DE102022109752A1 - Apparatus for applying a molded seal, method and battery assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for applying a sealant (38) to an application surface (34, 46a, 48a) provided by a battery component (46, 48, 50) while forming a molded seal (32) with at least one sealing lip (40). , wherein the device (10) has a nozzle (12) which has a feed opening (18) for feeding the sealant (38) into the nozzle (12), at least one outlet opening (20) and a sealant channel (28) which Feed opening (18) connects to the at least one outlet opening (20). The outlet opening (20) is geometrically designed in such a way that it is designed to form the sealing compound (38) emerging from the outlet opening (20) onto the application surface (34, 46a, 48a) into at least one sealing lip (40). that this protrudes from the application surface (34, 46a, 48a) at an angle of inclination (α), which is different from a right angle.

Description

The invention relates to a device for applying a sealant to an application surface provided by a battery component while forming a molded seal with at least one sealing lip. The device has a nozzle which has a feed opening for feeding the sealant into the nozzle, at least one outlet opening and a sealant channel which connects the feed opening with the at least one outlet opening. Furthermore, the outlet opening is geometrically designed in such a way that it is designed to form the sealant emerging from the outlet opening onto the application surface into at least one sealing lip. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a method and a battery arrangement.

In order to be able to dissipate the heat generated in the high-voltage batteries during rapid charging and when the power is called up in electric vehicles, a thermal paste, the so-called gap filler, is used between a battery module of such a high-voltage battery and a carrier, e.g. a cooling base. There are several ways to insert the gap filler into this gap between the battery module and the cooling base. For example, the gap filler can first be applied in a caterpillar shape into the still empty battery compartment, that is, the receiving area for receiving the battery module, and then slowly pressed into the area by placing and lowering the battery module. Another option is the so-called gap filler injection. The battery module is first placed in the empty battery compartment and screwed together. The gap filler is then injected into the resulting gap.

To ensure that the gap filler does not escape during the injection, it is advantageous if the wetting space is surrounded by a seal. Various requirements then have to be placed on this seal. On the one hand, the gap filler must be held back during the injection. Injection pressures of up to 4 bar can occur. This therefore requires such a seal to be sufficiently hard or robust. On the other hand, the compression force required to place the battery module into the tray must not be too great. This means that the seal must not exert too much counterforce and must not push the two joining partners, i.e. the battery module and the cooling base, apart again, since the gap filler gap should be as small as possible. Thus, on the one hand, such a seal should be as hard as possible, but on the other hand, it should also be as soft and compressible as possible, although these properties have not yet been able to be harmonized in a satisfactory manner.

The DE 196 19 999 C2 describes a method for producing lip-shaped sealing areas on sealing bodies or components, in which a sealing compound that can be cross-linked using UV light is applied in the shape and size for the sealing lip to be specified and then cured using UV light. Using a mold that determines the shape and contour of the sealing lip and is at least partially transparent to UV light, a sealing compound that can be crosslinked using UV light is introduced into the forming area of the mold. The sealant is hardened by irradiation with UV light. The sealant is, so to speak, completely enclosed between this shape and the component. The sealant can be introduced into the mold via an injection channel, while escaping air can escape via a ventilation channel.

Since the mold has to be removed again without destroying the sealing lip, there are limits to the shape of the sealing lip. In addition, this does not solve the problem described above.

The EP 2 896 463 B1 describes a sealant forming nozzle for sealing an object having a cross-sectional shape in a first plane that is a step shape having an upper surface of an upper stage, an upper surface of a lower stage and a corner portion of the upper stage, the sealant forming nozzle having a sealant forming nozzle a molding portion configured to mold a sealant, and a guide portion disposed in a position adjacent the molding portion in a first direction orthogonal to the first plane, the molding portion having a first contact portion for contacting the upper surface of the upper stage and a second contact portion for contacting the upper surface of the lower stage. Further, the nozzle includes a sealant dispensing hole arranged to supply the sealant to a space surrounded by a forming surface of the nozzle and the object. To apply the sealant, the nozzle is moved while the sealant emerges from the sealant dispensing hole and is shaped accordingly.

Here too, the problems described above are not solved. In addition, this also means that only a straight sealing track can be applied. To limit the above-described space between a battery module and a corresponding carrier, such as a cooling base, to be filled with gap filler, it is advantageous if such a sealing track is provided as a closed, circumferential sealing contour leaves. A division of individual sections that run in a straight line, for example, entails procedural disadvantages and makes the manufacturing process more complex and also increases the likelihood of leaks at the corners.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device, a method and a battery arrangement which make it possible to seal a gap between a battery module and a carrier, which is to be filled with a viscous heat-conducting compound, in the most reliable and simple way possible and at the same time to enable the smallest possible gap heights between the battery module and the carrier.

This object is achieved by a device, a method and a battery arrangement with the features according to the respective independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

A device according to the invention for applying a sealant to an application surface provided by a battery component while forming a molded seal with at least one sealing lip has a nozzle which has a feed opening for feeding the sealant into the nozzle, at least one outlet opening and a sealant channel which includes the feed opening which connects at least one outlet opening. Furthermore, the outlet opening is geometrically designed in such a way that it is designed to form the sealant emerging from the outlet opening onto the application surface into at least one sealing lip. Furthermore, the at least one outlet opening is geometrically designed in such a way that it is designed to form the sealant emerging onto the application surface into at least one sealing lip in such a way that it protrudes from the application surface at an angle of inclination that is different from a right angle.

