Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
  • H01M50/20—Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders
  • H01M50/262—Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders with fastening means, e.g. locks
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
  • F16B35/00—Screw-bolts; Stay-bolts; Screw-threaded studs; Screws; Set screws
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
  • F16B5/00—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them
  • F16B5/0004—Joining sheets, plates or panels in abutting relationship
  • F16B5/0032—Joining sheets, plates or panels in abutting relationship by moving the sheets, plates, or panels or the interlocking key parallel to the abutting edge
  • F16B5/0052—Joining sheets, plates or panels in abutting relationship by moving the sheets, plates, or panels or the interlocking key parallel to the abutting edge the interlocking key acting as a dovetail-type key
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
  • H01M50/20—Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders
  • H01M50/204—Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
  • H01M50/207—Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells characterised by their shape
  • H01M50/213—Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells characterised by their shape adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
  • H01M50/20—Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders
  • H01M50/258—Modular batteries; Casings provided with means for assembling
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
  • Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries

Definitions

• a battery module also called a module in what follows, is formed by the association and electrical connection of several electrochemical elements.
• the electrical connection in series of the electrochemical elements makes it possible to increase the voltage of the battery module.
• the parallel connection increases its capacity. Connecting the elements in series increases the voltage of the battery module.
• the elements are secured within a module using one or more holding means, also called strapping or flanges.
• the document FR-A-2 562 170 describes a connecting jumper intended to mechanically assemble two modular elements, a wall of one of the modular elements being opposite a wall of the other, one of these walls comprising an electrical connector intended to be connected to a complementary connector located on the other wall.
• This jumper has two identical branches that are totally attached to each other. The branches have the same shape and the same dimensions. They are intended to be introduced into two identical recesses formed in the walls of the two modular elements. This type of jumper does not help an operator to properly orient modular elements.
• the interlocking between the two modular elements is not perfect, sometimes due to a certain variability in the dimensions of the modular elements, mechanical stresses may appear on the rider.
• the connecting piece must make it possible to assemble flanges whose outer surface is devoid of protrusion.
• the connecting piece must serve as an attachment point for one or more electric wires.
• the present invention overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a connecting piece for assembling two battery modules, said connecting piece comprising:
• a second portion capable of being inserted into a notch of a second holding element of a second plurality of electrochemical elements forming part of a second battery module, the first portion and the second portion having different dimensions, of so that the first portion is not adapted to be inserted into the notch of the second holding element and/or the second portion is not adapted to be inserted into the notch of the first holding element,
• the first portion comprises a flexible part in the hand and a non-flexible part in the hand, the flexible part in the hand and the non-flexible part in the hand respectively form a first and a second branch , the first and the second branch being at least partially separated, thus allowing a deformation of the flexible part by hand with respect to the non-flexible part by hand.
• the means for preventing the connecting part from being withdrawn is a lug located on the flexible part by hand, adapted to snap against a shoulder of one of the holding elements. .
• first battery module provided with at least a first holding element serving to hold a first plurality of electrochemical elements and a second battery module provided with at least a second holding element serving to hold a second plurality of electrochemical elements
• the first holding element with the second holding element, the first portion fitting into a notch of the first holding element and the second portion fitting into a notch of the second holding element, the first portion being configured so as not to be able to be inserted into the notch of the second holding element and/or the second portion being configured not to be able to be inserted into the notch of the first holding element , play being present between the first or the second portion of the connecting piece and the notch in which the first or the second portion is inserted, this play allowing movement of one of the two battery modules with respect to the another, in the three dimensions of space.
• the play is at least 0.15 mm and less than 1 mm in each of the three dimensions of space.
• the notch of the first holding element has at least one dimension different from the notch of the second holding element.
• the notch of the first holding element and the notch of the second holding element extend along the longitudinal direction of the electrochemical elements, the shape of the cross section of the notch of the first element holding being different from the shape of the cross section of the notch of the second holding element.
• the first and the second connecting piece each have a heel preventing the separation of the first and the second battery module.
• the first and the second battery module each contain four electrochemical elements, the holding elements being square in shape, with optionally rounded corners, the four sides of the square each receiving a notch.
• two notches located on two opposite sides of the square have different sizes and shapes.
• the invention also relates to a battery comprising at least one assembly as described above.
• the connecting piece is designated in the following equivalently by the term clip.
• the retaining element is designated in the following in an equivalent manner by the term flange.
• FIG. 1 is a front view of the clip according to the invention.
