WO2018108596A1

WO2018108596A1 - Contacting assembly for connecting a battery terminal

Info

Publication number: WO2018108596A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/081290
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alexandra WÜRFEL; Wolfgang Gebauer; Ronny SEIDEL
Original assignee: Thyssenkrupp System Engineering Gmbh; Thyssenkrupp Ag
Priority date: 2016-12-15
Filing date: 2017-12-04
Publication date: 2018-06-21
Also published as: DE102016225177A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a contacting assembly (10) for connecting a battery terminal (4) of a battery cell (2) to a charging device (6), in particular for monitoring the state of charge and the temperature state of the battery cell during forming of the battery cell, comprising a voltage-measuring sensor (20) for measuring a first measurement value representing the voltage potential of the battery terminal during charging and discharging and comprising a temperature sensor (30) for measuring a second measurement value representing the temperature of the battery terminal.

Description

Contacting arrangement for connecting a battery terminal

The invention relates to a contacting arrangement for connecting a battery terminal of a battery cell to a charging device, in particular for monitoring a charging state and a temperature state of the battery cell during a formation of the battery cell, a voltage measuring sensor for measuring a first measurement value representing a voltage potential of the battery terminal during charging and discharging and a Temperature sensor for measuring a second measured value representing a temperature of the battery terminal.

In the case of lithium-ion battery cells, both in the initial charging and discharging process, the so-called formation, and frequently during the later operation of the battery cell, temperature and voltage monitoring take place. This is done via temperature sensors or voltage sensors. Here, the voltage sensor measures a first measured value, which represents a potential or a voltage, and the temperature sensor, a second measured value, which represents a temperature. For this purpose, for example, refer to DE 10 2010 055 612 AI. These sensors can be combined in structurally independent contacting arrangements or combined together with current-carrying charging contacts in a contacting block. Either via the contacting arrangement and structurally separate charging contacts or via the contacting blocks, the two battery terminals of the battery cell are connected to a charger, which may comprise an evaluation unit for the sensors. In each contacting arrangement, a voltage measuring sensor of the voltage sensor is arranged so that the voltage sensor results from the respective voltage measuring sensor in the two contacting arrangements and a suitably designed voltmeter or an evaluation unit. With this arrangement, it should be ensured that the voltage measuring sensor is electrically isolated from the live charging contact, which is either structurally separate or integrated in the contacting block, in order to ensure a precise voltage measurement. Furthermore, it should be ensured that the temperature sensor is thermally isolated from the immediate contact area with the charging contacts in order to be able to determine the temperature of the battery terminal itself as accurately as possible. These requirements mean that the temperature sensor and the voltage sensor occupy a significant part of the available contact area between the contacting block and the battery terminal and only a limited contact surface of the battery terminal can be used for the current-carrying charging contacts. An increase in the contact current available to the charging contacts. surface would be desirable in that this would reduce the contact resistance and would result in a reduction of the heat input into the battery cell.

Proceeding from this, the object of the present invention is to provide a Kontaktierungs- arrangement, which is simplified on the sensor side and thereby increases the contact area for the current-carrying charging contacts.

The object is achieved by a contacting arrangement for connecting a battery terminal of a battery cell to a charger, in particular for monitoring a charging state and a temperature state of the battery cell during a formation of the battery cell

a voltage sensor for measuring a first measurement value representing a voltage potential of the battery terminal during charging and discharging, and

a temperature sensor for measuring a second measured value representing a temperature of the battery terminal,

wherein the voltage sensor and the temperature sensor contact the battery terminal via a common point of contact.

In this case, it can be provided according to the invention that the contact point is a contact surface, so that in the context of these terms the smallest possible spatial extent of a contact between voltage sensor and temperature sensor on the one hand and battery terminal on the other hand is a point contact. According to the invention, it is accordingly provided that the temperature sensor and the voltage measuring sensor are combined in one unit. For the invention, the principle-related immediate contact surface between the temperature sensor and the battery terminal is used for a potential tap by the voltage measuring sensor. By measuring the temperature of the battery terminal in one and the same contact point via the temperature sensor and the potential of the battery terminal via the voltage measuring sensor, it is possible to dispense with a voltage measuring sensor arranged spatially separate from the temperature sensor. The voltage measurement of the battery cell is thus indirectly via the temperature sensor. In this respect, compared to conventional solutions, more contact surface for the current-carrying charging contacts available, so that here the contact resistance, with constant charging current, is reduced and less heat is generated.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the voltage measuring sensor and the temperature sensor are received in a Kontaktierungsstempel the Kontaktierungsblocks. The contacting stamp ensures that the voltage measuring sensor and the temperature sensor are structurally combined. Furthermore, the contact rungsstempel the possibility of the voltage sensor and the temperature sensor to impart a relative movement with respect to a housing of the contacting arrangement. In this respect, a specific embodiment provides that the Kontaktierungsstempel is spring-loaded in a housing of the contacting arrangement. Thus, the entire contacting arrangement can be delivered to the respective battery terminal via a suitable actuator, so that a defined contact pressure of the contacting punch on the battery terminal is set via the spring action. This is particularly advantageous for compensating tolerances and a consistent contact quality.

