DE102012202694A1 - Housing for module of traction battery for e.g. passenger car, has electrochemical cells including electrodes, and fixing elements arranged adjacent to each opening for fastening bus bar, where openings are provided adjacent to electrodes - Google Patents

Abstract

The housing (10) has electrochemical cells (30) including electrodes (31), where openings (11) are provided adjacent to the electrodes. Fixing elements (12) e.g. pins, are arranged adjacent to each opening for fastening a bus bar (20). The fixing elements are identically arranged at a distance from each other at the openings. The fixing elements are integrally and material-homogeneously designed with the housing. The fixing elements are made of plastic. The fixing elements are designed with a reduced diameter. The housing is designed as a two-part box-shaped component. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a bus bar (2) a module.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The invention relates to a modular traction battery having a plurality of electrochemical cells, which are arranged in a housing and are connected to one another via at least one busbar.

STATE OF THE ART

Electric motor driven passenger vehicles (so-called electric vehicles) generally have electrochemical energy storage devices, in particular accumulators, from which substantially the energy required to drive the vehicle can be taken or, for example, also be charged by charging processes.

In this case, a voltage of several hundred volts is customary for providing an electrical energy, depending on the specific configuration of the electromotive drive. In order to provide such voltages, a plurality of electrochemical accumulator cells is usually electrically interconnected to form a traction battery.

An example of the interconnection of the individual cells reveals that U.S. Patent 7,923,144 B2 , This patent shows an arrangement of a plurality of battery cells in a housing. The housing has openings which are arranged adjacent to the electrodes of the battery cells. On its outer surface a collecting plate is arranged on the housing, which also has openings which correspond with the openings of the housing. The electrodes of all accumulator cells arranged in the housing are electrically contacted to the collecting plate via a respective bonding wire.

Such a construction has the disadvantage that in the manufacture of a bonding connection between the collecting plate and the electrodes, vibrations may occur between the housing and the collecting plate, so that one is limited in the choice of operating parameters of the bonding method or it this can lead to a loss of quality in the bond connections produced. At the same time, the collecting plate is in no way optimized with regard to the lightweight construction that is particularly necessary in the case of electric vehicles. Also, a variable interconnection of the cells arranged in the housing is not possible with the disclosed collecting plate, or only to a very limited extent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a modular traction battery in which the design of the housing and the power rail provided for connecting the electrochemical cells arranged in the housing overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art.

The object is achieved by a housing according to claims 1-5, a busbar according to claims 6-11, a module according to claims 12-16 and at least one module according to the invention traction battery according to claim 17.

Preferred embodiments will become apparent from the description, the figures and the respective dependent subclaims.

An inventive housing for a module of a traction battery is preferably made of a plastic material and designed so that a plurality of electrochemical cells can be arranged within the housing. Preferably, the housing of the module is constructed as a two-part, box-shaped component, in which the electrochemical cells are arranged. Such a housing can for example be produced inexpensively as injection molding.

If the housing is constructed in two parts, for example, a lower housing part and an upper housing part, the lower and / or the upper housing part may have recesses for the positive reception and fixing of the electrochemical cells. Preferably, the recesses are designed so that a single electrochemical cell can be positioned in each case a recess. Alternatively, it would also be possible to design a recess such that a plurality of electrochemical cells are arranged in a recess and these are spaced apart, for example, by means of additional spacers arranged between the cells. The arrangement of these recesses, both the position of the cells can be defined relative to each other and relative to the housing parts.

The description of the invention, which is generally made hereinafter for a housing, can easily be applied to a single housing part of a multi-part housing and thus also encompasses the concept of the invention.

In order to compensate for the thermal expansion of the cells can be compensated between the cells and the housing in addition to a tolerances Material, preferably a compressible material are arranged and / or be formed.

If the electrochemical cells each have an electrode at their distal ends, for example in cylindrical cells, all the cells in the housing can be in the same direction, that is, for example, all cathodes on one side of the housing, or in opposite directions in groups, if the total of all cells has multiple groups in which all cells within a group are directed in the same direction, but in relation to other groups in opposite directions. Alternatively, electrochemical cells may be used which are designed so that both the anode and the cathode are on one side of the cells (for example in the case of prismatic cells).

