AT521526A1 - battery - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery (1), a plurality of battery modules (2) being arranged in a row on a flat side of a common structural component (10), the battery modules (2) each having a lower busbar (5) and an upper busbar (6 ), between which there are battery cells (4) with a uniform orientation of their poles (9), each battery module (2) having an upper cell holder (8) and at least one lower cell pack holder (7) being present, the battery modules (2) each having their lower busbar (5) are aligned with the common structural component (10), and all the battery cells (4) contained in the row with only one type of poles (9) face the structural component (10) and the battery modules (2) in the row Series are connected by two successive battery modules (2) an electrical connection between a lower busbar (5) of a first of these battery modules (2) and an o beren busbar (6) of the second of these battery modules (2).

Description

The invention relates to a battery with a plurality of electrically interconnected battery modules, each of which has a plurality of combined battery cells with electrical poles arranged on opposite end faces of the battery module and a plurality of poles of these battery cells that electrically connect bus bars, with a plurality of battery modules being fastened to a common structural component.

The structural component can be, in particular, a heat-conducting plate arranged on the end face of the battery modules for cooling and / or heating the battery cells assigned to them. In the case of a metallic heat-conducting plate, there is electrical insulation which electrically insulates the busbars from the metal heat-conducting plate.

For cooling the battery cells of a battery, it is known (EP2564448B1) to clamp the battery modules from combined battery cells on the bottom side, that is to say on the lower end face, on a heat conducting plate. The heat-conducting plate has cooling channels through which coolant flows, as a result of which the battery cells are to be actively cooled. All poles of the battery cells are arranged on the upper end face of the battery modules and are electrically connected to one another in accordance with a parallel or serial connection of the battery cells via busbars, which are often also referred to as “busbars or cell connectors / cell connector boards. With such a bottom-side cooling of the battery cells, the battery cells can be tempered - however, such cooling is comparatively slow due to the insulation housing of the battery cells. Therefore, temperature peaks in the battery cells, for example caused by a high electrical power demand, are compensated comparatively slowly, which can adversely affect the function or the service life of the battery cells and thus the battery.

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In addition, for head cooling of batteries (DE102007063178A1) it is known to provide a cooling plate between the poles of the battery cells and the power strips.

The thermal contact between the metallic poles and the cooling plate can ensure increased heat dissipation, but the construction of such a battery is comparatively complex and, due to the mechanical connection, is also comparatively difficult to maintain.

The object of the invention is therefore to create a battery with a plurality of battery modules which is simple in construction and assembly and has good heat conduction and as uniform a temperature distribution as possible. In addition, the battery should have a mechanically stable or robust structure.

The invention achieves the object set by a battery comprising a plurality of battery modules and at least one structural component, a plurality of battery modules being arranged in a row on a flat side of a common structural component, the battery modules each having a lower busbar and an upper busbar, between which a plurality There are battery cells with a uniform orientation of their poles, one type of poles being connected to the lower busbar and the other type of poles being connected to the upper busbar, each battery module having an upper cell holder which is above the battery cells and a lower cell pack holder which is underneath the lower conductor rail, whereby for said series of battery modules the following applies:

that their battery modules are each aligned with their lower cell package holder to the common structural component, that all battery cells contained in the row are facing the structural component with only one type of poles,

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N 757 that the battery modules of the series are connected in series, in that two successive battery modules each have an electrical connection between a lower busbar of a first of these battery modules and an upper busbar of the second of these battery modules.

This combination of features advantageously means that a plurality of battery modules which are fastened to a common structural component all have a uniform orientation of their poles towards the structural component. Nevertheless, a high voltage can be achieved by connecting the modules in series and a high capacity by connecting the battery cells in parallel in the individual modules. The fact that the battery cells each face the structural component with a metallic pole results in good heat conduction. Because each battery cell with the same pole faces the structural component, there is uniform heat conduction for all battery modules which are arranged in series on the structural component, the temperature distribution within the modules also being largely uniform, since this transfers a large part of the thermal energy to the Deliver front ends on which the poles of the battery cells are present and less on the side surfaces on which the insulated housings of the battery cells are present.

A lower cell packet holder is preferably provided for each battery module.

The lower cell packet holder is preferably frame-shaped and thus has at least one recess which leaves a thermal path free between the lower busbar and the structural component. It is thereby advantageously achieved that the material of the lower cell packet holder does not deteriorate the heat conduction between the battery cells and the structural component.

The upper cell holder and the lower cell packet holder are preferably connected via spacers.

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The lower cell pack holder preferably has a peripheral boundary which surrounds the battery cell pack (that is to say all the battery cells connected by the lower busbar and preferably also the spacers) of the battery module. The battery cell pack is inserted into the frame of the circumferential boundary with an attached, in particular welded, lower busbar. This circumferential boundary or this frame, which runs parallel to the longitudinal alignment of the battery cells, preferably adjoins at least one surface which is oriented to the bottom and connects at least two sides of the circumferential boundary. The battery cell pack and the holding frame are preferably rectangular, both of which can have rounded corners due to the preferred use of round cells.

The lower cell packet holder preferably has at least one flat area which is aligned parallel to the lower busbar and has or delimits at least one recess.

The surface of this flat region facing the lower busbar preferably lies flat with the surface of the structural component facing the lower busbar, the lower busbar, optionally with the interposition of electrical insulation, on the surface of the structural component facing the lower busbar and the surface facing the lower busbar of the flat area of the lower cell packet holder.

Alternatively, the surface of the flat region facing the lower busbar is at a distance from the surface of the structural component facing the lower busbar, which is equal to the thickness of a latent heat store that rests on the structural component, the surface of the latent heat store facing the lower busbar being flat the surface of the flat area of the lower cell packet holder facing the lower conductor rail and the lower conductor rail, optionally with the interposition of an electrical one

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Insulation rests on the surface of the latent heat store facing the lower busbar and on the surface of the flat area of the lower cell packet holder facing the lower busbar. If there is electrical insulation on the structural component itself, on which the latent heat store rests, the surface of this electrical insulation is to be considered in this paragraph as the surface of the structural component facing the lower conductor rail.

The upper cell holder preferably has passage openings. The spacers preferably have passage openings.

The lower cell packet holder preferably has through openings.

At least one fastening means preferably runs from above through a passage opening of the upper cell holder, through the passage opening of a spacer and through a passage opening of the lower cell packet holder as far as into the structural component. This advantageously ensures that the components of the modules can be attached to the structural component in a simple manner. The final assembly of the modules can take place on the structural component, so that the structural component forms a mounting plate for the battery. The fastening means are preferably detachably fastened, in particular screwed, in the structural component.

The lower busbar preferably also has passage openings, the said fastening means also running through the passage openings of the lower busbar.

In the case of two successive battery modules, the electrical connection between them is preferably achieved in that, in the first of these battery modules, a connection surface is connected on one side to the lower busbar, which extends to the upper busbar of the second of these battery modules, the upper busbar of the second module being in a contact area the connection surface is mechanically and electrically connected.

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This results in a robust electrical connection between the modules, this connection advantageously being already integrated in the module structure in the form of the connection surface. The connecting surface is particularly preferably connected in one piece or monolithically to the lower busbar.

When two battery modules are put together, the connecting surface of one module is preferably connected to the upper busbar of the other module, for example riveted, soldered, welded, laser-welded, clamped, screwed, etc.

The upper busbar and the connecting surface are preferably connected in that they have areas lying one above the other and are provided in these areas with corresponding openings through which fastening means, in particular screws, extend into the upper cell holder. As a result, the modules are electrically connected in a simple and quick and, above all, detachable manner, which, together with detachable fastening means fastened to the structural component, enables the battery to be disassembled into individual battery modules.

The upper cell holder of a first battery module preferably has a shape which, seen in the longitudinal direction of the battery cells, overlaps the upper cell holder of an adjacent second battery module.

