EP3610523A1

EP3610523A1 - Contact having a composite material

Info

Publication number: EP3610523A1
Application number: EP18725107.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Thomas Krämer
Original assignee: E Seven Systems Technology Management Ltd
Current assignee: E Seven Systems Technology Management Ltd
Priority date: 2017-04-12
Filing date: 2018-04-12
Publication date: 2020-02-19
Also published as: US20200112013A1; KR20190134769A; CN110679011A; JP2020517069A; WO2018189338A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a contact (1) having a composite material (2) containing an elastic material (4) and a metal material, which is incorporated into the elastic material, for guiding an electric current of a battery cell, wherein the metal material forms a metal body (5) having a cohesive geometric structure, which extends through the composite material (2) so that an electric and a thermal current can be conducted through the composite material (2) by means of the metal body (5). The invention additionally relates to an electrically conductive connecting plate and a battery.

Description

Contact with a composite material

The invention relates to a contact with a

A composite material comprising a resilient polymeric material and a metal material incorporated in the polymeric material

is introduced, for guiding an electric current of a battery cell.

From the prior art contacts are from a

Composite material comprising an elastic polymer material and a metal material previously known. So revealed the

Publication WO 2014/016393 AI a

Energy storage device for a vehicle with

equipped according to trained contacts. In the disclosed energy storage device is a

Energy storage such as a battery cell with a circuit board over several elastic contacts

connected. The contacts are made of an elastomer, in which metal particles are introduced. The contacts produce an elastic effect between the energy store and the printed circuit board. This allows an electric

Contact between battery cell and PCB.

In addition, the contacts are electrically conductive due to the metal particles introduced therein.

However, it has been found that no or only a few completely highly conductive webs form in such a composite material, if common

Operating voltages applied to the contacts. In the result does not set a desired low electrical resistance between the circuit board and energy storage. The present invention is therefore based on the object to provide an elastic contact having a very high electrical conductivity.

The object is achieved by a contact of the type described above, according to the invention

Metal material with a metal body

forms a continuous geometric structure that extends through the composite material so that electrical and thermal currents can be conducted across the metal body through the composite material. Since the metal body has a continuous geometric structure, highly conductive tracks are present in the composite material for conducting an electric current. In addition, a thermal current can be passed over the metal body, because metals have an extremely good thermal conductivity. The thermal stream can according to the invention nevertheless be guided by the polymer material. The contact is due to the elastic used

Material within the composite elastic. The elastic material fills gaps, gaps, holes or other imperfections of the metal structure in the composite material. In order to achieve a particularly good elasticity of the contact, that should

Composite less than 20% by volume metal material

exhibit. Preferably, the composite material has less than 15% by volume. Most preferably, it has less than 10% by volume of metal material. The elastic material is preferably designed so that it can return to its original length due to a change in length of 20% or more due to compression. According to the elastic

Material has a modulus of elasticity of less than or equal to 0.5 N / m ² , preferably less than or equal to 0.1 N / m ² , and most preferably less than or equal to 0.05 N / m ² .

By the fact that the contact is designed to carry an electric current of a battery cell, it is understood that the contact can carry a charging and / or discharging current of a battery cell. The current is permanently guided by the contact. The charging or discharging current is in particular a current which is typically in

Battery cells (for example, a power cell or a power cell) of a battery of a mobile or stationary energy storage, for example, for a home or

Industrial storage or for a motor vehicle that is powered by electrical energy occurs.

Thus, the contact is designed such that it has a

(Recommended) charging current permanently absorbed by the battery cell and / or discharging current permanently discharged

permanently without damage. For example, the contact is formed such that it is one of the

Battery cell recorded maximum charging current and / or delivered maximum discharge current can also permanently or at least temporarily lead.

The contact is characterized by the specific electrical properties of the material used in particular

Combination with the geometry used (in particular the cross-sectional geometry) designed and suitable for this purpose. In particular, a sufficiently low contact resistance or contact resistance is achieved for this purpose. At the same time, sufficient contact can be made by the contact

Heat removal (in particular in the electrically conductive connection plate) of heat generated during operation can be achieved.

For example, a mentioned continuous charging current is at least 500 mA, preferably at least 1000 mA. Examples of permanent charging currents are 1010 mA, 1020 mA, 1700 mA, 1675 mA or, in particular for power cells, also 2000 mA or

3000 mA. For example, a mentioned maximum charging current is at least 1500 mA, preferably at least 2000 mA. Exemplary maximum charging currents are 2000 mA, 3000 mA, 3400 mA, 4000 mA, 5000 mA or 6000 mA. For example, one mentioned permanent

Discharge current at least 500 mA, preferably at least 1000 mA. Examples of permanent discharge currents are 670 mA or 680 mA. For example, one mentioned maximum

Discharge current at least 5000 mA, preferably at least 8000 mA. Exemplary maximum discharge currents are 8000 mA, 10000 mA, 13000 mA or especially for power cells also 15000 mA, 30000 mA or 35000 mA.

