DE102018216894A1 - Support element with at least one electrical and / or electronic component and assembly with such a support element - Google Patents

Abstract

It is suggested a a support element (5) with at least one electrical and / or electronic component (4), the support element (5) being formed by a rigid foam body (5a) made of a plastic, in which said at least one electrical and / or electronic component (4) is foamed or inserted. It is advantageously provided that the plastic matrix of the rigid foam body (5a) has thermally conductive fillers (7).

Description

The invention relates to a support element with at least one electrical and / or electronic component according to the preamble of claim 1 of the invention. According to claim 9 of the invention, the same further relates to an assembly, in particular an electrochemical memory, with such a support element.

For some time now, electrochemical stores or batteries, in particular vehicle batteries used as traction batteries, have been known in practice, which require a large number of electrical and / or electronic components in order, for example, to monitor and control the charge and discharge cycle thereof. Several such components are arranged, for example, on or in a common support element, which support element is then preferably installed within a battery housing of said battery.

So is from the DE 10 2008 059 956 A1 a battery, in particular a vehicle battery, with a plurality of individual cells arranged in a battery housing is known. The battery housing has a free space which is separated from the area of the individual cells by means of a separating element. The separating element can be designed as a separate holding frame, which serves to hold an electronic assembly and / or cell connectors. The holding frame can consist of a plastic or a hardened foam.

From the WO 2015/113858 A2 Furthermore, a battery module with a plurality of battery cells is known, which are essentially plate-like and are surrounded by a foam structure. According to one embodiment, the foam structure has four foam layers with different mechanical, physical and / or chemical properties. A first soft foam layer is thus provided, which completely surrounds the respective battery cell. The first foam layer is followed by a second foam layer, which is intended to protect the battery cell during the foaming process. Components such as cooling ducts, heat-conducting sheets, sensors, control elements, electrical lines, carrying or fastening structures and the like should be arranged in a third foam layer with higher mechanical properties applied thereon. A fourth, outer foam layer has a vapor-deposited aluminum layer as EMC protection with a vapor barrier.

From the WO 2006/015588 A1 a component, in particular for a vehicle, is known which is produced from a foamed polymer to form a rigid foam body. At least one electrical and / or electronic functional element is provided on the component. A flat conductor set is provided for the electrical contacting of the functional element, in which at least two conductor tracks are fastened in an insulator element. Such a flat conductor set is at least partially foamed into the rigid foam body. The component can form a housing, for example for a control unit, a seat covering, a door covering, a sliding roof covering or a headlining element. In addition, this document proposes to integrate, for example, lamps, heating devices, sensors, switches, control and regulating electronics in the rigid foam.

All of the above solutions have in common that the electrical and / or electronic components integrated into the foam body generate heat during operation, which is preferably to be dissipated in order to avoid adverse effects or even damage to, for example, said components resulting from accumulation heat. In so far it is from the above DE 10 2008 059 956 A1 known to provide a cooling plate for cooling the battery. From the also mentioned above WO 2015/113858 A2 it is known to arrange heat-conducting sheets in the third foam layer. Said cooling plates and thermal baffles, however, go hand in hand with increased material and cost expenditure as well as increased weight. This is where the invention described below comes into play.

It is therefore the object of the invention to improve a support element formed by a rigid foam body made of a plastic with at least one electrical and / or electronic component foamed in or inserted in the same in such a way that the cost of materials and costs for tempering said components is reduced. In the present case, temperature control means both cooling and heating. In addition, it is an object of the invention to provide an assembly, in particular an electrochemical memory, with a support element designed in this way.

Starting from a support element with at least one electrical and / or electronic component, the support element being formed by a rigid foam body made of a plastic, in which said at least one electrical and / or electronic component is foamed or inserted, the object is thereby achieved that the plastic matrix of the rigid foam body has thermally conductive fillers.

This simple and inexpensive measure is now known to be a thermally insulating foam body made of plastic advantageously designed to be thermally conductive. Said heat-conducting plastic preferably has direct contact with the relevant electrical and / or electronic component, which enables a defined temperature control of the electrical and / or electronic components by means of heat removal and / or supply. Heat dissipation may be necessary, for example, during charging or discharging processes of a battery, in which, as is known, heat development should not be underestimated. Heat may be required, for example, at low temperatures, which prevent the electrical and / or electronic components concerned from functioning optimally.

The subclaims describe preferred developments or refinements of the invention.

According to this, it is preferably provided that the heat-conducting fillers are arranged in a homogeneously distributed manner in said plastic matrix, as a result of which a particularly effective and effective temperature control of the electrical and / or electronic components held on the support element is made possible.

As far as the heat-conductive fillers themselves are concerned, heat-conductive fillers of an electrically conductive and / or non-conductive type can be used here. The selection is based, for example, on the currently desired thermal conductivity of said fillers and / or on any required electrical insulation capacity.

The heat-conducting fillers are preferably formed by metallic or metal-based, ceramic and / or mineral particles, flakes and / or fibers embedded in the plastic matrix of the rigid foam body, which are already available on the market.

