AT521526B1 - battery - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery (1), several 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 uniform alignment of their poles (9), each battery module (2) having an upper cell holder (8) and at least one lower cell packet holder (7) being present, the battery modules (2) each with their lower busbar (5) are aligned with the common structural component (10), and all battery cells (4) contained in the row face the structural component (10) with only one type of pole (9) and the battery modules (2) in the row Are connected in series by two consecutive battery modules (2) an electrical connection between a lower busbar (5) of a first of these battery modules (2) and an ob have eren busbar (6) of the second of these battery modules (2).

Description

description

The invention relates to a battery with several, electrically interconnected battery modules, each having several combined battery cells with electrical poles, arranged on opposite end faces of the battery module and several poles of these battery cells electrically connecting busbars, wherein several battery modules are attached to a common structural component.

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

[0003] WO2014178568A1 shows a battery made up of four battery modules which are arranged in two rows of two battery modules each, the battery modules of the respective row being present with different pole orientations of their battery cells.

The publications EP2509134A1, US9893385B1, US2010173189A1 define the general state of the art of batteries and battery modules.

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 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 also often referred to as "busbars" or cell connectors / cell connector boards. With such a bottom-side cooling of the battery cells, the temperature of the battery cells can indeed be controlled, but 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 demand for electrical power, are compensated comparatively slowly, which can negatively affect the function or the service life of the battery cells and thus the battery.

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

Although the thermal contact between the metallic poles and the cooling plate can ensure increased heat dissipation, the structure of such a battery is comparatively complex and, due to the mechanical bond, also comparatively expensive to maintain.

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

The invention solves the problem posed 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 each, between which there are several battery cells with uniform alignment of their poles, one type of pole is connected to the lower busbar and the other type of pole is connected to the upper busbar, each battery module having an upper cell holder which is located above the battery cells and a lower cell pack holder is present, which is present below the lower busbar, whereby the following applies to said row of battery modules:

that their battery modules each with their lower cell pack holder for common structural

turbo component are aligned,

that all battery cells contained in the row face the structural component with only one type of pole,

that the battery modules of the series are connected in series, in that two consecutive 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.

By this combination of features it is advantageously achieved that a plurality of battery modules, which are attached to a common structural component, all have a uniform alignment 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. Because the battery cells each have a metallic pole facing the structural component, there is good heat conduction. Because each battery cell faces the structural component with the same pole, uniform heat conduction takes place for all battery modules that are arranged in series on the structural component, with the temperature distribution within the modules also being largely uniform, since this transfers a large part of the thermal energy to the Discharge end faces on which the poles of the battery cells are present and less on the side surfaces on which the insulated housing of the battery cells are present.

[0011] A lower cell packet holder is preferably present for each battery module.

The lower cell pack holder is preferably frame-shaped and thus has at least one recess which leaves a thermal path between the lower busbar and the structural component. This advantageously ensures that the material of the lower cell pack holder does not impair 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.

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

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

Preferably, the surface of this flat area facing the lower busbar is 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 that of the lower Busbar facing surface of the flat area of the lower cell pack holder rests.

Alternatively, the surface of the flat area 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 storage device which rests on the structural component, the surface facing the lower busbar Latent heat storage is flat with the surface of the flat area of the lower cell facing the lower busbar

lenpakethalters and wherein the lower busbar, optionally with the interposition of electrical insulation, rests on the surface of the latent heat accumulator facing the lower busbar and the surface of the flat area of the lower cell pack holder facing the lower busbar. If there is electrical insulation on the structural component itself, on which the latent heat accumulator rests, in this paragraph the surface of this electrical insulation is to be regarded as the surface of the structural component facing the lower busbar.

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

The lower cell packet holder preferably has through openings.

Preferably, at least one fastening means 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 pack holder into the structural component. This advantageously means 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 fastened releasably in the structural component, in particular screwed.

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

Preferably, in the case of two successive battery modules, the electrical connection between these takes place in that the first of these battery modules has a connecting surface on one side of the lower busbar, which extends to the upper busbar of the second of these battery modules, the upper busbar of the second module in a contact area is mechanically and electrically connected to the connecting surface.

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

When two battery modules are put together, the connection 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 dismantled into individual battery modules.

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

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

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

At least one fastening means preferably runs through a passage opening in the

Formation of the overlying upper cell holder of the first battery module and a passage opening of the underlying area of 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 control the temperature of 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 accumulator is preferably arranged between the lower busbar and the structural component. As a result, it is advantageously achieved that temperature peaks can be weakened by the latent heat storage device, so that it fulfills a type of buffer function between the battery cells and the structural component, in particular the heat-conducting plate.

Preferably, each battery module has at least one latent heat storage device, which is inserted into a shape of the lower cell pack holder, the shape having at least one recess which leaves a thermal path between the latent heat storage device and the structural component. This achieves on the one hand that the lower cell pack holder also forms a holder for the latent heat accumulator and that the material of the cell pack holder does not reduce the heat conduction between battery cells, lower busbar, latent heat accumulator 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 at least one electrical insulation between the lower busbars of the battery modules and the structural component, which interrupts the electrical path between the lower busbars of the battery modules and the structural component. The structural component is particularly preferably made of metal, in particular steel or aluminum, depending on the mechanical and thermal requirements.