Regardless of the arrangement and the type of cells in the housing, the invention provides that the housing is provided adjacent to the individual electrodes of the cells with openings.

When all the cells arranged in the housing are oriented in the same direction with respect to the alignment of their electrodes, all or a group of cells located in the housing are electrically connected to one another via a parallel connection. With several groups, all cells of the group are connected in parallel. Accordingly, in the case of several groups with different orientation of the electrodes, in each case all cells of a group are connected in parallel to one another.

For connection according to the invention, a flat busbar made of an electrically conductive material is used, for example made of copper or a copper alloy, but preferably of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

The contacting of the busbar with the individual electrodes of the cells can be done in various ways and ways, for example by pressing, screwing, soldering or welding connections.

Particularly preferably, the contacting is done by a known Drahtbond process. In this case, the electrode is connected through the opening in the housing via a thin wire to the busbar, wherein connected in a first method step, the wire at one end to the electrode of a cell and in a subsequent process step at a portion adjacent to the first component with the busbar , is preferably welded, and preferably simultaneously cut to length.

Such bonding processes can be performed highly automated. It is advantageous for the correct guidance and positioning of the bonding tools and of the bonding wire in the connection process when the electrodes of the electrochemical cells are as completely as possible visible to an optical recognition system. For this reason, neither the housing nor the bus bar should substantially obscure the electrodes.

In order that damage to the bond points of the bonding wire produced at the electrodes of the electrochemical cells fixed in the housing and to the busbar can be effectively avoided, it is necessary to prevent the housing and the busbar from vibrating with each other during bonding.

This can be avoided in particular if at least one fixing element, which serves to fasten the busbar, is arranged on the housing adjacent to each opening.

The fixing can be designed diverse, such as pins, threaded rods, rivets, locking pins or the like.

Such an arrangement of the fixing results in a grid of the openings in the housing displaced grid of fixing elements, which additionally allows the arrangement of several or depending on the module different busbars on the housing, without the housing must be individually manufactured or adapted.

Advantageously, the fixing elements are each arranged identically spaced apart from all adjacent openings. This embodiment makes it possible to provide significantly fewer fixing elements than openings in the housing, since a fixing element can always ensure the fixing of the busbar with respect to the surrounding openings. As a result, can be saved in the manufacture of the housing material and it may also be required less fixation steps for the final connection of busbar and housing. At the same time, the connection of the busbar to the housing, regardless of their specific design, such as their shape, are made qualitatively homogeneous. With regard to the connection process of the cells to the busbar, there is the additional advantage that the fixing elements are minimally spaced from all openings and thus result in favorable conditions with regard to contacting paths and accessibility of the openings.

In a preferred embodiment, the fixing elements protrude like a pin, preferably vertically, with a diameter d _F out of the apertured surface of the housing. Of the Diameter d _F is chosen so that it corresponds with arranged in the busbar recesses. By such an embodiment, the coupling of the housing and busbar is particularly simple executable by the busbar is merely plugged onto the pin-like protruding fixing and optionally additionally fixed in connection.

It is particularly preferred if the fixing elements are integrally and materially formed unitarily with the housing. If the housing is, for example, a plastic component which is produced in an injection molding process, the fixing elements can already be provided in the construction of the housing and at the same time be manufactured therewith by injection molding. Such an embodiment of the housing is particularly cheap and quickly produced with consistent quality.

In an advantageous embodiment, the busbar is already arranged in an injection mold during the production of the housing. The introduced into the injection mold liquid material for the production of the housing penetrates the recesses arranged in the busbar and the busbar is securely and permanently connected to the housing by the solidification of the material.

For connecting the housing to the busbar, it has proven to be particularly advantageous if at least the fixing elements made of a reversibly fusible material, preferably a plastic. In this case, the fixing elements can be welded to the busbar, for example via a Heizelementstumpf-, a laser or an ultrasonic welding process. Such a durable and robust connection is generated and at the same time vibrations between the busbar and the housing are avoided.