The overlapping regions preferably have an opposite shape, so that in the assembled state they have only one degree of freedom in the longitudinal direction of the battery cells.

Preferably, two spacers, particularly preferably at two adjacent corner regions of the battery module, project through the lower of the two overlapping upper cell holders into the upper of the two overlapping cell holders, so that in the assembled state these have only one degree of freedom in the longitudinal direction of the battery cells.

At least one fastening means preferably runs through a passage opening in the shape of the upper cell holder of the first battery module lying above it and one

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Through opening of the area below the upper cell holder of the adjacent second battery module, which fastening means extends to the structural component.

The structural component is preferably a heat-conducting plate, in which means for active cooling or heating of the battery are contained. The advantage of this is that the good and uniform heat transfer between the battery cells and the structural component can be used to actively and uniformly temper the battery. It is particularly advantageous that a common element is used for uniform temperature control and that not every battery module requires its own temperature control element that is separate from the other modules.

At least one latent heat store is preferably arranged between the lower busbar and the structural component. It is thereby advantageously achieved that temperature peaks can be weakened by the latent heat store, so that it fulfills a kind of buffer function between the battery cells and the structural component, in particular the heat conducting plate.

Each battery module preferably has at least one latent heat store, this being inserted into a shape of the lower cell packet holder, the shape having at least one recess which leaves a thermal path between the latent heat store and the structural component. On the one hand, this ensures that the lower cell packet holder also forms a holder for the latent heat store and that the material of the cell packet holder does not reduce the heat conduction between the battery cells, lower busbar, latent heat store and structural component, in particular the heat conducting plate.

The latent heat storage device is preferably electrically conductive, since electrically conductive materials are generally also good heat conductors.

The structural component is preferably electrically conductive, with between the lower busbars of the battery modules and the

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Structural component at least one electrical insulation is present, which interrupts the electrical path between the lower busbars of the battery modules and the structural component. The structural component particularly preferably consists of metal, in particular steel or aluminum, depending on the mechanical and thermal requirements.

The upper busbar preferably lies on the upper cell holder, contact elements projecting from the upper busbar through openings in the upper cell holder to the upper poles of the battery cells and being fastened to them. As a result, the upper cell holder advantageously serves as a spacer between the battery cells and the upper busbar. The upper conductor rail is preferably designed as a flat sheet metal from which the contact elements protrude.

Each battery module preferably has a contact area on one of its upper side edges, which is electrically conductively connected to the lower busbar of the same battery module, the upper cell holder between the contact area and the upper busbar of the same battery module having an increased limitation, with the opposite side edge of the The upper busbar is exposed to the battery module, the contact area of a battery module coming to rest on the area of the upper busbar of the adjacent battery module that is exposed on the side edge when two adjacent battery modules are put together. As a result, the electrical circuitry of the battery modules is already formed when they are put together.

The lower cell packet holder is preferably frame-shaped, with at least one web of the lower cell packet holder separating the opening of the frame into at least two recesses. A passage opening is preferably present in at least one web, a fastening means projecting in the region of the upper busbar through a through opening of the upper cell holder, a through opening of the lower busbar and the through opening in the web. This results in a fixation

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N 757 of the battery module in the central area in which the upper busbar is located and not only at the edge area of the battery module.

The spacers are preferably designed as hollow bodies, through which fastening means run, the spacers each having a lower centering element and an upper centering element, which are sections of the spacer with a smaller cross section than the region of the spacer lying between them.

The lower centering element preferably protrudes through a through opening of the lower busbar and into a through opening of the lower cell packet holder.

The upper centering element preferably projects into a passage opening of the upper cell holder.

The structural component is preferably plate-shaped, with the opposite surfaces of the structural component being of identical design, battery modules being attached to both surfaces of the structural component, each of which is aligned with its lower busbar to the common structural component, all of the battery cells of the battery modules contained having only one type of poles are facing the structural component, the battery modules, which are arranged on the respective surface of the structural component and are present in a row there, are connected in series by two successive battery modules each providing an electrical connection between a lower busbar of a first of these battery modules and an upper busbar of the second of these battery modules. By having battery modules on both sides of the structural component, a very compact battery is created. The fact that the battery cells of the modules attached on different sides with identical poles, preferably negative poles, face the structural component also results in uniform heat conduction towards the structural component for the battery modules lying opposite one another. The

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Battery modules can be arranged in mirror image, so that the fasteners on both sides run in a line. The battery modules on the two sides can, however, also be offset from one another or arranged in opposite directions, the fastening means of the two sides then being located at different positions.

The structural component preferably has threaded bores into which fastening means of the battery modules are screwed, the fastening means having a head or a nut which abuts the upper cell holder from above. This advantageously ensures that the battery modules are detachably attached to the structural component.

The structural component preferably consists of two plate-shaped parts which lie flat against one another, the battery modules being fastened to the part facing them.

The structural component preferably has a width in order to be able to accommodate at least, preferably precisely, a number of battery modules and a length in order to be able to accommodate at least three battery modules connected in series.

In a particularly preferred embodiment variant, the battery has at least one structural component in the form of a heat-conducting plate and at least one latent heat store. This variant will be discussed in detail below.

The battery preferably has a latent heat store, which has a phase change material and a solid, heat-conducting support structure which receives the phase change material, the latent heat store being provided between the lower busbar of the battery module and the heat conducting plate.

If the heat-conducting plate is provided on the end face, which has only one type of poles of the battery cells, of a plurality of battery modules, a significantly improved temperature control of the battery cells can be achieved - with which, in particular, constantly high temperatures

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Amounts of heat that accumulate in the battery cells can be dissipated steadily and evenly.

If the battery also has a latent heat store with a phase change material and with a solid heat-conducting support structure which receives the phase change material, the latent heat store being provided between the busbar of the battery module and the heat-conducting plate, temperature peaks can be caused by a comparatively high power output and / or a high charging power , which raise the temperature of the battery above the phase change temperature of the latent heat storage, are quickly and reliably dissipated by the battery cells - which significantly increases the stability of the battery.

It can also preferably be ensured that the battery cells can be kept at their preferred operating temperature even under high, in particular short-term, stress. The latent heat accumulator arranged between the battery cells and the heat-conducting plate can in fact absorb thermal energy emitted by the battery cells - with which it can represent a large heat sink for peak loads and also a buffer capacity. Therefore, the heat can flow away efficiently through the metallic poles of the battery cells, which in turn protects the battery cells from overloads. The heat-conducting plate is in thermal contact with the latent heat storage device and continuously extracts thermal energy from it in order to avoid overheating. According to the invention, there is therefore a particularly good thermal connection between the battery cells and the heat sink or heat source.

At this point it is stated that the invention can also be used for heating the battery cells or for buffering the temperature in an ideal range for the function or service life of the battery in order to establish a particularly good thermal connection between the battery cells and heat sources.

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In addition, the construction of the battery according to the invention leads, in particular, to a heat-conducting plate including latent heat accumulator - and does not impair its structurally simple, modular construction. Due to the solid support structure of the latent heat storage, which receives the phase change material, this also contributes to the mechanical stability of the battery module and thus further increases the stability of the battery. In addition, the use of a latent heat store relieves the heat conducting plate against thermal peak performances and can therefore provide a constructive or weight-reducing simplification on the heat conducting plate.

Despite additional latent heat storage, the battery according to the invention can thus stand out from known devices by virtue of its small size and high energy and power density.

The weight of the battery can be further reduced if a cellular material forms the carrier structure of the latent heat storage. In particular, a cellular, open-pore material can be distinguished in order to absorb a high proportion of phase change material. Preferably graphite foam as a cellular material can be suitable in this regard - due to its comparatively low weight, its comparatively high storage capacity for phase change material and its comparatively high mechanical resilience, which improves the stability of the latent heat storage. In addition, by using graphite as the matrix material, a high thermal conductivity and thus a homogeneous heat transfer within the latent heat storage can be achieved.