The upper busbar preferably rests 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 busbar is preferably designed as a flat sheet metal from which the contact elements protrude.

Preferably, each battery module 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 opposite side edge of the battery module, the upper busbar is exposed, wherein when two adjacent battery modules are put together, the contact area of a battery module comes to rest on the area of the upper busbar of the adjacent battery module that is exposed at the side edge. As a result, the electrical circuit of the battery modules is already formed when they are put together.

The lower cell stack holder is preferably frame-shaped, with at least one web of the lower cell stack holder separating the opening of the frame in at least two recesses. A passage opening is preferably present in at least one web, a fastening means protruding in the area of the upper busbar through a passage opening in the upper cell holder, a passage opening in the lower busbar and the passage opening in the web. As a result, the battery module is fixed in the central area in which the upper busbar is present and not just 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 sections of the spacer are smaller in cross-section than the intermediate region of the spacer.

The lower centering element preferably protrudes through a passage opening in the lower busbar and into a passage opening in the lower cell pack holder.

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

Preferably, the structural component is plate-shaped, the opposite surfaces of the structural component are identical, with battery modules attached to both surfaces of the structural component, each of which is aligned with its lower busbar to the common structural component, with all battery cells of the battery modules contained with 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 there in a row, are connected in series by each two successive battery modules establishing an electrical connection between a lower busbar of a first of these battery modules and have 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. Because the battery cells of the modules attached to different sides with identical poles, preferably negative poles, face the structural component, uniform heat conduction also takes place for the opposing battery modules to the structural component. The battery modules can be arranged in mirror image so that the fastening means on the two sides run in a line. The battery modules on the two sides can, however, also be arranged offset to one another or running in opposite directions, the fastening means of the two sides then being able to be in 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 rests on the upper cell holder from above. This advantageously means that the battery modules are releasably 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 in each case.

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

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 storage device. This variant is discussed in detail below.

Preferably, the battery has a latent heat accumulator, which has a phase change material and a solid, thermally conductive support structure which receives the phase change material, the latent heat accumulator 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 of several battery modules, which has only one type of poles of the battery cells, a significantly improved temperature control of the battery cells can be achieved - with which in particular constantly high amounts of heat that occur in the battery cells are steadily and evenly dissipated can.

If the battery also has a latent heat storage device with a phase change material and with a solid, thermally conductive support structure which accommodates the phase change material, the latent heat storage device 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 keeps the temperature of the battery above the

Increase the phase change temperature of the latent heat accumulator, which can be quickly and reliably dissipated by the battery cells - with which the stability of the battery can be increased significantly.

In addition, it can 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 namely absorb thermal energy emitted by the battery cells - which means that it can represent a large heat sink for peak loads and also a buffer capacity. The heat can therefore flow away efficiently via the metallic poles of the battery cells, which in turn protects the battery cells from overload. The heat conducting plate is in thermal contact with the latent heat accumulator and continuously withdraws heat energy from it in order to avoid overheating. According to the invention, there is accordingly a particularly good thermal connection between the battery cells and the heat sink or heat source.

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

In addition, the structure of the battery according to the invention - in particular the heat conducting plate including the latent heat storage device - does not impair its structurally simple, modular structure. Because of the solid support structure of the latent heat accumulator, which absorbs the phase change material, it 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 accumulator can relieve the heat-conducting plate from thermal peak performance and can thus ensure a structural or weight-reducing simplification on the heat-conducting plate.

In spite of 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 support structure of the latent heat storage device. In particular, a cellular, open-pored material can be distinguished here in order to accommodate a high proportion of phase change material. Graphite foam, preferably as a cellular material, can be suitable in this regard - due to its comparatively low weight, its comparatively high storage capacity of phase change material and its comparatively high mechanical load-bearing capacity, which improves the stability of the latent heat accumulator. In addition, by using graphite as the matrix material, a high thermal conductivity and thus a homogeneous heat transport within the latent heat accumulator can be achieved.

If wax forms the phase change material of the latent heat store, a latent heat store that can be produced inexpensively and easily can be made possible.

The phase change material is preferably enclosed in the support structure of the latent heat store or, in particular, held by capillary forces so that it does not escape from the latent heat store when it liquefies. This advantageously makes it possible to dispense with an encapsulation, for example a plastic casing, of the latent heat storage device. The latent heat accumulator could, however, be provided with a cover, preferably made of a material that is thermally highly conductive and electrically non-conductive. The latent heat accumulator could therefore itself be provided with electrical insulation or form this.

In general, it is mentioned that the reliability of the battery can be increased in particular if the phase change material in the latent heat storage undergoes a first order phase transition. As a result of the first-order phase transition, the entire waste heat from the battery cells is converted into the melting enthalpy of the phase change material, which means that there is no temperature increase in the latent heat storage unit until the phase transition has been completed.