Under reversible fusible material in this case understood materials in which the material under normal operating conditions, d. H. For example, at an ambient temperature of up to about 150 ° C in the solid state and present both before and after one or more melting cycles with subsequent solidification cycles the same properties. This allows, for example, in case of repair, the replacement of a busbar or in the recycling of the traction battery, a simple separation of housing and busbar.

Regardless of the specific configuration of the busbar can be achieved with the housing described above, a simple and secure connection of housing and busbar. At the same time can be effectively avoided by the arrangement and type of fixing in connection with the busbar after mounting the busbar on the housing swinging, generated by relative movements between busbar and housing.

On a housing of a module of a traction battery according to the invention a bus bar, which consists of an electrically conductive material, immediately adjacent to one side of the housing having a plurality of openings arranged. The bus bar is provided for connecting a plurality of electrochemical cells arranged in the housing. The busbar is designed so that it does not obscure the openings when arranged on the housing. For this purpose, the busbar has a branched shape with a plurality of interconnected parallel and / or mutually perpendicular areas.

A branched form in the sense of the invention is understood to mean that the bus bar does not completely surround individual openings in the housing, in contrast to the collection plates known from the prior art.

Such a designed busbar can advantageously extend along the existing between the openings of the housing webs. The busbar extends substantially along a longitudinal direction, wherein extending from the busbar preferably orthogonal to the longitudinal direction side arms with other areas. The busbar can thus have, for example, an F, m, T or L shape.

In the areas for connection to the housing, the busbar preferably has recesses for receiving fixing elements with the diameter d _F arranged on the housing. The diameter d _{A of} the recesses is greater than or equal to the diameter of the fixing elements.

The width of the busbar d _S in the longitudinal extent, that is to say running parallel to a row of openings in the housing, preferably corresponds to the web width between two minimally spaced, adjacent openings in the housing. In this way, the busbar to achieve a required current carrying capacity can be made particularly flat and the modules can thus be designed space-optimized. At the same time results in the production of the busbar an advantage, since the processing of a flat semi-finished product is cheaper than the processing of a thick semi-finished product.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the bus bar in the contacting regions surrounding the recesses has a width d _SA which is greater than the width d _S in the remaining areas. Preferably, the width d _{SA is} greater than or equal to the sum of d _S and d _A. This makes it possible to ensure that the busbar has a constant current carrying capacity even in the regions in which recesses are arranged.

An advantageous embodiment of the busbar according to the invention results when the transition from regions having the width d _SA to the other regions having the width d _{S has} a continuous course. Preferably, the course follows a sine function.

Due to the above-described embodiment, only a minimal use of material is required for the production of the busbar, this is particularly easy, and at the same time sufficient current carrying capacity is ensured in all areas of the busbar.

The production of the busbar can be done by a punching or cutting process of a suitable semi-finished product, such as a sheet. Laser cutting or water jet cutting methods are particularly suitable as cutting methods.

It has additionally been found that busbars designed according to the invention have a homogeneous temperature distribution during operation of the traction battery, ie. H. it does not come to the formation of local temperature peaks (so-called "hot spots"). If a tempering be necessary, such a designed busbar could also be especially effective active tempered, for example, cooled.

In a very particularly preferred embodiment of the busbar, the recesses in the busbar on the side facing away from the housing on a larger diameter d _{A, max} than on the side facing the housing. In a preferred embodiment, the recesses for this purpose in cross-section frustoconical or at least partially frusto-conical configured. As a result of this geometry, the material of the fixing elements, which are melted when the busbar is connected to the housing, for example by a heating element butt welding process, can almost completely be arranged in the recess of the busbar, so that a particularly flat arrangement is again achieved with regard to the required installation space is, the melt, the adjacent areas of the busbar not undefined contaminated and additionally a particularly secure connection of busbar and housing is generated when the busbar partially encompassing molten material is cured.

An inventive module for a traction battery has an embodiment of a previously described housing with a plurality of electrochemical cells, as well as an embodiment of a previously described busbar.

In addition to the elements described above, the module can also have a tempering device and sensors, for example for current, voltage and / or temperature measurement.

