The present invention relates to an accumulator arrangement, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising an at least two-part accumulator housing, which has a receiving space for receiving a plurality of battery modules, and comprising at least one supply device, which is arranged in or on the receiving space and which is provided for supplying at least two such battery modules.
In the case of today's electrically operated motor vehicles, so-called traction batteries are used to store electrical energy. The traction batteries are often formed from a plurality of battery modules, which are electrically interconnected with one another and which are arranged in an accumulator housing provided for this purpose, which is preferably sealed. These accumulator housings serve to protect the electronic system against external influences and usually consist of an upper housing shell and a lower housing shell. In general, such accumulator housings have a high demand in particular on tightness, due to the voltages of their individual battery modules, which are partially very high. An exchange of such battery modules currently represents a high assembly effort, because, generally speaking, the battery modules as such have to be removed together with the accumulator housing, in order to be able to open said accumulator housing in the first place.
A device for connecting at least two battery modules arranged in at least one row in a battery box of a vehicle, which battery modules adjoin one another with the interposition of a connecting plate, is well-known from DE 10 2012 012 891 A1. For this purpose, the connecting plate has centering elements, which protrude into corresponding centering openings of the two adjoining battery modules, on a module side. A connecting element, which is functionally uncoupled from the connecting plate and which connects the two adjoining battery modules on the opposite module side, is further provided in particular on the opposite module side. The battery box, formed from an upper shell and a lower shell, thereby plunges into a transmission tunnel of a vehicle underbody.
It is a disadvantage of the current prior art that for example the known supply structures are often not modular custom-made products, which, on the one hand, require an increased installation space requirement and, on the other hand, have the disadvantage that the fluidic and/or the electrical connections between the supply structure as such and the individual battery modules have to be inserted individually by hand, screwed or otherwise connected to one another in a complex manner, in response to the assembly.
The present invention thus deals with the object of specifying an improved or at least alternative embodiment for an accumulator arrangement of the above-mentioned type, which at least partially overcomes in particular the above-described disadvantages and which can additionally be produced in a cost-efficient manner by means of a simplified manufacture.
This object is solved according to the invention by means of the subject matter of the independent claim(s). Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claim(s).
The present invention is based on the general idea of arranging a supply device between two battery modules and to configure it in such a way that it is in an operative connection with the adjoining battery modules and has a duct, through which a coolant can flow, in order to control the temperature of the adjacent battery modules, in the case of an accumulator arrangement, in particular for a motor vehicle. For this purpose, the accumulator arrangement according to the invention has at least a two-part accumulator housing, which has a receiving space for receiving a plurality of battery modules, and at least one such supply device, which is arranged in or on the receiving space and which is provided for supplying at least two such battery modules. It is essential for invention thereby that the supply device is arranged between two such battery modules and is in each case in an operative connection therewith, and that the supply device has at least one such duct, through which a coolant can flow.
In an advantageous embodiment, the supply device is configured to be elongate and runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle. The supply device thereby preferably forms a compact duct, which preferably runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle, thus in the X-direction of the motor vehicle. Cross-members, which divide the receiving space into at least two areas and which provide the accumulator housing as such with a certain structural stiffness, can be provided in the receiving space of the accumulator housing. The cross-members thus extend in the Y-direction of the motor vehicle, which corresponds to a transverse axis of the motor vehicle. In the area of the supply device, the at least one cross-member has at least one aperture, which is provided for receiving exactly this one supply device. The at least one aperture on the cross-member weakens an important flexural stiffness of the cross-member only to a limited extent. It should be said that the supply device can be particularly reinforced in the area of the apertures of the cross-members. The reinforcement of the supply device can be attained, for example, by means of injection-molded metal inserts or, for example, by means of a construction-related stabilizing design in the vacant area.
In a further advantageous embodiment, the supply device extends across the entire length in the X-direction of the motor vehicle of the individual battery modules and is configured modularly on their respective longitudinal ends in the X-direction of the motor vehicle. The modular configuration is advantageous to the effect that in the case of a plurality of rows of battery modules, which are interrupted by means of cross-members, the supply devices can be attached to one another modularly in a simple manner and that the accumulator arrangement according to the invention can thus have different sizes.
A further advantageous embodiment provides that the supply device can be assembled and disassembled by means of a movement in the Z-direction of the motor vehicle. In particular in the case of repairs, service or maintenance of such traction batteries, this saves valuable time and thus also represents an advantage from a cost-related aspect.