As stated, the cross-sectional area of the contact is in particular dimensioned such that a sufficiently low contact resistance or contact resistance and thus a current flow as described and sufficient

Heat removal (in terms of the material used) is achieved. For example, the

Cross-sectional area of the contact (if provided

especially in the area of at least one of Contacting areas or one of the contact elements) at least in sections, preferably continuously

at least 15 mm ² , preferably at least 35 mm ² , more preferably at least 75 mm ² and more preferably at least 175 mm ² . In the case of a substantially round

Cross-sectional geometry of the contact, the diameter of the contact is therefore at least 5 mm, preferably at least 7 mm, more preferably at least 10 mm, more preferably at least 15 mm.

Preferably, the metal body forms a

uninterruptible electrical conductor. It is advantageous if the metal body consists of copper or of silver. Both copper and silver have extremely good electrical and thermal conductivity. However, it does not necessarily have to be silver or copper. So also the use of other metals is possible. According to the invention, a silver alloy, a

Copper alloy or another metal alloy

Find use.

The elastic material may according to the invention be a natural rubber or a synthetic rubber. Rubbers are materials that have very good elastic properties and good properties

Durability, that is in particular a long life, have. The rubber may be brought to an elevated temperature at which it is liquid to make the contact. The metal body can now be introduced into the rubber. Subsequently, the rubber hardens and forms in combination with the metal body an electrically and thermally conductive contact. Preferably, the elastic material is nitrile-butadiene rubber, hydrogenated nitrile rubber, ethylene-propylene-diene rubber, silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, perfluoro rubber

Chloro rubber, a chlorosulfonyl polyethylene rubber, a polyester urethane rubber or a butyl rubber. The listed materials show in terms of their modulus of elasticity, hardness, flammability, resistance to aging and other parameters

different properties and can under

Consideration of the intended use of the

inventive contact can be selected. The

The rubbers listed may contain additives to improve their elasticity. According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the elastic material is electrically conductive. More recently, various polymer materials have been developed that are electrically conductive. A composite material that has both a

Metal body as well as electrically conductive elastic material contains, has a particularly large electrical conductivity. The use of such elastic

Materials should therefore be sought. The electrically conductive elastic material need not necessarily be a polymer; the use of other elastic, electrically conductive materials is possible according to the invention. According to the invention, the use of elastic materials is possible, which only from a certain limit temperature or above a certain

Breakdown voltage become electrically conductive. According to the invention, the elastic material of doped polyacetylene, polypyrrole, polyaniline, from Polythiophene or from poly-3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene

be educated. Additives may be added to these materials to improve their elasticity. The listed materials have different properties with regard to their electrical conductivity, their modulus of elasticity, their hardness, their flammability, their aging resistance and other parameters, and may be selected taking into account the intended use of the contact according to the invention.

It is advantageous if the metal structure on surfaces of the elastic material in at least two

Contacting areas exposed. When the metal body is exposed in contacting areas, a current can be passed directly into the metal body over a first contacting area of the contact without having to penetrate the elastic material. The electricity is over the

Metal body passed through the contact and can be led out of the contact in the region of a second contacting area. The metal body can in the

Contacting areas in each case in several places

exposed. According to possible embodiments of the invention, portions of the metal body in the

Contacting areas emerge from the metal body. Preferably, the two contacting regions are disposed on opposite sides of the contact. The contact can thus be electrically contacted on two opposite sides. When used as intended, the contact is normally elastically deformed such that a distance between the two contacting areas due to the elastic deformation is reduced. Preferably, the contact has two electrodes, which are referred to below as contact elements and

in particular can be Kontaktierungsflachen. The

Contact elements are on opposite sides of the

Composite material connected to the composite electrically and thermally conductive. It is also possible according to the invention that a contact element is arranged only on one side of the composite material. The contact elements can according to the invention with the contacting areas of

Composite electrically and thermally conductive

be connected. The contact elements may be metal plates. The contact elements provide a well-defined contact resistance to the composite material. Preferably, the metal body is a metal fleece, a

Metal mesh, or a metal foam. The metal fleece is a metal body consisting of randomly arranged metal fibers and / or other fine fibers

Metal structures exists. In the metal mesh is a metal body, which consists of interwoven metal fibers or other fine

Metal structures exists. The metal foam is a metal body having a plurality of cavities. The metal foam has a sponge-like structure. It is also possible that the metal body consists of directionally arranged metal fibers. In contrast to that

Metal fleece here are individual metal fibers not arranged in a random manner, but directed. This

Material is thus direction-dependent also with regard to its mechanical properties. The material can For example, consist of a plurality of metal fibers which are aligned parallel to each other.