If the battery module has a cell pack holder that forms a receptacle for the battery cells of the battery module and the latent heat storage on a first side, this can not only hold the mechanical composite of the battery cells, but also the components of the battery module in thermal contact and align firmly against each other.

The thermal connection between the battery cells and the heat conducting plate can be improved if the latent heat storage device protrudes through the cell pack holder and is thereby thermally connected to the heat conducting plate arranged on this second side of the cell pack holder. In addition, the cell packet holder can be independent of its thermal

Conductivity can be dimensioned mechanically, which can further simplify the construction. The lower cell packet holder and the upper cell holder are preferably in the form of a plastic injection molded part, the plastics used in injection molding mostly having a lower thermal conductivity.

The lower cell stack holder is preferably designed as a frame, with at least one latent heat storage device 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 storage device has a base body, in particular a plate-shaped base, and a structure projecting from this base body or a projecting section which protrudes through complementary recesses in the cell packet holder .

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

The plate-shaped base body preferably has a step-shaped tapered surface on one side, which protrudes 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 construction conditions can be made possible on the battery module if the busbar is thermally connected 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, while still subjecting all of the battery cells connected together via the busbar to the same temperature. In addition, this arrangement can create a particularly compact battery with little structural 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. Heating / cooling means can be part of a hydraulic circuit - of course, these can also be imagined as electrical heaters, Peltier elements, evaporators in a coolant circuit, etc. Another possibility is to provide a hollow heat-conducting plate with cooling fins in the interior of the heat-conducting plate, an air or other heat transport medium flow 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). In this way, the thermal energy can advantageously be conducted outwards from the heat conducting plate to an area of the battery housing. The housing can then be cooled from the outside, so that the battery can have a closed housing without a 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 control 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 is preferably electrically connected to the poles of the battery cells with protruding contact areas. As a result, material tolerances and thermal expansion and / or contraction can be absorbed via deformations on the protruding contact area. The risk of thermal loss of contact between the busbar and the heat-conducting plate can thus be considerably reduced.

The construction of the battery can be further simplified if the battery cells are designed as round cells. Providing a compact busbar for interconnecting the battery cells is made easier, since round cells have electrical poles on both end faces. In addition, one busbar per face of the battery module is sufficient in this way if all the round cells of the battery module are connected in parallel.

In the figures, exemplary embodiment variants of the subject matter according to the invention are shown.

1: shows a sectional view of a battery with a plurality of battery modules. [0072] FIG. 2: shows a detailed view of FIG. 1. [0073] FIG. 3: shows an exploded view of a preferred battery module.

4: shows a particularly preferred lower cell packet holder of the embodiment variant with latent heat storage.

5: shows a particularly preferred lower cell packet holder of the variant embodiment without latent heat storage.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For the purposes of this description, “bottom”, “lower” etc. means facing the structural component 10 or closer to the structural component 10 and “top”, “upper” etc., facing away from the structural component 10, or further away from the structural component 10, regardless of the spatial location of the battery 1.

According to FIG. 1, a battery 1 is shown by way of 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 by dashed lines in FIG. 11, although FIG. 11 shows a different embodiment variant.

The battery modules 2, 3 each have a mechanical and electrical composite of combined battery cells 4, metallic busbars 5, 6 and a cell pack 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 a form-fitting manner and thus fixes or supports them, as can be seen from FIG. 3 guaranteed. The electrical poles 9, namely plus and minus poles, are arranged on opposite end faces 30, 31 of the battery modules 2, 3 and are electrically connected to the busbars 5 and 6 provided there - that is, electrically connected to them - which busbars 5 and 6, respectively 6 serve as cell connector / cell connector board of the battery cells 4 in one 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 provided at the front of the battery modules 2, 3 in the present example and in the preferred embodiment variant on the respective lower end 30, i.e. 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 loaded via heating / cooling means 12, which are not shown in detail. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the heat conducting plate 11 preferably has active heating / cooling means 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 control of the battery cells 4.

Passive heating / cooling means, such as, for example, heat conducting ribs not shown in detail, are of course conceivable in combination with the active heating / cooling means 12.

In order to couple the battery cells 4 to the heat conducting plate 11 in a thermally advantageous manner, the heat conducting plate 11 is provided according to the invention on the lower end face 30 of the battery modules 2, 3 having poles 9 of the battery cells 4. Thermal energy can thus be supplied to or removed from the battery cells 4 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. For this purpose, the electrical insulation 14 is designed as a thermal contact element to reduce the thermal resistance. Furthermore, with the aid of the electrical insulation 14, an electrical short circuit between the battery cells 4 or the battery modules 2, 3 can be avoided. The modular structure of the battery 1 can therefore continue to be guaranteed, even if the battery modules 2, 3 are jointly cooled by an electrically conductive heat-conducting plate 11.

