Method for Producing an Energy Supply Unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018294503-A1
Application number	US-201816007068-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 13, 2018
Priority date	Dec 16, 2015
Publication date	Oct 11, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method is provided for producing an energy supply unit for a vehicle having a housing and a stack, realized as a fuel-cell stack, battery stack or capacitor stack, arranged in the housing. The method includes providing the housing, including first and second tie-rod plates and first and second pressure-plate arrangements, wherein each pressure-plate arrangement is fastened to each tie-rod plate, arranging the stack between the two tie-rod plates and between the two pressure-plate arrangements, applying a bracing force to the two pressure-plate arrangements for the purpose of bracing the stack, and fastening at least the first pressure-plate arrangement to both tie-rod plates while the bracing force is being maintained upon the two pressure-plate arrangements. At least one pressure-plate arrangement includes a tolerance compensation system including an end plate securely connected to the tie-rod plates, a contact-pressure plate arranged between the end plate and the stack, and a positioning arrangement.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for producing an energy supply unit having a housing and a stack, including a fuel-cell stack, battery stack or capacitor stack, arranged in the housing, the method comprising:
providing the housing, including a first tie-rod plate, a second tie-rod plate, a first pressure-plate arrangement and a second pressure-plate arrangement, wherein each pressure-plate arrangement is fastened to each tie-rod plate, arranging the stack between the first and second tie-rod plates and between the first and second pressure-plate arrangements, applying a bracing force to the first and second pressure-plate arrangements for the purpose of bracing the stack, and fastening at least the first pressure-plate arrangement to both tie-rod plates while the bracing force is being maintained upon the first and second pressure-plate arrangements, wherein at least one of the first and second pressure-plate arrangements includes a tolerance compensation system, wherein the tolerance compensation system includes an end plate to be securely connected to the tie-rod plates, a contact-pressure plate arranged between the end plate and the stack, and a positioning arrangement, wherein a distance between the end plate and the contact-pressure plate is altered by the positioning arrangement, wherein the positioning arrangement includes a free space between the contact-pressure plate and the end plate, and wherein a hardenable material is injected into the free space.

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the positioning arrangement is actuated for the purpose of altering the distance between the end plate and the contact-pressure plate after the first and second tie-rod plates have been securely connected to the first and second pressure-plate arrangements.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, for the purpose of altering the distance between the end plate and the contact-pressure plate, the positioning arrangement is actuated from outside, through at least one of the first and second tie-rod plates and the first and second pressure-plate arrangements.

4 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the positioning arrangement comprises a screw, and wherein the contact-pressure plate is supported on the end plate by means of the screw.

5 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an eccentric is used as the positioning arrangement, between the contact-pressure plate and the end plate.

6 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a cylinder/piston system is provided, wherein the hardenable material is injected into the cylinder and the piston moves as a result, wherein the piston moves the contact-pressure plate.

7 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a cylinder/piston system is provided and the free space is located outside the cylinder/piston system, and wherein the contact-pressure plate is moved by the piston and the hardenable material is injected into the free space.

8 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the housing is wrapped in a fiber-reinforced plastic, wherein the wrapping is laid around the first and second tie-rod plates and around the first and second pressure-plate arrangements.

9 . The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein, for the purpose of altering the distance between the end plate and the contact-pressure plate, the positioning arrangement is actuated from outside, through at least one of the first and second tie-rod plates and the first and second pressure-plate arrangements.

10 . The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the positioning arrangement comprises a screw, and wherein the contact-pressure plate is supported on the end plate by means of the screw.

11 . The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein an eccentric is used as the positioning arrangement, between the contact-pressure plate and the end plate.

12 . The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein a cylinder/piston system is provided, wherein the hardenable material is injected into the cylinder and the piston moves as a result, wherein the piston moves the contact-pressure plate.

13 . The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein a cylinder/piston system is provided and the free space is located outside the cylinder/piston system, and wherein the contact-pressure plate is moved by the piston and the hardenable material is injected into the free space.

14 . The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the housing is wrapped in a fiber-reinforced plastic, wherein the wrapping is laid around the first and second tie-rod plates and around the first and second pressure-plate arrangements.

15 . The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the housing is wrapped in a fiber-reinforced plastic, wherein the wrapping is laid around the first and second tie-rod plates and around the first and second pressure-plate arrangements.

16 . An energy supply unit for a vehicle, comprising:
a housing having a first tie-rod plate, a second tie-rod plate, a first pressure-plate arrangement and a second pressure-plate arrangement, wherein the first and second tie-rod plates and the first and second pressure-plate arrangements form four sides of the housing, a stack arranged in the housing and realized as a fuel-cell stack, battery stack or capacitor stack, between the first and second tie-rod plates and between the first and second pressure-plate arrangements, wherein the first and second pressure-plate arrangements are fastened to the first and second tie-rod plates in order to maintain a bracing force upon the stack, wherein at least one of the first and second pressure-plate arrangements includes a tolerance compensation system, wherein the tolerance compensation system includes an end plate, which is securely connected to the first and second tie-rod plates, a contact-pressure plate arranged between the end plate and the stack, and a positioning arrangement, wherein a distance between the end plate and the contact-pressure plate can be altered by the positioning arrangement, wherein the positioning arrangement includes a free space between the contact-pressure plate and the end plate, and wherein a hardenable material is injected into the free space.

17 . The energy supply unit as claimed in claim 16 , wherein, for the purpose of altering the distance between the end plate and the contact-pressure plate, the positioning arrangement can be actuated from the outside, through at least one of the first and second tie-rod plates and the first and second pressure-plate arrangements.

18 . The energy supply unit as claimed in claims 16 , wherein the positioning arrangement comprises a screw, and wherein the contact-pressure plate is supported on the end plate by the screw, and/or wherein an eccentric is used as a positioning arrangement between the contact-pressure plate and the end plate.

19 . The energy supply unit as claimed in claim 16 , wherein a cylinder/piston system is provided, wherein the hardenable material is injected into the cylinder in order to move the cylinder, wherein the piston moves the contact-pressure plate.

20 . The energy supply unit as claimed in claim 16 , wherein a cylinder/piston system is provided and the free space is located outside the cylinder/piston system, and wherein the contact-pressure plate can be moved by the piston and the hardenable material is injected into the free space.

Assignees

• Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag

Inventors

• Hoefler Thomas
• Eitzenberger Paul
• Moser Martin
• Wittchen Lukas
• Haase Stefan

Classifications

• H01M50/264

  for cells or batteries, e.g. straps, tie rods or peripheral frames · CPC title

• H01M50/227

  Organic material · CPC title

• H01M50/204

  Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells · CPC title

• B60L11/1879

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60L11/1898

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic