DE102019112372A1 - High-voltage battery for a motor vehicle with module connectors and motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a high-voltage battery for a motor vehicle having: - at least one battery module (2 '), - a battery module carrier (10) for holding the battery module (2'), - at least one module connector (14) for electrically connecting a module connector (5a ', 5b ') of the battery module (2') with a connection of the high-voltage battery external to the battery module, having a first contact element (15a) for electrical connection to the module connection (5a ', 5b'), a second contact element (15b) for electrical connection to the connection external to the battery module and a first connection element (18), and a fastening system (11) which is fastened to the battery module carrier (10) and is designed to hold the at least one module connector (14) in a positionally flexible manner, and which has a plurality of second connection elements with the first connection element (18) of the module connector (14) has connecting elements (21) which can be plugged together non-destructively and detachably, one position of the Mo Module connector (14) can be fixed to the battery module carrier (10) by the second connecting element (21) plugged together with the first connecting element (18). The invention also relates to a motor vehicle.

Description

The invention relates to a high-voltage battery for a motor vehicle having at least one battery module, a battery module carrier for holding the at least one battery module and at least one module connector for electrically connecting a module connector of the at least one battery module to a connector of the high-voltage battery external to the battery module. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle.

In the present case, the interest is directed to rechargeable high-voltage batteries or high-voltage storage devices for electrically powered vehicles, for example electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles. High-voltage batteries usually include a plurality of battery cells which can be interconnected to form battery modules and which are arranged on a battery module carrier, for example a housing base of a battery housing of the high-voltage battery. In order to interconnect the battery modules with a connection external to the battery module, for example a module connection of another battery module or a high-voltage connection of the high-voltage battery, module connectors are known from the prior art. These module connectors are designed as busbars, for example, which have to be fastened, for example screwed, to the module connections and the connections external to the battery module. In order to be able to de-energize the high-voltage battery, the module connectors between the battery modules and the high-voltage connections have to be detached again with great effort.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a high-voltage battery for motor vehicles with particularly simply designed module connectors.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a high-voltage battery and a motor vehicle having the features according to the respective independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

A high-voltage battery according to the invention for a motor vehicle has at least one battery module and a battery module carrier for holding the at least one battery module. In addition, the high-voltage battery has at least one module connector for electrically connecting a module connection of the at least one battery module to a connection of the high-voltage battery external to the battery module. The module connector comprises a first contact element for electrical connection with the module connection, a second contact element for electrical connection with the connection external to the battery module and a first connection element. In addition, the high-voltage battery has a fastening system which is fastened to the battery module carrier and is designed to hold the at least one module connector in a position-flexible manner. The fastening system comprises a multiplicity of second connection elements which can be detached and non-destructively plugged together with the first connection element of the at least one module connector, wherein a position of the module connector on the battery module carrier can be fixed or fixed by that second connection element of the fastening system which is plugged together with the first connection element of the module connector . is selectable.

The high-voltage battery is in particular a rechargeable traction battery for a motor vehicle designed as an electric or hybrid vehicle. The high-voltage battery comprises a plurality of battery cells which are connected to the at least one battery module. The at least one battery module is held by the battery module carrier. The battery module carrier is designed in particular in the form of a plate and can, for example, be a housing base of a battery housing of the high-voltage battery. The battery cells can be designed, for example, as prismatic battery cells stacked to form at least one cell stack. The battery cells of a cell stack can be connected to the battery module via a cell contact system. To interconnect the battery module, it has two module connections in the form of a plus pole and a minus pole. Each module connection can be electrically connected to a connection external to the battery module, for example to a module connection of a further battery module, a high-voltage connection of the high-voltage battery or a switching device or contactor box of the high-voltage battery.

To interconnect the battery module with the connection external to the battery module, the at least one module connector is used, which can be arranged flexibly or at several positions on the fastening system. The invention is based on the knowledge that the spatial position of the module connection of the at least one battery module in the battery housing depends on a position of the battery module on the battery module carrier and / or on the geometric dimensions of the battery module. The geometric dimensions of a battery module are dependent on a number of battery cells stacked on top of one another in the battery module and / or a size of the battery cells of the battery module.