In a preferred embodiment, the battery 1 also has an optional latent heat storage device 15, which is provided between the lower busbar 5 of the battery module 2, 3 and the heat-conducting plate 11. The latent heat storage 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 storage 15 is not present, the heat conducting plate 11 preferably connects directly to the lower busbar 5, with electrical insulation 14 being optionally provided between the lower busbar 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 melting enthalpy in the latent heat store 15. In this way, a heat sink with a high thermal capacity can be provided in the thermal path between battery cells 4 and heat-conducting plate 11. The same can, however, also apply to an energy

gieweg apply in the opposite direction, in that the latent heat storage 15 serves as a heat source for the battery cells 4. In this way, thermal peaks can be smoothed and the battery cells 4 can thus 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, within the scope of the invention it is conceivable to use a different heat conduction matrix for this purpose, for example cellular materials such as PU foam, metal fiber or wire structures made of, for example, steel, aluminum, copper, nickel, alloy, etc.

The phase change material 15.1 of the latent heat accumulator 15 is preferably a wax that is introduced into the support structure 15.2 and is held in this support structure 15.2, for example by capillary forces.

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

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

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

According to FIG. 2, a projecting 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 to guide the battery cell pack laterally, but is preferably also designed to accommodate the latent heat accumulator 15. In this way, battery cells 4 and latent heat accumulator 15 are positioned with respect to one another in a simple manner in a structurally resolved manner, which ensures good thermal coupling.

All the more so because the latent heat accumulator 15 protrudes through the cell stack holder 7 on a second side 7.2 and is thus thermally connected - directly in the exemplary embodiment - to the heat conducting plate 11 arranged on this second side 7.2 of the cell stack holder 7. Released in a structurally simple manner, the second side 7.2 lies opposite the first side 7.1 with the receptacle 18.

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

The protruding structure 20 engages through complementary recesses 21 connected to the receptacle 18 in the cell packet holder 7. This protruding 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 accumulator 15 preferably has a protruding structure 20 in the area of each battery cell 4, so that the heat is dissipated from each pole 9 on a straight path into the heat conducting plate 11 via the latent heat accumulator 15. This can also be achieved if the respective protruding structure 20 extends over the area of several 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 in the battery 1 is achieved.

The battery modules 2, 3 have - in the example shown at 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

on. 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 to cool and / or heat the battery cells 4, but also represents a carrier for the battery modules 2, 3.

3-12, the components of a particularly preferred embodiment of the battery according to the invention are shown.

The components are designed such that the battery can optionally be constructed with latent heat storage (Fig. 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11) or without latent heat storage (Fig. 5, 6, 8, 10, 12) . It should be noted that FIGS. 3-12 all show the same embodiment variant, with this embodiment variant being able to choose between two different lower cell pack holders 7, depending on whether or not a latent heat accumulator 15 is to be integrated in the structure. In FIGS. 3-12 the components are partly shown individually (FIGS. 4 and 5) or in an incomplete combination (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 result from the hiding of individual assemblies. The components in FIGS. 3-12 are identical except for the lower cell packet holder 7, but for reasons of clarity, not all reference symbols have been used in all figures. The variant of FIGS. 3-12 differs from that of FIGS. 1-2 in the shape of the latent heat accumulator 15, the shape of the lower cell pack holder 7, in the shape of the lower end of the spacers 22, the design of the heat conducting plate 11 and in the Electrical insulation location 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 uniform alignment of their poles 9.

Battery cells 4

All battery cells 4 of the battery module 2 have a uniform alignment of their positive poles 9.1 and negative poles 9.2. Those poles 9 which enable better heat conduction are preferably facing the lower cell pack holder 7, so that in the fully assembled battery they are facing the structural component 10, in particular the heat conducting plate 11. In known battery cells 4, in particular in the case of 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 uniformly from them, so that a largely uniform operating temperature of the battery cells 4 is established. 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 at a type of pole 9, this type of pole 9 is preferably on top, ie 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 busbar 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 into the busbar 5. The respective contact deformation 5.1 is preferably welded to the respective pole 9, preferably the negative pole 9.2. The lower busbar 5 preferably has passage 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 upstand 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.

to create supply cells 4. A connecting surface 5.4, which extends from the flat area of the busbar 5 to the opposite, upper end face 31 of the battery module 2, preferably adjoins one side of the flat area of the busbar 5. The connecting surface 5.4 is electrically conductively connected to the flat area of the busbar 5 and can preferably be present in one piece with the latter, in that the busbar 5, consisting of a flat area and connecting area 5.4, is in the form of an L-shaped bent sheet of metal. The connection surface 5.4 can have a further angled portion in the form of a contact area 5.5 or 17 at its upper end. Less preferably, the bend can be present on the upper busbar 6, so that it has an angled contact area 17. Less preferably, the connection of the lower busbar 5 of a battery module 2 to the upper busbar 6 of the adjacent battery module 2 can be made by another suitable electrical connection, for example by at least one cable or at least one pin instead of the connecting surface 5.4, whereby it is also advantageous here if the connecting element is already attached to the lower busbar 5 of the respective battery module 2 before the assembly of several battery modules 2 and runs 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 at a distance from the lower busbar 5.

