BATTERY HOUSING

Abstract

A battery housing for an electrical energy store at least sectionally defines a reception space for the electrical energy store and has at least two housing sections that are connected to one another while forming a joining point. The at least two mutually connected housing sections are produced from a sheet metal organically coated at least adjacent to the joining point and are adhesively bonded to a connection element at the joining point.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A battery housing for an electrical energy store, that at least sectionally defines a reception space for the electrical energy store and that has at least two housing sections that are connected to one another while forming a joining point, wherein the at least two mutually connected housing sections are each produced from a sheet metal organically coated at least adjacent to the joining point and are adhesively bonded to a connection element at the joining point.

17. The battery housing in accordance with claim 16, wherein the battery housing is configured for a vehicle battery.

18. The battery housing in accordance with claim 16, wherein the connection element is arranged between the housing sections and/or overlapping with the housing sections.

19. The battery housing in accordance with claim 16, wherein a recess is formed between the mutually connected housing sections, into which recess the connection element is glued.

20. The battery housing in accordance with claim 19, wherein the recess is formed between respective edges, extending in parallel with one another, of the mutually connected housing sections and the connection element has a longitudinal axis that extends in parallel with the edges.

21. The battery housing in accordance with claim 16, wherein the mutually connected housing sections are each completely produced from an organically coated sheet metal.

22. The battery housing in accordance with claim 16, wherein the mutually connected housing sections form an areal wall.

23. The battery housing in accordance with claim 22, wherein the at least two mutually connected housing sections extend transversely to one another and thereby form a wall extending over a corner.

24. The battery housing in accordance with claim 22, wherein the wall is formed by at least three housing sections that are connected to one another while forming at least two joining points and that are produced from an organically coated sheet metal at least adjacent to the joining points, with in each case mutually adjoining housing sections of the at least three housing sections being adhesively bonded to a connection element.

25. The battery housing in accordance with claim 22, wherein the wall is tub-shaped and the mutually connected housing sections are side walls of the tub-shaped wall that project from a base of the tub-shaped wall.

26. The battery housing in accordance with claim 16, wherein the connection element is produced from an organically coated sheet metal.

27. The battery housing in accordance with claim 16, wherein the mutually connected housing sections are each adhesively bonded to the connection element by means of a cold-curing adhesive.

28. The battery housing in accordance with claim 16, wherein the mutually connected housing sections are each adhesively bonded in a liquid-tight manner to the connection element.

29. The battery housing in accordance with claim 16, wherein the battery housing is configured for fastening to an underbody of a motor vehicle.

30. The battery housing in accordance with claim 16, wherein the mutually connected housing sections are each additionally connected in a form-fitting manner to the connection element.

31. A method of manufacturing a battery housing for an electrical energy store, wherein at least two housing sections are provided and are connected to one another while forming a joining point in order to form a reception space for the electrical energy store, wherein housing sections that are produced from a sheet metal organically coated at least adjacent to the joining point are adhesively bonded to a connection element at the joining point.

32. The method in accordance with claim 31, wherein the battery housing at least sectionally defines the reception space for the electrical energy store.

33. The method in accordance with claim 31, wherein the housing sections composed of the organically coated sheet metal are connected to the connection element by means of clinching in addition to adhesive bonding.

Description

[0024] Further developments of the invention can also be seen from the dependent claims, from the description, and from the enclosed drawings.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective representation of a battery housing in accordance with the invention; and

[0026] FIG. 2 is an enlarged part representation of a corner region of the battery housing in accordance with FIG. 1.

[0027] In the present embodiment, the battery housing 11 in accordance with the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is tub-shaped and defines a reception space 13 for an electrical energy store, not shown, for example for the drive battery of an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle. The battery housing 11 comprises a plurality of areal housing sections, namely a base section 15, four sidewall sections 17 projecting from the base section 15, and four flange sections 19 projecting from the sidewall sections 17 and extending in parallel with the base section 15. The flange sections 19 extending in a common plane define a flange 21 for fastening the battery housing 11 to a carrier, not shown, such as the underbody of a motor vehicle. At least one of the flange sections 19 can be provided with leadthroughs 23 for fastening means for this purpose.