• FIG.4 is a bottom view of two modules assembled by the clip according to the invention. It shows in particular that the cross-sections of the notches made on two opposite edges of a flange are different.
• FIG.5b shows a longitudinal sectional view of a clip assembling two flanges arranged on the lower end of two modules.
• Figure 5a and 5b the presence of a clearance between the heel of the clip and the internal wall of the flange, thus allowing the left module to move slightly in the vertical direction.
• FIG.6 shows a longitudinal sectional view of two modules assembled using a first clip connecting two flanges located on the upper end of two modules and a second clip connecting two flanges located on the lower end of the two modules.
• FIG.7 is a perspective view of an assembly of two modules. These were assembled using a first clip connecting two flanges located at the upper end of the two modules and a second clip connecting two flanges located at the lower end of the two modules.
• FIG.8 is a perspective view of an assembly of three modules. A third module has been added to the two modules in Figure 7.
• Figure 8 shows in particular the addition of clips in the notches of the flanges located on the lower end of the second and third modules.
• FIG.9 is a perspective view of an assembly in which a 4th module is attached to the three modules of Figure 8.
• FIG.10 is a perspective view of an assembly of four modules. It shows in particular the installation of two clips on the upper flange of the 4th module.
• FIG.11 is a perspective view showing the assembly of the four modules of the figure 10 after fitting all the clips on the upper flanges of the modules.
• the clip typically comprises a heel (200, 201) from which extend:
• a second portion (7) intended to be inserted into a notch (4-2) of a second flange (5-2) of a second plurality of electrochemical elements forming part of a second battery module.
• the first and second portions of the clip extend in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the heel. They are substantially parallel to each other and are joined to each other over their entire length.
• the first portion (3) comprises a flexible part (3a) and a non-flexible part (3b) secured to the second portion (7) of the clip.
• flexible we mean “flexible by hand”.
• the flexible part (3a) and the non-flexible part (3b) form two partially separate branches.
• the fact that the two branches are only partially interconnected makes it possible to confer a certain flexibility on the branch (3a) with respect to the non-flexible branch (3b).
• the flexible branch (3a) has a length much greater than its thickness, which contributes to its elastic deformation when the clip is put into place in the flange.
• the heel, the first and the second portion of the clip are preferably obtained by molding a plastic material. It is also possible, although less preferred, to weld or glue the first portion, the second portion and the heel.
• a plastic material is more suitable than a metal material because of its electrical insulating character. Indeed, the clip does not participate in the electrical connection between two modules but only in their mechanical assembly.
• Plastic materials suitable for the manufacture of the clip are:
• polyphenylene sulphides such as Ryton® R-4 and Techtron® HPV, - polyamides (Nylon®),
• the plastic material is a polyetheretherketone (PEEK), such as Victrex® PEEK 150G. Elastomers are less suitable as the constituent material of the clip.
• the material constituting the clip can be chosen to respect a positive margin between the elastic limit in bending of the material divided by the safety factor (e.g. 1.25 in the case of the elastic range) and the bending stress applied. This can range from 100 to 250 MPa. In this particular case, a material with a flexural strength at the elastic limit at 23°C according to the ISO 178 standard ranging from 125 to 315 MPa can be chosen.
• the end of the flexible branch (3a) is preferably bevelled (9). The insertion of the clip in a notch of a flange is facilitated.
• the clip includes a means to prevent its removal after it has been inserted into one of the flanges.
• This means may be a lug (8) intended to cooperate with a shoulder (10) provided inside the flange.
• the lug is located on the flexible branch (3a) of the clip.
• the clip is mounted by snapping the lug onto the shoulder (10). The clip can be inserted by an operator without having to use a specific tool.
• the keying function offered by the clip allows the modules to be mechanically assembled by bringing the side surfaces of the end plates into contact in a single configuration combining interface compatibility and orientation, which allows during subsequent wiring of the modules to avoid any unwanted electrical connection between two adjacent modules.
• This keying function is obtained by choosing a first portion and a second portion of the clip having cross sections of different shapes or sizes.
• Figure 2 shows a bottom view of the clip of Figure 1.
• the cross section of the first portion (3) is circular in shape while the cross section of the second portion (7) is T-shaped.
• the cross-section of the first and second portions of the clip is not limited to a circular or T-shape.
• Figure 2 also shows that the heel (200, 201) extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first and second portions of the clip extend. The heel serves as a stop when inserting the clip into the flanges as it will be explained below.
