metal or plastic-based packing material. The structural filler material 11 has the effect of strengthening the respective node elements 2 and the respective bracing elements 3, so that the strength of the battery box 1 is increased and a greater quantity of energy can be absorbed in the event of an accident.

[0034] FIG. 7 shows a view of the node element 2 with the bracing elements 3. Two fluid line nodes 12 are arranged in the inner space 6a of the node element 2, and a plurality of fluid lines 13 of the bracing elements 3 are secured thereto. The fluid line node 12 and the fluid lines 13 are in fluid communication with each other and may transport a coolant supplied by an external cooling system to and from the individual accommodation spaces 4 and the individual cooling devices of the battery modules which may be secured in the accommodation spaces 4 through the battery box 1. The fluid line node 12 and the fluid lines 13 are arranged in the inner spaces 6a of the hollow profile node element 2 and the hollow profile bracing element 3, lending the battery box 1 a space-saving construction. The fluid line nodes 12 and the fluid lines 13 are also protected from mechanical damage by the node element 2 and the bracing elements 3.

[0035] In addition, an electrical wire node 14 is arranged in the inner space 6a of the node element 2 and electric wires 15 are arranged in the individual inner spaces 6a of bracing elements 3. In this context, the electric wires 15 and the electrical wire node 14 are connected to each other in electrically conductive manner by form-fitting means, for example by a plug and socket connection. The arrangement of the electrical wire node 14 and the electric wires 15 in the inner spaces 6a of the node element 2 and the bracing elements 3 enable the battery box 1 to be assembled quickly while occupying little space, and the electrical wire node 14 and electric wires 12 to be protected from mechanical damage. The individual battery modules which can be secured in the respective accommodation spaces 4 may thus be connected to each other electrically and connected to the vehicle onboard battery high-voltage network.

[0036] Overall, the hollow profile node elements 2 and the hollow profile bracing elements 3 in the battery box 1 according to the invention have the effect of considerably reducing the dead weight of the battery box 1 and advantageously increasing the strength of the battery box 1. The battery box 1 according to the invention may also be installed in the existing vehicle structure without expensive, labour-intensive measures, and it may also serve advantageously to strengthen the vehicle structure.