DE102019202891A1 - Cell housing for a prismatic battery cell, battery module and motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a cell housing (14) for a prismatic battery cell (10), the cell housing (14) having a first side (16) and a second side (18) opposite the first side (16), a top side (22) and an underside (20) opposite the upper side (22), as well as a third side (26) and a fourth side (28) opposite the third side (269). The cell housing (14) has a connecting device (36) which is set up in this way is that the cell housing (14) can be connected to a second identically designed cell housing (14) with a second identically designed connecting device (36) such that the first side (16) of the cell housing (14) of the second side (18) of the second Cell housing (14) is facing.

Description

The invention relates to a cell housing for a prismatic battery cell, the cell housing having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side, and a third side and a fourth side opposite the third side. The invention also includes a battery module and a motor vehicle.

Cell housings for prismatic battery cells are usually cuboid, it being possible, for example, to provide connection units on the top which provide the cell poles of the battery cell. Such cell housings are typically made of a metallic material and are usually deep-drawn in a very complex deep-drawing process in order to be able to produce the depth of the cells. This means that the cell housings are typically relatively thin-walled in order to be able to achieve the required depth of the cells through the deep-drawing process. Furthermore, to form a battery module, these cells are usually arranged in a stacking direction to one another as a cell pack and braced with one another, since the battery cells can expand in the course of their service life, which is also referred to as swelling. For example, tie rods or metal straps can be used to clamp the battery cells.

In order to provide a high-voltage battery for a motor vehicle, in particular an electric motor vehicle, a plurality of such battery modules, which in turn comprise numerous individual battery cells, are typically interconnected. To provide such a high-voltage battery, a very high installation effort is required, since numerous individual battery cells must be suitably positioned and braced with one another to form a battery module, and this procedure has to be carried out for numerous battery modules. In addition, caution is required during assembly because, as described, the cell housings are very thin-walled and therefore have no structural strength and accordingly cannot absorb any mechanical loads, so that they can be easily damaged.

It would therefore be desirable to simplify such a battery assembly process.

In this context, the DE 10 2013 017 355 A1 a frame assembly for cell elements and an assembly and disassembly process. The frame arrangement in this case has cell frames which are arranged in a usage arrangement so as to be in contact with one another at their end faces and wherein one battery cell can be accommodated between two adjacent cell frames. Each cell frame has at least one two opposing side surfaces in each case at least one outwardly facing connecting element. In addition, the frame arrangement comprises a separately implemented connecting bar for arrangement on the connecting elements. With a single such connecting bar, all cell frames of a cell stack can be connected to one another at the same time. This disadvantageously requires that this connecting bar is adapted to the size of the cell stack, which limits the flexibility with regard to the possible uses. In addition, this frame arrangement is only suitable for pouch cells, which therefore do not have a rigid cell housing.

Furthermore describes the DE 10 2015 225 188 A1 an energy storage module with a plurality of cuboid energy storage cells which are arranged one behind the other in a longitudinal direction in a row and are electrically connected to one another. A frame-like intermediate element is arranged between two successive energy storage cells, by means of which the energy storage cells are spaced from one another. This spacer element is intended to ensure that the individual energy storage cells can expand without any counterforce being opposed to them. The individual intermediate elements can also have clip or latching elements, via which several intermediate elements can be clipped together to form a framework of intermediate elements. However, this construction disadvantageously requires additional installation space and, due to the spacing of the energy storage cells from one another, which is to be achieved by these intermediate elements, no tensioning of the energy storage cells is possible, which, however, has negative effects on the service life for most cell types.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a cell housing, a battery module and a motor vehicle which allow a battery module with a plurality of mutually arranged battery cells and the simplest possible battery assembly to be provided in the most space-efficient way possible.

This object is achieved by a cell housing, by a battery module and a motor vehicle with the features according to the respective independent claims. Advantageous refinements of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

A cell housing according to the invention for a prismatic battery cell has a first side and a second side opposite the first side, an upper side and one of the Upper side opposite lower side, as well as a third side and a fourth side opposite the third side. The cell housing has a connecting device which is set up such that the cell housing can be connected to a second identically designed cell housing with a second identically designed connecting device such that the first side of the cell housing faces the second side of the second cell housing.