This device can therefore advantageously be used to provide a sealing lip which is not perpendicular to the application surface, but rather at an angle. This has the great advantage that the requirements for the seal described above, namely sufficient robustness and stability to withstand an injection pressure of up to 4 bar, as well as sufficient flexibility to enable the smallest possible gap widths, can be reconciled. For example, a plastic that is relatively hard after hardening can be selected for the material of this molded seal, namely as the sealing compound. Due to the inclination of the sealing lip that can be created using the device, it is still very flexible when pressure is exerted from above in the direction of the application surface, and can easily be pressed down a bit due to its lip-shaped, inclined cross-sectional geometry due to its geometric shape. The flexibility of this sealing lip is not achieved through the choice of material itself, but primarily through its geometry. In addition, the sealing lip can be arranged so that it is inclined starting from the application surface in the direction of the gap that is to be filled with the heat-conducting compound. In this situation, the surface of the other joining partner is arranged opposite the application surface. Since the sealing lip is inclined accordingly, it has a length that is greater than the gap height of the gap, which is determined by the distance between the joining partners, namely, for example, one side of the battery module and one side of the carrier. This means that it is not possible for the sealing lip to open outwards due to the injection pressure of the heat-conducting compound that is filled into the gap. The inclination of the sealing lip relative to the application surface additionally increases stability and tightness in the application described. The device according to the invention can thus advantageously provide a shaped seal which can reliably seal a desired gap between a battery module and a carrier and at the same time is sufficiently flexible in a direction perpendicular to the application surface in order to enable particularly small gap heights between such a battery module and a carrier .

The angle of inclination can, for example, be in a range from 60 degrees to 80 degrees inclusive. It is precisely an angle of inclination in this angular range that enables a simple and stable provision of the at least one sealing lip and already enables sufficient flexibility or compressibility with respect to the first direction.

The battery component that provides the application surface can, for example, represent a carrier for a battery module or the battery module itself. Such a carrier can, for example, be a component of a battery housing, for example a housing base or a housing cover or another wall of one battery case. In addition, it is very advantageous if such a carrier is also designed as a cooling device. By filling the gaps between a battery module and such a carrier designed as a cooling device with a heat-conducting compound, which is also referred to as a gap filler, as described at the beginning, the thermal connection can be achieved of such a battery module to the cooling device can be increased. As a result, the cooling efficiency is increased. This also applies to heating a battery module using such a cooling device, which can then also function as a heating device. In general, a cooling device can also be understood as a temperature control device. For this purpose, for example, the carrier can have cooling channels through which a cooling medium or temperature control medium can flow. The application surface is preferably essentially flat or planar. Nevertheless, it can also have minor unevenness. This is particularly true if the application surface is provided, for example, by the underside of a battery module, since battery cells typically have manufacturing-related tolerances in their height, which can lead to a certain unevenness of such a module base.

The nozzle can be coupled or can be coupled to a sealant reservoir. As a result, sealant can be supplied to the nozzle virtually continuously while the sealant is being applied to the application surface. This is guided via the sealing compound channel to at least one outlet opening and output there. The nozzle can be designed in such a way that it can be placed on the application surface in order to apply the sealant and can be moved relative to this application surface. The side of the nozzle that is intended to contact the application surface is also referred to below as the contact side of the nozzle. The at least one outlet opening from which the sealant emerges during application is preferably arranged on a side of the nozzle that is different from the contact side of the nozzle, this different side preferably directly adjoining the contact side. In particular, the nozzle can be designed in such a way that it has an overall opening, which includes an opening on the contact side, as well as the at least one outlet opening. The opening on the contact side is closed by the application surface when the nozzle contacts the application surface with its contact side as intended. The sealant supplied to the nozzle can therefore only exit the nozzle from the at least one outlet opening. The at least one outlet opening is, so to speak, arranged laterally and does not face the application surface. By moving the nozzle in a specific direction of movement, which is directed essentially, at least locally, parallel to the application surface, a corresponding sealing trace is left behind by the material exiting from the at least one lateral outlet opening. The at least one outlet opening can, for example, be arranged in a first side of the nozzle, which is different from the contact side, the first side of the nozzle being opposite a second side of the nozzle, which is also different from the contact side and directly adjacent to the contact side, wherein the direction of movement is defined in a direction from the first side to the second side. The at least one outlet opening can be designed, for example, in the form of a slot which penetrates the first side of the nozzle to the sealant channel and runs obliquely upwards at a specific angle of inclination starting from the contact side of the nozzle. This makes it possible to produce a shaped seal with an inclined sealing lip in a particularly simple and advantageous manner.

A sealing lip should generally be understood to mean a structure which has a longitudinal extension direction and which is elongated in a cross section perpendicular to this longitudinal extension direction, i.e. has a height that is greater than a width, with this sealing lip extending from the application surface in Direction of its height extends away from the application surface.

Furthermore, it is very advantageous if the nozzle has not only a single outlet opening, which is nevertheless conceivable, but also, for example, two such outlet openings or several, that is, more than two outlet openings. This makes it possible, for example, to create a corresponding shaped seal with two sealing lips or even more than two sealing lips at the same time. The respective sealing lips are then preferably arranged parallel to one another. In other words, the respective outlet openings of the nozzle are designed in such a way that the sealing material emerging from them is formed into corresponding sealing lips, each of which has the same angle of inclination relative to the application surface. By providing several such parallel sealing lips, the reliability of the seal can be increased even further. As outlet openings, the nozzle can, for example, have two or more slots starting from the contact side in the first side, which run correspondingly parallel to one another.