For the flexible positioning of the module connector on the fastening system, it has the second connecting elements with which the first connecting element of the module connector can be plugged together. The second connecting elements are distributed over the fastening system at different positions. For example, the fastening system can have a perforated plate with a matrix arrangement of the second connecting elements or at least one guide rail with a row arrangement of the second connecting elements. The module connector is arranged in that position at which the module connection of this battery module is later when the battery module is arranged on the battery module carrier. The first connecting element and the second connecting element can be plugged together and thus form a connection that can be released without destruction. In the arranged state on the fastening system, the at least one module connector is fixed to the fastening system. Because the fastening system is fixedly arranged on the battery module carrier, for example by gluing, the module connector is also fixed to the battery module carrier in the arranged state on the fastening system. The battery module carrier, the fastening system and the at least one module connector thus form a module connector fastening system.

In this assembled state of the module connector fastening system, the module connector can be contacted with the module connection of the at least one battery module. For this purpose, for example, the at least one battery module is arranged on the battery module carrier, the module connector being electrically connected to the module connection at the same time. The first connection element and / or the second connection elements are in particular formed from an electrically insulating material, since the electrical connection between the module connection and the connection external to the battery module should be made via the contact elements, but not via the connection elements. By removing the battery module from the battery module carrier, the electrical connection between the module connection and the module connector can be released again in a simple manner.

By means of such a module connector fastening system, the at least one battery module can be connected in a simple manner to a connection external to the battery module and at the same time held on the battery module carrier in the connected state. In addition, such a flexible module connector fastening system can be adapted in a simple manner to the configuration of the high-voltage battery, for example the geometric dimensions of the battery modules used.

Particularly preferably, at least the first contact element of the module connector in the assembled state with the fastening system is arranged protruding from the battery module carrier in the direction of the at least one battery module. The module connection of the at least one battery module is arranged on a side facing the battery module carrier, so that it can be plugged together with the first contact element of the module connector when the battery module is arranged on the battery module carrier. According to the prior art, the module connections are mostly arranged on an upper side of the battery module facing a housing cover of the battery housing. As a result, if the battery modules are arranged upright on the housing bottom of the battery housing, the module connections are accessible to specialist personnel and can be connected to the module connectors known from the prior art, for example the busbars.

In contrast to this, the module connections of the at least one battery module of the high-voltage battery according to the invention are arranged in particular on an underside of the battery module. This underside faces the battery module carrier, which is arranged on the housing base or which forms the housing base, and thereby faces the module connector fastened thereon. To equip the high-voltage battery, the battery module is placed on the battery module carrier. The battery module is arranged on the battery module carrier in such a way that the module connection is plugged together with the first contact element of the module connector when it is arranged. The arrangement of the at least one battery module on the battery module carrier and the contacting of the at least one battery module can thus take place in just one method step. The arrangement of the module connections on the underside of the at least one battery module also has the advantage that the module connections are not accessible in the connected state with the module connectors and are therefore arranged so that they are protected against accidental contact. This means that there is no danger to people. The electrical connection can also be interrupted in a particularly simple and safe manner by lifting the battery module away from the battery module carrier.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the fastening system has at least one guide rail which comprises holes as the second connecting elements. The first connecting element of the at least module connector comprises at least one guide bolt for insertion into the holes of the guide rail. Both the holes and the guide pins can have any cross-sectional shape. The at least one guide rail can, for example, have several holes or bores arranged next to one another along its length. At least one can go into these holes Connecting bolts are introduced or inserted. The at least one guide rail is attached to the battery module carrier, for example by means of an adhesive. It can be provided that the fastening system has a plurality of guide rails which are arranged on the battery module carrier. The module connector can be arranged in a particularly flexible manner on the battery module carrier due to the multiple guide rails, which each have multiple second connecting elements. Such a module connector fastening system is advantageously compatible with a large number of variants or configurations of the high-voltage battery.

The first connecting element preferably has two guide bolts and the second connecting elements are each formed by two holes in the guide rail. In each case two holes, in particular adjacent holes, thus form a second connecting element. Rotation of the module connector can thus be prevented in the plugged-together state with the two connecting bolts and the module connector can be fixed particularly precisely and reliably to the at least one guide rail.