The connecting device is thus formed integrally with the cell housing, which has numerous advantages. On the one hand, battery cells which have such a cell housing can be connected to one another in the stacking direction in a very efficient and space-saving manner to form a battery module. The possibility of connecting which is provided by the connecting device of the cell housing can optionally also provide a possibility of bracing the individual battery cells with such cell housings to one another, although this is not absolutely necessary. In any case, the connecting device enables the individual battery cells to be fixed to one another in the stacking direction, which provides a much more stable arrangement of several battery cells in the form of a cell stack or cell pack, which significantly simplifies subsequent assembly steps, such as the subsequent attachment of an additional clamping mechanism or that Insertion of this battery cell assembly into a battery housing or the like. Because the connection device is arranged directly on the cell housing or is formed integrally with it and is accordingly provided by the cell housing itself, the individual parts required to establish the connection between a plurality of cell housings can be reduced to a minimum. In particular, numerous variants are available for implementing this connection device and the connection option between the cell housings, which are described in more detail below, and some of which do not require any further connecting elements at all, such as connecting devices that connect two identically designed cell housings, for example by snapping them together , clipping, interlocking or the like.

The cell housing itself can be formed from a metallic material, such as aluminum, for example. In addition, it is preferred that the first and the second side are respectively larger than the respective upper side, lower side, third side and fourth side. In other words, the first and the second side provide the sides of the cell housing with the largest surface area. Furthermore, the top of the cell housing can provide two pole connection elements. A galvanic element that can be arranged in the cell housing can be coupled with its respective poles with these pole connection elements, so that the cell voltage of the battery cell comprising the cell housing can be provided at the pole connection elements.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the cell housing has at least two separate housing parts, which can be connected to one another to form the cell housing, for example plugged together, with a first of the two housing parts being the first side, the second side and the underside of the cell housing and a second of the two housing parts provides the top, the third side and the fourth side of the cell housing. The two separate housing parts are therefore each U-shaped. Such a two-part design of the cell housing results in numerous advantages. In particular, this two-part design of the cell housing implies that it is not produced by means of a deep-drawing process. The two separate housing parts can be produced as angled sheet-metal strips or simple bent sheet-metal parts and then simply plugged together or otherwise connected to one another and fastened to one another. The formation of cell housings by means of deep drawing, in particular, imposes very severe restrictions on the design possibilities of such a cell housing. If, instead, other manufacturing methods are used to manufacture the cell housing, this enables numerous advantageous design options for the housing, whereby, for example, the connecting device can be designed integrally with the cell housing, i.e. with one or both of the housing parts, in a simple manner. If the cell housing were designed, for example, as a deep-drawn cup, such connecting devices could at most be manufactured separately and attached to the cell housing, for example welded, in a subsequent process step. Another problem that arises here, however, is that such deep-drawn cell housings cannot absorb any mechanical stress due to their thin design, since such deep-drawn metal sheets have no structural rigidity.

Correspondingly, with such cell housings there is no possibility of designing them in any way with a connecting device, since no clips or latches can be attached due to the lack of structural rigidity and a connection of cell housings to one another via connecting devices arranged on the cell housing would not bring about any stability, and rather, there would be a risk of damaging the cell housing. Thereby, that precisely the cell housing in the context of the invention should not be designed as a deep-drawn cell housing, but for example can consist of several, in particular two separately designed housing parts, a significantly increased structural rigidity can be provided by the cell housing, which makes it possible to integrate such a connecting device with the Form cell housing.

Furthermore, for example, the first and / or second side can also be designed with a relief structure that can significantly increase the mechanical load-bearing capacity and rigidity of the cell housing. This is due to two factors: on the one hand, by the structure in the housing side per se, on the other hand, in turn, because no deep-drawing process is used to form this housing part, which includes the first and / or second side of the cell housing. In any case, only smooth surfaces can be formed with a deep-drawing process. In addition, only very specific materials or metals or alloys can be used for deep drawing which are sufficiently soft or elastic and which can therefore also be sufficiently deep drawn. By dispensing with a deep-drawing process, any materials, in particular metallic materials and alloys, can now advantageously be used to form the cell housing, which, for example, also have a significantly higher rigidity with the same thickness. This, in turn, enables a significantly more rigid and mechanically more robust cell housing without, for example, having to increase the wall thickness of the respective housing sides. Such a relief structure can be implemented in a simple manner, for example, by an indentation process, such as an embossing process. Such a method advantageously imposes hardly any restrictions on the materials and material properties to be used. In addition, this relief structure can also be used to provide the connecting device, as will be explained in more detail later.

Numerous other advantages can be achieved through such significantly stiffer side walls of the cell housing. For example, battery housings or module housings, in which this battery cell arrangement is used, can be redesigned, since they then no longer have to be so stiff because the battery cells, in particular their cell housings, themselves make a greater contribution to the stiffness. Also, for example, tensioning devices for tensioning the battery cells in order to counteract the above-mentioned swelling effect, can be made much simpler, since the cell housings themselves can now counter the cell internal pressure with a significantly higher force due to the increased mechanical strength and rigidity. Through this advantageous design of the cell housing, significant advantages can also be achieved with regard to the design of other battery components, such as the module housing or tensioning mechanisms such as tensioning straps.

In principle, both releasable and non-releasable connection mechanisms can be used as the connection function, namely to provide the connection device. In the simplest case, for example, similarly designed cell housings can be glued or welded together with their respective first and second sides facing one another. However, this proves to be disadvantageous precisely when a battery cell arranged in a battery module is to be replaced with such a cell housing or to be removed again for other reasons.

Accordingly, it represents a preferred embodiment of the invention if the connecting device is set up in such a way that a connection established between the cell housing and the identically designed second cell housing by means of the respective connecting devices can be released again without damage. There are again numerous possibilities for providing such releasable, reversible connections, as described in more detail below.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the connecting device has at least one first connecting element and at least one second connecting element, wherein the at least one first and second connecting element are designed to be complementary in such a way that, to connect the cell housing to the second identically designed cell housing, the first connecting element of the cell housing with can be connected to the second connecting element of the second cell housing, in particular in a force-locking and / or form-locking manner. To give a simple example, the first connection element can be provided, for example, as a type of hook, and the second connection element as a type of recess, depression or the like, into which the hook of another cell housing can be hooked. The hook of the cell housing can also be hooked into the recess of another similarly designed cell housing. A respective cell housing is therefore preferably provided with at least two such complementary connecting elements. The cell housing can, however, also have several first and several second connecting elements.

In a further development of the invention, the first connecting element is designed as a first relief structure on at least part of the first side and the second connecting element is designed as a second relief structure on at least part of the second side, the first and second relief structure corresponding to one another in such a way that a force-fit connection between the first side of the cell housing and the second side of the second cell housing by plugging the first relief structure of the cell housing into one another and the second relief structure of the second cell housing can be provided. This means that the cell housings can advantageously be plugged into one another like Lego blocks. The relief structure described can at the same time take on a double function, because it can also increase the rigidity of the side walls, in particular the first and second sides, as already described above. Such a relief structure can be distinguished on the one hand by elevations relative to a base plane and / or also by depressions relative to a base plane, or else both elevations and depressions relative to a base plane. Such a relief structure can extend over the entire first and / or second side of the cell housing, or only over a partial area. For example, such a relief structure can only be arranged on an inner surface of the first or second side, this inner surface representing an area which in a direction perpendicular to the top and bottom and in a direction perpendicular to the third and fourth side does not extend across the top and bottom Bottom or third and fourth page protrudes. However, this relief structure can also be arranged additionally or only on an outer surface of the first or second side, this outer surface, for example, protruding in the manner of a flange in the direction perpendicular to the top over the top and / or in the direction perpendicular to the third and fourth sides as well can protrude beyond the third and / or fourth page. In addition, several of the connection options described in more detail below can also be combined with one another as desired, that is to say, for example, the described relief structure can be provided in addition to further connection elements such as clips, latches, hooks, and so on. As a result, the stability of the connection between the cell housings and thus also the individual battery cells with one another can be significantly increased.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one first connecting element is provided by the first side of the cell housing and protrudes beyond the third side in a direction perpendicular to the third side. In particular, it is preferred that a further first connecting element is then also provided by the first side of the cell housing, which element protrudes beyond the fourth side in a direction perpendicular to the fourth side. This makes it possible, for example, to connect cell housings of the same type in an outer area of the cell arrangement, that is to say in the area of their third and fourth sides. This has the advantage over the provision of the connecting elements on the above-defined inner surfaces of the first and second sides that such connections, precisely when the above-mentioned swelling effect occurs, i.e. when the first and second sides of the cell housing of the battery cell occur over time bulge out somewhat, bring more stability with it, especially if these are not based exclusively on a force-locking connection, such as the interlocking of complementary relief structures, but are based, for example, at least additionally or alternatively on a form-locking connection principle. For example, in the simplest case, the connecting elements could be implemented as flanges protruding beyond the third and fourth side, which are provided by the first and second side, which are then connected to one another, for example, by screw connections and / or rivet connections. The flange provided by the first side could also protrude further or less than the flange provided by the second side, so that in order to connect two such cell housings via the said flanges, one of the flanges also has to be crimped around the other adjacent or abutting flange to provide the connection is possible. A connection by crimping is indeed very stable, but again does not represent a reversible connection that is detachable without damage. Screw connections, on the other hand, have the advantage that they can be detached again, although further individual parts, in particular screws and / or nuts, are preferred hence the design of the first connecting elements as latching elements, hooks, or the like, so that two such cell housings can be simply plugged together, clipped and locked.