According to a further very advantageous embodiment of the invention, the nozzle has a contact side for contacting the application surface, in particular the contact side already described, with at least a first nozzle part of the nozzle comprising the outlet opening being designed to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation when the nozzle is with its contact side contacts the application surface, is locally aligned perpendicular to the application surface.

Due to the rotatability or rotatability of the nozzle or the first nozzle part about such an axis of rotation, the corners of such a sealing track, which is designed as an inclined sealing lip, can be provided or created particularly easily and reliably. So if the nozzle, which is moved in a direction of movement during application, is moved around a curve, the nozzle can simultaneously be moved about its axis of rotation while driving around this curve, in particular in such a way that the direction of movement of the nozzle is always in the direction from above defined first side of the nozzle is directed towards the second side of the nozzle. In other words, the alignment of the at least one outlet opening of the nozzle can always be aligned to match the current direction of movement of the nozzle by rotating it about the axis of rotation. With such a rotatable nozzle, the seal can be applied in a robot-guided manner using the nozzle. Due to the rotatability of the nozzle, more precisely the first nozzle part, all corners of the border framing the wetting surface, along which the seal is to be applied, can then advantageously be moved in such a way that the lip shape of the seal is always inward, ie in the direction of the gap to be filled with gap filler. Due to the rotatability of the nozzle, it can advantageously be achieved that a robot does not have to make 90 degree curves four times in the same direction, which leads to a twisting of the hose packages for supplying the sealant, but only the nozzle from which the sealant flows, in particular only the first nozzle part, can be rotated. In addition, a robot-controlled rotation of the entire nozzle or device is too sluggish compared to the outflow speed of the sealant. Due to the possibility of rotation of a nozzle part itself, such a rotation in the corners can take place much faster and adapted to the outflow speed. In contrast to molded seals with sealing lips, which protrude perpendicular to the application surface or in contrast to the semicircular foam seals used to date, with this new lip shape it is not possible to assemble the seal from individual straight pieces as finished meter goods. Sealing in the corners cannot be achieved due to the inclination of the sealing lip. Due to the rotatability of the at least one nozzle part, it is advantageously possible to provide the molded seal with a sealing lip that is inclined in the direction of the gap, even in corners, and at the same time to make it reliably sealed.

According to a further very advantageous embodiment of the invention, the nozzle has a second nozzle part for rotationally fixed arrangement on a sealant supply device, the first nozzle part being rotatably mounted on the second nozzle part about the axis of rotation, in particular the second nozzle part having a second through opening running in the direction of the axis of rotation and wherein the first nozzle part is at least partially accommodated in the direction of the axis of rotation in the second through-opening, and wherein the first nozzle part has a first through-opening extending in the direction of the axis of rotation, which provides at least a part of the sealing compound channel. In this way, the rotatability of the second nozzle part can be implemented in a particularly simple and efficient manner. In particular, due to the rotatability of the nozzle or the first nozzle part about the axis of rotation, it is advantageous if the axis of rotation runs parallel to the sealing compound channel or the sealing compound channel encloses the axis of rotation. The axis of rotation can, for example, also run through the contact side of the nozzle. The supply opening can, for example, be provided at least in part by the second nozzle part, which can be arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the sealant supply device. The rotatable mounting of the first nozzle part on the second nozzle part can be realized, for example, by a ball bearing. So that the inner part can rotate relative to the outer part, that is, the first nozzle part can rotate relative to the second nozzle part, a ball bearing can be provided in the transition region. The rotatable bearing preferably refers exclusively to a direction of rotation about this axis of rotation described as the only axis of rotation.

Optionally, a seal, for example an O-ring, can also be arranged between the first and second nozzle parts. This seals the two parts from one another and prevents sealant from getting between the first and second nozzle parts in the radial direction relative to the axis of rotation. An O-ring, for example an O-ring on top of the ball bearing, ensures the tightness between the outer and inner parts. The sealant supply device can also optionally be part of the device. This sealant supply device can, for example, include an applicator for processing adhesives or sealants. This in turn can have a dosing device. The sealant is fed to the nozzle via this. The sealing compound can be provided as a single-component material or can be previously mixed together from several material components. In this case, the two-component plastic material, that is, the two-component sealant, passes from the dispenser into a mixing chamber or a static mixer, is mixed therethrough and then conveyed to the material outlet, which is coupled to the feed opening of the nozzle. The new nozzle is located at the material outlet point. To When attaching the second nozzle part to this sealant supply device, an upper flange of the outer part, that is, of the second nozzle part, can be connected to the material outlet of the sealant supply device by means of a union nut. The sealing material or the sealing compound then flows through the central channel of the nozzle towards the mold outlet, that is, the at least one outlet opening.

According to a further very advantageous embodiment of the invention, the device has a drive device which is designed to exert a torque in the direction of the axis of rotation on the first nozzle part in order to rotate the first nozzle part about the axis of rotation relative to the second nozzle part. The fact that the torque is directed in the direction of the rotation axis is to be understood as meaning that the torque vector is aligned parallel to the rotation axis and the resulting rotation is carried out about this rotation axis. So when the nozzle comes to a corner or curve, the inner part of the nozzle, that is, the first nozzle part, can be rotated about the z-axis, or the rotation axis, by means of a torque. The torque is preferably applied to the second flange of the first nozzle part described below.

The device can be designed in such a way that rotation of the first nozzle part about the axis of rotation is possible both in a specific direction of rotation and against this direction of rotation. However, in order to provide a closed sealing contour, it is sufficient if the nozzle can only be rotated about the axis of rotation in a specific direction of rotation, but not against the direction of rotation. This then also simplifies, for example, the design of the drive device. The drive device can be designed, for example, with a gear drive with a motor or similar. In this way, the second nozzle part can be easily and reliably rotated about the axis of rotation relative to the first nozzle part. The angle of rotation can be easily specified by controlling the drive device.