An advantageous first embodiment of the invention provides that the Kontaktierungsstempel is formed of an electrically conductive material. This results in the possibility that the Kontaktierungsstempel acts as a voltage measuring sensor and at the upper end of a voltage measuring cable is connected. Furthermore, as a result of the electrical conductivity of the material of the contacting punch, a good thermal conductivity of the contacting punch is also achieved, so that extensive design freedom exists at what point within the contacting punch the temperature sensor is to be arranged.

An advantageous second embodiment of the invention provides that the Kontaktierungsstempel is formed of an electrically insulating material. This has the advantage that the temperature sensor is protected against thermal environmental influences, so that measured temperature changes can be correlated to a greater extent with temperature changes of the battery terminal without having to take into account disturbing influences. Proceeding from this it can be provided in a specific embodiment that the voltage measuring sensor is integrated with a sensor line of the temperature sensor. This results in a significant simplification of the wiring. Also, it no longer needs to be ensured that an additional voltage measuring cable has to be laid in the contacting die. It can also be provided in a specific embodiment that the voltage measuring sensor and the temperature sensor contact the battery terminal via a contact plate. On the one hand, this offers the possibility of directing the voltage measuring cable directly to the contact plate and tapping the voltage potential over it. It is also possible via the contact plate to realize an improved heat transfer from the battery terminal to the temperature sensor. In this respect, it is preferred if the contact plate of a well electrically and thermally conductive, z. B. copper-containing, material is formed.

For the embodiments in which the voltage measuring sensor is integrated with a sensor line of the temperature sensor, it can be provided that the temperature sensor is designed as a thermocouple. For the embodiments in which the voltage measuring cable is guided separately from the temperature sensor, it can be provided that the temperature sensor is designed as a resistance thermometer.

The invention is explained below with further features, details and advantages with reference to the accompanying figures. The figures illustrate only exemplary embodiments of the invention. Show here

Figure 1 shows a charging arrangement with a contacting block according to the prior

Technology;

Figures 2a, 2b respectively a first and a second embodiment of the invention

Voltage sensor and a temperature sensor in the contacting arrangement and

Figures 3a, 3b each have a third and a fourth embodiment of the invention

Voltage sensor and a temperature sensor in the contacting arrangement.

1 shows a charging arrangement consisting of a battery cell 2, of which only one of the two battery terminals 4 is shown, and a charger 6, which contacts the battery terminal 4 via a contacting block 1. The contacting block 1 is constructed in accordance with the prior art and in the present case has three charging contacts 12, a voltage measuring sensor 20 and a temperature sensor 30, wherein the voltage measuring sensor 20 and the temperature sensor 30 are spatially separated from one another via insulation 8 in the contacting block 10. The charging contacts 12, the voltage measuring sensor 20 and the temperature sensor 30 are connected via unspecified electrical connections to the charger 6. The voltage measuring sensor 20 and the temperature sensor 30 form a contacting arrangement in the sense of this description and are designated by the reference numeral 10. It can also be provided that the charging contacts 12 are structurally separated from the contacting arrangement 10, insofar as in this case the comprehensive unit of the contacting block would no longer be present.

FIGS. 2 a) and 2 b) each initially show an embodiment of a contacting arrangement 10 according to the invention with a voltage measuring sensor 20 and a temperature sensor 30. It can be seen that a contacting punch 40 is held movably in the vertical direction in the contacting arrangement 10. It is preferred that the Kontaktierungsstempel 40 is acted upon by a compression spring 44 in an initial position and can be moved against the spring loading in the contacting assembly 10 into it. The Kontaktierungsstempel 40 and the compression spring 44 may be in the contacting assembly 10 via a Insulation 8 be held. By the contacting assembly 10 is delivered by suitable means to the battery terminal 4, the Kontaktierungsstempel 40 comes into contact with the battery terminal 4, as shown here.