Another advantage of the above-mentioned embodiments of the invention, in which the connecting elements are thus provided by the first and / or second side of the cell housing, is that they are formed simultaneously with the first and / or second side, in particular with the first housing part defined above can be. In other words, in this case the connecting elements are preferably formed in one piece with the remaining area of the first and / or second side of the cell housing and are not subsequently joined to one another, for example by welding or the like. As a result, production can be significantly simplified, designed cost-effectively, and the connection mechanism can also be designed to be significantly more stable and robust.

In the same way, it is advantageous if at least one first and / or second connection element of the connection device is provided by the third side and the fourth side of the cell housing. As a result, the connecting element or the connecting elements can also be formed in one piece with the third and fourth side, which brings the same advantages mentioned above with regard to stability, cost reduction and reduced effort. These connecting elements can then also protrude perpendicular to the third and / or fourth side or protrude beyond the remaining part of the third and / or fourth side or also protrude perpendicularly to the first and / or second side over the first or second side. It is also conceivable that, for example, the first connecting element is provided by the first side of the cell housing, in particular as described above, and the second connecting element, for example, by the third side. There are no limits to the possible combinations.

In addition, it is advantageously also possible to provide connections in the area of the pole connection elements. Therefore, it represents a further advantageous embodiment of the invention if the at least one first connecting element is provided by the top of the cell housing or is provided by the first side of the cell housing and projects over the top in the direction perpendicular to the top. Thus, in principle, such connections to the adjacently arranged cell housing can be provided around the cell housing, although it is preferred not to provide such connection elements in the area of the underside of the cell housing, since a cooling device is preferably arranged in this area. All other sides of the cell housing, on the other hand, can be used to provide such connecting elements, whereby a high degree of flexibility and, above all, stability with regard to the connection can be made available.

In addition, it is also possible, by means of the connection options described, to connect two identically designed cell housings to one another independently of further cell housings and, under certain circumstances, to detach them from one another. In other words, the connection mechanisms described allow two cell housings to be connected to one another independently of other cell housings. As a result of the connecting mechanisms, any number of cell housings and thus any number of battery cells can be arranged next to one another and coupled and connected to one another via the connecting devices, the design of the connecting device itself being independent of the number of battery cells to be connected. This allows a particularly high degree of flexibility, since the connection options do not have to be adapted to the size of the cell pack.

Furthermore, a battery cell with a cell housing according to the invention or one of its configurations should also be regarded as belonging to the invention. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a battery module with at least one such battery cell which has a cell housing according to the invention or one of its configurations. The battery module preferably comprises a plurality of battery cells, each of which has such a cell housing according to the invention or one of its configurations, the battery cells being connected to one another by means of the respective connecting devices of their cell housings. Such a battery cell can represent a lithium-ion cell, for example. Furthermore, several battery modules according to the invention can provide a high-voltage battery for an electric vehicle.

Accordingly, the invention also relates to a motor vehicle with at least one battery module according to the invention or one of its configurations.

The advantages described for the cell housing according to the invention and its configurations apply in the same way to the battery cell according to the invention, the battery module according to the invention and the motor vehicle according to the invention.

The motor vehicle according to the invention is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger vehicle or truck, or as a passenger bus or motorcycle.

The invention also includes the combinations of the features of the described embodiments.