The metal foam is elastic and can thus contribute to the elasticity of the composite material. A metal body, which is formed as a metal fleece or as a metal mesh, according to particular embodiments may also have elastic properties. The person skilled in the art can produce metal nonwovens, metal meshes and metal bodies of directionally arranged metal fibers by virtue of their knowledge in such a way that they are elastic. The elasticity of the metal nonwovens, metal braids or metal body advantageously results essentially from the

geometric arrangement of the individual metal fibers

to each other . The metal body according to the invention may further comprise a

Have network structure or a grid structure. One

Metal body, which has a mesh structure or a lattice structure, consists of a plurality of metal wires, which are interconnected at nodes. One

Metal body from a network structure or from a

Grid structure can also be designed so that the metal body in particular due to the elastic

Characteristics of the individual metal wires elastic

is deformable and thus to the elasticity of

Composite material contributes.

The invention also relates to an electrically conductive connection plate having a contact as described. The invention also relates to a battery having at least one battery cell, an electrically conductive

Connection plate and a contact for connecting a battery terminal of the battery cell with the circuit board. The contact is a contact according to the invention as described above. The battery contains

Preferably, a plurality of battery cells, which are connected to a connection plate electrically and thermally conductive via a contact according to the invention. The connecting plate is preferably a

PCB. According to the invention it may be in the

Connection plate, however, also act on a metal plate. Particularly preferably, the connecting plate is a copper plate.

Preferably, the elastic material of the composite material has a modulus of elasticity, which is adjusted so that the connecting plate in contacting with the

Battery cells is not damaged by a force effect of the battery terminals of the battery cells on the connection plate. Preferably, the modulus of elasticity is further so

set a battery cell between two

spaced connection plates of a battery, which are provided with contacts according to the invention, clamped to the contacts and through the contacts between the connecting plates, advantageously also at

for example, by vibrations of the battery on the

Battery cell acting forces can be maintained.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the contact is applied to the connection plate. The contact may be applied to the connection plate on areas intended to be connected to battery cells Battery to be contacted electrically and thermally conductive.

It is also possible according to the invention that the contact is applied to a printed circuit board of the battery. The contact can be covered by a contact element on the surface facing the circuit board. If a pressure is exerted on the contact element by a battery pole of a battery cell, the contact can deform elastically and a low-resistance contact transition between the

Battery cell and the circuit board ensure.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings. Showing:

1 a contact according to the invention,

Fig. 2 shows the contact of Fig. 1 in a

Sectional view

3 shows a metal body made of a metal foam,

Fig. 4 arranged a metal body from directed

Metal fibers,

5 shows a metal body made of a metal fleece, FIG. 6 shows a metal body with a lattice structure, FIG.

7 shows a metal body made of a metal mesh,

8 shows a battery according to the invention, Fig. 9 is a connection plate with a therein

integrated contact and

Figs. 10 to 15 show the structure different

Starting materials of metal for one

Metal body.

Fig. 1 shows a contact according to the invention 1. The

Contact has a composite material 2 and two

Contact elements 3, which are arranged on opposite sides of the composite material 2. The contact elements 3 are made of metal and are thermally and electrically conductively connected to the composite material 2. The

Composite material 2 has as elastic material 4 a natural rubber. In the elastic material, a metal body, not shown, is embedded. The contact 1 is thus elastic and moreover electrically and thermally conductive.

FIG. 2 shows the contact 1 according to the invention from FIG. 1 in a sectional view. In the elastic material 4 of

Composite material 2, a metal body 5 is embedded, which has a continuous geometric structure. The contiguous geometric structure is in the present case a network structure. An electric current and a thermal current may be conducted along the metal body 5 through the composite material 2. Of the

Metal body 5 is located in contacting areas 6 of

Composite material 2 free and is directly with the

Contact elements 3 electrically and thermally conductively connected. Fig. 3 shows a metal body 5 made of a metal foam. This is a special embodiment of the metal body 5. The metal foam 5 has a structure with many cavities 7. Such a metal body has particularly good elastic properties.

Fig. 4 shows a metal body 5 of directionally arranged metal fibers 8. The directed arranged metal fibers 8 are arranged substantially parallel to each other and abut each other. Its structure retains the metal body 5 by being inserted into the elastic material 4.

Fig. 5 shows a metal body 5 made of a metal fleece. The metal fleece has a multiplicity of metal fibers 8, which are not arranged in a directional manner, but abut one another in a loose composite. The metal fleece shown is elastic and can thus contribute to the elasticity of the

Contribute composite material.

Fig. 6 shows a metal body 5 with a lattice structure. Individual metal wires 9 of the lattice structure are in

Nodes 10 connected together. The shown

Lattice structure has elastic properties.

