ELECTRONICS APPARATUS FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

An electronics component is protected against overheating with the aid of a liquid absorption unit. For this purpose, the electronics component, together with the liquid absorption unit are integrated into a housing device. The liquid absorption unit is made of a super-absorbent material which, when it comes into contact with an ingressing liquid, takes up the liquid and in so doing at least partially surrounds the electronics component. The super-absorbent material is selected such that it is also electrical insulating in the state in which it is fully soaked with the liquid.

Claims

1. An electronics apparatus for a motor vehicle, comprising: at least one electronics component; and a housing device having at least one opening permitting ingress of a liquid and a protection device for liquid absorption, integrated into the housing device and including super-absorbent material absorbing the liquid upon contact, electrically insulating when wet, and at least partially surrounding the at least one electronics component when the liquid is absorbed by the super-absorbent material.

2. The electronics apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a monitor that monitors a temperature of the at least one electronics component and generates a control signal requesting the liquid when a specified temperature is exceeded.

3. The electronics apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the electronics apparatus is in a motor vehicle, and wherein a liquid storage device in the motor vehicle provides the liquid to the electronics apparatus, the liquid storage device having a reservoir holding the liquid and a provision mechanism actuated by the control signal to provide the liquid from the reservoir to the housing device via the at least one opening.

4. The electronics apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the liquid storage device holds one of windshield wiper solution provided to a windshield wiper cooling liquid provided to a cooling liquid system.

5. The electronics apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the super-absorbent material is provided in at least one absorption element having a geometric shaped body arranged in the housing device at least one of between a housing wall and the at least one electronics component and between at least two adjacent electronics components among the at least one electronics component.

6. The electronics apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the geometric shaped body is one of granules, a plate, a film, a rod, an individual thread, and a thread composite in one of a woven fabric and a loose volume structure.

7. The electronics apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the geometric shaped body has one of a porous structure and a perforated structure.

8. The electronics apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the geometric shaped body has a plurality of flow ducts transporting the liquid in one of different layers of the geometric shaped body and completely through the geometric shaped body.

9. The electronics apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the electronics apparatus includes a battery arrangement for the motor vehicle, wherein the housing device of the electronics apparatus is a battery housing of the battery arrangement, and wherein the at least one electronics component of the electronics apparatus is at least one battery element of the battery arrangement.

10. The electronics apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronics apparatus is in a motor vehicle, and wherein a liquid storage device in the motor vehicle provides the liquid to the electronics apparatus, the liquid storage device having a reservoir holding the liquid and a provision mechanism actuated by the control signal to provide the liquid from the reservoir to the housing device via the at least one opening.

11. The electronics apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the liquid storage device holds one of windshield wiper solution provided to a windshield wiper cooling liquid provided to a cooling liquid system.

12. The electronics apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the super-absorbent material is provided in at least one absorption element having a geometric shaped body arranged in the housing device at least one of between a housing wall and the at least one electronics component and between at least two adjacent electronics components among the at least one electronics component.

13. The electronics apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the geometric shaped body is one of granules, a plate, a film, a rod, an individual thread, and a thread composite in one of a woven fabric and a loose volume structure.

14. The electronics apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the geometric shaped body has one of a porous structure and a perforated structure.

15. The electronics apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the geometric shaped body has a plurality of flow ducts transporting the liquid in one of different layers of the geometric shaped body and completely through the geometric shaped body.

16. The electronics apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronics apparatus is in a motor vehicle and includes a battery arrangement for the motor vehicle, wherein the housing device of the electronics apparatus is a battery housing of the battery arrangement, and wherein the at least one electronics component of the electronics apparatus is at least one battery element of the battery arrangement.

17. A motor vehicle, comprising: a liquid storage device storing a liquid; and an electronics apparatus including at least one electronics component; and a housing device having at least one opening permitting ingress of a liquid, and a protection device for liquid absorption, integrated into the housing device and including super-absorbent material absorbing the liquid upon contact, electrically insulating when wet, and at least partially surrounding the at least one electronics component when the liquid is absorbed by the super-absorbent material.

18. The motor vehicle according to claim 17, further comprising a monitor that monitors a temperature of the at least one electronics component and generates a control signal requesting the liquid when a specified temperature is exceeded, and wherein the liquid storage device has a reservoir holding the liquid and a provision mechanism actuated by the control signal to provide the liquid from the reservoir to the housing device via the at least one opening.

19. The motor vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the liquid storage device holds one of windshield wiper solution provided to a windshield wiper cooling liquid provided to a cooling liquid system.