According to a further very advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first nozzle part is movable parallel to the direction of rotation and relative to the second nozzle part. This is particularly advantageous in order to compensate for tolerance-related height differences in the application surface. For example, if the nozzle guides its first nozzle part, in particular the contact side, over an unevenness in the application surface, the first nozzle part can simply be shifted slightly in height relative to the second nozzle part in order to follow this unevenness. This can advantageously ensure that the nozzle always has reliable contact with the component.

According to a further very advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first nozzle part is resiliently mounted in the direction of the axis of rotation, in particular on the first nozzle part or optionally also on the sealant supply device or another device of the device coupled or connected to the first nozzle part. A resilient mounting can also provide a reset mechanism for the nozzle when driving over unevenness on the application surface. Such a resilient mounting can ensure that the nozzle is always pressed with its first nozzle part in the direction of the application surface. At the same time, this resilient mounting enables a certain flexibility upwards with respect to the axis of rotation. This is particularly advantageous if sealing compound is to be applied to the module side of a battery module using the nozzle, since then, due to component tolerances in the battery cells, jumps in height of the surface to which the seal is to be applied can occur. Due to the described suspension of the nozzle or the first nozzle part, it can be achieved in a particularly simple manner to keep the nozzle securely in contact with the component during the process. For this purpose, i.e. to implement the resilient mounting, a compression spring is preferably installed, which always presses the inner part, i.e. the first nozzle part, downwards, i.e. in the direction of the application surface. If the robot that guides the nozzle or the device as a whole comes across the battery cells of different heights, the spring is loaded and the outlet side can be pushed upwards.

According to a further very advantageous embodiment of the invention, a first direction is defined parallel to the direction of rotation and pointing from the at least one outlet opening to the feed opening, the first nozzle part being movable parallel to the direction of rotation and having a first flange which is arranged within the second through opening of the second nozzle part is, and wherein the second nozzle part has a projection which tapers the second through opening at least in some areas, which is arranged below the first flange with respect to the first direction and which limits mobility of the first nozzle part against the first direction by positive connection with the first flange. This is particularly advantageous because the first nozzle part cannot slide downwards out of the second nozzle part. This is particularly advantageous in combination with the resilient mounting described above, as this spring comes first Can press the nozzle part down without the first nozzle part moving out of the second nozzle part or completely detaching from it. The mobility of the first nozzle part in the first direction can be limited, for example, by a corresponding further second flange of the first nozzle part, so that the first nozzle part cannot be pressed completely into the second nozzle part. In addition, such a second flange can also be used to support the spring described.

Accordingly, it represents a further very advantageous embodiment of the invention if the first nozzle part has a second flange which is arranged outside the second nozzle part, a spring for resiliently supporting the first nozzle part being arranged in the second nozzle part between the first nozzle part and the second nozzle part is, which is supported on the one hand on the second flange and on the other hand on a part of the second nozzle part. A spring for resiliently supporting the first nozzle part can be accommodated particularly advantageously at this position. This spring can, for example, be designed as a spiral spring which is designed to run around the first nozzle part, in particular to run around several times.

The axis of rotation can, for example, run centrally through the center of the ring spring as well as centrally through the center of the sealant channel. The center can here be defined with respect to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and/or with respect to a third direction that is perpendicular to the second and first directions.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a method for applying a sealant to an application surface provided by a battery component while forming a molded seal with at least one sealing lip. The sealant is applied to the application surface by means of a nozzle, in that the sealant is dispensed through at least one outlet opening of the nozzle, which forms the sealant emerging onto the application surface into at least one sealing lip. When emerging from the nozzle, the sealing compound is formed into at least one sealing lip by means of the at least one outlet opening in such a way that it protrudes from the application surface at an angle of inclination that is different from a right angle.

The advantages described in connection with the device according to the invention and its configurations apply equally to the method according to the invention.

Furthermore, it is very advantageous if the nozzle is moved in a direction of movement during dispensing and is rotated at least temporarily about an axis of rotation to form a closed sealing contour. The rotation about the axis of rotation takes place accordingly when a corner of the molded seal is to be provided to the preferably rectangular sealing contour. The nozzle can therefore be moved in such a way that it is moved purely translationally along the straight sides of such a rectangular sealing contour and is rotated by 90 degrees around the axis of rotation at the corresponding four corners. Furthermore, it is preferred that the nozzle is moved by a robot. The robot merely guides the device along the sealing contour, in particular the rectangular sealing contour, without rotating itself in the area of the corners of this sealing contour. The robot is therefore preferably connected to a component of the device that is different from the first nozzle part, in particular in a rotationally fixed manner, at least during the application of the sealant.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a battery arrangement with a battery unit that has a first side and a carrier that has a second side, the battery unit being arranged in relation to the carrier in such a way that the first side of the battery unit is the second side of the The carrier faces and is at a distance from the second side of the carrier, the battery unit being arranged above the carrier with respect to a first direction. Furthermore, the battery arrangement has an intermediate region between the first side of the battery unit and the second side of the carrier, which is delimited perpendicular to the first direction by a shaped seal which is encompassed by the battery arrangement, the shaped seal being shot all around in an edge region of the first side is formed, and has at least one sealing lip which protrudes from the first or second side and which is inclined towards the intermediate region at an angle of inclination other than a right angle.