If wax forms the phase change material of the latent heat accumulator, a latent heat accumulator that can be produced inexpensively and in a simple manner can be made possible.

The phase change material is preferably enclosed in the carrier structure of the latent heat store or held in particular by capillary forces, so that it does not run out when liquefied

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N 757 exits the latent heat storage. This advantageously means that encapsulation, for example a plastic casing, of the latent heat store can be dispensed with. The latent heat store could, however, be provided with a casing, preferably made of thermally highly conductive and electrically non-conductive material. The latent heat store could therefore itself be provided with electrical insulation, or form it.

In general, it is mentioned that the reliability of the battery can be increased particularly if the phase change material in the latent heat store undergoes a first-order phase transition. Due to the first order phase transition, the entire waste heat of the battery cells changes into the enthalpy of fusion of the phase change material, which means that there is no temperature increase in the latent heat storage until the phase transition has been completed.

If the battery module has a cell packet holder, which forms a receptacle for the battery cells of the battery module and the latent heat storage device on a first side, this can not only hold the mechanical connection of the battery cells in position, but also the components of the battery module that are in thermal contact and stable against each other align.

The thermal connection between the battery cells and the heat-conducting plate can be improved if the latent heat store projects through the cell packet holder and is thereby thermally connected to the heat-conducting plate arranged on this second side of the cell packet holder. In addition, the cell packet holder can be dimensioned mechanically, regardless of its thermal conductivity, which can further simplify the construction. The lower cell packet holder and the upper cell holder are preferably in the form of an injection molded plastic part, the plastics used in the injection molding usually having a lower thermal conductivity.

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The lower cell packet holder is preferably designed as a frame, at least one latent heat store being inserted into an opening in the frame.

The positional accuracy of the components of the battery in the thermal path between the battery cells and the heat-conducting plate can be further improved if the latent heat store has a, in particular plate-shaped, base body and a structure or a projecting section projecting from this base body, which projects through complementary cutouts in the cell packet holder.

For example, knobs form the projecting structure in order to obtain a continuous structure on the cell packet holder in the area of the cutouts and thus not to endanger its mechanical stability.

The plate-shaped base body preferably has a step-like tapered surface on one side, this protruding into a complementary recess or opening in the cell packet holder.

The thermal resistance between the battery cells and the heat-conducting plate can be further reduced if the electrical insulation, if necessary, is designed as a thermal contact element, in particular a heat-conducting film.

Comparatively simple design conditions can be made possible on the battery module if the busbar thermally connects to the latent heat store, the latent heat store to the electrical insulation and the electrical insulation to the heat conducting plate. With this arrangement, the — preferably electrically conductive — latent heat storage device can be electrically decoupled from the poles of the battery cells, but nevertheless subject all battery cells connected via the busbar to uniform temperature loads. In addition, this arrangement can create a particularly compact battery with little design effort.

The cooling / heating effect of the heat-conducting plate can be improved if the heat-conducting plate has active cooling and / or heating means.

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Heating / cooling agents can be part of a hydraulic circuit. Of course, these are also conceivable, for example, as electric heaters, Peltier elements, evaporators of a cooling circuit, etc. A further possibility is the provision of a hollow heat-conducting plate with cooling fins in the interior of the heat-conducting plate, an air or other heat transport medium stream being passed through the heat-conducting plate.

Another possibility is to provide one or more heat pipes (heat pipe or two-phase thermosiphon) in the heat conducting plate. A heat pipe is known from the prior art and represents an encapsulated system filled with working medium, which transports thermal energy from one point (cooling zone) of the heat pipe to another (heating zone). The thermal energy from the heat-conducting plate can thus advantageously be conducted outside to a region of the battery housing. The housing can then be cooled from the outside, so that the battery can have a closed housing without coolant supply to the interior of the battery. The battery according to the invention thus preferably comprises a housing which surrounds the battery modules and the at least one heat-conducting plate and at least one element which transfers thermal energy between the heat-conducting plate and the housing of the battery, in particular in the form of a heat pipe.

The temperature of the poles can be improved if the busbar has a metal sheet which runs over the poles of the battery cells. The metal sheet with projecting contact areas is preferably electrically connected to the poles of the battery cells. This allows material tolerances and thermal expansion and / or contraction to be absorbed via deformations in the projecting contact area. The risk of thermal contact loss between the busbar and the heat-conducting plate can thus be reduced considerably.

The construction of the battery can be further simplified if the battery cells are designed as round cells. The provision of a compact busbar for interconnecting the battery cells is made easier because round cells on both

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End faces have electrical poles. In addition, one busbar per end of the battery module is sufficient if all round cells of the battery module are connected in parallel.

Exemplary design variants of the object according to the invention are shown in the figures.

Fig. 1: shows a sectional view of a battery with several

Battery modules.

Fig. 2nd : shows a detailed view of FIG. 1. Fig. 3rd : shows an exploded view of a preferred Battery module. Fig. 4th : shows a particularly preferred lower

Cell package holder of the version with latent heat storage.

Fig. 5: shows a particularly preferred lower

Cell package holder of the design variant without latent heat storage.

6: shows a preferred battery module without showing the round cells.

Fig. 7: illustrates the layer structure of the combination of three preferred battery modules with latent heat storage on a heat conducting plate.

Fig. 8: illustrates the layer structure of the assembly of three preferred battery modules without latent heat storage on a heat conducting plate.

Fig. 9: illustrates the electrical connection of the busbars of three battery modules with latent heat storage.

Fig. 10: illustrates the electrical connection of the busbars of three battery modules without latent heat storage.

Fig. 11: shows the composition of three preferred battery modules with latent heat storage on a multi-part heat-conducting plate.

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Fig. 12: shows the compilation of three preferred battery modules without latent heat storage on opposite sides of a multi-part

Thermal plate.

For the purposes of this description, “below,“ lower etc. facing structural component 10 or closer to structural component 10 and “above,“ upper etc. facing away from structural component 10 or further away from structural component 10, regardless of the spatial position of the battery 1.

1, a battery 1 is shown as an example, which has a plurality of battery modules 2, 3. The battery module 2 is cut in its longitudinal direction; For better orientation, the position of such a sectional plane is illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 11, although FIG. 11 shows another embodiment variant.

The battery modules 2, 3 each have a mechanical and electrical combination of combined battery cells 4, metallic busbars 5, 6 and a cell packet holder 7 and cell holder 8, preferably made of plastic.

The battery cells 4 protrude into an upper cell holder 8, with which this cell holder 8 receives the battery cells 4 in some areas in a form-fitting manner and thus fixes or stores them - as can be seen from FIG. 1 - this ensures high mechanical stability of the battery modules 2, 3 . The electrical poles 9, namely positive and negative poles, are arranged on opposite ends 30, 31 of the battery modules 2, 3 and are electrically connected to the busbars 5 and 6 provided there, that is to say electrically connected to them, which busbars 5 and 6 serve as a cell connector / cell connector board of the battery cells 4 in a battery module 2, 3 each.

In addition, the battery 1 has a load-bearing structural component 10, which is preferably designed as a metallic one-part or multi-part heat conducting plate 11. This heat conducting plate 11, which is preferably composed of two plate parts, is the front of the

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Battery modules 2, 3 are provided - in the present example and in the preferred embodiment variant on the respective lower end face 30, that is, on the bottom of the respective battery modules 2, 3 and between them.

The battery cells 4 of the battery modules 2, 3 are in thermal connection with the heat conducting plate 11, which is designed for cooling and / or heating the battery cells 4. For this purpose, the heat-conducting plate 11 is actively thermally stressed via heating / coolant 12, not shown. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the heat-conducting plate 11 preferably has active heating / coolant 12 in the form of liquid lines 13 in the heat-conducting plate 11, through which a heat transfer medium, not shown, is passed in order to contribute to the temperature of the battery cells 4.