• 1 eine schematische und perspektivische Darstellung einer Batteriezelle mit einem Zellgehäuse gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;
• 2 eine schematische und perspektivische Darstellung des Deckels des Zellgehäuses der in 1 dargestellten Batteriezelle, gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;
• 3 eine schematische und perspektivische Darstellung einer Batteriezellenanordnung mit mehreren Batteriezellen, die über jeweilige durch ihre Zellgehäuse bereitgestellte Verbindungseinrichtung miteinander verbunden sind, gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;
• 4 eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Batteriezelle mit einem Zellgehäuse und mit durch die erste und zweite Seite des Zellgehäuses bereitgestellten Verbindungselementen gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;
• 5 eine schematische und perspektivische Darstellung einer Batteriezelle mit einem Zellgehäuse, welches erste hakenförmige Verbindungselemente aufweist, die durch die zweite Seite des Zellgehäuses bereitgestellt sind, sowie zweite Verbindungselemente, die durch die dritte und vierte Seite des Zellgehäuses bereitgestellt sind, gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;
• 6 eine schematische Draufsicht auf die Oberseiten zweier benachbart angeordneter Batteriezellen, welche über Verbindungseinrichtungen gemäß einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung miteinander verbunden sind;
• 7 eine schematische Draufsicht auf die Oberseiten zweier benachbart angeordneter Batteriezellen, die über Verbindungseinrichtungen gemäß einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung miteinander verbunden sind;
• 8 eine schematische Draufsicht auf die Oberseiten zweier benachbart angeordneter Batteriezellen, die über eine Verbindungseinrichtung gemäß einem dritten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung miteinander verbunden sind;
• 9 eine schematische Darstellung einer Draufsicht auf die Oberseiten zweier benachbart angeordneter Batteriezellen, die über Verbindungseinrichtungen gemäß einem vierten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung miteinander verbunden sind;
• 10 eine schematische Darstellung einer Draufsicht auf die dritten Seiten zweier benachbart angeordneter Batteriezellen, die über die in 9 dargestellten Verbindungseinrichtungen gemäß dem vierten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung miteinander verbunden sind;
• 11 eine schematische Darstellung einer Draufsicht auf die Oberseiten zweier benachbart angeordneter Batteriezellen, die über Verbindungseinrichtungen gemäß einem fünften Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung miteinander verbunden sind; und
• 12 eine schematische Darstellung einer Draufsicht auf einen Teil der Oberseiten zweier benachbart angeordneter Batteriezellen, die über Verbindungseinrichtungen gemäß einem sechsten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung miteinander verbunden sind.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below. This shows:

• 1 a schematic and perspective illustration of a battery cell with a cell housing according to an embodiment of the invention;
• 2 a schematic and perspective illustration of the cover of the cell housing of FIG 1 battery cell shown, according to an embodiment of the invention;
• 3 a schematic and perspective illustration of a battery cell arrangement with a plurality of battery cells which are connected to one another via respective connecting devices provided by their cell housings, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;
• 4th a perspective view of a battery cell with a cell housing and with connecting elements provided by the first and second sides of the cell housing according to an embodiment of the invention;
• 5 a schematic and perspective illustration of a battery cell with a cell housing, which has first hook-shaped connecting elements that are provided by the second side of the cell housing, and second connecting elements that are provided by the third and fourth sides of the cell housing, according to an embodiment of the invention;
• 6th a schematic plan view of the upper sides of two adjacently arranged battery cells which are connected to one another via connecting devices according to a first embodiment of the invention;
• 7th a schematic plan view of the upper sides of two adjacently arranged battery cells which are connected to one another via connecting devices according to a second embodiment of the invention;
• 8th a schematic plan view of the tops of two adjacently arranged battery cells which are connected to one another via a connecting device according to a third embodiment of the invention;
• 9 a schematic representation of a plan view of the upper sides of two adjacently arranged battery cells which are connected to one another via connecting devices according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;
• 10 a schematic representation of a plan view of the third sides of two adjacently arranged battery cells, which over the in 9 connecting devices shown are connected to one another according to the fourth embodiment of the invention;
• 11 a schematic representation of a plan view of the upper sides of two adjacently arranged battery cells which are connected to one another via connecting devices according to a fifth embodiment of the invention; and
• 12 a schematic representation of a plan view of part of the upper sides of two adjacently arranged battery cells which are connected to one another via connecting devices according to a sixth embodiment of the invention.

The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features of the invention that are to be considered independently of one another and that also develop the invention independently of one another. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to include combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those shown. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

In the figures, the same reference symbols denote functionally identical elements.

1 shows a schematic representation of a battery cell 10 for a battery cell arrangement 12 (see. 3 ), according to an embodiment of the invention. The battery cell 10 is as a prismatic battery cell 10 formed and has a cell housing 14th on, which is preferably a first housing part 14a and a second housing part 14b includes. The first housing part 14a again represents a first page 16 , a second page 18th which the first page 16 opposite and in particular is parallel to this, as well as an underside 20th ready which the first page 16 and the second side 18th connects with each other and continues to provide a cell floor. The second housing part 14b represents a top 22nd ready which the bottom 20th is arranged opposite and in particular again in parallel, and which also has two electrode connection elements 24 or pole connection units includes. The second housing part 14b also provides a third and fourth page 26th , 28 ready, which are arranged opposite, and preferably also parallel, and each between the bottom 20th and the top 22nd as well as between the first page 16 and the second page 18th are arranged. In this example, both the first housing part 14a as well as the second housing part 14b U-shaped and can be easily plugged into one another. This U-shaped structure is particularly useful for the second housing part 14b again in 2 to see more clearly.

2 shows a schematic and perspective illustration of the second housing part 14b the in 1 battery cell shown 10 . As already described, this second housing part is U-shaped and functions as a cover on the first housing part 14a can be put on.