In a further advantageous further development of the idea according to the invention, the supply device has at least one coolant inlet and at least one coolant outlet on a side facing a motor vehicle floor. This at least one coolant inlet and this at least one coolant outlet are preferably shaped cylindrically and are arranged so as to preferably not be offset or only slightly offset in the X-direction of the motor vehicle on a straight line, that is, in the Y-direction of the motor vehicle. In addition, the at least one coolant inlet and the at least one coolant outlet are preferably arranged at one height in the Z-direction of the motor vehicle, so that provided fluidic connections to the respective adjoining battery modules can be established simultaneously with an assembly of the battery modules or can likewise be disconnected in response to a disassembly of the battery modules, respectively, by means of a movement in the Z-direction of the motor vehicle.
In an advantageous embodiment, the supply structure has at least one forward flow duct and at least one return duct for the coolant. The division of the ducts in the interior of the supply device can generally be selected freely and is preferably configured in such a way that a homogeneous temperature control of the adjoining battery modules can take place in the best possible way.
A further advantageous embodiment provides that the supply device has electrical connection interfaces, which can be brought into contact with the respective adjacent battery modules. In addition to the electrical connection interfaces, further electronic components, such as, for example, CSC parts, BMS parts, fuses or gates can be arranged directly on the supply device. This is advantageous, because the electrical components can thus be cooled at least indirectly by means of the coolant, which flows through the at least one duct in the interior.
In a further advantageous embodiment, the supply device is held on the accumulator housing by means of a holding device. The holding device serves to protect the supply device from an unwanted loosening or from falling out of the accumulator housing.
In a further advantageous embodiment, the holding device is configured as a locking connection, which fixes the supply device to the accumulator housing, in particular in the Z-direction of the motor vehicle. A locking pin, which is supported on a support surface on the accumulator housing provided for this purpose and which thus tightly fixes the supply device, can for example be arranged on the supply device.
An advantageous further development provides that the supply device has positioning devices, each at least corresponding to the battery modules on both sides. The positioning devices can be configured, for example, as guide grooves comprising insertion bevels. The positionally accurate insertion of the battery modules makes it possible that for example fluidic connections and/or electrical connections and/or mechanical connections can be made possible between the supply device and the battery modules without further screwing, insertion or other assembly steps. The exact positioning between the supply device and the battery modules to one another thus provides for an optimal option for establishing the operative connections to one another.
In an advantageous embodiment alternative, the supply device is made of a plastic and is welded or adhered on its module interfaces. The production of the supply device of plastic can be realized in a particularly cost-efficient manner.
In a further advantageous embodiment alternative, the supply structure is made of a metal, preferably of aluminum, and is soldered, welded or adhered on its module interfaces.
A motor vehicle according to the invention comprising such an accumulator arrangement described above has the accumulator housing, wherein a motor vehicle underride protection is configured in one part or monolithically, respectively, with at least a portion of the at least two-part accumulator housing. The motor vehicle underride protection thus simultaneously represents the lower shell of the housing of the accumulator housing, so that an otherwise usual separate protective cover can be forgone completely.
Further important features and advantages of the invention follow from the subclaims, from the drawings, and from the corresponding figure description on the basis of the drawings.
It goes without saying that the above-mentioned features and the features, which will be described below, cannot only be used in the respective specified combination, but also in other combinations or alone, without leaving the scope of the present invention.
Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in more detail in the following description, whereby identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar or functionally identical components.
In each case schematically,
It should be said that the illustrated accumulator arrangement 1 can be understood simply as a portion of a complete accumulator arrangement 1. This means that a plurality of “rows” of battery modules 5 can be provided, for example in the X-direction of the motor vehicle. The need for a supply device 6, which can be modularly expanded, as it is introduced in the context of this invention, can be derived therefrom. On the respective longitudinal ends thereof, the supply device 6 can thereby have module interfaces 19 in the X-direction of the motor vehicle, so that the supply device 6 can be expanded infinitely. It should further be noted that the accumulator arrangement 1 can also be expanded in the Y-direction of the motor vehicle, so that a plurality of supply devices 6, which are spaced apart in parallel in the Y-direction of the motor vehicle, can be provided.
The supply device 6 can be made of a plastic, whereby for example the bilateral side panels 21 can be adhered or welded to the supply device 6. Alternatively, the supply device 6 can also be made of a metal, preferably of aluminum, whereby the side panels 21 or a modularly attached second supply device 6 can be soldered, welded or adhered.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
10 2017 206 985.6 | Apr 2017 | DE | national |
This application claims priority to International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2018/059779, filed on Apr. 17, 2018, and German Patent Application No. DE 10 2017 206 985.6, filed on Apr. 26, 2017, the contents of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2018/059779 | 4/17/2018 | WO | 00 |