Here too, the advantages described in connection with the device according to the invention and its configurations apply equally to the battery arrangement according to the invention.

The battery unit can be, for example, a single battery cell, for example a lithium-ion cell. This can also be designed as a prismatic battery cell, pouch cell or round cell. The battery unit can also be a battery module which includes several battery cells. These can be designed as described. For example, to form such a battery module, several of the battery cells can be arranged next to one another in a stacking direction. The stacking direction is preferably perpendicular to the first direction defined above. Optionally, such a battery module can also include a module housing in which the battery cells are arranged. Such a module housing can also be designed simply as a frame surrounding the cell stack, which is formed by the plurality of battery cells. The module base, which forms the first side of the battery unit, can be provided at least in part by the respective undersides of the battery cells or also by a base of the module housing. The carrier can be part of a battery housing as described above. This is also preferably designed as a cooling device and has cooling channels through which a coolant can flow. The carrier preferably represents a cover or a bottom of a battery housing. In addition, several battery units can be arranged in such a battery housing. In particular, several battery units, for example several battery modules, can be arranged on the carrier. Each battery unit is then assigned a corresponding intermediate region, which is located between the first side of the relevant battery unit and the second side of the carrier, in particular in relation to the first direction. Accordingly, a specially assigned molded seal with at least one sealing lip can be provided for each battery unit, which is designed to be closed and circumferential in the edge region of the assigned battery unit.

The intermediate area can also be filled with a heat-conducting compound or a gap filler. The battery arrangement can be, for example, a high-voltage battery, in particular a high-voltage battery for a motor vehicle, which also functions as a traction battery for the motor vehicle.

Accordingly, a motor vehicle with a battery arrangement according to the invention or one of its configurations should also be viewed as belonging to the invention.

The invention also includes developments of the method according to the invention and the battery arrangement according to the invention, which have features as have already been described in connection with the developments of the device according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding developments of the method according to the invention and the battery arrangement according to the invention are not described again here.

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

The invention also includes the combinations of the features of the described embodiments. The invention therefore also includes implementations that each have a combination of the features of several of the described embodiments, provided that the embodiments have not been described as mutually exclusive.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Bereitstellen einer Formdichtung gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;
• 2 eine schematische und perspektivische Darstellung eines ersten Düsenteils einer Düse für eine Vorrichtung zur Bereitstellung einer Formdichtung gemäß einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;
• 3 eine schematische Darstellung des Auftragens der Dichtmasse auf einer Auftragungsfläche mittels einer Vorrichtung gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;
• 4 eine schematische Querschnittsdarstellung einer Formdichtung, wie sie mit einer Vorrichtung und einer Düse gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung bereitstellbar ist;
• 5 eine schematische Querschnittsdarstellung einer Batterieanordnung gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung; und
• 6 eine schematische Darstellung einer Draufsicht auf die Unterseite eines Batteriemoduls mit einer Formdichtung, gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.

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

• 1 a schematic representation of a device for providing a molded seal according to an embodiment of the invention;
• 2 a schematic and perspective view of a first nozzle part of a nozzle for a device for providing a molded seal according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention;
• 3 a schematic representation of the application of the sealant to an application surface using a device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;
• 4 a schematic cross-sectional representation of a molded seal as can be provided with a device and a nozzle according to an embodiment of the invention;
• 5 a schematic cross-sectional representation of a battery arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention; and
• 6 a schematic representation of a top view of the underside of a battery module with a molded seal, according to an 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 which also further 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 that have already been described.

In the figures, the same reference numerals designate functionally identical elements.

1 shows a schematic representation of a device 10 for providing a molded seal according to an exemplary embodiment Invention. The device 10 is shown in a cross section in the present example. The device includes, on the one hand, a nozzle 12 and optional further components, which, however, are not shown here. The nozzle 12 is in turn divided into a first nozzle part 14 and a second nozzle part 16. Furthermore, the nozzle 12 has a feed opening 18 through which a sealant can be fed to the nozzle 12. The sealant is supplied in a viscous, for example liquid or pasty, state. Furthermore, the nozzle 12 also has at least one outlet opening 20. In the present example, the nozzle 12 has two such outlet openings 20, which are slot-shaped in a first side 22 (cf. 2 ) of the nozzle 12 are arranged.

In particular shows 2 again a schematic and perspective representation of the first nozzle part 14 for a device 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Furthermore, the nozzle 12 comprises a contact side 24. This contact side 24 represents an underside of the nozzle 12 with respect to the z direction shown here. In addition, the contact side 24 is intended to contact an application surface to which the molded seal is to be applied. In the intended operating position of the nozzle 12, the underside opening 26 of the nozzle is closed by the application surface and the sealing compound supplied to the feed opening 18, which passes through the sealing compound channel 28 provided by the nozzle 12 (cf. 1 ) passes through, can then only exit through the outlet openings 20 in the first side 22 of the nozzle 12, in particular the first nozzle part 14. A side of the nozzle 12 opposite this first page 22 is designated 30. The direction from the first side 22 to this opposite side 30, which in the present case runs in the direction of the y-direction shown here, represents the intended direction of movement of the nozzle 12 during application. The nozzle 12 is therefore designed in such a way that the nozzle 12 passes through the outlet openings 20 provided mold outlet has exactly the shape of the seal to be applied. On one side, in this case the first side 22, of the circumference of the nozzle 12, exactly the negative contour of the later seal is introduced. The nozzle 12 can thus form exactly the lip shape of the seal when moving in the direction y opposite to the contour side 22.