In this cell housing 14th can be used to form the battery cell 10 a cell unit can be included or be, for example, a lithium-ion cell. The contacts of the lithium-ion cell are now connected to the corresponding contact elements via corresponding contact elements Electrode connection elements 24 of the second housing part 14b connected.

It is now particularly advantageous that the cell housing 14th now a connecting device 36 which is integral with the cell housing 14th is formed, and over which the cell housing 14th with another battery cell with a similarly designed cell housing 14th is connectable. In this example the connection device comprises 36 a first connecting element 38 in the form of a hook and a second connecting element 40 in the form of a complementary recess in which a hook 38 another cell housing constructed in this way 14th can be hooked. In particular, the cell housing 14th both on the third page 26th as well as on the opposite side 28 two such first and second connecting elements 38 , 40 on. Such a connector 36 however, it can also be designed in any other way, as will be described below with the aid of numerous examples. However, it is particularly advantageous if the connecting device 36 is designed so that it connects two identically designed cell housings 14th via a reversible connection option, which can thus be detached again without damage, and preferably using no further separate components. A force-fit and / or form-fit connection is particularly preferred. Thus, for example, the individual cell housings 14th a battery module 12 like this one in 3 is shown, can be connected to one another in a simple manner by plugging into one another, clipping or locking.

3 shows a schematic and perspective illustration of a battery cell arrangement 12 with several battery cells 10 each having a cell housing 14th according to an embodiment of the invention. These battery cells 10 can incidentally as already to 1 and 2 be designed as described. Here are the individual battery cells 10 so arranged to each other that a respective first side 16 a battery cell 10 a second page 18th the adjacent battery cell 10 is facing. This applies in particular to the two edge battery cells. The respective adjacent battery cells 10 are furthermore, as shown, by the respective connecting devices 36 that are integral with the respective cell housings 14th are formed, connected to one another, in particular in pairs, so that each cell housing 14th with the adjacently arranged cell housing 14th independent of the other battery cells 10 can be coupled and / or decoupled by this.

It is also advantageous if the first page 16 , as well as the second page 18th each with a relief structure 30th are trained. Such a relief structure 30th can in particular have several structural elements 30th have, of which for the sake of clarity in 1 and 3 are only provided with a reference symbol. These structural elements 30th can be designed as elevations and / or depressions with respect to a base area or base plane. Such a relief structure 30th has the great advantage that it increases the structural rigidity of the cell housing 14th can be increased significantly. In addition, this relief structure 30th also fulfill a double function, and at the same time also a connecting device 36 provide according to a further embodiment. For this purpose, the relief structure 30th on the first page 16 of the cell housing 14th thus correspond to the relief structure 30th on the second page 18th of the cell housing 14th be designed that the adjacently arranged battery cells 10 through their respective first and second pages 16 , 18th are plugged into each other, similar to how Lego blocks can be plugged into each other. Through the interlocking, correspondingly designed relief structures 30th the first and second page 16 , 18th two adjacent battery cells 10 a non-positive or frictional connection between the respective cell housings can be established 14th of these respective battery cells 10 provide. This connection mechanism via the relief structure 30th can in particular in addition to the connecting device 36 which on the third and fourth pages 26th , 28 is provided, be provided. However, a connection mechanism does not necessarily have to be provided via these relief structures; as described, this can also only serve to increase the structural strength.

Further possible training options for the connection device 36 are now based on 4th to 12 described.

4th again shows a schematic and perspective illustration of a battery cell 10 with a battery case 14th according to a further embodiment of the invention. In this example the connection facility 36 through the first page 16 and through the second side 18th of the cell housing 14th provided. In particular, the connecting device also has here again 36 first and second connecting elements 38 , 40 on, the first connecting elements 38 through the second page 18th of the cell housing 14th are provided and the second connecting elements 40 through the first page 16 of the cell housing 14th are provided. These fasteners 38 , 40 are in the form of screw flanges 42 educated. These screw flanges 42 are for example through the first page 16 provided by moving this in a direction perpendicular to the third and fourth sides 26th , 28 about these pages 26th , 28 one piece stands out. In these flanges 42 can have one or more holes 44 be provided through which, for example, a screw 46 or a rivet (not shown) can be carried out around two battery cells arranged next to one another 10 with such cell housings 14th above these flanges 42 to screw or rivet together. A connection between the battery cells can be made not only in the area of the third and fourth sides 26th , 28 be provided, but also in the area of the top 22nd by adding, for example, the first page as shown 16 also in the direction perpendicular to the top 22nd a little way beyond this and another flange 42 the one with the corresponding flange 42 an adjacent battery cell 10 Can be screwed or riveted.