Passive heating / cooling agents, such as heat-conducting fins (not shown in more detail), are of course conceivable in combination with the active heating / cooling agents 12.

In order to couple the battery cells 4 thermally advantageously to the heat-conducting plate 11, according to the invention the heat-conducting plate 11 is provided on the lower end face 30 of the battery modules 2, 3, which has poles 9 of the battery cells 4. This means that the battery cells 4 can be supplied or discharged with thermal energy particularly quickly via the metallic conductivity of the poles 9. The heat-conducting plate 11 is preferably thermally coupled to the negative poles 9.2, specifically via electrical insulation 14 (if required) and the busbar 5, which connects to the respective poles 9 of the battery cells 4 - as can be seen in detail in FIG. 2. For this purpose, the electrical insulation 14 for reducing the thermal resistance is designed as a thermal contact element. Furthermore, an electrical short circuit between the battery cells 4 and the battery modules 2, 3 can be avoided with the aid of the electrical insulation 14. The modular structure of the battery 1 can therefore continue to be guaranteed, even if the battery modules 2, 3

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N 757 are cooled together by an electrically conductive heat-conducting plate 11.

In a preferred embodiment variant, the battery 1 also has an optional latent heat store 15, which is provided between the lower conductor rail 5 of the battery module 2, 3 and the heat conducting plate 11. The latent heat store 15 preferably consists of a phase change material 15.1 and a solid heat-conducting support structure 15.2, which receives the phase change material 15.1 - which is not shown in more detail. If the latent heat accumulator 15 is not present, the heat-conducting plate 11 preferably connects directly to the lower conductor rail 5, with electrical insulation 14 optionally being provided between the lower conductor rail 5 and the heat-conducting plate 11 in the case of an electrically conductive heat-conducting plate 11.

Due to a latent heat store 15, the thermal energy emitted by the battery cells 4 can be converted into enthalpy of fusion in the latent heat store 15. A heat sink with a high heat capacity can thus be provided in the thermal path between the battery cells 4 and the heat-conducting plate 11. However, the same can also apply to an energy path in the opposite direction, in that the latent heat store 15 serves as a heat source for the battery cells 4. In this way, thermal peaks can be smoothed and thus the battery cells 4 can be kept more uniformly at a desired operating temperature.

The solid support structure 15.2 is preferably formed from a cellular, open-pore material, in particular graphite foam. However, it is conceivable within the scope of the invention to use a different thermal conductivity matrix for this purpose, for example cellular materials such as PU foam, metal fiber or wire structures made of steel, aluminum, copper, nickel, alloy etc.

A wax is preferably used as the phase change material 15.1 of the latent heat storage 15, which is introduced into the support structure 15.2 and is held in this support structure 15.2, for example, by capillary forces.

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As can be seen in FIG. 1, the electrical insulation 14 between the latent heat store 15 and the heat-conducting plate 11, which also thermally connects to it, is made comparatively thin - which is made possible by using a heat-conducting film. In general, it is mentioned that any thermal conduction pad is conceivable as a thermal contact element, for example silicone rubber foils, silicone mats, mica discs, ceramic discs, etc.

A formed, preferably bent, electrically conductive metal sheet, for example a nickel sheet, has proven itself as the metallic busbar 5, 6 - among other things, in order to increase the mechanical strength of the battery module 2, 3.

The metal sheet of the respective busbar runs over all the poles 9 of the battery cells 4 of the battery module 2 facing it, which on the one hand increases the thermal capacity of the busbars 5, 6 due to the large area, but also to an enlarged contact area of the lower busbar 5 with the heat conducting plate 11 leads.

According to FIG. 2, a protruding contact formation 5.1 can be seen on the metal sheet, which is electrically connected to the negative pole 9.2 of the battery cell 4.

The battery cell pack protrudes into a receptacle 18 on a first side 7.1 of the lower cell pack holder 7. This receptacle 18 is not only used for lateral guidance of the battery cell pack, but is preferably also designed to receive the latent heat store 15. Battery cells 4 and latent heat storage 15 are thus positioned relative to one another in a simple constructional manner, which ensures good thermal coupling.

This is all the more so that the latent heat store 15 extends through the cell packet holder 7 on a second side 7.2 and is thus directly thermally connected to the heat conducting plate 11 arranged on this second side 7.2 of the cell packet holder 7 - in the exemplary embodiment. The solution is simple in terms of design

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N 757 second side 7.2 opposite first side 7.1 with receptacle 18.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the latent heat store 15 has a plate-shaped base body 19 and a structure 20 projecting from this base body 19.

The projecting structure 20 engages through complementary recesses 21 in the cell packet holder 7 which are connected to the receptacle 18. This projecting structure 20 is formed by knobs, but other structures are also conceivable, such as a honeycomb structure. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the latent heat store 15 preferably has a projecting structure 20 in the region of each battery cell 4, so that the heat is dissipated from each pole 9 in a straight path into the heat-conducting plate 11 via the latent heat store 15. This can also be achieved if the respective projecting structure 20 extends over the region of a plurality of poles 9.

It can also be seen that the battery cells 4 are designed as round cells, as a result of which a high degree of compactness and subsequently a high energy density on the battery 1 is achieved.

The battery modules 2, 3 have — in the example shown on the edge and in the center — a plurality of spacers 22 with screw connections 23 running in the longitudinal direction of the battery cells 4. The battery modules 2, 3 are fastened to the heat conducting plate 11 via these spacers 22. The heat conducting plate 11 therefore not only serves for cooling and / or heating the battery cells 4, but also represents a carrier for the battery modules 2, 3.

3-12 show the components of a particularly preferred embodiment variant of the battery according to the invention. The components are designed in such a way that the battery can optionally be constructed with latent heat storage (FIGS. 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11) or without latent heat storage (FIGS. 5, 6, 8, 10, 12). It should be noted that FIGS. 3-12 all represent the same variant, with this

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Design variant between two different lower cell packet holders 7 can be selected, depending on whether a latent heat store 15 is to be integrated in the structure or not. 3-12, the components are shown partly individually (FIGS. 4 and 5) or in incomplete compilation (FIGS. 6-10) in order to make the structure and the interaction of the components easier to understand. 6-10 do not represent intermediate steps in the assembly of the modules or the battery, but rather result from the hiding of individual assemblies. The components in FIGS. 3-12 are identical except for the lower cell packet holder 7, but not all reference symbols have been used in all figures for reasons of clarity. The embodiment variant of FIGS. 3-12 differs from that of FIGS. 1-2 in the form of the latent heat store 15, the shape of the lower cell packet holder 7, the shape of the lower end of the spacers 22, the design of the heat conducting plate 11 and in the Electrical insulation position 14.

In Fig. 3 all components of a battery module 2 according to the invention are shown in an exploded view, which represents a unit of individual battery cells 4 connected in parallel, in particular round cells with a uniform orientation of their poles 9.

Battery cells 4

All battery cells 4 of the battery module 2 have a uniform alignment of their plus poles 9.1 and minus poles 9.2. Those poles 9, which enable better heat conduction, are preferably facing the lower cell packet holder 7, so that, when the battery is assembled, they are facing the structural component 10, in particular the heat conducting plate 11. In known battery cells 4, in particular in round cells, the negative poles 9.2 are more thermally conductive, so that they are preferably facing the heat-conducting plate 11. The uniform alignment of the battery cells 4 has the advantage that temperature is withdrawn or supplied to them uniformly, so that a

N 757 sets largely uniform operating temperature of the battery cells 4. A battery module 2 preferably comprises at least 20 battery cells, particularly preferably at least 30.

If the battery cells 4 have an internal fuse and / or a valve or a predetermined breaking point for outgassing on a type of pole 9, this type of pole 9 is preferably at the top, that is to say facing away from the structural component 10.