In a preferred embodiment, the material of the centering elements is melted during connection to the busbar. This can be done, for example, by melting the centering elements by means of a common welding method, such as a heating element stump, laser or ultrasonic welding method, after the busbar has been arranged on the housing, the molten areas being arranged in such a way that, after hardening or solidification the fixing the busbar is firmly connected to the housing. It would also be conceivable to arrange the busbar in an injection molding tool where the recesses of the busbar are penetrated or surrounded by the liquid material of the housing and form fixing elements or fixing elements after hardening of the recesses, whereby the busbar is firmly connected to the housing.

Advantageously, a module has a plurality of busbars, one of which is provided for electrically contacting a respective group of a subset of the electrochemical cells arranged in the housing, are connected to the housing via fixing elements.

It is particularly advantageous if differently shaped busbars, one of which is provided in each case for making electrical contact with a group of the electrochemical cells arranged in the housing, are connected to the housing via fixing elements.

Particularly preferably, one or two of the busbars have at least one potential contacting opening (for example a press-in opening) via which a connection can be established for the transfer or acceptance of a potential to or from a neighboring module. For example, for this purpose, a bolt can be pressed into the potential contacting opening, which is connected via a simply designed busbar to the neighboring module.

Quite particularly preferably, a plurality of potential-contacting openings are arranged on the edge of the busbar so that, depending on the installation position, a bolt can be arranged in each case in the potential-contacting opening which is closest to the adjacent module or the potential transfer point there.

The aforementioned embodiments offer the advantage that the electrochemical cells can be interconnected very variably with one another, for example in order to provide a specific electrical power at a specific voltage, or else to achieve a thermally optimized arrangement.

It is preferred if the number of electrochemical cells arranged in the module corresponds to a number which in the mathematical sense is a "highly composite number, preferably 12, 24, 36, 60 or 120 cells. Particularly preferred is a number of cells from the set of "extra high numbers" (1, 2, 6, 12, 60, 360, 2520), preferably 12, 60 or 360 cells. Modules with 60 cells have proved extremely suitable with regard to the most variable possible interconnection in the production of modules for traction batteries. The above-described numbers of cells offer the possibility of arranging the cells in the module in a symmetrical grid, so that, by using large or maximum number of possible integer dividers, by using correspondingly designed bus bars according to the invention different voltage levels can be generated with one module , So it would be possible with the use of 60 cells in a module 4 groups of 15 cells via busbars, alternatively, it would also be possible to generate other voltage levels, for example, 2 × 30, 3 × 20, 5 × 12, 6 × 10, ..., 30 × 2 cells are connected to each other via busbars. This allows a module, only by the use of other busbars, for different applications, such as vehicle series, are used.

A particularly preferred embodiment shows a module in which a bus bar is electrically connected to the electrodes of the electrochemical cells via a bonding wire.

According to the invention, a traction battery has one or more modules in one of the aforementioned embodiments. Such a traction battery can be produced inexpensively, without resulting in functionalities in the contacting of the electrochemical cells. At the same time, the traction battery can be constructed very variable and is optimized in terms of the total weight and the required space.

A traction battery according to the invention is preferably used in an electric vehicle, for example a motor vehicle driven by an electric motor, such as a truck or passenger car, or an electrically driven vehicle or motor vehicle. In principle, it would also be conceivable to use such a traction battery for propulsion of aircraft, for example when maneuvering on taxiways, or any other vehicles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

1 shows a section of a traction battery according to the invention with four modules according to the invention;

2 shows a module according to the invention;

3 is a plan view of one side of a housing according to the invention;

4 shows an embodiment of a bus bar according to the invention;

5a and 5b schematically show a cross section of a portion of a module according to the invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES AND WAYS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