Another particularly advantageous connection option is in 5 shown. 5 again shows a schematic and perspective illustration of a battery cell 10 with a cell housing 14th according to a further embodiment of the invention. The cell housing 14th again has a connecting device 36 on which in turn first and second connecting elements 38 , 40 having. The first connector 38 are doing this through the first page 16 or the second page 18th of the cell housing 14th provided and the second connecting elements 40 through the third page 26th or through the fourth page 28 , 14th . The first and second connectors 38 , 40 are designed as hooks in this example, the hooks, which are the first connecting elements 38 are oriented differently than the hooks 40 who have favourited the second fasteners 40 provide. The respective hooks 38 , 40 are designed to correspond in such a way that the hooks 38 showing the first fasteners 38 deploy with the hook 40 who have favourited the second fasteners 40 provide an adjacent battery cell 10 can be engaged so as to establish a connection between the respective adjacently arranged cell housings 14th to provide. This is again schematically shown in a top view in 6th shown.

6th shows a schematic plan view of the upper sides 22nd two adjacent battery cells 10 that have the described connecting devices 36 with the respective complementary hooks which the first and second connecting elements 38 , 40 deploy, are connected. These hook-shaped first and second connecting elements 38 , 40 cross each other at a right angle and hook into each other. In contrast to the representation in 5 are in this example in 6th now the second connecting elements 40 but not through the third page 26th or the fourth page 28 provided, but through the first page 16 . However, this connection principle can also be implemented in the same way if the hooks 40 showing the second connecting elements 40 instead deploy through the third page 26th or the fourth page 28 , as in 5 shown, are provided.

7th shows a similar example, namely also a plan view of the upper sides 22nd two adjacent battery cells 10 which in turn by a connecting device 36 with hook-shaped connecting elements 38 , 40 are connected, these connecting elements 38 , 40 now not parallel and perpendicular to the third side 26th extend, but at an angle.

8th again shows a schematic plan view of the upper sides 22nd two adjacent battery cells 10 with a connecting device 36 which in turn have two fasteners 38 , 40 includes, by means of which a form-fitting connection between the respective cell housings 14th , at least in one direction, preferably also in two directions, such as the x and y directions shown here, for example. To connect the two cell housings 14th can these respective connecting elements by moving the two battery cells against each other 10 be pushed into one another in the z-direction shown.

In the 5 to 8th illustrated examples of the connecting device 36 have the great advantage that, on the one hand, they enable a reversible connection that can be released again without damage and, on the other hand, no additional components or connecting elements such as screws 46 or the like. Nonetheless, other connection options that require such additional elements or provide non-reversible connections are also conceivable, as will now be illustrated below.

9 shows a schematic plan view of the upper sides 22nd two adjacent battery cells 10 which in turn are respective connecting devices 36 with first and second connecting elements 38 , 40 have over which the battery cells 10 are connectable to each other. In plan view, as in 9 shown are these fasteners 38 , 40 axially symmetrical to each other. In terms of height, that is to say in the illustrated z-direction, however, these are offset from one another, as shown in FIG 10 is shown. 10 shows in particular the arrangement 9 , but in a plan view of the respective third pages 26th these two adjacent battery cells 10 . This Link mechanism now has an additional rod 48 on. Are the two battery cells 10 brought into their intended connection position, as in 9 and 10 shown, that is, with their respective first and second sides 16 , 18th facing each other and as close together as possible, this rod can 48 between the respective first and second connecting elements 38 , 40 introduced or carried out, whereby the two battery cells 10 in turn are positively connected to one another. A similar connection principle is in 11 shown.

11 shows a schematic plan view of the tops 22nd two adjacent battery cells 10 which in turn have a connecting device 36 are connected to one another according to a further embodiment of the invention. Here, too, this connection mechanism again has two connection elements 38 , 40 on which, in turn, from the first and second pages, respectively 16 , 18th the cell housing 14th are provided. Are the two battery cells 10 again in their intended connection position, such as for 9 and 10 described, arranged to each other, the connection by a further connecting element 50 , which in this example is a slotted sleeve 50 can be formed, can be fixed by this slotted sleeve 50 in the illustrated z-direction on these two connecting elements 38 , 40 is postponed. This also makes it possible to advantageously provide a reversible connection option, in particular a form-fit connection option.