Lower busbar 5 (see in particular FIGS. 3 and 10)

The poles 9 of the battery cells 4 are connected on the lower side by a lower conductor rail 5. The lower busbar 5 has a flat section which is at an angle of 90 ° to the longitudinal direction of the battery cells 4.

The lower busbar 5 preferably has a contact formation 5.1 for each battery cell 4, which protrudes from the plane of the flat section of the busbar 5 in the direction of the battery cell 4. The contact formations 5.1 can be embossed in the busbar 5. The respective contact deformation 5.1 is preferably welded to the respective pole 9, preferably negative pole 9.2. The lower busbar 5 preferably has through openings 5.2, which serve for the passage of the lower centering elements 22.1 of the spacers 22.

The flat area of the busbar 5 can optionally have an upturn 5.3 on one or two opposite sides, this serves to increase the torsional rigidity of the busbar 5 and to provide a guide or lateral holder for the battery cells 4. A connection surface 5.4 preferably adjoins one side of the flat area of the busbar 5, which extends from the flat area of the busbar 5 to the opposite upper end face 31 of the battery module 2. The connecting surface 5.4 is electrically conductively connected to the flat area of the busbar 5 and can preferably be provided in one piece with it, in that the busbar 5 consists of a flat area and connecting surface 5.4 as an L-shaped bent metal sheet.

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N 757

The connecting surface 5.4 can have a further bend in the form of a contact region 5.5 or 17 at its upper end. The bend may be less preferred on the upper busbar 6, so that it has an angled contact region 17. Less preferably, the lower busbar 5 of a battery module 2 can be connected to the upper busbar 6 of the adjacent battery module 2 by another suitable electrical connection, for example by at least one cable or at least one pin instead of the connection surface 5.4, it also being advantageous here if the connecting element is already attached to the lower conductor rail 5 of the respective battery module 2 and a number of battery modules 2 extends from there in the direction of the upper end face 31 of the battery module 2, in order to provide at least one contact point or contact surface spaced apart from the lower conductor rail 5.

Upper busbar 6 (see in particular Fig. 1, 3, 4, 10)

The upper busbar 6 preferably consists of a flat, flat region which is at an angle of 90 ° to the longitudinal direction of the battery cells 4. The busbar 6 has a contact element 6. 1 for each battery cell 4, which electrically connects it to the pole 9 of the respective battery cell 4. The contact elements 6.1 are preferably formed by partially cutting out or punching out the metal sheet of the upper busbar 6, the partially cut out or punched out areas being reshaped downward and permanently connected to the battery cells 4, in particular welded. The respective contact elements 6.1 are preferably connected to the respective positive pole 9.1 of the battery cells 4. Between the flat, flat area of the upper bus bar 6 and the battery cells 4, there is a section of the upper cell holder 8 which has openings for the passage of the contact elements 6.1. The openings are preferably of a smaller diameter or extent than the battery cells 4, so that the upper cell holder 8 has a spacer between them

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Page 24

N 757 is the battery cells 4 and the flat area of the upper busbar 6.

The upper busbar 6 preferably has through openings 6.2 which serve for the passage of projections 8.4 of the upper cell holder 8.

Upper cell holder 8 (best seen in Fig. 6)

The upper cell holder 8 has a flat section on which the upper busbar 6 rests, this flat section is surrounded by an elevated boundary 8.1, preferably on three sides. On that side on which there is no limitation 8.1, the electrical connection of two battery modules 2 takes place by connecting the upper busbar 6 of one battery module 2 to the lower busbar 5 of the other battery module 2, in particular by a conductive connection running between these busbars 5, 6 one or the connecting surface 5.4.

Each battery module 2 has on its upper end face 31 two contact surfaces which are present on opposite edges of the end face 31, one contact surface being electrically conductively connected to the upper bus bar 6, or preferably being formed by the latter, and the other contact surface being electrically conductive with the lower busbar 5 is connected, preferably integrally or monolithically connected to this.

The upper cell holder 8 is preferably provided on the two sides on which the contact surfaces are present with mutually identical formations 8.2, 8.3, wherein during assembly a form 8.2 of a first module 2 comes to lie below the form 8.3 of the second module 2. The two overlapping areas of the cell holders 8 of two adjacent battery modules 2 preferably each have at least one corresponding passage opening 8.5 through which a common fastening means, in particular a common screw connection 23, runs, via which the two upper cell holders 8 of the two battery modules 2 are fixed to one another. The upper cell holders 8 may also be less preferred

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Page 25

N 757 can be connected by gluing, plastic welding, riveting, screwing directly to one another or non-positively, e.g. press fit.

The raised limitation 8.1 comprises a section which forms a structural, raised separation of the upper busbar 6 and the contact area 17 of the lower busbar 5 of one and the same battery module 2 in order to prevent a short circuit in this area by conductive foreign bodies which may enter the battery.

Lower cell packet holder 7 (FIGS. 4, 5)

The special feature of the lower cell package holder 7 is that it is designed in the form of a holding frame which has at least one recess 7.3 and a frame surrounding this recess 7.3. The recess 7.3 can be designed separately in at least two recesses 7.3 by at least one web 7.9, which connects two opposite frame sides. At least one recess 7.3 preferably extends over a surface area which spans several end faces of battery cells 4. This means that there are not individual openings per battery cell 4, as is the case with the upper cell holder 8, but rather openings, each spanning an area which completely encloses the end faces of a plurality of battery cells 4.

The holding frame preferably has a circumferential boundary 7.6, which forms a lateral guide for the entire battery cell package of the battery module 2 and a structurally raised separation between the lower busbars 5 of adjoining battery modules 2. Passage openings 7.7 are present in the holding frame and are used for the passage of the screw connections 23. The passage openings 7.7 are preferably present in elevations 7.8, which extend to the lower, second side 7.2 of the lower cell packet holder 7.

Lower cell package holder 7 with latent heat storage (FIG. 4)

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N 757

In the particularly preferred embodiment variant, in which there is a latent heat store 15 between the lower conductor rail 5 and the heat-conducting plate 11, the recesses 7.3 are preferably in raised form 7.5 on the underside of the holding frame. The recess 7.3 preferably has a smaller area than the shape 7.5, so that the shape 7.5 forms a support surface 7.4 which preferably extends around the entire recess 7.3. The latent heat store 15 can be placed on this support surface 7.4, which is shaped in accordance with the interior of the formation 7.5 and has a tapered region which projects through the recess 7.3 so that it is at least flat with the lower, outer surface of the formation 7.5. The upper surface of the latent heat storage is preferably flat with the upper flat area 7.10 of the holding frame. In other words, the area that is limited by the circumferential boundary 7.6 in the example shown.

Lower cell packet holder 7 without latent heat storage (FIG. 5)

The lower cell package holder 7 of the embodiment variant without latent heat store 15 has the circumferential boundary 7.6, the areal extent of which is aligned parallel to the longitudinal direction of the battery cells 4. Below this circumferential boundary 7.6, the lower cell packet holder 7 has at least two flat areas 7.10 which are aligned parallel to the lower conductor rail 5 and which connect two sides of the circumferential boundary 7.6 below this. These flat areas 7.10 preferably each directly adjoin a third side of the circumferential boundary 7.6, which connects the two sides mentioned above. There is also preferably a web 7.9 as a further flat area 7.10, which, between the two flat areas 7.10 and spaced apart from these, connects two opposite sides of the boundary 7.6. In principle, this cell packet holder 7 could also be used with latent heat storage 15 if it is present in the recess 7.3 and is flush with the top of the flat areas 7.10, in which case the holder in FIG

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N 757

Form of the shape 7.5 is not available. If the latent heat storage 15 turns out to be thicker than the thickness of the flat areas 7.10, the cell packet holder 7 with spacers (eg elevations 7.8 and / or shape 7.5 and / or spacer strips 24) must be placed on the structural component 10 so that the upper side of the flat areas 7.10 has a distance from the surface of the structural component 10, or an electrical insulation 14 (FIG. 1) resting thereon, which distance is equal to the thickness of the latent heat accumulator 15. In both design variants, the lower cell package holder 7 thus preferably has the circumferential boundary 7.6 and below it at least one flat area which is aligned parallel to the lower busbar 5 and has at least one recess 7.3 which is either present directly in this area or in one Formation 7.5 of this surface.