20. The motor vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the super-absorbent material is provided in at least one absorption element having a geometric shaped body arranged in the housing device at least one of between a housing wall and the at least one electronics component and between at least two adjacent electronics components among the at least one electronics component.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] These and other aspects and advantages will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

[0048] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an electronics apparatus which includes a super-absorbent material for protecting against the ingress of liquid and/or cooling an electronics component;

[0049] FIG. 2a is a schematic illustration of a first possible configuration of the super-absorbent material as granules;

[0050] FIG. 2b is a schematic illustration of a second possible configuration of the super-absorbent material as a cuboid;

[0051] FIG. 2c is a schematic illustration of a third possible configuration of the super-absorbent material in the form of a rod; and

[0052] FIG. 2d is a schematic illustration of a fourth possible configuration of the super-absorbent material in the form of a plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] In the exemplary embodiments explained below, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features which are to be considered independently of one another and each also develop the invention independently of one another and therefore includes combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those illustrated. Furthermore, the described embodiments are also supplemented by further features already described.

[0054] In the figures, identical reference characters refer to respectively functionally identical elements.

[0055] What is known as a high-voltage battery can be used as the drive battery in battery-operated motor vehicles (BEV—battery electric vehicle), such as electric or hybrid vehicles for example. Such a high-voltage battery, also called battery below, is constructed for example from a battery housing, also called housing below, and a plurality of battery modules. In the present case, battery module means a suitable electrical circuit of one or more battery cells which together are installed into a module housing. Owing to a defect in the battery module, for example a short-circuit of the individual cells, or on account of aging processes, the battery module may be adversely affected. In this case, the battery module may, for example, heat up and in the worst-case scenario overheat and be damaged. As a result, other battery modules in the high-voltage battery may also be influenced as a chain reaction, with the result that in the worst-case scenario the battery catches fire.

[0056] In order to avoid such thermal runaway, that is to say overheating of the battery or its components, there is provided, as shown in FIG. 1, an electronics apparatus 1 or electronics protection apparatus for the battery. The electronics apparatus 1 according to FIG. 1 includes, in addition to the battery 10, a protection device 20 and a liquid storage device 30.

[0057] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a sectional view of the battery 10 from a lateral perspective. Here, the battery 10 includes a housing 11 as a housing device and, by way of example, three battery modules 12 as electronics components or battery elements. In the present case, the housing 11 is illustrated in a rectangular shape. In the present case, the housing 11 accordingly includes, by way of example, four housing walls 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d. In an intended installation position of the battery 10 in a motor vehicle, the walls 11a and 11c can form, for example, a cover and a base of the battery housing 11. The housing walls 11b and 11d are accordingly designed as side walls of the housing 11. The battery modules 12 are integrated in the housing 11. In the present case, three battery modules 12 are illustrated by way of example, wherein the battery 10 can of course also be constructed from more or fewer battery modules 12. FIG. 1 illustrates the battery modules in a prismatic shape by way of example. It goes without saying that the battery modules can also be, for example, cylindrical or present in what is known as a pouch format.

[0058] The battery modules 12 are arranged stacked next to one another in the housing according to FIG. 1. Here, a stacking direction extends along a surface of the housing base 11c. In order to be fastened in the housing 11, the modules 12 are fitted or fastened, for example, to the bottom surface 11c, as shown in FIG. 1. Electrical contact between the modules 12 or, for example, with an on-board electrical system of the motor vehicle can be made, for example, at the upper end, that is to say in the region of the housing cover 11a or even through the housing cover.

[0059] The protection device 20 is provided in order to be able to cool the modules 12 as required. The protection device 20 has a liquid absorption unit 21 which is integrated into the housing 11. The liquid absorption unit 21 has a super-absorbent material 22, also called super absorber. In this case, a material with electrically insulating properties is selected for the super absorber. The super-absorbent material is therefore an electrical insulator or non-conductor. A suitable material for this purpose is, for example, silicic acid. Such a super absorber has the property of, when it comes into contact with liquid 32, such as water for example, absorbing and storing or holding the liquid. The liquid 32 is then bound in the super-absorbent material. That is to say, the liquid 32 cannot move or slosh around freely in the housing 11. When the liquid 32 is absorbed, the super-absorbent material 22 increases in volume, that is to say it expands. This can produce a gel-like consistency, which is called hydrogel for example.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 1, the super-absorbent material 22 in an absorption element is implemented with a specified geometric shaped body. In FIG. 1, the geometric shaped body is illustrated, for example, in the form of a composite thread or fiber which forms a loose volume structure. The absorption element 23 therefore has a batting-like structure. As an alternative, other geometric shapes are also conceivable in order to implement the absorption element 23. This will be discussed once again in more detail later.