It has proven to be advantageous if at least the first contact element is formed by a contact bolt which can be detachably plugged together with the module connection of the at least one battery module in a non-destructive manner. The contact pin can have any cross section. Such a contact bolt is particularly stable and can be manufactured in a simple manner, for example from aluminum.

It can be provided that the connection external to the battery module is designed as a module connection of a further battery module, the first and the second contact element of the module connector being designed as contact bolts which are electrically and mechanically connected via a connecting piece and protrude from the connecting piece, the electrical insulating first connecting element is arranged on the connecting piece. The two contact elements and the connecting piece thus form a U-shape. The two contact elements and the connecting piece can, for example, be designed in one piece. The connecting piece forms in particular a horizontal section of the electrically conductive part of the module connector, at the opposite ends of which the contact elements are arranged as vertical sections protruding. The first connecting element is arranged on the connecting piece, for example by means of a plastic sleeve. In the assembled state with the fastening system, the connecting piece is arranged in particular parallel to the battery module carrier, while the contact bolts are arranged perpendicular to the battery module carrier and are thus oriented in the vertical direction. To interconnect the battery modules, the module connections can be plugged onto the contact bolts of the module connector when the battery modules are arranged on the battery module carrier.

It can also be provided that the connection external to the battery module is formed as a connection of a switching device of the high-voltage battery or as a high-voltage connection of the high-voltage battery, the second contact element having a high-voltage plug, which is electrically connected via a connecting piece to the contact bolt protruding from the connecting piece. The connecting piece is in turn designed as the horizontal section, while the contact pin forms the vertical section protruding at one end of the horizontal section. The contact pin and the connecting piece thus form an L-shape. The high-voltage plug is connected to the other end of the connector. The connecting piece and the high-voltage plug can be connected directly or indirectly, for example via a flexible cable. This embodiment is based on the knowledge that the high-voltage connection or the connection of the switching device or contactor box, which is usually electrically connected to the high-voltage connection, is not arranged in the area of the housing bottom but, for example, in the area of the housing cover. Therefore, those module connectors of the module connector fastening system that connect the interconnection of battery modules to the high-voltage connection or the connection of the contactor box have a different configuration than the module connectors that connect the battery modules to one another.

In a development of the invention, the module connection of the at least one battery module has a receptacle into which the contact bolt of the module connector can be inserted. The receptacle is open at least on one side in the direction of the battery module carrier. The receptacle can be formed on the battery module as a blind hole with any cross section. The module connection preferably has lamellar springs arranged in the receptacle for fixing the contact bolt arranged in the receptacle. These lamellar springs are pretensioned when the contact pin is inserted and thus fix the contact pin and thus the entire battery module.

The invention also includes a motor vehicle which comprises a high-voltage battery according to the invention. The motor vehicle is designed in particular as an electric or hybrid vehicle and includes the high-voltage battery as a traction battery.

The embodiments presented with reference to the high-voltage battery according to the invention and their advantages apply accordingly to the motor vehicle according to the invention.

Further features of the invention emerge from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures can be used not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations or on their own.

The invention will now be explained in more detail using a preferred exemplary embodiment and with reference to the drawings.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung einer Hochvoltbatterie;
• 2 eine schematische Darstellung eines Modulverbinder-Befestigungssystems;
• 3 eine schematische Darstellung des Modulverbinder-Befestigungssystems, welches zwei Batteriemodule verbindet;
• 4 eine Querschnittsdarstellung eines Modulanschlusses eines Batteriemoduls;
• 5 eine Querschnittsdarstellung des Modulanschlusses des Batteriemoduls mit einem Kontaktbolzen; und
• 6 eine schematische Darstellung einer Ausführungsform eines Modulverbinders.

Show it:

• 1 a schematic representation of a high-voltage battery;
• 2 a schematic representation of a module connector fastening system;
• 3 a schematic representation of the module connector fastening system, which connects two battery modules;
• 4th a cross-sectional view of a module connection of a battery module;
• 5 a cross-sectional view of the module connection of the battery module with a contact bolt; and
• 6th a schematic representation of an embodiment of a module connector.