Electrical insulation 14

If the heat-conducting plate 11 consists of electrically conductive material or has an electrically conductive surface, electrical insulation 14 is to be provided between the lower conductor rail 5 and the heat-conducting plate 11, preferably in the form of a thin, highly heat-conductive layer. This electrical insulation 14 is preferably an additional layer which closes the recess 7.3 or the recesses 7.3 of the lower cell packet holder 7 designed as a holding frame with respect to the heat conducting plate 11. This electrical insulation 14 in the form of an additional layer can be arranged between the lower cell packet holder 7 and the heat conducting plate 11 or between the lower cell packet holder 7 and the lower conductor rail 5. The electrical insulation 14 is preferably a film or a thin plate, which has passage openings 14.1, for the passage of the screw connections 23 or the centering elements 22.1. The electrical insulation 14 is preferably present within the circumferential boundary 7.6 in the lower cell packet holder 7. The electrical insulation 14 is preferably on top of the parallel to the lower

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page

N 757

Busbar 5 aligned surfaces 7.10 of the cell package holder.

The electrical insulation 14 can also be at least one

Extend portion of the upstand 5.3 or the connecting surface 5.4 of the lower busbar 5, as can be seen in FIGS. 3, 9, 10. The electrical insulation 14 can in particular be designed as a flat element, which at least in the

Area between the modules 2 has an upstand at least on one side, preferably on both sides, less preferably all around.

The in the

Figures to be recognized circular structures of electrical

Insulation in the area of contact formation

5.1 are not

Openings, but an optional structure of electrical

insulation

14, which protrude into the depressions, which by the contact formation

5.1 can be formed on the underside of the lower busbar.

Spacer 22

The spacers are elongated hollow bodies, preferred

Hollow cylinder, which on both

Have ends of centering elements 22.1, 22.2 in the form of areas with a smaller cross-sectional size, in particular a smaller diameter (see FIGS. 3 and

The spacers 22 are hollow around the passage of the

To enable screw connections 23. In the example in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower centering element 22.1 is formed by a depression, in particular a counterbore, the same could also be carried out in the upper centering element 22.2, the

Cell packet holder 7 or the cell holder 8 in this

Case has corresponding projections, which protrude into the recess, as can be seen in the lower cell package holder 7 in Fig. 1.

Fasteners

The fastening means are preferably screw connections

23, in particular screws or bolts, which at the lower end

Have thread with which they in

Tapped holes of the

Structural component 10 or the heat conducting plate are screwed.

At the upper end, the screw connections 23 one

Screw head or a thread for fastening a nut.

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N 757

Structural component 10 / heat conducting plate 11

The structural component 10, particularly preferably in the form of an actively cooled heat-conducting plate 11, has an upper surface on which the battery modules 2 rest. If the structural component 10 is electrically conductive, the battery modules 2 are in contact with electrical insulation 14 or a latent heat store 15. The structural component 10 preferably has at least two outer depressions 10.1 running in the direction of the row of battery modules 2, particularly preferably also a middle such depression 10.2. The lower cell packet holder 7 of the embodiment variant without latent heat accumulator 15 can be inserted into the depressions 10.1, 10.2 with the flat areas adjoining the circumferential boundary 7.6, so that the circumferential boundary 7.6 rests on the structural component 10 in the region between the flat regions. The upper side of the flat areas is preferably flat with the upper side of the structural component 10, that is to say with the surface between the depressions 10.1, 10.2.

In the embodiment variant with latent heat accumulator 15, which are present in the inside of formations 7.5 of the lower cell packet holder 7, spacer strips 24 (in particular made of metal or plastic) are preferably placed on the heat-conducting plate 11, preferably in the depressions 10.1 and 10.2, which spacer strips 24 below the lower cell package holder 7 laterally outside the formations 7.5 then run. If the cell packet holder 7 has a web 7.9 which connects two opposite frame sides, there is preferably also a spacer bar 24 below this web 7.9. The spacer strips 24 have through openings 24.1, which serve for the passage of the screw connections 23. The spacer strips 24 preferably each extend over a plurality of series-connected battery modules 2, which are arranged in a row. The structural component 10 is thus preferably constructed identically in the variant with latent heat accumulator 15 and in the variant without latent heat accumulator 15, whereby by inserting the

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N 757

Spacer bars 24 result in increases in the depressions 10.1, 10.2. The height of the overall structure in the variant with latent heat accumulator 15 is only higher by the height of the latent heat accumulator 15 than the overall structure in the variant without latent heat accumulator 15.

Compilation of a battery module 2

The individual battery cells 4 and spacers 22 are inserted into the guides provided for them on the underside of the upper cell holder 8. The guides are formed by through openings which have a larger diameter at the bottom than at the top. As a result, the battery cells 4 can be introduced into the region with a larger diameter until they abut the annular surface at the transition to the region with a smaller diameter. In the case of the guides for the spacers 22, the diameter of the wide area is selected such that the upper centering element 22.2 of the spacers 22 can be guided therein, which comes into contact with an annular surface and / or the area of the spacer adjoining the centering element 22.2 22 comes to rest at the bottom of the cell holder 8.

From the other side, the upper busbar 6 is placed on the upper cell holder 8 and the contact element 6.1 is connected to the poles 9, in particular positive poles 9.1.

The lower conductor rail 5 is placed on the other side of the battery cells 4 and spacers 22, the battery cells 4 with their poles 9, in particular negative poles 9.2, abutting the contact formations 5.1. The lower centering elements 22.1 of the spacers 22 protrude through the through openings 5.2 of the lower busbar 5. The wider area of the spacers 22 between the centering elements 22.1, 22.2 is thus fixed between the upper cell holder 8 and the lower busbar 5 and keeps them at a distance. The contact formations 5.1 are connected to the lower poles 9 of the battery cells 4, in particular welded. Since the battery cells 4 are connected, in particular welded, to the busbars 6, 5 above and below, form

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N 757 the components mentioned an assembly unit, which can be used for further assembly.

The further components provided in each case lower cell packet holder 7, optionally latent heat storage 15, optionally electrical insulation 14 can be placed in the required sequence from below on the lower conductor rail 5. The centering elements 22.1 of the spacers 22 protrude into the passage openings 7.7 of the lower cell packet holder 7 and can be planar with the underside of the cell packet holder 7 or, if present, the lower surfaces of the formation 7.5 and the elevations 7.8. The assembly can be carried out by placing the lower cell package holder 7 and optionally latent heat storage 15 and electrical insulation 14 on the structural component 10 or on the heat-conducting plate 11 and then placing the aforementioned assembly unit thereon.

In the embodiment variant with latent heat accumulator 15, the elevations 7.8 with the centering elements 22.1 accommodated therein protrude into the passage openings 24.1 of the spacer bar 24.

In the embodiment variant without latent heat accumulator 15, the elevations 7.8 with the centering elements 22.1 accommodated therein protrude into openings in the structural component 10 which are present in the depressions 10.1, 10.2.

The fastening means, in particular screw connections 23, that is to say screws or threaded bolts, are guided from the upper end face 31 into the passage openings 7.7 and the spacers 22 contained therein as far as into the structural component 10 into which they are screwed.

Assembly of several modules 2

Another identical battery module 2 can then be placed on the structural component 10 on the first battery module 2 placed on the structural component 10, the contact region 17 of the second battery module 2 coming to rest on the upper busbar 6 of the first battery module 2. In order to detachably attach the contact area 17 to the upper busbar 6, the contact area 17 and the upper busbar 6 can be as shown

N 757 have corresponding openings for screws or other suitable connectors that are fixed from above into the upper cell holder 8. For this purpose, the cell holder 8 is preferably provided with bores, in particular threaded bores.