Particularly advantageously for the application in question, metallic or metal-based particles, flakes and / or fibers made of copper, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide and / or magnetite can be used as the heat-conducting fillers. For example, hexagonal boron nitride can be used to form ceramic particles, flakes and / or fibers. As far as the mineral particles, flakes and / or fibers are concerned, these can consist of graphite, for example. All of the heat-conducting fillers listed above can be used both on their own and in any combination.

In order to also be able to use thermally conductive but electrically conductive fillers for applications that require an electrically non-conductive rigid foam body, it is advantageously provided that thermally conductive but electrically conductive fillers are embedded in the plastic matrix of the rigid foam body at a distance from one another in such a way that electrical insulation is ensured .

For this purpose, it can also be provided, for example, that the electrically insulating spacing of the electrically conductive fillers is brought about by a homogeneous mixture and distribution of electrically conductive and electrically non-conductive, but in each case heat-conductive fillers in the plastic matrix of the rigid foam body. This simple and inexpensive measure advantageously also enables the use of electrically conductive fillers for applications which require an electrically non-conductive rigid foam body while ensuring optimized heat conduction and electrical insulation.

In order, in particular, to selectively provide particularly effective cooling for regions of the rigid foam body of the support element that are subject to high thermal stress and / or for the at least one electrical and / or electronic component held thereon, or for areas of the rigid foam body that are to be heated strongly if necessary and / or for the at least one electrical component held thereon and / or to be able to selectively ensure rapid and effective heating of electronic components, it is further preferably provided that the heat-conducting fillers are supplemented by at least one heat-conducting film or plate applied to the rigid foam body in said areas or embedded in the plastic matrix thereof. The film or plate can contact the at least one electrical and / or electronic component directly in order to selectively ensure an even faster and more effective temperature control in terms of cooling or heating.

The invention also relates to an assembly, in particular an electrochemical memory, with a support element of the type described above.

• 1 eine äußerst schematische Darstellung eines Kraftfahrzeugs mit einem elektrochemischen Speicher, welcher ein erfindungsgemäß ausgebildetes Tragelement aufweist,
• 2 eine perspektivische Einzeldarstellung eines erfindungsgemäß ausgebildeten Tragelements, und
• 3 den Schnitt „I-I“ nach 2.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown schematically in the drawings. However, it is not limited to this, but covers all configurations defined by the claims. Show it:

• 1 2 shows an extremely schematic illustration of a motor vehicle with an electrochemical memory which has a support element designed according to the invention,
• 2nd a perspective individual representation of a support element designed according to the invention, and
• 3rd the cut " II " after 2nd .

1 shows a motor vehicle 1 which has an electrochemical storage 2nd , for example in the form of a traction battery. In the housing 3rd of the electrochemical storage 2nd are arranged a plurality of memory cells, not shown in the drawing, which are usually electrically connected to one another by means of cell connectors. Inside the case 3rd are also electrical and / or electronic components 4th (see. 2nd ) arranged, for example, the monitoring and control of charging and discharging of the electrochemical storage 2nd to serve. Two or more such components 4th are among other things for comfortable handling during assembly on a common support element 5 supported. The support element 5 together with the electrical and / or electronic components 4th is within the housing according to this embodiment 3rd of the electrochemical storage 2nd arranged. An arrangement of the support element 5 elsewhere, especially outside the case 3rd is also covered by the invention. With said electrical and / or electronic components 4th For example, one or more electronic control units, contactors, fuses, semiconductor relays, measuring resistors and / or the like may be involved.

The support element 5 in the present case has an elongated cuboid shape only by way of example. The support element 5 is through a rigid foam body 5a made of a plastic, in particular a thermoplastic, such as polypropylene or polyamide. This makes a high stability of the support element advantageous 5 combined with a low weight. How from 2nd can be seen are said components 4th into the rigid foam body 5a foamed during manufacture or in prepared openings 6 the same plugged in. The electrical and / or electronic components are preferred 4th at least in sections in direct contact with the rigid foam body 5a , which will be discussed in more detail below.

As already demonstrated above, a defined temperature control, such as cooling and / or heating, of the electrical and / or electronic components 4th To be able to effect, the plastic matrix of the rigid foam body, which is inherently not or poorly thermally conductive 5a thermally conductive fillers 7 on, which is extremely schematic in 3rd is indicated. Through the direct contact of the said components 4th with the rigid foam body 5a can remove and / or supply heat particularly effectively and thus the desired temperature control of the electrical and / or electronic components 4th be effected. Heat can be dissipated, for example, during charging or discharging of the electrochemical store 2nd resp. the traction battery, for which it is known that heat development should not be underestimated. Heat may be required, for example, at low temperatures, in order for the electrical and / or electronic components concerned to function optimally 4th oppose.

The heat-conducting fillers are preferred 7 arranged homogeneously distributed in said plastic matrix. This is a temperature control on the support element 5 mounted electrical and / or electronic components 4th particularly safe and effective.