• Figure 2 also shows the lug (8) which allows one of the branches to snap into the notch of a flange and block the clip in the flange.
• Figure 1 shows that the surface of the heel intended to be oriented towards the outside of the module can comprise a means of attachment allowing a link to be passed therein, which link maintains one or more electric wires on the clip.
• the attachment means can be a jumper (100).
• the link can be a rilsan-type plastic clamp passing around the trigger guard or through the trigger guard.
• a module constitutes a unitary structure of fixed volume delivering a tension and a predetermined quantity of energy.
• the voltage and the quantity of energy available depend on the electrical connection mode of the electrochemical elements.
• the electrochemical elements are generally regularly distributed around a central axis and are connected to each other by means of metal strips.
• the central axis serves as a means of fixing the electrochemical elements together. It is also used to fix the module on a support. This support therefore brings together the different modules of the battery.
• the module generally comprises an electronic control and management circuit intended to measure the state of charge and/or the state of health of the elements, in particular by means of voltage or current measurements taken individually, element by element, or taken on a group of elements.
• the configurations involving 3, 4 or 5 electrochemical elements per module are the most advantageous.
• the configuration with 4 electrochemical elements is optimal from the point of view of compactness while responding to mechanical, thermal and electrical constraints.
• the format of the electrochemical elements is not particularly limited. These can be of cylindrical or prismatic format, preferably cylindrical.
• the technology of electrochemical elements is not limited. These can be of the lithium-ion type. They can be of the primary type (“battery” therefore non-rechargeable) or of the secondary type (“accumulator” therefore rechargeable).
• the electrochemical elements are secured within the same module using one or more flanges.
• a single flange can totally or at least partially surround the side wall of each of the electrochemical elements. It can be arranged near the middle of the length (or height) of the electrochemical elements. However, for better holding of the elements, two flanges are preferably used. They are each arranged on one of the ends of the electrochemical elements of the module.
• a flange consists of a plate comprising on its largest surface a plurality of recesses intended to fit with the bottom of the container of the electrochemical elements and/or with the cover of the electrochemical elements. Each recess follows the shape of the cross section of the container or of the cover of the electrochemical elements. The cross section is preferably circular.
• the flange is used to wedge the electrochemical elements in order to prevent them from suffering the harmful effects of vibrations.
• the flange is generally made of an electrically insulating material, preferably a plastic material. It is generally obtained by molding a plastic material.
• Each flange has a lateral surface defined as being the surface perpendicular to the largest surface of the flange.
• This side surface has one or more notches which extend over at least a portion of the height of the side surface of the flange and which open onto the largest surface of the flange.
• the cross section of the notch of a flange of one of the two modules differs by its shape or by its dimensions from the cross section of the notch of a flange of a second module placed opposite .
• the first portion and the second portion of the clip are each inserted into the notch of one of the two flanges.
• the clip is inserted either from above the module for the flange in the upper position, i.e. covering the upper end of the electrochemical elements, or from below the module for the flange in the lower position, i.e. ie covering the lower end of the electrochemical elements.
• the clip makes it possible to perform the keying function because the shape of the cross section of the first portion of the clip is complementary to that of the cross section of the notch of a first flange in which the clip is intended to be inserted. Similarly, the shape of the cross section of the second portion of the clip is complementary to that of the cross section of the notch of a second flange in which the clip is intended to be inserted.
• each module comprises four electrochemical elements joined together by a square-shaped flange, with optionally rounded corners, the four sides of the square each receiving a notch.
• Figure 4 is a bottom view of a set (11) of two modules (2-1, 2-2) of this type joined and assembled by the clip according to the invention. It shows in particular the different cross-sections of the notches (4-1, 4-2) made on the side surfaces facing the flanges (5-1, 5-2) of the two modules. Two notches located on two opposite sides have different cross sections.
• the notch (4-2) of the flange of the left module (2-2) has a T-shaped cross section.
• the notch (4-1) of the flange of the right module (2-1) has a cross section of circular shape.
• Figure 4 shows that the first portion (3) of the circular-shaped cross-section clip fits into the circular-shaped cross-section notch (4-1) of the flange of the right module.
• the second portion (7) of the T-shaped cross-section clip fits into a T-shaped cross-section notch (4-2) of the left module flange.
• Each flange can be fitted on its lateral surface with a keying device in the form of a bump (300-2 on the 5-2 flange and 300-1 on the 5-1 flange) so that no 90° error on the orientation of the modules is not possible.