At the in 1 illustrated section of a traction battery according to the invention 5 with four modules according to the invention 1.1 . 1.2 . 1.3 . 1.4 assign the individual modules 1.1 . 1.2 . 1.3 . 1.4 identical housing 10 on, where per module 1.1 . 1.2 . 1.3 . 1.4 sixty electrochemical cells 30 are arranged. Here are the sixty electrochemical cells per module 30 again divided into four subsets or groups of 15 cells each. Each 15 cells are arranged in an orthogonal 3 × 5 grid, wherein the 15 cells of the group are oriented in the same direction, ie within the group is in each case the same electrode 31 . 32 recognizable or protrudes from the image plane. In the illustrated embodiment, adjacent groups are oriented in opposite directions, ie the detectable electrodes 31 . 32 neighboring groups differ in their polarity. Within a module are the electrochemical cells 30 please refer 5a , b in each case over several on the housing 10 back side invisible and front mounted busbars 20:11 - 13 ; 20:21 - 23 ; 20:31 - 33 ; 20:41 - 43 electrically connected to each other. It serves a first busbar 20:11 . 20:21 . 20:31 . 20:41 of respective module 1.1 . 1.2 . 1.3 . 1.4 for taking over a potential from an adjacent module and a third busbar 20:13 . 20:23 . 20:33 . 20:43 for transferring a potential to an adjacent module 1.1 . 1.2 . 1.3 . 1.4 , For this purpose, the first and the third busbar 20:11 . 20:21 . 20:31 . 20:41 ; 20:13 . 20:23 . 20:33 . 20:43 in each case a transfer point, on each of which a bolt 230.1n . 230.12 ; 230.21 . 230.23 ; 230.32 . 230.34 ; 230.43 . 230.4m is arranged. Bolts 230.1n . 230.12 ; 230.21 . 230.23 ; 230.32 . 230.34 ; 230.43 . 230.4m For example, they can be connected to each other via a simple-shaped busbar, not shown. The first and third busbar 20:11 . 20:21 . 20:31 . 20:41 ; 20:13 . 20:23 . 20:33 . 20:43 are each with electrodes of a group of electrochemical cells 30 connected via a bonding wire.

The second busbar 20:12 . 20:22 . 20:32 . 20:42 connects the electrochemical cells 30 of two adjacent groups, the second busbar 20:12 . 20:22 . 20:32 . 20:42 corresponding to the group of cells connected to electrodes of different polarity. Also visible on the reverse side are two busbars, each containing two groups of electrochemical cells 30 connect together, allowing a continuous flow of current from the first busbar 20:11 . 20:21 . 20:31 . 20:41 to the third busbar of a module 20:13 . 20:23 . 20:33 . 20:43 is made.

At the power rails 20:11 - 20:43 is still a contact point for a voltage tap 240 provided, for example, the potential of each group of electrochemical cells 30 to monitor.

2 shows a single module 1.1 in a perspective view. The module shown here is the back view of the module 1.1 out 1 , The module 1.1 has a housing 10 on. The housing 10 consists of a plastic, here a polyacrylic plastic with glass fiber reinforcement. The housing 10 consists of two housing half shells 10a . 10b , which are locked together and four groups of each 15 electrochemical cells include and fix. The housing half shells 10a . 10b adjacent to the electrodes 31 . 32 the electrochemical cells 30 one opening each 11 on. Two groups of electrochemical cells each 30 be over a power rail 20:14 ; 20:15 electrically connected to each other. For this purpose, the respective electrode 31 . 32 the electrochemical cell 30 with the busbar 20:14 ; 20:15 connected via a bonding wire, not shown.

At its corners, the housing half shell 10a one connection point each 15 on. About the connection points 15 may be an attachment of the module to a support structure of a traction battery 5 or an adjacent module 1 respectively.

In addition, the housing half shell 10a adjacent to each opening 11 a fixing element 12 for fixing the busbars 20:14 ; 20:15 on the housing half shell 10a on.

This in 3 illustrated housing 10 has on the page shown a grid of 60 openings 11 on, which are arranged in 6 rows and 10 columns. Adjacent to each of the openings 11 is at least a fixing element 12 arranged. The fixing elements 12 form one to the grid of the openings 11 shifted grid, wherein at not every grid point a fixing 12 is provided. The existing fixing elements 12 are to each adjacent openings 11 identically spaced. In the illustrated embodiment, the fixing elements 12 together with the housing 10 produced in an injection molding process.