Fig. 7 shows a metal body 5 made of a metal mesh. The metal fibers 8 of the metal mesh are interwoven, which means that they run under and over one another in an orderly manner.

8 shows a battery 11 according to the invention. The battery 11 has a plurality of battery cells 12, which are electrically and thermally connected to one another via a plurality of connection plates 13 are conductively connected. At the shown

Connecting plates 13 are copper plates. Each battery cell 12 has at opposite ends

Battery terminals 14 on. The battery terminals 14 of the battery cells 12 are via inventive contacts 1 with the

Connecting plates 13 connected electrically and thermally conductive. By the connecting plates 13 tension members 15 are passed, whereby the individual elements of

Battery 11 are pressed together. By the contacts 1 it is ensured that it by pressing to no damage to the battery cells 12 or the

Connecting plates 13 comes, and that each one

well-defined contact resistance between the battery poles 14 and the connecting plates 13 is given. Fig. 9 shows a connecting plate 13 with a contact 1 applied thereto. The connecting plate 13 is, for example, a composite plate. The

Connection plate 13 has a non-electrically conductive layer 16. On an electrically conductive layer 18, the contact 1 is arranged. The contact 1 comprises the composite material 2 according to the invention. The contact 1 further comprises two oppositely arranged contact elements 3. The composite material 2 is electrically and thermally conductively connected to the conductive layer 18 of the connection plate 13 via the contact elements 3 facing the connection plate.

Fig. 10 shows the structure of a metal structure 19 having a sponge-like structure.

Fig. 11 shows a structure of a metal element 20 made of a foamed metal. FIG. 12 shows the structure of a metal fiber element 21 made of metal fibers 8.

FIG. 13 shows the structure of a metal mesh 22.

14 shows the structure of a metal mesh 23.

15 shows the structure of a metal grid 24.

E N G L I S H E S T E

1. Contact

2. Composite material

3. Contact person

4. Elastic material

5. metal body

6. contacting area

7. Cavity

8. Metal fiber

9. metal wire

10th node

11. Battery

12. Battery cell

13. Connection plate

14. battery pole

15. tension elements

16. non-conductive layer

18. conductive layer

19. Metal structure

20. Metal element

21. Metal fiber element

22. metal mesh

23. Metal mesh

24. Metal grid

Claims

claims

A contact (1) comprising a composite material (2) containing an elastic material (4) and a metal material incorporated in the elastic material for passing an electric current of a battery cell therethrough

characterized in that the metal material forms a metal body (5) with a contiguous geometric structure extending through the composite material (2) such that electrical and thermal currents can be conducted across the metal body (5) through the composite material (2).

Contact (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the metal body forms an uninterruptible electrical conductor.

Contact (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metal body (5) consists of a metal alloy, for example a copper or silver alloy.

Contact (1) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the elastic material (4) is a natural rubber or a synthetic rubber.

Contact (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the elastic material (4) is a nitrile-butadiene rubber, a hydrogenated nitrile rubber, an ethylene-propylene Diene rubber, a silicone rubber, a fluorosilicone rubber, a perfluoro rubber, a chlorinated rubber, a chlorosulfonyl polyethylene rubber, a polyester urethane rubber or a butyl rubber.

Contact (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the elastic material (4)

is electrically conductive.

Contact (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the elastic material (4) is made of doped polyacetylene, of polypyrrole, of polyaniline, of polythiophene or of poly-3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene.

Contact (1) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the metal body (5)

Surfaces of the elastic material (4) in at least two contacting areas (6) is exposed.

Contact (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the two contacting areas (6)

opposite sides of the contact (1) are located.

Contact (1) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the contact (1) two

Contact elements (3), which are connected on opposite sides of the composite material (2) with the composite material (2) electrically and thermally conductive.

Contact (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metal body (5) is a metal fleece, a metal mesh, or a metal foam.

12. Contact (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the metal body (5) consists of directed metal fibers (8).

13. Contact (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized

characterized in that the metal body (5) has a

Has network structure or a grid structure.

Contact (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the contact current of at least

1000 mA, preferably at least 5000 mA, further

preferably at least 8000 mA, in particular permanently lead.

15. Contact (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized

characterized in that the cross-sectional area of the contact is at least in sections, preferably continuously at least 15 mm ² , preferably at least 35 mm ² , more preferably at least 75 mm ² .

Electrically conductive connection plate (13), characterized in that the electrically conductive

Connection plate (13) has a contact (1) according to one of claims 1 to 15.

Battery (11) having at least one battery cell (12), an electrically conductive connection plate (13) and a contact (1) for connecting a battery terminal (14) of the battery cell (12) with the connection plate (13), characterized in that the contact (1) is formed as a contact (1) according to claims 1 to 15.