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

The upper busbar 6 preferably consists of a flat, flat area 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 connects it electrically 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 sheet metal of the upper busbar 6, the partially cut out or punched out areas being reshaped downward to form the battery cells 4 and permanently connected to them, 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 busbar 6 and the battery cells 4, there is a section of the upper cell holder 8 which has openings for the contact elements 6.1 to pass through. The openings are preferably present with a smaller diameter or dimension than the battery cells 4, so that the upper cell holder 8 is a spacer between the battery cells 4 and the flat area of the upper busbar 6.

The upper busbar 6 preferably has passage openings 6.2, which are used 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 a raised boundary 8.1, preferably on three sides. On the 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, through a conductive connection running between these busbars 5, 6, in particular 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, wherein one contact surface is electrically conductively connected to the upper busbar 6, or is preferably formed by this and wherein the other contact surface is electrical is conductively connected to the lower busbar 5, is 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 oppositely matching formations 8.2, 8.3, with a formation 8.2 of a first module 2 lying below the formation 8.3 of the second module 2 during assembly. 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 can, less preferably, also be connected by gluing, plastic welding, riveting, screwing directly to one another or in a non-positive manner, for example a press fit.

The increased 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 through conductive foreign bodies possibly entering the battery in this area to prevent.

Lower cell pack holder 7 (Fig. 4, Fig. 5)

The special feature of the lower cell pack 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 enclosing this recess 7.3. The recess 7.3 can be embodied separately in at least two recess 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 in the case of the upper cell holder 8, but openings that each span an area which completely encloses the end faces of several battery cells 4.

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

Lower cell packet holder 7 with latent heat storage (Fig. 4)

In the particularly preferred embodiment, in which a latent heat accumulator 15 is present between the lower busbar 5 and the heat conducting plate 11, the recesses 7.3 are preferably in raised formation 7.5 on the underside of the holding frame. The recess 7.3 preferably has a smaller area than the formation 7.5, so that the formation 7.5 forms a support surface 7.4 that preferably extends around the entire recess 7.3. The latent heat accumulator 15 can be placed on this support surface 7.4, which is shaped according to the interior of the recess 7.5 and has a tapered area that protrudes through the recess 7.3 so that it is at least level with the lower, outer surface of the recess 7.5. The upper surface of the latent heat accumulator is preferably flat with the upper flat area 7.10 of the holding frame. In other words, the area that is bounded by the circumferential boundary 7.6 in the example shown.

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

The lower cell pack holder 7 of the embodiment variant without latent heat storage 15 has the circumferential delimitation 7.6, the areal extent of which is aligned parallel to the longitudinal direction of the battery cells 4. Below this circumferential delimitation 7.6, the lower cell stack holder 7 has at least two flat areas 7.10 which are aligned parallel to the lower busbar 5 and which connect two sides of the circumferential delimitation 7.6 below this. These flat areas 7.10 preferably each directly adjoin a third side of the circumferential delimitation 7.6, which connects the aforementioned two sides. In addition, a web 7.9 is preferably present as a further flat area 7.10 which, between the two flat areas 7.10 and at a distance from them, connects two opposite sides of the delimitation 7.6. This cell packet holder 7 could in principle also be used with latent heat accumulator 15 if this is present in recess 7.3 and is flush with the top of flat areas 7.10, in which case the halves

tion in the form of the formation 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 must be placed with spacers (e.g. elevations 7.8 and / or formation 7.5 and / or spacer strips 24) on the structural component 10 so that the upper side of the Flat areas 7.10 have a distance from the surface of the structural component 10, or an electrical insulation 14 resting thereon (FIG. 1), which distance is equal to the thickness of the latent heat accumulator 15. In both design variants, the lower cell stack holder 7 thus preferably has the circumferential delimitation 7.6 and then at least one flat area below that, which is aligned parallel to the lower busbar 5, and has at least one recess 7.3, which is either directly in this area or in one Forming 7.5 of this area.

Electrical insulation 14

If the heat conducting plate 11 is made of electrically conductive material or has an electrically conductive surface, electrical insulation 14 is to be provided between the lower busbar 5 and the heat conducting plate 11, preferably in the form of a thin, highly thermally 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 pack holder 7, which is 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 stack holder 7 and the heat conducting plate 11 or between the lower cell stack holder 7 and the lower busbar 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 delimitation 7.6 in the lower cell stack holder 7. The electrical insulation 14 preferably rests on top of the surfaces 7.10 of the cell pack holder 7 that are aligned parallel to the lower busbar 5.

The electrical insulation 14 can also extend over at least a portion of the edging 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 has an upstand at least in the area between the modules 2 at least on one side, preferably on both sides, less preferably all the way around. The circular structures of the electrical insulation 14 in the area of the contact formation 5.1 that can be seen in the figures are not openings, but rather an optional structure of the electrical insulation 14 which protrude into the recesses formed by the contact formation 5.1 on the underside of the lower busbar 5 can.