4 represents a bus bar according to the invention 20 dar. The busbar 20 serves for placement on a housing 10 and connects a group of 15 electrochemical cells 30 in the housing 10 are arranged. The busbar 20 has a branched shape with a transverse area 20a and three of these crossing and perpendicular to the area 20a running areas 20b on. The transverse area 20a has four recesses 22 and the perpendicular to these areas 20b in each case an additional recess 22 on. With these seven recesses 22 the busbar is on corresponding fixing elements 12 of the housing 10 attached. By the arrangement of the recesses 22 is adjacent to each opening 11 of the housing 10 at least one fixing element 12 with the busbar 20 connected.

Due to the branched shape of the busbar 20 conceals the busbar after the arrangement on the housing 10 the openings 11 in the case 10 not or only slightly. For this purpose, the busbar 20 a width d _S , in the longitudinal extension of the minimum web width between two adjacent openings 11 in the case 10 equivalent.

In the areas where the recesses 22 in the power rail 20 are arranged, the busbar has a width d _SA , which is larger and in the illustrated embodiment, the sum of the width d _{S of} the busbar 20 in the remaining areas d _S and the diameter of the recesses 22 d _A corresponds. This ensures that the cross-sectional area of the busbar 20 also in the areas of the recesses 22 is kept constant in relation to the current carrying capacity.

The outer contour of the busbar 20 is here designed so that the transition from the areas with the width d _SA to the other areas with the width d _{S has} a continuous course, in the illustrated embodiment, the course of a sine function following.

The illustrated busbar 20 serves as arranged on the housing 10 for connection to a neighboring module and has for this purpose at the distal ends of the transverse region 20a , as well as at the distal ends of two areas 20b one injection opening each 23 on, so on each side of the power rail 20 at least two press-in openings 23 are provided. In the press-in openings 23 can, depending on the installation position of the busbar 20 and the module 1 , at least one press-in bolt 230 be arranged so that the connection with the neighboring module as small a distance as possible must be bridged. In addition, the busbar has a contact point 24 for arranging a measuring line for a sensor system for determining the voltage across the busbar 20 contacted electrochemical cells 30 on.

5a shows a schematic representation of a cross section of a portion of a module according to the invention 1 at a first assembly time. Visible is a part of a busbar 20 , the case 10 comes to the plant. In the case 10 are electrochemical cells 30 arranged with their electrodes 31 adjacent to openings 11 in the case 10 are arranged. The busbar 20 has recesses 22 on. The diameter of the recesses 22 on the case 10 opposite side of the busbar 20 d _{A, max} is greater than the diameter d _A on the housing 10 facing side of the busbar 20 , In the illustrated embodiment, the recesses 22 on the case 10 side facing away from a frustoconical portion. In the recesses 22 arranged fixing elements 12 it is in the case 10 inset plastic pins.

The in 5b shown later assembly time shows the arrangement described above, in which the fixing elements 12 were melted in sections and the molten material substantially in the frusto-conical portion of the recesses 22 deposited and solidified. As a result, an intimate and firm connection between the busbar 20 and the housing 10 generated. In a subsequent contacting step, the illustrated bonding wires 33 for connecting the electrodes 31 the electrochemical cells 30 with the busbar 20 mounted without causing vibrations of the busbar 20 relative to the housing 10 comes. In addition, by attaching the busbar 20 on the housing 10 over the fixing elements 12 the busbar 20 fixed almost vibration-free, so that damage to the bonding wires 33 during operation or use of the module due to, for example, vibration of a vehicle and centrifugal forces is prevented.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 7923144 B2 [0004]

Claims (17)