The two battery modules 2, 2 are also preferably fixed to one another in that their mutually opposite shapes 8.2, 8.3 overlap. This takes place in that the formation 8.3 of the second module 2 is guided from above over the formation 8.2 of the first module 2. A spacer 22 is preferably provided in the region of the formation 8.2, the centering element 22.2 of which extends through the formation 8.2 and projects into an opening in the formation 8.3 of the second module 2.

The two modules 2, 2 are connected by at least one, preferably at least two screw connector 23, each of which from above through one through opening 8.5 of the formation 8.3 of the second module 2, one through opening 8.5 of the formation 8.2 of the first module 2 and one spacer 22 of the first module 2 extend into the structural component 10.

In the same way, a third module 2 can be attached to the second module 2 and to the structural component 10 in order to arrive at the example of a battery 1 according to the invention shown in FIG. 11. It is obvious that any number of modules 2 can be strung together in this way. The structural component 10 can preferably be a continuous element to which all modules 2 of the row are fastened. Of course, several such rows of modules 2 could also be provided parallel to one another, each row being able to have a structural component 10, or several rows being able to have a common structural component 10.

Since each module 2 is constructed identically and the modules 2 of a row are in an identical orientation, thus also with an identical orientation of their battery cells 4 and thus an identical orientation of all battery cells 4, there is only one type of pole 9, that is to say either exclusively plus poles 9.1 or preferably exclusively Negative poles 9.2, the structural component 10 or the heat-conducting plate 11

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N 757 facing. As a result, all the battery cells 4 of all of the modules 2 arranged in one row or all in several rows on the heat-conducting plate 11 are advantageously uniformly cooled.

Because the lower busbar 5 of one module 2 is always electrically connected in the row to the upper busbar 6 of the next module, the modules 2 of the row are connected in series, while the battery cells 4 within each module 2 are connected exclusively in parallel. The series connection of the modules 2 adds up the voltages that the individual modules 2 can supply, while the parallel connection of the battery cells within the modules 2 ensures the necessary capacity.

Assembly of modules 2, 3 on different sides of the structural component 10:

As indicated in FIG. 1 and shown in FIG. 12, the modules 2 of the battery 1 according to the invention can be attached not only on one side to the structural component 10 or the heat-conducting plate 11, but also on both sides. This is achieved by a preferred symmetrical or mirror-symmetrical structure of the structural component 10 or the heat-conducting plate 11. If one mentally turns the assembly of FIG. 11, spacer strips 24 and battery modules 3 can be placed in the same way on the side that then lies at the top.

In this embodiment variant, the structural component 10 or the heat-conducting plate 11 has at least one row of battery modules 2, 3 on each side, the lower end faces of the battery modules 2, 3 each facing the structural component 10 or the heat-conducting plate 11, with all the battery cells also all of these battery modules 2, 3 have only one type of poles 9 which face the structural component 10 or the heat-conducting plate 11.

In this case, integrated, active cooling of the structural component 10 or heat-conducting plate 11 with a moving heat-conducting medium is particularly advantageous, since it has no free area in order to be able to emit heat in a different way.

N 757

The battery modules 2, 3 of the two sides are preferably in

The longitudinal direction of the structural component 10 and / or in the transverse direction of the structural component 10 are (somewhat) offset from one another. As a result, the fastening means advantageously run at different points, so that they can be screwed deeper than half of them into the structural component 10, for example up to the more distant of the two preferably identical plates of the multi-part structural component 10 shown.

The central spacers 22 represent a special feature of the battery modules 2 that has not yet been mentioned. The battery module 2 preferably has at least one spacer 22 which is present between the battery cells 4. The spacer 22 runs into one of the projections 8.4 of the upper cell holder 8, which projection 8.4 has a passage opening 8.5 and projects through a passage opening 6.2 of the upper busbar 6. By means of the aforementioned projection 8.4 and the spacer 22, like the other spacers 22, a screw connection 23 can be made to the structural component 10 or to the heat-conducting plate 11, with the difference that this spacer 22 runs centrally between the battery cells 4 and not at the edge of the battery cell package .

The central spacer 22 runs with its lower centering element 22.1 into a passage opening 7.7 in the web 7.9 of the lower cell package holder 7. Below the web 7.9 there is optionally a spacer bar 24 on which the web 7.9 rests. The spacer bar 24 has a passage opening 24.1. The central screw connection 23 runs through the passage opening 7.7 in the web 7.9 and optionally the

Passage opening 24.1, so that the lower cell packet holder 7 and the upper cell holder 8 are also fastened at a central point on the structural component 10 or the heat-conducting plate 11. The battery modules 2 preferably have an elongated shape, the longitudinal side of the battery modules 2 extending transversely to the direction of the row of the battery modules, the contact surfaces 17 being in contact

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N 757 on the long sides of modules 2. The central spacers 22 are preferably in the center as seen in the longitudinal direction of the modules 2.

The invention has been illustrated in detail on the basis of particularly preferred design variants. The scope of protection of the registration is however explicitly based on the characteristics of the claims.

As can be seen from the description, heating / cooling means 12, liquid line 13, electrical insulation 14, latent heat storage 15 and spacer strips 24 are all optional and can be present individually or in any combination in preferred embodiment variants.

In the following, a few less preferred variants are discussed, which are possible within the scope of the present invention, but which seemed disadvantageous on the day of the application.

As described, a lower cell block holder 7 is preferably provided for each battery module 2, 3. A cell block holder 7 for a plurality of battery modules 2 could also be arranged less preferably on the structural component 10. This can take place in that lower cell block holders 7 lying next to one another (see FIGS. 7 and 8) are formed in one piece or monolithically, the common cell block holder 7 then preferably having a circumferential limitation 7.6 for each battery module 2. In the area between two modules 2, instead of the two adjoining sides of the limits 7.6 (see FIGS. 7 and 8), there can only be a raised separation which is shared by two modules 2.

As described, at least one latent heat store 15 is preferably present for each battery module 2, 3. Less preferably, there can also be at least one latent heat accumulator 15 on one side of the structural component 10, which extends over several battery modules 2. If the shape 7.5 has or is removed at least on the mutually facing sides of the modules 2, the latent heat store can extend below the boundary 7.6 between the modules 2 over several modules 2 of the row.

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N 757

Electrical insulation 14 is preferably provided for each module 2. Less preferably, an electrical insulation 14 can also extend below the cell block holder 7 over several modules 2, for example as a heat-conducting film present on the structural component 10, or as an electrically insulating coating of the structural component 10.

Less preferably, the lower cell block holder 7 can be designed as electrical insulation 14 or form it if the electrical insulation 14 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is monolithically connected to the cell block holder 7 or the surface 7.10 has no recesses 7.3. Less preferred, instead of the circumferential boundaries 7.6 of the lower cell block holder 7 or the lower cell block holder 7, there can only be at least one raised boundary in the area between the modules 2, which forms electrical insulation between two adjacent lower busbars 5. Less preferably, the lower cell holder 7 can be designed according to the electrical insulation 14 in FIG. 10, that is to say as a flat element which, at least in the area between the modules 2, has an upstand at least on one side, preferably on both sides, particularly preferably all around.

Pins or bolts or rods can be used less preferably as connecting elements, which are suitably connected at the lower end to the structural component 10 and have a fastening element (e.g. thread or groove) at the other upper end. The components of the battery 1 can then be placed from above with their passage openings on these connecting elements and guided down to the structural element 10. As soon as the unit at least comprising the lower busbar 5, battery cells 4, spacer 22, upper cell holder 8 and upper busbar 6 has been placed in this way as the last or only element of the modules 2, the modules 2 can be fixed by placing a fastening means (e.g. nut or Circlip) on the fastener.

