Battery module and a traction battery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11437678-B2
Application number	US-202016914271-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 27, 2020
Priority date	Jun 28, 2019
Publication date	Sep 6, 2022
Grant date	Sep 6, 2022

Abstract

A battery module for a traction battery may include a module housing through which a coolant is flowable and at least one battery cell stack arranged within an interior space of the module housing. The at least one battery cell stack may include a plurality of battery cells arranged one after another along a stack direction. The plurality of battery cells may be arranged within the module housing such that a coolant flowable through the module housing directly contacts the plurality of battery cells. A locking mechanism may form-fittingly connect the at least one battery cell stack to the module housing via (i) a plurality of housing-side locking points and (ii) a plurality of stack-side locking points.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A battery module for a traction battery, comprising:
a module housing;
at least one battery cell stack arranged within an interior space of the module housing;
the at least one battery cell stack including a plurality of battery cells arranged one after another along a stack direction;
the plurality of battery cells arranged within the module housing such that a coolant flowable through the module housing directly contacts the plurality of battery cells; and
wherein a locking mechanism form-fittingly connects the at least one battery cell stack to the module housing via (i) a plurality of housing-side locking points and (ii) a plurality of stack-side locking points; wherein the locking mechanism includes a plurality of housing-side first engagement elements arranged within the interior space, the plurality of housing-side first engagement elements distributed along the stack direction and coupled to the module housing; the locking mechanism further includes a plurality of stack-side second engagement elements arranged within the interior space, the plurality of stack-side second engagement elements distributed along the stack direction and coupled on the at least one battery cell stack; and the locking mechanism further includes a bolt plate, the bolt plate including a plurality of first bolt structures structured complementary to the plurality of housing-side first engagement elements and a plurality of second bolt structures structured complementary to the plurality of stack-side second engagement elements.

2. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of housing-side first engagement elements and the plurality of first bolt structures are permanently in engagement with one another and define the plurality of housing-side locking points;
the plurality of housing-side locking points define a longitudinal guide for the bolt plate and are configured to transmit tensile forces extending in a tensile force direction between the bolt plate and the module housing; and
the tensile force direction extends transversely to the stack direction.

3. The battery module according to claim 2 , wherein:
the bolt plate is adjustable in the stack direction relative to the module housing to a locking position and to an unlocking position;
when the bolt plate is in the locking position, the plurality of stack-side second engagement elements and the plurality of second bolt structures are engaged with one another and form the plurality of stack-side locking points such that tensile forces extending in the tensile force direction are transmittable between the bolt plate and the at least one battery cell stack; and
when the bolt plate is in the unlocking position, the plurality of second bolt structures and the plurality of stack-side second engagement structures are not engaged with one another such that the at last one battery cell stack is removable from the bolt plate.

4. The battery module according to claim 3 , further comprising an actuating mechanism structured and arranged to at least one of adjust and drive the bolt plate into the unlocking position and into the locking position.

5. The battery module according to claim 4 , wherein the actuating mechanism includes at least one of:
an eccentric rotatably arranged about an axis of rotation extending parallel to the tensile force direction and drive-coupled to the bolt plate such that the eccentric is accessible from an outside of the module housing;
a slide slidable along the stack direction and drive-coupled to the bolt plate such that the slide is accessible from the outside of the module housing; and
an actuator that is drive-coupled to the bolt plate and that is actuatable via an electronic control system.

6. The battery module according to claim 3 , wherein:
the plurality of stack-side second engagement elements are structured as a plurality webs respectively having one of a T-shape and a L-shape, the plurality of webs extending transversely to the stack direction and transversely to the tensile force direction;
the plurality of second bolt structures are structured as a plurality of passage openings configured complementarily to the plurality of webs; and
when the bolt plate is in the locking position, a portion of each of the plurality of webs engages an associated passage opening of the plurality of passage openings on a side of the bolt plate facing away from the at least one battery cell stack forming a form-fitting connection in the tensile force direction.

7. The battery module according to claim 6 , wherein:
the plurality of housing-side first engagement elements are structured as a plurality of mushroom-like structures each having a head and a shank, the head having a cross sectional area that is larger than a cross sectional area of the shank;
the plurality of first bolt structures are structured as a plurality of elongated holes orientated parallel to the stack direction; and
at least one of the plurality of housing-side first engagement elements is arranged such that (i) the shank is fastened to the module housing and penetrates an associated elongated hole of the plurality of elongated holes and (ii) the head is arranged on a side of the bolt plate facing the at least one battery cell stack and engages behind the bolt plate transversely to the tensile force direction.

8. The battery module according to claim 2 , wherein:
the plurality of housing-side first engagement elements are structured as a plurality of mushroom-like structures each having a head and a shank, the head having a cross sectional area that is larger than a cross sectional area of the shank;
the plurality of first bolt structures are structured as a plurality of elongated holes orientated parallel to the stack direction; and
at least one of the plurality of housing-side first engagement elements is arranged such that (i) the shank is fastened to the module housing and penetrates an associated elongated hole of the plurality of elongated holes and (ii) the head is arranged on a side of the bolt plate facing the at least one battery cell stack and engages behind the bolt plate transversely to the tensile force direction.

9. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein:
within the at least one battery cell stack, the plurality of battery cells are each arranged against one another and held against one another via a plurality of cell holders; and
the plurality of stack-side second engagement elements are disposed on the plurality of cell holders.

10. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein:
the module housing includes (i) a first housing part couplable to a vehicle floor of a vehicle and (ii) a second housing part;
the plurality of housing-side first engagement elements are disposed on the second housing part; and
the second housing part is detachably fixed on the first housing part.

11. The battery module according to claim 10 , wherein the second housing part is secured to the first housing part via a screwed connection.

12. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein:
the module housing includes (i) a first housing part couplable to a vehicle floor of a vehicle and (ii) a second housing part;
the plurality of housing-side first engagement elements are disposed on the first housing part;
the at least one battery cell stack is attached to the second housing part; and
the second housing part is detachably fixed on the first housing part.

13. The battery module according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one battery cell stack is non-detachably coupled on the second housing part via a glued connection.

14. Th

Assignees

• Mahle Int Gmbh

Inventors

• Haeusler Ingo
• Hoffmann Dierk
• Kaiser Tilman
• Knauss Ruediger

Classifications

• B60K1/04 Primary

  of the electric storage means for propulsion · CPC title

• H01M50/103

  prismatic or rectangular (H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01M50/209

  adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells (H01M50/216 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60K2001/005

  the electric storage means · CPC title

• H01M50/262 Primary

  with fastening means, e.g. locks · CPC title