3 shows, for example, a schematic representation of the device 10 during the application of the mold seal 32 to an application surface 34 according to an embodiment of the invention. In addition to the nozzle 12, the device 10 in this example also includes a sealant feed device 36. Via this sealant feed device 36, the sealant 38 can be fed to the nozzle 12, which forms the molded seal 32 after emerging from the nozzle 12 through the outlet openings 20. In this example, the outlet openings 20 are designed, as already described, such that the molded seal 32 provided in this way comprises two sealing lips 40. However, more or fewer sealing lips 40 can also be provided, for example just one. In this case, the nozzle 12 would then be designed with only one of the two outlet openings 20. However, three or four such sealing lips 40 can also be provided at the same time. In this case, the nozzle 12 would have more corresponding outlet openings 20.

4 shows again a schematic representation of a cross section of the molded seal 32 that can be provided by means of the device 10 described. As can be seen, the molded seal 32 comprises at least one sealing lip 40, in the present example two sealing lips 40, which protrude from the application surface 34. The sealing lips 40 now advantageously have an angle of inclination a relative to the application surface 34. In other words, the sealing lips 40 do not protrude perpendicularly from the application surface 34, but are inclined relative to it at an angle a that is different from 90 degrees. This is preferably in an angular range between 60 degrees and 80 degrees. In addition to these sealing lips 40, the molded seal 32 can also include a base sealing track 42. This is essentially designed as a flat sealing track. Furthermore, the sealing lips 40 are connected to one another via this base sealing track 42. This basic sealing track can have a height h in the z direction of, for example, 0.8 mm. In general, this height h is, for example, a maximum of 1 mm or less. Depending on the application, this height h can also be larger. The length I of a respective sealing lip 40 is 2.6 mm in this example. The length I is therefore preferably in the low single-digit millimeter range and is therefore preferably smaller than 1 cm. The thickness d of a respective sealing lip 40 is 0.43 mm in this example. In general, however, this thickness d can also be chosen differently, but is preferably also at most in the low single-digit millimeter range and is preferably smaller than 1 mm. The total track width B in this example is 9 mm and is therefore on the order of 1 cm. Larger or smaller track widths are also conceivable here. The angle α in this example is 60 degrees.

In order to be able to provide such an inclined sealing lip 40, the nozzle 12, in particular the first nozzle part 14, has outlet openings 20 which are designed as slots which are inclined by the mentioned angle of inclination α relative to the contact side 24, as also shown in FIG 1 illustrated is. Such a shaped seal 32 with inclined sealing lips 40 has numerous advantages. In contrast, for example, to a rounded foam seal, with such a shaped seal 32, for example, a stronger material can be used as sealant 38, for example a silicone or another plastic. Choosing a stronger or harder material, especially in relation to the condition of the mold seal 32 after it has hardened, makes it more robust. The shaped seal 32 is preferably used to laterally limit a gap between a battery module and a carrier, as will be explained in more detail later. A heat-conducting compound with a relatively high injection pressure of up to 4 bar should be injected into this gap. Due to the more robust design of such a molded seal 32, high injection pressures can be easily withstood. At the same time, however, the delicate design of the sealing lips 40 and their inclination relative to the application surface 34 can provide a certain degree of flexibility and compressibility in or against the z direction. In other words, when pressure is applied to the molded seal 32, in particular to the sealing lips 40, from above, that is, against the z-direction, the lips 40 can be bent slightly downwards against the z-direction. As a result, height tolerances are easily compensated for and particularly small gap heights can be achieved between such a battery module and the carrier. In addition, such a molded seal 32 can prevent the relevant joining partners to be joined from being pushed apart again. The shaped seal 32 is therefore particularly flexible and robust. If such a shaped seal 32 is used as intended in a battery arrangement, the lips 40 are inclined in the direction of the gap to be delimited and filled with the heat-conducting compound.

This is for example in 5 shown. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of a battery arrangement 44 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In this example, the battery arrangement 44 has a battery module 46 with several battery cells 47, which are arranged in the form of a cell stack. The battery cells 47 are arranged next to one another in the x direction and are designed, for example, as prismatic battery cells. The battery cells 47 can also be arranged in a module housing 49 of the battery module 46. The battery module 46 represents an example of a battery unit. Furthermore, the battery arrangement 44 comprises a carrier 48 in the form of a cooling base 50. In this example, this includes cooling channels 52 through which a cooling medium can flow. The battery module 46 has a first side 46a and the carrier 48 a corresponding second page 48a. The first side 46a of the battery module 46 faces the second side 48a of the carrier 48. These two sides 46a, 48a are at a distance from one another, which results in a gap 54 between the battery module 46, in particular its first side 46a, and the second side 48a of the carrier 48. This is filled with a heat-conducting compound 56. In order to prevent this viscous heat-conducting compound 56 from flowing laterally out of the intermediate space 54 before it hardens while the gap 54 is being filled with the heat-conducting compound 56, the molded seal 32 described is now advantageously provided all around the wetting surfaces. This seal 32 therefore limits the gap 54 laterally, that is, with respect to the x and y directions. For this purpose, the molded seal 32 can be applied either as described to the carrier 48, in particular to the second side 48a, or to the first side 46a of the battery module 46. In the example in 5 the mold seal 32 has been applied to the carrier 48, so that in this example the second side 48a of the carrier 48 represents the application surface 34. As can be seen, the sealing lips 40 of the molded seal 32 are each inclined in the direction of the gap 54 to be delimited. These lie on the top side on the first side 46a of the battery module 46. The shaped seal 32 thus seals the first side 46a from the second side 48a. Due to the inclination of the respective sealing lips 40, for example, it is not possible for the sealing lips 40 shown on the left to move or stand up against the x-direction, and it is not possible for the sealing lips 40 shown on the right to stand up in the x-direction, since the respective Sealing lips 40 rest with their upper ends on the first side 46a. This also increases the tightness when filling the heat-conducting compound 56 into the gap 54. The lips 40 can therefore not easily bend outwards due to the injection pressure.

