DEVICE HAVING A PLURALITY OF BATTERY CELLS ARRANGED ONE BEHIND THE OTHER IN A JOINING DIRECTION

Abstract

A device has a plurality of battery modules (1) which are arranged one behind the other in a joining direction (F) and each have a main body (2) interspersed with a group of battery cells (3) in the joining direction (F). The electrical connection of the battery modules is decoupled from their mechanical connection, and a spacer frame (4) is provided between adjacent battery modules (1), which spacer frame (4) comprises at least one spacer (5) supported against the main bodies (2) of the battery modules (1) and openings (6) for multiple electrical contacting of the battery modules (1).

Claims

1. A device comprising: a plurality of battery modules arranged one behind the other in a joining direction; each of said battery modules having a main body interspersed with a group of battery cells in the joining direction; wherein a spacer frame is supported between adjacent battery modules and the spacer frame comprises at least one spacer that is supported against the main bodies of the battery modules, said spacer having therein openings providing multiple electrical contacting of the battery modules.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the main bodies of the battery modules form a flow channel configured to receive a temperature-control fluid, and the spacer frame has a fluid channel connecting a fluid outlet of one of said battery modules to a fluid inlet of an adjacent one of said battery modules.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the fluid channel is mounted on the spacer frame so as to float transversely to the joining direction.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the fluid channel is connected to the spacer frame via at least one injection-molded spring.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein at least two fluid connections facing the spacer frame are provided for each of said battery modules, and the spacer frame comprises a continuous fluid channel with low flow resistance and an interrupted fluid channel or a fluid channel having a higher flow resistance.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein a parallel plate having recesses for individual battery cells is supported between at least one of said battery modules and the spacer frame contacting the battery cells in parallel on a casing side.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the openings of the spacer frame form receptacles for contact devices connecting individual ones of the battery cells in series.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the adjacent battery modules adjacent each other have latching openings into which latching connectors spanning the spacer frame engage.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the latching connectors have latching bodies engaging in the latching openings, and the latching bodies form fixing claws directed in a pull-out direction.

10. The device according to claim 3, wherein the fluid channel is connected to the spacer frame via at least one injection-molded spring.

11. The device according to claim 3, wherein at least two fluid connections facing the spacer frame are provided for each of said battery modules, and the spacer frame comprises a continuous fluid channel with low flow resistance and an interrupted fluid channel or a fluid channel having a higher flow resistance.

12. The device according to claim 4, wherein at least two fluid connections facing the spacer frame are provided for each of said battery modules, and the spacer frame comprises a continuous fluid channel with low flow resistance and an interrupted fluid channel or a fluid channel having a higher flow resistance.

13. The device according to claim 10, wherein at least two fluid connections facing the spacer frame are provided for each of said battery modules, and the spacer frame comprises a continuous fluid channel with low flow resistance and an interrupted fluid channel or a fluid channel having a higher flow resistance.

14. The device according to claim 2, wherein a parallel plate having recesses for individual battery cells is supported between at least one of said battery modules and the spacer frame contacting the battery cells in parallel on a casing side.

15. The device according to claim 3, wherein a parallel plate having recesses for individual battery cells is supported between at least one of said battery modules and the spacer frame contacting the battery cells in parallel on a casing side.

16. The device according to claim 4, wherein a parallel plate having recesses for individual battery cells is supported between at least one of said battery modules and the spacer frame contacting the battery cells in parallel on a casing side.

17. The device according to claim 5, wherein a parallel plate having recesses for individual battery cells is supported between at least one of said battery modules and the spacer frame contacting the battery cells in parallel on a casing side.

18. The device according to claim 10, wherein a parallel plate having recesses for individual battery cells is supported between at least one of said battery modules and the spacer frame contacting the battery cells in parallel on a casing side.

19. The device according to claim 11, wherein a parallel plate having recesses for individual battery cells is supported between at least one of said battery modules and the spacer frame contacting the battery cells in parallel on a casing side.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein the openings of the spacer frame form receptacles for contact devices connecting individual ones of the battery cells in series.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] In the drawing, the subject matter of the invention is shown by way of example, wherein:

[0016] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a device according to the invention,

[0017] FIG. 2 shows a top view of this device, and

[0018] FIG. 3 shows a section along line III-III of FIG. 2 on a smaller scale, and

[0019] FIG. 4 shows a section along line IV-IV of FIG. 2 on a larger scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] A device according to the invention has battery modules 1 arranged one behind the other in a joining direction F with a main body 2 through which battery cells 3 pass. A spacer frame 4 is provided between adjacent battery modules 1 in joining direction F, which comprises spacers 5 and openings 6 for multiple electrical contacting of the battery cells 3.

[0021] The battery modules 1 can be fluid-cooled, with the main body 2 of the battery modules 1 forming a flow channel which is supplied with temperature-control fluid via fluid connections 7. Adjacent battery modules 1 can be connected in a fluid-tight manner via the spacer frame 4, for which purpose fluid channels 8 are provided which have high or low flow resistance depending on the flow direction of the temperature-control fluid and can be inserted into the fluid connections 7. These fluid channels 8 extend in joining direction F to both sides of the spacer frame 4.

[0022] Since thermal expansion or mechanical interference can occur during operation, the fluid channels 8 are mounted in a floating manner in the spacer frame 4. This can be implemented, for example, via an injection-molded spring tongue 9 on the spacer frame 4. In order to improve the flow conditions of the temperature-control fluid in the main body 2 of a battery module 1, two fluid connections 7 each can be provided on opposite end sections of the flow channel, wherein the spacer frame 4 also comprises two fluid channels 8 each for each end section of the flow channel and thus also of the spacer frame 4.

[0023] For parallel contacting of the battery cells 3 on the casing side, at least one parallel plate 10 can be provided on the spacer frame 4, which can be clamped to the spacer frame 4 via punched fastening holes 11 and also has recesses 12 which at least partially enclose the battery cells 3 on the casing side.

[0024] As can be seen in particular from FIG. 3, receptacles for contact devices 13 can be provided in the openings 6 of the spacer frame 4, which connect battery cells 3 of adjacent battery modules 1 in such a way that stable mechanical and at the same time flexible electrical contacting of the battery cells 3 can be ensured.

[0025] Such a contact device 13 can comprise a bushing 14 which is inserted in a form-fitting manner into an opening 6. A battery cell 3 is inserted into this bushing 14, which makes serial electrical contact with an adjacent battery cell 3 via a contact element 15 arranged in the joining direction on the other side of the bushing 14. The battery modules 1 can be braced together via latching connectors 16 spanning the spacer frame. These latching connectors 16 engage in latching openings 19, which are let into the main body 2 of the battery modules 1, via latching bodies 17, which have fixing claws 18 directed in the pull-out direction.