[0061] The property of the super-absorbent material 22 should then be used in order to cool the battery modules 12 as required. For this purpose, the absorption element 23 and therefore the super-absorbent material 22, as shown in FIG. 1, are arranged in the intermediate spaces in the battery housing 11 always between two adjacent battery modules 12 and in each case the side walls 11b and 11d and the adjoining battery module 12. The filling height selected for the super-absorbent material 22 is, by way of example, approximately one third of the distance between the housing base 11c and the housing cover 11a in FIG. 2. In addition to the option shown in FIG. 1, other options for filling and arranging the super-absorbent material 22 in the housing 11 are of course conceivable. These options will be discussed once again in more detail by way of example later.

[0062] The arrangement shown in FIG. 1 of the absorption element 23 in the housing 11 can then have the effect that the super-absorbent material 22 is placed partially or fully around modules 12 when the liquid 32 is absorbed and the material expands as a result. The battery modules 12 can therefore be sheathed or encased or surrounded by the super-absorbent material 22. If, in addition, a liquid 32 with a high thermal capacity, such as water for example, is used, a cooling water jacket can thus be formed around the defective battery modules 12. The heat from the defective battery modules can therefore be dissipated via the fully soaked super-absorbent material. In addition to the thermal capacity or heat storage capability, the energy that is required to evaporate the particles or molecules incorporated in the super-absorbent material can additionally also create an additional cooling effect here.

[0063] A further advantage of the sheathing is that, in the event of an increase in the temperature of the individual module 12, the bound liquid 32 in the super absorber 22 is heated at the contact area or interface between the respective battery module 12 and the super-absorbent material 22 and can then change over into a gaseous state. This additionally forms a gaseous layer or sheathing around the respective electronics component, and this can additionally create good thermal insulation. This can prevent other electronics components being carried along in a chain reaction due to one electronics component overheating.

[0064] The filling quantity or filling level of the super-absorbent material can be matched, for example, to the desired casing surface, around the electronics component, that is to say or a desired sheathing. That is to say, the filling quantity is selected such that a specified surface area of the electronics component is covered by the super-absorbent material 22 in the state in which the material is fully soaked with a specified quantity of liquid. The quantity of liquid 32, that is to say a liquid volume, up to the desired sheathing can be adjusted, for example. As an alternative or in addition, the quantity of liquid 32 can be specified, for example, by saturation of the super-absorbent material 22.

[0065] In order to identify when cooling of the battery 10 is required, the protection device 20 has a monitoring unit 24. The monitoring unit 24 can be used to monitor a temperature of the battery modules 12. If a specified temperature overshooting is detected here, a control signal S can be provided in order to request the liquid 32. As shown in FIG. 1, the monitoring unit 24 has a temperature sensor 25 and a controller 26 for this purpose. The temperature sensor 25 is integrated into the housing 11 and designed to monitor the temperature in the interior of the housing and therefore of the battery modules 12. As an alternative to the illustration shown in FIG. 1, a dedicated temperature sensor 25 can be assigned to each battery module, for example.

[0066] The temperature sensor 25 detects a temperature value T in order to monitor the temperature. The temperature sensor 25 provides the temperature value to the controller 26 for evaluation purposes. The controller 26 compares the measured temperature value T with a specified temperature limit value. If the temperature value T exceeds the limit value, the abovementioned temperature overshooting is present and the battery modules 12 or the housing 11 have heated up to such an extent that cooling is necessary. The controller then provides a respective control signal S to a liquid storage device 30. The control signal S is used to request the liquid 32 in order to cool the battery 10.

[0067] In order to provide the liquid 32, the liquid storage device 30 has a reservoir 31 and a provision mechanism. The liquid 32 can be stored or kept in the reservoir 31. In the present case, the reservoir 31 is illustrated as a tank, for example. The provision mechanism is provided in order to be able to pass on the liquid 32 from the reservoir to the super-absorbent material 22. This is illustrated, by way of example, in the form of a line 33, which opens out in an opening 13 of the housing 11, in FIG. 1.

[0068] In FIG. 1, the opening 13 is, for example, an artificially produced opening 13 which is made in the housing. A position of the opening 13 in the housing can be matched, for example, to a direction of action G of gravity. According to FIG. 1, gravity acts in the direction of the base 11c of the housing 11 when the battery 10 is in the intended installation position. The opening 13 can therefore be made above the base 11c. Therefore, gravity can be used in order to direct the liquid 32 in the direction of the super-absorbent material 22. In the present case, the opening 13 is made, by way of example, on the side wall 11d approximately at the filling level of the super-absorbent material 22. This gives rise to the advantage that the absorption element 23 and therefore the super-absorbent material 22 can be supplied with liquid 32 directly via the opening 13. The liquid 32 can therefore be bound by the super-absorbent material immediately as it enters the housing 11, so that there is no free liquid in the housing. As an alternative to the possible configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, it goes without saying that a plurality of openings can also be distributed over the housing 11 or provided on a different housing walls 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d. For example, a separate opening can be provided for each intermediate space in the battery housing between two adjacent battery modules and/or between a battery module 12 and the adjacent housing wall 11b, 11d.