6 shows again a schematic representation of a top view of the first side 46a of a battery module 46 according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention. This battery module can in turn be part of a battery arrangement 44, as described previously. In contrast to the previously described example, in this example the molded seal 32 is now applied to the underside 46a of this battery module 46. In this example, the underside 46a of the battery module 46 provides the application surface 34. It can now be clearly seen that the shaped seal 32 in the edge region 46b of the battery module 46 is designed to be completely circumferential and closed. The contour of this molded seal 32 in this top view shown is essential normal rectangular. The contour of the molded seal 32 can therefore be divided into straight sections 32a and corners 32b. Due to the inclined sealing lips 40, the corners 32b of the molded seal 32 in particular cannot be provided with conventional application devices and cannot be reliably formed and attached tightly from sealing sections provided by the meter. This is advantageously only made possible by further very advantageous designs of the device 10 for applying the molded seal 32, as will now be described again below with reference to 1 to be discribed.

The nozzle 12 is now advantageously designed in such a way that the first nozzle part 14 can be rotated about an axis of rotation A relative to the second nozzle part 16. For this purpose, part of the first nozzle part 14 is arranged within the second nozzle part 16. The first nozzle part 14 has a first through opening 14a, which provides at least part of the sealing compound channel 28. The second nozzle part 16 also has a through opening 16a, which can also provide part of the sealing compound channel 28. A part of the first nozzle part 14, in particular the upper part with respect to the z direction, is now arranged within the second through opening 16a of the second nozzle part 16. The first nozzle part 14 is rotatably mounted on the second nozzle part 16 with respect to rotation about the axis A. For this purpose, a ball bearing 58 is arranged in the transition area between the first nozzle part 14 and the second nozzle part 16. Furthermore, an O-ring 60 is provided between the first and second nozzle parts 14, 16. This ensures the tightness between the outer and inner parts, that is, the first nozzle part 14 and the second nozzle part 16. The first nozzle part 14 further comprises a first flange 61 and a second flange 62.

The second nozzle part 16, like this in 2 is shown, does not include a second flange 62 in this illustration, but can also be designed with one. To rotate the first nozzle part 14, a drive unit (not shown here) can also be used as part of the device 10. This drive unit can include, for example, a gear drive and a drive motor. This drive unit preferably engages the second flange 62 in order to transmit a corresponding torque to the inner part 14, ie the first nozzle part 14. Furthermore, the second nozzle part 16 has a projection 64 which tapers the second through opening 16a at least in some areas. The through opening 16a in the area of this projection 64 has a smaller diameter than the outer diameter of the first nozzle part 14 in the area of the first flange 61. This ensures that the first nozzle part 14 cannot be moved downwards out of the second nozzle part 16. Furthermore, it is very advantageous that the nozzle 12 has a suspension. In the present example, this is provided by a spring 66, in particular a compression spring 66. This is supported on the one hand on the second flange 62 of the first nozzle part 14 and on the other hand on an underside 68 of the second nozzle part 16. Furthermore, the spring 66 can do something in the initial state of the nozzle 12, in which the nozzle 12 has not yet been placed on an application surface 34, for example be biased. The spring 66 therefore presses the first nozzle part 14 downwards relative to the second nozzle part 16.

For example, if the nozzle is to apply the seal 32 to the module side 46a, due to component tolerances in the battery cells 47, there may be height differences in the surface to which the seal 32 is to be applied. For this purpose, the nozzle 12 has the suspension described in order to always have reliable contact with the component. For this purpose, the compression spring 66 described is installed, which always presses the inner part 14 downwards, that is, against the z direction. If a robot in which the device 10 is attached or which guides the device 10 over the application surface 34 now comes across the battery cells 47 of different heights, the spring 66 is loaded and the outlet side or the contact side 24 of the second nozzle part 14 can upwards, that is, in the z direction. The nozzle 12 can therefore advantageously adapt to height tolerances. This enables reliable application of the seal 32.

Furthermore, on the robot that is to apply the seal 32 using the device 10, a commercially available applicator, which was previously mentioned as a sealing compound feed device 36 and in 3 is shown, be appropriate. This applicator is used to process adhesives and sealants. This also includes a dosing device from which the one- or two-component plastic material providing the sealing compound 38 passes into a mixing chamber of this applicator or into a static mixer, from where it is then conveyed to the material outlet. The nozzle 12 described is then arranged at the material outlet point of this sealant supply device 36. The upper flange 70 (cf. 1 ) of the outer part 16, that is, the second nozzle part 16, can be connected to the material outlet 74 of the system, that is, the sealing compound supply device 36, by means of a union nut 72. The supplied material, that is, the sealing compound 38, then flows through the central channel 28 (cf. 1 ) of the nozzle 12 in the direction of the outlet 20.

Overall, the examples show how the invention can provide a method for producing a seal and a device for applying it to a high-voltage battery module. The new nozzle has the advantage that, due to its rotatability, it can move all corners of the border framing the wetting surface in such a way that the lip shape of the seal is always facing inwards. This means that a robot does not have to make 90 degree turns four times in the same direction, which would result in the hose packages being twisted, but rather it simply rotates the nozzle from which the lip seal flows. A shaped seal can thus be applied which runs all the way around the wetting surface and has inclined sealing lips.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of 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.