[0028] As shown, mutually adjoining sidewall sections 17 in each case extend transversely to one another and thus form four corner regions 25 of the battery housing 11. In this respect, there is an intermediate space in the form of a gap 27, into which a corner connector 29 is glued, between two mutually adjoining side wall sections 17 in each case.

[0029] One of the corner connectors 29 is shown enlarged in FIG. 2. In the present example, each of the corner connectors 29 is formed from an areal sheet metal part. It can be arranged overlapping (preferably, see overlap region 30) or edge to edge with the end regions 32 of the adjacent sidewall sections 17. Each of the corner connectors 29 is adhesively bonded to the associated end regions 32 and to the base section 15 by means of a cold-curing adhesive. As shown, each of the corner connectors 29 has a longitudinal axis 31 that extends in parallel with edges 33 of the end regions 32. A joining point 34 is thus formed in each of the corner regions 25. The sidewall sections 17 that are connected to one another and that are designed in one piece with the base section 15 form an areal and sealed wall 35.

[0030] The sidewall sections 17 are produced from an organically coated sheet meal. The base section 15, the flange sections 19, and/or the corner connectors 29 is/are preferably also produced from an organically coated sheet metal. Provision can in particular be made that the base section 15, the sidewall sections 17, and the flange sections 19 have resulted through a reshaping from a single organically coated sheet metal. Due to the organic coating of the sidewall sections 17, which can, for example, comprise a high polymeric material, no cathodic dip painting of the battery housing 11 is required. Due to the adhesive bonding of the sidewall sections 17 via the corner connectors 29, no thermal joining process is required for connecting the end regions 32 of the respective mutually adjoining sidewall sections 17 so that thermal damage to the organic coating is avoided.

[0031] To manufacture the battery housing 11 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an organically coated sheet metal component is provided in the form of a roll or a panel. A sheet metal component is preferably provided that has an organic coating closed over the full area. The sheet metal component is processed by a reshaping process, in particular a stamping-bending process, such that the base section 15, the side wall sections 17, and the flange sections 19 are formed. Subsequently, the corner connectors 29 are glued into the gaps 27 between the adjacent sidewall sections 17 by means of a cold-curing adhesive bonding process. After the curing of the adhesive, the battery housing 11 is ready for use. No subsequent large-area painting processes are preferably carried out. Local regions of the organic coating that have e.g. been affected by the stamping-bending process can be subjected to a surface treatment to achieve as good as possible a sealing of the battery housing 11.

[0032] To increase the strength of the connection between the sidewall sections 17, the corner connectors 29 can additionally be connected by means of a mechanical joining process such as clinching.

[0033] The organic coating gives the battery housing 11 a high protective effect against corrosion even if no additional painting is provided. Due to the corner connectors 29 glued into the gaps 27, thermal joining processes that could damage the organic coating can be dispensed with. The invention thus enables a particularly simple, fast, and inexpensive manufacture of a battery housing 11, wherein a high level of corrosion protection is ensured despite the simplified manufacture.

[0034] The present invention has indeed been explained by way of example using a tub-shaped component. However, it is understood that the concept in accordance with the invention can be applied to battery housing components for electrical energy stores, said battery housing components being shaped in any desired manner and having sections that are connected to one another by means of a join connection.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

[0035] 11 battery housing [0036] 13 reception space [0037] 15 base section [0038] 17 side wall section [0039] 19 flange section [0040] 21 flange [0041] 23 leadthrough [0042] 25 corner region [0043] 27 gap [0044] 29 corner connector [0045] 30 overlap region [0046] 31 longitudinal axis [0047] 32 end region [0048] 33 edge [0049] 34 joining point [0050] 35 wall