Identical and functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

1 shows a schematic representation of a high-voltage battery 1 for a motor vehicle. The high-voltage battery 1 has a variety of battery modules 2 on, with each battery module 2 a cell stack made up of battery cells that are stacked and interconnected 3 having. The battery cells 3 are prismatic battery cells here 3 . The battery modules 2 are in a battery case 4th the high-voltage battery 1 arranged. Any battery module 2 has two module connections 5a , 5b on. The module connection 5a forms a positive pole of the battery module here 2 and the module connection 5b forms a negative pole of the battery module 2 . The battery modules 2 are connected in series here. The module connection is for this purpose 5b of the first battery module 2 with the module connection 5b of the second battery module 2 connected etc. The module connection 5a of the first battery module 2 and the module connection 5b of the last battery module 2 are via a switching device 6th or contactor box with a high-voltage connection 7th the high-voltage battery 1 electrically connected. For the electrical connection of a module connection 5a , 5b a battery module 2 with a connection external to the battery module, i.e. the module connection 5a , 5b another battery module 2 or the high-voltage connection 7th , shows the high-voltage battery 1 Module connector 8th on. These module connectors 8th must with the module connections 5a , 5b be connected electrically and mechanically.

In 2 is a module connector fastening system 9 shown, by means of which two battery modules 2 ' , as in 3 shown, can be electrically connected and fixed.

The battery modules 2 ' can also use a cell stack made up of battery cells 3 exhibit. However, they differ in the design of the module connections 5a ' , 5b ' from the battery modules 2 according to 1 . The module connector fastening system 9 which is the module connector 8th the high-voltage battery 1 according to 1 can replace, has a battery module carrier 10 on, which for example by a housing bottom of the battery housing 4th can be formed. On this battery module carrier 10 can use the battery modules 2 ' set up and held there. On the battery module carrier 10 is a fastening system 11 arranged, which here by several guide rails 12 is formed. Any guide rail 12 has several holes arranged side by side 13 on. The guide rails 12 are on the battery module carrier 11 attached and are therefore held there.

In addition, the module connector fastening system 9 a module connector 14th on, which is designed in the embodiment shown here, the module connections 5a ' , 5b ' two battery modules 2 ' to connect electrically. The module connector 14th a first contact element 15a and a second contact element 15b on. The contact elements 15a , 15b are here as contact bolts 16 educated. The contact bolts 16 are through a connector 17th electrically and mechanically interconnected. The contact bolts 16 and the connector 17th can be made in one piece and, for example, made of aluminum. The module connector 9 also has a first connecting element 18th on which two connecting bolts 19th having. The connecting bolts 19th are here about a cuff 20th on the connector 17th attached. The connecting bolts 19th and the cuff 20th are made of an electrically insulating material, for example plastic, and can also be made in one piece.

The fastening system 11 and the module connector 14th can be releasably connected non-destructively by the first connecting element 18th with one of several second connecting elements 21st of the fastening system 11 is put together. The second connecting elements 21st are here through two adjacent holes 13 a guide rail 12 educated. When plugged together, the contact elements protrude 15a , 15b up (z-direction). The module connector 14th at a certain position on the battery module carrier 10 be arranged by the connecting bolts 19th of the module connector 14th into any two adjacent holes 13 one of the guide rails 12 be plugged in. The position at which the module connector is 14th should be located - i.e. the guide rail to be used 12 and the holes 13- to be used are dependent on the geometric dimensions of the battery modules 2 ' . Here, for example, the two outer guide rails 12 for "long" battery modules 2 ' and the two inner guide rails 12 for "short" battery modules 2 ' used. The "long" battery modules 2 ' have a larger number of battery cells stacked in the x-direction 3 on than the "short" battery modules 2 ' . What holes 13 the corresponding guide rail 12 then for plugging together with the module connector 14th used depends on, for example, a size of the battery cells 3 in the x direction.

For contacting the battery modules 2 ' become the module connections 5a ' , 5b ' downwards (against the z-direction) to one of the battery module carriers 10 facing underside of the battery module 2 ' guided. The module connections 5a ' , 5b ' are here as blind holes 22nd formed into which the contact pins 16 the contact elements 15a , 15b of the module connector 9 can be introduced. In the recording 22nd are also spring slats 23 arranged through which the contact pin 16 in the recording 22nd is fixed. By setting up the battery module 2 ' on the battery module carrier 10 with simultaneous slipping over the recording 22nd via the contact bolt 16 becomes the battery module 2 ' both electrically contacted and on the battery module carrier 10 held. By removing or lifting the battery module 2 ' from the battery module carrier 10 the electrical connection is released again. In 4th is a cross section of the receptacle 22nd with the spring slats 23 shown. 5 shows the recording in a cross-sectional view 22nd with the spring slats 23 and the one in the recording 22nd arranged contact bolts 16 .