Cited patent literature

• DE 19619999 C2 [0004]
• EP 2896463 B1 [0006]

Claims (10)

Device (10) for applying a sealant (38) to an application surface (34, 46a, 48a) provided by a battery component (46, 48, 50) while forming a molded seal (32) with at least one sealing lip (40), - whereby the Device (10) has a nozzle (12) which has a feed opening (18) for feeding the sealant (38) into the nozzle (12), at least one outlet opening (20) and a sealant channel (28) which has the feed opening (18 ) connects to the at least one outlet opening (20), - the outlet opening (20) being geometrically designed in such a way that it is designed to receive the sealant emerging from the outlet opening (20) onto the application surface (34, 46a, 48a). (38) to form at least one sealing lip (40); characterized in that the at least one outlet opening (20) is geometrically designed in such a way that it is designed to form the sealing compound (38) emerging onto the application surface (34, 46a, 48a) into at least one sealing lip (40) in such a way that this protrudes from the application surface (34, 46a, 48a) at an angle of inclination (α), which is different from a right angle. Device (10) after Claim 1 , characterized in that the nozzle (12) has a contact side (24) for contacting the application surface (34, 46a, 48a), at least a first nozzle part (14) of the nozzle (12) comprising the outlet opening (20) about an axis of rotation (A) is designed to be rotatable, wherein the axis of rotation (A), when the nozzle (12) contacts the application surface (34, 46a, 48a) with its contact side (24), is aligned locally perpendicular to the application surface (34, 46a, 48a). . Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nozzle (12) has a second nozzle part (16) for rotationally fixed arrangement on a sealing compound supply device (36), the first nozzle part (14) being attached to the second nozzle part (16). the rotation axis (A) is rotatably mounted, in particular wherein the second nozzle part (16) has a second through opening (16a) extending in the direction of the rotation axis (A), and wherein the first nozzle part (14) at least partially in the direction of the rotation axis (A ) is accommodated in the second through opening (16a), and wherein the first nozzle part (14) has a first through opening (14a) extending in the direction of the axis of rotation (A), which provides at least part of the sealing compound channel (28). Device (10) according to one of the Claims 2 or 3 , characterized in that the device (10) has a drive device which is designed to exert a torque in the direction of the axis of rotation (A) on the first nozzle part (14) in order to move the first nozzle part (14) about the axis of rotation (A) relative to the second nozzle part (16). Device (10) according to one of the Claims 2 until 4 , characterized in that the first nozzle part (14) is movable parallel to the direction of rotation and relative to the second nozzle part (16). Device (10) according to one of the Claims 2 until 5 , characterized in that the first nozzle part (14) is resiliently mounted in the direction of the axis of rotation (A), in particular on the first nozzle part (14). Device (10) according to one of the Claims 2 until 6 , characterized in that a first direction (z) is defined parallel to the axis of rotation (A) and pointing from the at least one outlet opening (20) to the feed opening (18), the first nozzle part (14) being movable parallel to the direction of rotation, a first Flange (61) which is arranged within the second through opening (16a), the second nozzle part (16) having a projection (64) which tapers the second through opening (16a) at least in some areas and which is below the second through opening (16a) with respect to the first direction (z). first flange (61) is arranged and which limits the mobility of the first nozzle part (14) against the first direction (z) by positive connection with the first flange (16). Device (10) according to one of the Claims 2 until 7 , characterized in that the first nozzle part (14) has a second flange (62) which is arranged outside the second nozzle part (16), a spring (66) being between the first nozzle part (14) and the second nozzle part (16). for resiliently mounting the first nozzle part (14) on the second nozzle part (16), which is supported on the one hand on the second flange (62) and on the other hand on a part (68) of the second nozzle part (16). Method for applying a sealing compound (38) to an application surface (34, 46a, 48a) provided by a battery component (46, 48, 50) by forming a molded seal (32) with at least one sealing lip (40), - wherein the sealing compound (38 ) is applied to the application surface (34, 46a, 48a) by means of a nozzle (12) by dispensing the sealant (38) through at least one outlet opening (20) of the nozzle (12), which is applied to the application surface (34, 46a , 48a) emerging sealing compound (38) forms at least one sealing lip (40); characterized in that the sealing compound (38) at Emerging from the nozzle (12) is formed into at least one sealing lip (40) by means of the at least one outlet opening (20) in such a way that it is at an angle of inclination (α), which is different from a right angle, from the application surface (34, 46a , 48a). Battery assembly (44) with a battery unit (46) having a first side (46a) and a carrier (48, 50) having a second side (48a), the battery unit (46) being so relative to the carrier (48, 50) is arranged so that the first side (46a) of the battery unit (46) faces the second side (48a) of the carrier (48, 50) and is at a distance from the second side (48a) of the carrier (48, 50 ), wherein the battery unit (46) is arranged above the carrier (48, 50) with respect to a first direction (z), characterized in that the battery arrangement (44) has an intermediate region (54) between the first side (46a) of the battery unit (46) and the second side (48a) of the carrier (48, 50), which is delimited perpendicular to the first direction (z) by a molded seal (32) which is encompassed by the battery arrangement (44), the molded seal (32) is shot in an edge region (46b) of the first side (46a) and has at least one sealing lip (40) which projects from the first or second side (46a, 48a) and which is at an angle of inclination (α) , which is different from a right angle, is inclined towards the intermediate region (54).

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