Spacer 22

The spacers 22 are elongated hollow bodies, preferably hollow cylinders, which have centering elements 22.1, 22.2 in the form of areas with a smaller cross-sectional size, in particular a smaller diameter, at both ends (see FIGS. 3 and 7). The spacers 22 are hollow in order to allow the screw connections 23 to pass through. In the example of FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower centering element 22.1 is formed by a recess, in particular a countersunk hole; the same could also be done with the upper centering element 22.2, the cell pack holder 7 or the cell holder 8 in this case having corresponding projections which are shown in FIG the indentations protrude, as can be seen in the case of the lower cell packet holder 7 in FIG. 1.

Fasteners

The fastening means are preferably screw connections 23, in particular screws or bolts, which have a thread at the lower end with which they are screwed into threaded bores of the structural component 10 or the heat-conducting plate 11.

At the upper end, the screw connections 23 have a screw head or a thread for fastening a nut.

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 rest with electrical insulation 14 or a latent heat storage device 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 central depression 10.2 of this type. The lower cell packet holder 7 of the embodiment variant without latent heat storage 15 can be inserted into the depressions 10.1, 10.2 with the flat areas adjoining the circumferential boundary 7.6 at the bottom, so that the circumferential boundary 7.6 rests on the structural component 10 in the area between the flat areas. The upper side of the flat areas is preferably flat with the upper side of the structural component 10, that is to say with that area between the depressions 10.1, 10.2.

In the embodiment variant with latent heat storage 15, which are present in the inside of formations 7.5 of the lower cell pack holder 7, spacer strips 24 (in particular made of metal or plastic) are preferably placed on the heat conducting plate 11, preferably in the recesses 10.1 and 10.2, which spacer strips 24 run below the lower cell pack holder 7 laterally on the outside of the formations 7.5. If the cell pack holder 7 has a web 7.9 which connects two opposite frame sides, a spacer bar 24 is preferably also located below this web 7.9. The spacer strips 24 have passage openings 24.1 which are used for the screw connections 23 to pass through. The spacer strips 24 each preferably extend over a plurality of serially connected battery modules 2 which are arranged in a row. The structural component 10 is thus constructed identically in the variant with latent heat accumulator 15 and in the variant without latent heat accumulator 15, whereby elevations result by inserting the spacer strips 24 into the depressions 10.1, 10.2. The height of the overall structure in the variant with latent heat storage 15 is only higher by the height of the latent heat storage 15 than the overall structure in the variant without latent heat storage 15.

Composition 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 inserted into the area with a larger diameter until they are in contact with the annular surface at the transition to the area with a smaller diameter. In the guides for the spacers 22, the diameter of the wide area is selected so that the upper centering element 22.2 of the spacer 22 can be guided in these, whereby this comes to rest on the annular surface and / or the area of the spacer adjoining the centering element 22.2 22 comes to rest on the cell holder 8 below.

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 busbar 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, resting against the contact formations 5.1. The lower centering elements 22.1 of the spacers 22 protrude through the passage openings 5.2 of the lower busbar 5. The wider area of the spacers 22 between the centering elements 22.1, 22.2 is therefore 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 at the top and bottom, the components mentioned form an assembly unit which can be used for further assembly.

The respective further components provided, the lower cell pack holder 7, optionally latent heat storage 15, optionally electrical insulation 14 can be placed on the lower busbar 5 from below in the required sequence. The centering elements 22.1 of the spacers 22 protrude into the passage openings 7.7 of the lower cell stack holder 7 and can end in a planar manner with the underside of the cell stack holder 7 or, if present, the lower surfaces of the recess 7.5 and the elevations 7.8. The assembly can take place in that the lower cell pack holder 7 and optionally latent heat storage 15 and electrical insulation 14 are placed on the structural component 10 or on the heat conducting plate 11 and then the aforementioned assembly unit is placed on it.

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

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

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

Assembly of several modules 2

A further 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 area 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 fasten the contact area 17 to the upper busbar 6, the contact area 17 and upper busbar 6 can have corresponding openings, as shown, for screws or other suitable connectors that are fixed in the upper cell holder 8 from above. 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 opposing formations 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. In the area of the formation 8.2, a spacer 22 is preferably provided, the centering element 22.2 of which protrudes through the formation 8.2 and protrudes 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 connectors 23, which each from above through a passage opening 8.5 of the formation 8.3 of the second module 2, each a passage opening 8.5 of the formation 8.2 of the first module 2 and extend through a spacer 22 of the first module 2 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 thus be lined up in a row. The structural component 10 can preferably be a continuous element to which all modules 2 of the row are attached. 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 the same alignment, thus also with the same alignment of their battery cells 4 and thus the same alignment of all battery cells 4, there is only one type of pole 9, either exclusively positive poles 9.1 or

preferably exclusively negative pole 9.2, facing the structural component 10 or the heat conducting plate 11. As a result, all of the battery cells 4 of all of the modules 2 arranged in a row or in a plurality of rows on the heat conducting plate 11 are advantageously evenly cooled. Because the lower busbar 5 of a module 2 is always electrically connected to the upper busbar 6 of the next module in the series, the modules 2 in the series are connected in series, while the battery cells 4 within each module 2 are exclusively connected in parallel. Due to the serial connection of the modules 2, the voltages which the individual modules 2 can supply add up, 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 construction of the structural component 10 or the heat conducting plate 11. If the assembly of FIG. 11 is conceptually turned around, spacer strips 24 and battery modules 3 can be placed in the same way on the side that is then at the top.