The fillers can be of an electrically conductive and / or non-conductive type. The selection is based, for example, on the currently desired thermal conductivity of said fillers and / or on any required electrical insulation capacity.

Metallic or metal-based, ceramic and / or mineral fillers are preferred 7 used in the form of particles, flakes and / or fibers. For example, as fillers for the application in question 7 metallic or metal-based type particles, flakes and / or fibers made of copper, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide and / or magnetite are used. For example, hexagonal boron nitride can be used to form ceramic particles, flakes and / or fibers. As far as the mineral particles, flakes and / or fibers are concerned, these can consist of graphite, for example. All of the fillers listed above 7 can be used alone or in any combination.

To also use electrically conductive fillers 7 to be able to use for applications that of an electrically non-conductive rigid foam body 5a are electrically conductive fillers 7 spaced apart in the plastic matrix of the rigid foam body 5a embedded that electrical insulation is guaranteed (not shown in the drawing). For this purpose it can be provided, for example, that the electrically insulating spacing of the electrically conductive fillers 7 through a homogeneous mixture and distribution of electrically conductive and electrically non-conductive, but in each case heat-conductive fillers 7 in the plastic matrix of the rigid foam body 5a is effected. This measure also makes it advantageous to use electrically conductive fillers while ensuring reliable heat conduction and electrical insulation 7 enabled.

In special cases it may prove necessary to be thermally stressed Areas of the rigid foam body 5a and / or selectively at least one electrical and / or electronic component held thereon 4th to cool or heat particularly quickly and effectively. In this regard, the thermally conductive fillers 7 by at least one in said areas on the rigid foam body 5a applied or embedded in the plastic matrix of the same thermally conductive film 8th or plate added (cf. 3rd ). The foil 8th or plate can be formed by a material that is already the filler above 7 corresponds to the materials mentioned. Again 3rd can be seen further, contacts the film 8th or plate the relevant electrical and / or electronic component 4th immediately to ensure an even faster and more effective temperature control in terms of cooling or heating.

The foil 8th or plate stands for cooling with the environment and / or with an external cooling device, not shown in the drawing, such as an existing cooling circuit of the motor vehicle 1 in operative connection. The film can be used for heating 8th or cooling plate a heating device can be assigned. Said heating device can, for example, be operated electrically or through the cooling circuit of the motor vehicle, which is present anyway 1 be formed (not shown in the drawing).

The exemplary embodiment described above relies on an electrochemical memory 2nd especially for a motor vehicle 1 from. However, the invention is not limited to said electrochemical storage 2nd , but detects any assembly, in particular electrical and / or electronic assembly, with at least one support element 5 of the type described above, which is a composite of electrical and / or electronic components 4th , like control units, with the same basic structure (supporting element 5 ) provides.

Reference list

1

Motor vehicle

2nd

electrochemical storage

3rd

casing

4th

electrical and / or electronic component

5

Support element

5a

Rigid foam body

6

opening

7

filler

8th

foil

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is only included 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.

Patent literature cited

• DE 102008059956 A1 [0003, 0006]
• WO 2015/113858 A2 [0004, 0006]
• WO 2006/015588 A1 [0005]

Claims (9)

Support element (5) with at least one electrical and / or electronic component (4), the support element (5) being formed by a rigid foam body (5a) made of a plastic, in which said at least one electrical and / or electronic component (4 ) is foamed or inserted, characterized in that the plastic matrix of the rigid foam body (5a) has heat-conducting fillers (7). Support element (5) after Claim 1 , characterized in that the heat-conducting fillers (7) are arranged homogeneously distributed in said plastic matrix. Support element (5) after Claim 1 or 2nd , characterized in that the thermally conductive fillers (7) are electrically conductive and / or non-conductive. Support element (5) after Claim 3 , characterized in that the heat-conducting fillers (7) are formed by metallic or metal-based, ceramic and / or mineral particles, flakes and / or fibers embedded in the plastic matrix of the rigid foam body (). Support element (5) after Claim 4 , characterized in that the metallic or metal-based particles, flakes and / or fibers made of copper, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide and / or magnetite, the ceramic particles, flakes and / or fibers made of hexagonal boron nitride and the mineral particles, flakes and / or fibers Graphite exist. Supporting element (5) according to one of the Claims 3 to 5 , characterized in that heat-conductive but electrically conductive fillers (7) are embedded in the plastic matrix of the rigid foam body (5a) at a distance from one another in such a way that electrical insulation is ensured. Support element (5) after Claim 6 , characterized in that the electrically insulating spacing of the heat-conducting but electrically conductive fillers (7) is brought about by a homogeneous mixture and distribution of electrically conductive and electrically non-conductive but heat-conductive fillers (7) in the plastic matrix of the rigid foam body (5a) . Supporting element (5) according to one of the Claims 1 to 7 , characterized in that the heat-conducting fillers (7) are supplemented by at least one heat-conducting film (8) or plate applied to the rigid foam body (5a) or embedded in the plastic matrix thereof. Assembly, in particular electrochemical memory (2), with a support element (5) according to one of the Claims 1 to 8th .

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