[0069] In order to prevent liquid 32 from also being provided from the liquid storage device 30 to the battery in the normal case, that is to say without a defect or overheating being detected, the liquid storage device according to FIG. 1 has two valves as shut-off elements 34. These valves can be actuated by a respective control signal S, which is provided by the controller 26 when overheating is detected, and as a result can be opened, for example, until the desired cooling effect or quantity of liquid is reached. Flow of liquid between the reservoir 31 and the opening 13 is possible in this way. For example, a quantity or a volume of the liquid 32 can be adjusted by actuating the valves. The valves can then be closed again by further actuation.

[0070] A suitable liquid 32 is, for example, an electrically substantially non-conductive liquid, such as distilled water for example.

[0071] The liquid absorption device 30 can be installed or provided in a motor vehicle, for example especially for the electronics apparatus 1. As an alternative, a liquid storage device 30, which is already present in the motor vehicle, can also be used for example. Such an existing liquid storage device 30 can be implemented, for example, by a windshield wiper system or a cooling liquid system. The liquid 32 provided to the super-absorbent material 22 is then, for example, a wiping water solution or a cooling liquid. Therefore, no additional components need to be integrated into the motor vehicle and it is possible to react to fluctuations in the temperature of the battery 10 particularly quickly.

[0072] FIGS. 2a to 2d illustrate different refinements or exemplary embodiments of the shaped body of the absorption element 23 of the liquid absorption unit 21. In FIG. 2a, the liquid absorption unit 21 is implemented, for example, by granules composed of super-absorbent material 22. The individual grains or granule elements are the absorption elements 23 of the liquid absorption unit 21 here. As shown in FIG. 2a, a diameter of the grains can be, for example, 0.5 to 3 millimeters. Such granules have a high surface structure and as a result can absorb the liquid 32 particularly effectively and rapidly.

[0073] FIG. 2b illustrates the shaped body of the absorption element 23 in a further possible configuration, by way of example as a cube or cuboid. The absorption element is therefore a solid body with a geometric basic shape. It goes without saying that other basic shapes for the shaped body are also conceivable. This gives rise to the advantage that a plurality of basic shapes can be combined to form any desired different bodies. The shape of the liquid absorption unit 21 can therefore be particularly easily matched to the free surfaces or intermediate spaces in the housing 11.

[0074] In a further alternative possible configuration according to FIG. 2c, the shaped body of the absorption element 21 can be designed, for example, as a bar or rod. In the present case, bar means an elongate object, the diameter of which is in particular very much larger than its length. In the present case, the bar is illustrated in cylindrical form, for example. It goes without saying that a rectangular bar shape is also conceivable. The bar in FIG. 2c is a solid body. In contrast to this, the bar can also be implemented as a hollow body, for example as a pipe.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 2d, the shaped body of the absorption element 21 can be implemented, for example, as a plate according to a further possible configuration. In the present case, plate means, in particular, a component of which the length and/or width dimensions are very much larger than a thickness or height. However, here, the thickness is selected in such a way that the plate is inherently dimensionally stable. A configuration of the absorption element 23 as a plate gives rise to the advantage that the absorption element in the housing can be stacked, for example similarly to known cell separating elements, together with the battery modules 12. In addition, the absorption elements 23 can contribute to the stability or stabilization of the electronics apparatus 1.

[0076] A particular shape of the plate can be understood to be, for example, a film as the absorption element 23. Here, the thickness is selected to be further very much smaller than in the case of a plate, and therefore the film is inherently dimensionally unstable. Such a film has only a small installation space requirement and is suitable, for example, for adhesive bonding to or coating of the battery modules 12 and/or the housing 11.

[0077] In an absorption element 23 configured as a solid body, such as the plate or the bar or the geometric main body for example, it may be advantageous when the material is, for example, perforated or flow ducts are made in the material. This gives rise to the advantage that the liquid 32 can also enter inner or deeper layers of the absorption element 23 as quickly as possible and as a result the absorption properties of the liquid absorption unit 21 can be improved.

[0078] Instead of the battery 10 described in FIG. 1, the electronics apparatus 1 can of course also be used for other electronic devices, such as a control device or a battery management system for example.

[0079] Overall, the exemplary embodiments show how a super absorber can be used within a high-voltage battery or high-voltage electronics for improved fire protection.

[0080] A description has been provided with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof and examples, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the claims which may include the phrase “at least one of A, B and C” as an alternative expression that means one or more of A, B and C may be used, contrary to the holding in Superguide v. DIRECTV, 358 F3d 870, 69 USPQ2d 1865 (Fed. Cir. 2004).