Claims (20)

Expectations 1. Battery (1) comprising a plurality of battery modules (2) and at least one structural component (10), a plurality of battery modules (2) being arranged in a row on a flat side of a common structural component (10), the battery modules (2) in each case one have lower busbar (5) and an upper busbar (6), between which several There are battery cells (4) with a uniform orientation of their poles (9), one type of poles (9) being connected to the lower busbar (5) and the other type of poles (9) being connected to the upper busbar (6), wherein each battery module (2) has an upper cell holder (8) which is above the battery cells (4) and at least one lower cell pack holder (7) is present which is below the lower busbars (5), characterized in that for said series applies: that their battery modules (2) are each aligned with their lower busbar (5) to the common structural component (10), that all battery cells (4) contained in the row are facing the structural component (10) with only one type of poles (9), that the battery modules (2) of the series are connected in series in that two successive battery modules (2) each have an electrical connection between a lower busbar (5) of a first of these battery modules (2) and an upper busbar (6) of the second of these battery modules ( 2) have. 2. Battery (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower cell packet holder (7) is frame-shaped and thus has at least one recess (7.3) which leaves a thermal path between the lower busbar (5) and the structural component (10) . 39/53 Page 38 N 757 3. Battery (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the upper cell holder (8) and the lower cell pack holder (7) are connected via spacers (22). 4. Battery according to claim 3, characterized in that the upper cell holder (8) has passage opening (8.5), the spacers (22) have passage opening, the lower cell packet holder (7) has passage openings (7.7), with at least one fastening means from above a through opening (8.5) of the cell holder (8), through the through opening of a spacer (22) and through a through opening (7.7) of the lower cell packet holder (7) into the structural component (10). 5. Battery according to claim 4, characterized in that the lower busbar (5) has through openings (5.2), where said Fasteners also by the Openings (5.2) the lower Track (5) runs. 6. Battery after one of claims 1 to 5, thereby characterized in that, in the case of two successive battery modules (2), the electrical connection between them takes place in that, in the first of these battery modules (2), a connection surface (5.4) adjoins the lower busbar (5) on one side, which connects to the upper busbar ( 6) of the second of these battery modules (2), the upper busbar (6) of the second module (2) being mechanically and electrically connected to the connecting surface (5.4) in a contact area (17). 7. Battery according to claim 6, characterized in that the upper busbar (6) and the connecting surface (5.4) are connected in that they have superimposed areas, and in these areas are provided with corresponding openings through which fastening means into the upper cell holder (8) run. 40/53 Page 39 N 757 8. Battery according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the upper cell holder (8) of a first battery module (2) has a shape (8.3) which, seen in the longitudinal direction of the battery cells (4), the upper cell holder (8) of an adjacent second battery module (2) overlaps. 9. Battery according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one fastening means through a passage opening (8.5) in the formation (8.3) of the upper cell holder (8) and a passage opening (8.5) of the underlying area of the upper cell holder (8) of the adjacent second Battery module (2) runs, which fastener extends to the structural component (10). 10. Battery according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the structural component (10) Is heat conducting plate (11), in which means for active cooling or heating of the battery are passed or contained. 11. Battery according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that between the lower busbar (5) and the structural component (10) there is at least one latent heat accumulator (15), which is preferably electrically conductive. 12. Battery according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that each battery module (2) has at least one latent heat accumulator (15), which is inserted into a shape (7.5) of the lower cell package holder (7), the shape (7.5 ) has at least one recess (7.3) which leaves a thermal path between the latent heat store (15) and the structural component (10). 13. Battery according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the structural component (10) is electrically conductive and that between the lower busbars (5) of the battery modules (2) and the structural component (10) at least one electrical insulation (14) which is the electrical 41/53 Page 40 N 757 Interrupts path between the lower busbars (5) of the battery modules (2) and the structural component (10). 14. Battery according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the upper busbar (6) rests on the upper cell holder (8), contact elements (6.1) from the upper busbar (6) through openings in the upper cell holder (8) to protrude to the upper poles (9) of the battery cells (4) and are attached to them. 15. Battery according to claim 14, characterized in that each battery module (2) has on one of its upper side edges a contact area (17) which is electrically conductively connected to the lower busbar (5) of the same battery module (2), the upper Cell holder (8) between the contact area (17) and the upper busbar (6) of the same battery module (2) has an increased limit (8.1), the upper busbar (6) being exposed on the opposite side edge of the battery module (2), with Compilation of two adjacent battery modules (2) the contact area (17) of a battery module (2) comes to rest on the area of the upper busbar (6) of the adjacent battery module (2) which is exposed on the side edge. 16. Battery according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the lower cell packet holder (7) is frame-shaped, at least one web (7.9) of the cell packet holder (7) separating the opening of the frame in at least two recesses (7.3), wherein A passage opening (7.7) is present in at least one web (7.9) and a fastening means in the area of the upper busbar (6) through a passage opening (8.5) of the upper cell holder (8), a passage opening (5.2) of the lower busbar (5) and the passage opening (7.7) in the web (7.9) protrudes. 17. Battery according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that spacers (22) are provided, which are designed as hollow bodies, through which fastening means 42/53 Page 41 N 757 run, the spacers (22) each having a lower centering element (22.1) and an upper centering element (22.2), which sections of the spacer (22) are of smaller cross-section than the intermediate region of the spacer (22), the lower Centering element (22.1) protrudes through a through opening (5.2) of the lower busbar (5) and into a through opening (7.7) of the lower cell package holder (7) and the upper centering element (22.2) into a through opening (8.5) of the upper cell holder (8) protrudes. 18. Battery according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the structural component (10) is plate-shaped and the opposite surfaces of the structural component (10) are identical, wherein on both surfaces of the structural component (10) battery modules (2, 3) are attached, each of which is aligned with its lower busbar (5) to the common structural component (10), and all the battery cells (4) of the battery modules (2, 3) contained, with only one type of poles (9), the structural component (10) The battery modules (2, 3), which are arranged on the respective surface of the structural component (10) and are there in a row, are connected in series by two successive battery modules (2, 3) making an electrical connection between them have a lower busbar (5) of a first of these battery modules (2, 3) and an upper busbar (6) of the second of these battery modules (2, 3). 19. Battery according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the structural component (10) has threaded bores into which fastening means of the battery modules (2, 3) are screwed, the fastening means having a head or a nut which of rest on the upper cell holder (8). 20. Battery according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the battery (1) optionally with or without N 757 Latent heat accumulator (15) can be constructed, with at least the following components being of uniform design in both cases: lower busbar (5), upper busbar (6), upper Cell holder (8) and structural component (10), the lower cell packet holder (7) having at least one flat area (7.10) which is parallel to the lower one Busbar (5) is aligned, and at least one Recess (7.3) or limited, the surface of the flat area (7.10) facing the lower busbar (5) lying flat with the surface of the structural component (10) facing the lower busbar (5) if no latent heat store (15) is present and wherein the lower busbar (5), optionally with the interposition of electrical insulation (14), on the surface of the structural component (10) facing the lower busbar (5) and on the surface of the flat area (7.10) facing the lower busbar (5) of the lower cell packet holder (7), or wherein the surface of the flat area (7.10) facing the lower busbar (5) is at a distance from the surface of the structural component (10) facing the lower busbar (5), which is equal to the thickness of a Is latent heat storage (15), which rests on the structural component (10), the surface of the latent heat storage (15) facing the lower busbar (5) n lies with the surface of the flat area (7.10) of the lower cell packet holder (7) facing the lower busbar (5) and the lower busbar (5), optionally with the interposition of electrical insulation (14), on that of the lower busbar (5 ) facing surface of the latent heat accumulator (15) and the surface of the flat region (7.10) of the lower cell packet holder (7) facing the lower busbar (5).