The structural component 10 or the heat conducting plate 11 has in this embodiment variant on both sides at least one row of battery modules 2, 3, the battery modules 2, 3 each with their lower end faces facing the structural component 10 and the heat conducting plate 11, wherein all of the battery cells of all of these battery modules 2, 3 also have only one type of pole 9 facing the structural component 10 or the heat-conducting plate 11.

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

The battery modules 2, 3 of the two sides are preferably arranged (somewhat) offset to one another in the longitudinal direction of the structural component 10 and / or in the transverse direction of the structural component 10. As a result, the fastening means advantageously run at different points so that they can be screwed deeper than its half into the structural component 10, for example into the further removed of the two preferably identical plates of the illustrated multi-part structural component 10.

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

The central spacer 22 runs with its lower centering element 22.1 in a passage opening 7.7 in the web 7.9 of the lower cell pack holder 7. Below the web 7.9 is optionally a spacer bar 24 on which the web 7.9 rests. The spacer strip 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 pack 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 running transversely to the direction of the row of battery modules, the contact surfaces 17 being present on the longitudinal sides of the modules 2. The central spacers 22 are preferably located in the middle, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the modules 2.

The invention has been illustrated in detail on the basis of particularly preferred embodiment variants. However, the scope of protection of the application is expressly based on the features 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 embodiments.

In the following, some less preferred variants will be discussed, which are possible within the scope of the present invention, but which seemed disadvantageous at the date of application.

As described, a lower cell block holder 7 is preferably present for each battery module 2, 3. Less preferably, a cell block holder 7 for a plurality of battery modules 2 could also be arranged on the structural component 10. This can be done in that adjacent lower cell block holders 7 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) are designed in one piece or monolithic, the common cell block holder 7 then preferably having a circumferential delimitation 7.6 for each battery module 2. In the area between two modules 2, instead of the two mutually adjacent sides of the boundaries 7.6 (see FIGS. 7 and 8), only a raised separation can be present, which two modules 2 share.

As described, at least one latent heat storage device 15 is preferably present for each battery module 2, 3. Less preferably, at least one latent heat accumulator 15 can also be present on one side of the structural component 10, which extends over a plurality of battery modules 2. If the formation 7.5 has an exposure or is removed at least on the mutually facing sides of the modules 2, the latent heat accumulator can extend below the delimitation 7.6 between the modules 2 over several modules 2 in the row.

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 a plurality of modules 2, for example as a heat-conducting film present on the structural component 10, or as an electrically insulating coating on the structural component 10.

Less preferably, the lower cell block holder 7 can be designed as electrical insulation 14 or form this 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 does not have recesses 7.3 having. Less preferred, instead of the circumferential boundaries 7.6 of the lower cell block holder 7 or the lower cell block holder 7, only at least one raised boundary can be present 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, i.e. as a flat element which has an upstand at least in the area between the modules 2 at least on one side, preferably on both sides, particularly preferably all the way around.

Less preferably, pins or bolts or rods can be used as connecting elements, which are connected at the lower end to the structural component 10 in a suitable manner and at the other upper end have a fastening element (e.g. thread or groove). The components of the battery 1 can then be placed from above with their passage openings onto these connecting elements and guided down to the structural element 10. As soon as the unit at least including 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 fastening element.

Claims (1)