• Other flanges (15-1 and 15-2 in FIGS. 7 to 11) located at the opposite end of the electrochemical elements can also be provided with this boss positioned at the same corner as these flanges 5-1 and 5-2. The presence of this bump signals to an operator a unique orientation of the modules.
• the heel serves as a stop when inserting the clip into the common groove formed by the facing of the two notches (4-1, 4-2) of the two flanges.
• One of the advantages of the flange used in the invention is that its side surface has no protruding part, which makes it possible to minimize the space between two neighboring modules and therefore to optimize the compactness of the assembly of modules.
• the first or second portion of the clip is sized so that there is clearance between this first or second portion and the notch into which this portion fits.
• This game is present in the three dimensions of the space and thus makes it possible to compensate for the variation in center distance or the variation in height of the modules.
• the position of one of the two modules may vary slightly in a horizontal plane and in a vertical direction, within the limits imposed by the clearance existing between the portion of the clip and the flange of this module.
• the play can be at least 0.15 mm and less than 1 mm in each of the three dimensions of the space.
• Figure 3 is a bottom view of the joining zone of two modules. It shows in particular the play (12) in an X-Y horizontal plane between the second portion (7) of the clip whose section is T-shaped and the notch (4-2) of the flange (5-2) in which this portion is inserted.
• the left flange (5-2) therefore the left module, is slightly mobile in the X-Y horizontal plane and in the vertical direction due to the presence of play.
• the right flange (5-1), therefore the right module is fixed given the absence of play in the horizontal plane and in the vertical direction between the first portion (3) of the clip and the flange (5-1).
• the clip can be snapped on from above a flange covering the upper end of the electrochemical elements of the module or from below a flange covering the lower end of the electrochemical elements of the module.
• Figure 5a shows a longitudinal sectional view of a clip (1H) assembling two flanges (15-1, 15-2) arranged at the upper end of two modules.
• Figure 5b shows a longitudinal sectional view of a clip (1B) assembling two flanges (5-1, 5-2) arranged at the lower end of two modules.
• One of the advantages of the clip is that once inserted between two flanges, it can no longer dislodge spontaneously. Indeed, one of the two portions of the clip has a lug (8) which is pressed against a shoulder (10) of the flange preventing any upward vertical movement of the clip vis-à-vis this flange. In addition, the heel of the clip serves as a stopper preventing any downward vertical movement of the clip. The clip can however be removed after being pierced.
• FIG. 6 shows a set (11) of two modules (2-1, 2-2). Each module results from the association and electrical connection of several electrochemical elements (6-1, 6-2). Each module has an upper flange (15-1, 15-2) and a lower flange (5-1, 5-2).
• the two modules are assembled by their upper flanges (15-1, 15-2) by means of an upper clip (1 H) and by their lower flanges (5-1, 5-2) by means of a lower clip (1B). Note that the left module (2-2) cannot separate from the right module (2-1) because it is blocked by the heel (201) and the lug (8) of the second clip (1 B) located on the lower part of the two modules.
• FIGs 7 to 11 show in chronological order different stages of the assembly of four modules (2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4) each comprising four electrochemical elements.
• Each module has an upper flange (15-1, 15-, 2, 15-3, 15-4) and a lower flange (5-1, 5-, 2, 5-3, 5-4 ).
• two modules (2-1, 2-2) are joined.
• the modules are oriented so that the cross section of the cutout of one of the notches (4-1) is different from the cross section of the cutout of the notch placed face to face (4-2).
• a first (1 H) and a second clip (1 B) are inserted respectively in the two upper flanges and the two lower flanges thus allowing an assembly of the two modules.
• a third module (2-3) is attached against the first module (2-1).
• the 3 rd module is assembled by inserting a clip between the upper flange (15-1) of the 1 st module (2-1) and the upper flange (15-3) of the 3rd module.
• Two clips (1 B) are inserted in the lower flanges of the second and third module in preparation for adding a 4th module.
• a fourth module (2-4) is inserted on the two clips located on the lower flanges (5-2, 5-3) of the 2 nd and 3 rd module.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Electrochemistry (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Battery Mounting, Suspending (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=81581012

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 2022
  • 2022-02-18 FR FR2201467A patent/FR3132985B1/fr active Active
• 2023
  • 2023-02-13 US US18/838,849 patent/US20250158204A1/en active Pending
  • 2023-02-13 WO PCT/EP2023/053463 patent/WO2023156328A2/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2023-02-13 EP EP23704975.4A patent/EP4480030A2/de active Pending

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