Casing ( 10 ) for a module ( 1 . 1.1 . 1.2 . 1.3 . 1.4 ) of a traction battery ( 5 ), a plurality of in the housing ( 10 ) arranged electrochemical cells ( 30 ), the electrochemical cells ( 30 ) at least one electrode ( 31 . 32 ) and the housing ( 10 ) adjacent to the electrodes ( 31 . 32 ) with openings ( 11 ), characterized in that adjacent to each opening ( 11 ) at least one fixing element ( 12 ) for fastening a busbar ( 20 ) is arranged. Casing ( 10 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing elements ( 12 ) in each case to all adjacent openings ( 11 ) are arranged identically spaced. Casing ( 10 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing elements ( 12 ) pin-shaped, preferably with a decreasing diameter d _F , from the opening ( 11 ) surface of the housing ( 10 protrude). Casing ( 10 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing elements ( 12 ) integral and preferably of the same material with the housing ( 10 ) are formed. Casing ( 10 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the fixing elements ( 12 ) consist of a reversibly fusible material, preferably a plastic. Busbar ( 20 ) for placement on a housing ( 10 ) for a module ( 1 . 1.1 . 1.2 . 1.3 . 1.4 ) of a traction battery ( 5 ), wherein the busbar ( 20 ) consists of an electrically conductive material and immediately adjacent to one side of the housing ( 10 ) with several openings ( 11 ) is arranged and the busbar ( 20 ) for connecting a plurality of in the housing ( 10 ) arranged electrochemical cells ( 30 ) is provided and the busbar ( 20 ) is designed so that these are arranged on the housing ( 10 ) the openings ( 11 ) not concealed, characterized in that the busbar ( 20 ) a branched form with a plurality of interconnected parallel and / or mutually perpendicular areas ( 20a . 20b ) having. Busbar ( 20 ) according to claim 6, characterized in that the busbar ( 20 ) Recesses ( 22 ) having a diameter d _A for receiving fixing elements ( 12 ) having a diameter d _F and d _A ≥ d _F. Busbar ( 20 ) according to claim 7, characterized in that the width of the bus bar d _S in the longitudinal extent of at least the web width between two minimally spaced, adjacent openings ( 11 ) in the housing ( 10 ) corresponds. Busbar ( 20 ) according to claim 8, characterized in that the busbar ( 20 ) in which the recesses ( 22 ) surrounding contacting regions has a width d _SA , which is greater than the width d _S in the other contacting regions and preferably from the relation d _SA ≥ d _S + d _A results. Busbar ( 20 ) according to claim 9, characterized in that the transition from the regions with the width d _SA to the other regions with the width d _{S has} a continuous course, preferably following the course of a sine function. Busbar ( 20 ) according to one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that one of the recesses ( 22 ) on the housing ( 10 ) facing away from the busbar ( 20 ) has a larger diameter d _{A, max} than the diameter d _{A of} the recess ( 22 ) on the housing ( 10 ) facing side and preferably the recess ( 22 ) frusto-conical or sections frusto-conical shape are configured. Module ( 1 ) for a traction battery ( 5 ), comprising at least one housing ( 10 ) according to one of claims 1 to 5 and a busbar ( 20 ) according to one of claims 6 to 11 and one in the housing ( 10 ) arranged plurality of electrochemical cells ( 30 ). Module ( 1 ) according to claim 12, characterized in that the material of the centering elements ( 12 ) during connection to the busbar ( 20 ) is melted. Module ( 1 ) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that a plurality of busbars ( 20:11 . 20:12 ; 20.2 . 20:31 . 20:32 ; 20:41 . 20:42 . 20.5 ) of which in each case one for electrically contacting each of a subset of the in the housing ( 10 ) arranged electrochemical cells ( 30 ) is provided, via fixing elements ( 12 ) with the housing ( 10 ) are connected. Module ( 1 ) according to claim 14, characterized in that a plurality of differently shaped busbars ( 20.2 . 20:31 . 20:32 ; 20:41 . 20:42 . 20.5 ), of which in each case one for electrically contacting each of a subset of the in the housing ( 10 ) arranged electrochemical cells ( 30 ) is provided, via fixing elements ( 12 ) with the housing ( 10 ) are connected. Module ( 1 ) according to one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that a busbar ( 20 ) with the electrodes ( 31 . 32 ) of different polarity of at least a subset of the electrochemical cells ( 30 ) via a bond wire ( 33 ) is electrically connected. Traction battery ( 5 ) with one or more modules ( 1 . 1.1 . 1.2 . 1.3 . 1.4 ) according to any one of claims 12 to 16.

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