Claims 1. Battery (1) comprising several battery modules (2) and at least one structural component (10), wherein several battery modules (2) are arranged in a row on a flat side of a common structural component (10), the battery modules (2) each having one lower busbar (5) and each have an upper busbar (6), between which there are several battery cells (4) with uniform alignment of their poles (9), one type of pole (9) being connected to the lower busbar (5) and the other type of poles (9) is connected to the upper busbar (6), each battery module (2) having an upper cell holder (8) which is present above the battery cells (4) and at least one lower cell packet holder (7) is present , which is located below the lower busbars (5), characterized in that the following applies to said row: that their battery modules (2) each with their lower busbar (5) to the common structural component (10) are aligned so that all the battery cells (4) contained in the row face the structural component (10) with only one type of pole (9), that the battery modules (2) of the row are connected in series, in that two consecutive battery modules (2 ) 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). 2. Battery (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower cell pack 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) . 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 a passage opening (8.5), the spacer (22) has a passage opening, the lower cell packet holder (7) has passage openings (7.7), with at least one fastening means from above a passage opening (8.5) of the cell holder (8), through the passage opening of a spacer (22) and through a passage opening (7.7) of the lower cell stack holder (7) extends into the structural component (10). 5. Battery according to claim 4, characterized in that the lower busbar (5) has passage openings (5.2), said fastening means also extending through the passage openings (5.2) of the lower busbar (5). 6. Battery according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that with two successive battery modules (2) the electrical connection between these takes place in that the first of these battery modules (2) has a connection surface (5.4 ), which extends 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 in a contact area (17) to the connecting surface (5.4) is. 7. Battery according to claim 6, characterized in that the upper busbar (6) and the connecting surface (5.4) are connected by having areas lying one above the other, and in these areas are provided with corresponding openings through which fastening means into the upper cell holder (8) run. 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 formation (8.3) which, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the battery cells (4), the upper cell holder (8) of an adjacent second battery module (2) overlaps. 10/11 12th 13 14th 15th 16. 17th Austrian AT 521 526 B1 2021-09-15 Battery according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one fastening means through a passage opening (8.5) in the recess (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 fastening means runs up to the structural component (10). Battery according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the structural component (10) is a heat-conducting plate (11) into which means for active cooling or heating of the battery are passed or contained. Battery according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least one latent heat storage device (15), which is preferably electrically conductive, is present between the lower busbar (5) and the structural component (10). Battery according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that each battery module (2) has at least one latent heat storage device (15), this being inserted into a recess (7.5) of the lower cell pack holder (7), the recess (7.5) at least has a recess (7.3) which leaves a thermal path between the latent heat accumulator (15) and the structural component (10). Battery according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the structural component (10) is electrically conductive and that there is at least one electrical insulation (14) between the lower busbars (5) of the battery modules (2) and the structural component (10), which interrupts the electrical path between the lower busbars (5) of the battery modules (2) and the structural component (10). Battery according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the upper busbar (6) rests on the upper cell holder (8), with contact elements (6.1) from the upper busbar (6) through openings in the upper cell holder (8) to the the upper poles (9) of the battery cells (4) protrude and are attached to them. Battery according to Claim 14, characterized in that each battery module (2) has a contact area (17) on one of its upper side edges, 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 delimitation (8.1), the upper busbar (6) being exposed on the opposite side edge of the battery module (2) 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) that is exposed at the side edge. Battery according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the lower cell pack holder (7) is frame-shaped, with at least one web (7.9) of the cell pack holder (7) separating the opening of the frame into at least two recesses (7.3), with at least a web (7.9) a passage opening (7.7) is present 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) protrudes in the web (7.9). Battery according to one of Claims 1 to 16, characterized in that spacers (22) are present which are designed as hollow bodies through which fastening means 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) have a smaller cross-section than the area of the spacer (22) in between, the lower centering element (22.1) through a passage opening (5.2) of the lower busbar (5) and into a passage opening (7.7) of the lower cell pack holder (7) protrudes and wherein the upper centering element (22.2) protrudes into a passage opening (8.5) of the upper cell holder (8). 18. Battery according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the structural component (10) is plate-shaped and the opposing surfaces of the structural component (10) are designed to be identical, with battery modules (2, 3) on both surfaces of the structural component (10) are attached, which are each aligned with their lower busbar (5) to the common structural component (10), and wherein all battery cells (4) of the contained battery modules (2, 3) with only one type of poles (9) the structural component (10) facing, wherein 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, in that two consecutive battery modules (2, 3) each have an electrical connection between 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, wherein the fastening means have a head or a nut, which / r of on top of the upper cell holder (8). 20. Battery according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the battery (1) can be constructed optionally with or without latent heat storage (15), in both cases at least the following components are uniformly designed: lower busbar (5), upper Busbar (6), upper cell holder (8) and structural component (10), the lower cell stack holder (7) having at least one flat area (7.10) which is aligned parallel to the lower busbar (5), and at least one recess (7.3) has or limited, - wherein the surface of the flat area (7.10) facing the lower busbar (5) lies flat with the surface of the structural component (10) facing the lower busbar (5) when there is no latent heat storage (15) and 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 the surface of the flat area (7.10) of the lower cell pack holder (7) facing the lower busbar (5) , or - The surface of the flat area (7.10) facing the lower busbar (5) being present at a distance from the surface of the structural component (10) facing the lower busbar (5), which is equal to the thickness of a latent heat accumulator (15), which is on the structural component (10) rests, the one facing the lower busbar (5) The surface of the latent heat storage (15) is level with that of the lower busbar (5) facing th surface of the flat area (7.10) of the lower cell pack holder (7) is and where the lower busbar (5), optionally with an intermediate layer of electrical insulation (14), on the surface of the latent heat storage device (15) facing the lower busbar (5) and the surface of the flat area (7.10) facing the lower busbar (5) of the lower cell pack holder (7). In addition 8 sheets of drawings