In 6th is an embodiment of the module connector 14th shown in which the module connector 14th is designed to be a battery module 2 ' with a connection external to the battery module, for example the high-voltage connection 7th or the switching device 6th , connect to. The module connector 14th has the first contact element here 15a in the form of the contact bolt 16 and the second contact element 15b on, which here for example as a flexible cable with a high-voltage plug 24 is trained. This high-voltage plug 24 can be plugged into the connection external to the battery module. The first connector 18th has only one connecting bolt here 19th on.

Claims (10)

Having high-voltage battery for a motor vehicle: - at least one battery module (2 '), - A battery module carrier (10) for holding the at least one battery module (2 '), - At least one module connector (14) for electrically connecting a module connection (5a ', 5b') of the at least one battery module (2 ') to a connection of the high-voltage battery external to the battery module, having a first contact element (15a) for electrically connecting to the module connection (5a') , 5b '), a second contact element (15b) for electrical connection to the terminal external to the battery module and a first connection element (18), and - A fastening system (11) which is fastened to the battery module carrier (10) and is designed to hold the at least one module connector (14) in a flexible position, and which has a plurality of second non-destructive elements with the first connection element (18) of the module connector (14) having detachably pluggable connection elements (21), wherein a position of the module connector (14) on the battery module carrier (10) can be fixed by the second connection element (21) of the fastening system (11) plugged together with the first connection element (18) of the module connector (14). High-voltage battery Claim 1 , characterized in that the fastening system (11) comprises at least one guide rail (12) which comprises holes (13) as the second connecting elements (21), and the first connecting element (18) of the at least module connector (14) comprises at least one guide bolt (19) ) for insertion into the holes (13) of the at least one guide rail (12). High-voltage battery Claim 2 , characterized in that the first connecting element (18) has two guide bolts (19) and the second connecting elements (21) are each formed by two holes (13) of the at least one guide rail (12). High-voltage battery according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - at least the first contact element (15a) of the module connector (14) in the assembled state with the fastening system (11) is arranged protruding from the battery module carrier (10 = in the direction of the at least one battery module (2 '), - the module connection (5a', 5b ') ) of the at least one battery module (2 ') is arranged on a side facing the battery module carrier (10), so that it can be plugged together with the first contact element (15a) of the module connector (14) when the battery module (2') is arranged on the battery module carrier (10) is. High-voltage battery according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the first contact element (15a) is formed by a contact bolt (16) which can be detachably plugged together with the module connection (14) of the at least one battery module (2 ') without being destroyed. High-voltage battery Claim 5 , characterized in that the connection external to the battery module is designed as a module connection (5a ', 5b') of a further battery module (2 '), with both contact elements (15a, 15b) of the module connector (14) being designed as contact bolts (16) which are electrically and mechanically connected via a connecting piece (17) and protrude from the connecting piece (17), the electrically insulating first connecting element (18) being arranged on the connecting piece (17). High-voltage battery Claim 5 or 6th , characterized in that the connection external to the battery module is formed as a high-voltage connection (7) of the high-voltage battery or as a connection (6) of a switching device of the high-voltage battery, the second contact element (15b) having a high-voltage plug (24) which is connected via a connecting piece (17 ) is electrically connected to the contact pin (16) protruding from the connecting piece (17). High-voltage battery according to one of the Claims 5 to 7th , characterized in that the module connection (5a ', 5b') of the at least one battery module (2 ') has a receptacle (22) into which the contact bolt (16) of the module connector (14) can be inserted. High-voltage battery Claim 8 , characterized in that the module connection (5a ', 5b') has at least one lamellar spring (23) arranged in the receptacle (22) for fixing the contact pin (16) arranged in the receptacle (22). Motor vehicle with a high-voltage battery according to one of the preceding claims

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