12 shows a schematic representation of a plan view of the upper sides 22nd two adjacent battery cells 10 that have a connection device 36 which in turn have two fasteners 38 , 40 comprised by the respective first and second pages 16 , 18th the cell housing 14th are provided, are interconnected. In this example, this connection is implemented by means of a flange connection. So there is one about the third page 26th protruding first flange through the second side 18th the first battery cell 10 provided, which continues on this third page 26th protrudes, so a corresponding flange, which the second connecting element 40 provides, and which by the first page 16 the second battery cell 10 is provided. The first flange, which is the first connecting element 38 is then turned over and thus clamps the second flange 40 a. Such a flange connection is advantageously very stable, but cannot be released again.

Even if the examples are off 6th to 12 the respective battery cells 10 with only the first connecting element 38 and the second connecting element 40 show, however, the cell housing should 14th a respective one of these battery cells 10 always with a corresponding pair of the first connecting element 38 and second connecting element 40 be trained. As a result, any number of battery cells can advantageously be used 10 in the connection direction, which here corresponds to the illustrated x-direction, are connected to one another.

Overall, the examples show how pluggable battery cells can be provided by the invention, which can be connected to one another in a particularly simple, inexpensive, efficient and, above all, space-saving manner via connecting devices formed integrally with their cell housings, whereby the assembly of such battery cells and the subsequent assembly steps , for example for attaching further tensioning mechanisms and / or for introducing these cell arrangements into a battery housing. In this way, battery cells such as Lego blocks can advantageously be connected to one another and the cells take on more rigidity due to the latching function and form more rigidity compared to the expansion of the cells, the so-called swelling, under which assembly is significantly simplified, as this adjustment option prevents the battery cells from slipping relative to one another more is possible or at least significantly more difficult.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was 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.

Patent literature cited

• DE 102013017355 A1 [0005]
• DE 102015225188 A1 [0006]

Claims (10)

Cell housing (14) for a prismatic battery cell (10), the cell housing (14) having a first side (16) and a second side (18) opposite the first side (16), a top side (22) and one of the top side ( 22) opposite underside (20), as well as a third side (26) and a fourth side (28) opposite the third side (269), characterized in that the cell housing (14) has a connecting device (36) which is set up in this way that the cell housing (14) can be connected to a second identically designed cell housing (14) with a second identically designed connecting device (36) in such a way that the first side (16) of the cell housing (14) of the second side (18) of the second cell housing (14) is facing. Cell housing (14) Claim 1 , characterized in that the cell housing (14) has at least two separate housing parts (14a, 14b) which can be connected to one another to form the cell housing (14), a first of the two housing parts (14a) being the first side (16), the second side (18) and the underside (20) of the cell housing (14) provides and a second of the two housing parts (14b) provides the top (22), the third side (26) and the fourth side (28) of the cell housing (14 ) provides. Cell housing (14) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting device (36) is set up in such a way that a connection established between the cell housing (14) and the identically designed second cell housing (14) by means of the respective connecting devices (36) is restored can be released without damage. Cell housing (14) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting device (36) has at least one first connecting element (38, 40) and at least one second connecting element (38, 40), the at least one first and second connecting element (38 , 40) are designed complementary in such a way that to connect the cell housing (14) to the second identically designed cell housing (14) the first connecting element (38, 40) of the cell housing (14) with the second connecting element (38, 40) of the second cell housing (14) can be connected, in particular non-positively and / or positively. Cell housing (14) Claim 4 , characterized in that the first connecting element (38, 40) is designed as a first relief structure (30) on at least part of the first side (16) and the second connecting element (38, 40) as a second relief structure (30) on at least one part the second side (18) is formed, wherein the first and second relief structure (30) correspond to one another in such a way that a force-fit connection between the first side of the cell housing (14) and the second side of the second cell housing (14) by plugging the first relief structure (30) of the cell housing (14) and the second relief structure (30) of the second cell housing (14) can be provided. Cell housing (14) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one first connecting element (38, 40) is provided by the first side (16) of the cell housing (14) and over in a direction perpendicular to the third side (26) the third side (26) protrudes, in particular wherein at least one further first connecting element (38, 40) is provided by the first side (16) of the cell housing (14), and in a direction perpendicular to the fourth side (28) over the fourth side (28) stands out. Cell housing (14) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one first and second connecting element (38, 40) of the connecting device (36) through each of the third side (26) and the fourth side (28) of the cell housing (14) are provided. Cell housing (14) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one first connecting element (38, 40) is provided by the top (22) of the cell housing (14) or by the first side (16) of the cell housing (14) is provided and in the direction perpendicular to the top (22) protrudes over the top (22). Battery module (12) with at least one battery cell (10) which has a cell housing (14) according to one of the preceding claims. Motor vehicle with a battery module (12) according to Claim 9 .

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