In the battery terminal 4 facing end portion of the Kontaktierungsstempels 40, the temperature sensor 30 is arranged, which may be embodied in the present case as a resistance thermometer. The two sensor lines 32 of the temperature sensor 30 are guided by a shaft 46 - shown here with dashed lines - the Kontaktierungsstempels 40 upwards. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 a), the contacting punch 40 is formed from an electrically conductive material so that the contacting punch 40 acts as a voltage measuring sensor 20 per se. In this case, a voltage measuring cable 22 is connected in the upper end region of the Kontaktierungsstempels 40 in order to establish the electrical connection to the charger 6 can. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2b), the contacting punch 40 is formed from an electrically insulating material. In this case, a contact plate 42 is arranged in the contacting punch 40 between the temperature sensor 30 and a lower end face 48 of the contacting punch 40, which contacts the battery terminal 4 vertically downwards and which is contacted by the temperature sensor 30 from vertically above. In addition, the voltage measuring cable 22 is connected to the contact plate 42, so that the contact plate 42 acts as a voltage measuring sensor 20. Both embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 2a) and 2b) have in common that at least the region of the contacting punch 40 located between the temperature sensor 30 and the battery terminal 4 serves both the potential measurement and the temperature measurement.

FIGS. 3a) and 3b) each show a further embodiment of a contacting arrangement 10 according to the invention with a voltage measuring sensor 20 and a temperature sensor 30. The basic structure of the contacting arrangement 10 has already been described with reference to FIGS. 2a) and 2b). Also in the present case, the temperature sensor 30, which can be embodied as a thermocouple, is arranged in the end region of the contacting punch 40 facing the battery terminal 4. In the embodiment of FIG. 3 a), the temperature sensor 30 is arranged directly on the lower end face 48 of the contacting punch 40 so that the temperature sensor 30 abruptly contacts the battery terminal 4. Preferably, the temperature sensor 30 has a housing, via which this contacting of the battery terminal 4 can take place. In the embodiment of Figure 3b) is - equal to the configuration shown in Figure 2b) - arranged in the Kontaktierungsstempel 40 between the temperature sensor 30 and a lower end face 48, a contact plate 42 which contacts vertically downwards the battery terminal 4 and the vertical contacted by the temperature sensor 30 at the top is being done. Both embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 3 a) and 3 b) have in common that the voltage measuring sensor 20 is integrated with one of the two sensor lines 32 of the temperature sensor 30. In this respect, it is possible to dispense with a separately conducted voltage measuring cable, namely continuously from the contact point with the battery terminal 4 up to the charger 6.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 contacting block

2 battery cell

4 battery terminal

6 charger

8 insulation

10 contacting arrangement

12 charging contact

14 housing

20 voltage measuring sensor

22 voltage measuring cable

30 temperature sensor

32 sensor cable

40 contact punches

42 contact plate

44 compression spring

46 shaft

48 face

Claims

claims

1. contacting arrangement (10) for connecting a battery terminal (4) of a battery cell (2) with a charger (6), in particular for monitoring a state of charge and a temperature state of the battery cell (2) during a formation of the battery cell (2) comprising

a voltage measuring sensor (20) for measuring a first measured value representing a voltage potential of the battery terminal (4) during charging and discharging, and

a temperature sensor (30) for measuring a second measured value representing a temperature of the battery terminal (4),

wherein the voltage sensor (20) and the temperature sensor (30) contact the battery terminal (4) via a common contact point.

2. contacting arrangement (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the voltage measuring sensor (20) and the temperature sensor (30) in a contacting punch (40) of the contacting arrangement (10) are accommodated.

3. contacting arrangement (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the Kontaktierungsstempel (40) in a housing (14) of the contacting arrangement (10) is spring-loaded movable.

4. contacting arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the Kontaktierungsstempel (40) is formed of an electrically conductive material.

5. contacting arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the Kontaktierungsstempel (40) is formed of an electrically insulating material.

6. contacting arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the voltage measuring sensor (20) integrated with a sensor line (32) of the temperature sensor (30) is formed.

7. contacting arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the voltage sensor (20) and the temperature sensor (30) via a contact plate (42) contact the battery terminal (4).

8. contacting arrangement (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that the Kon- Clock plate (42) is formed of an electrically and thermally conductive material.

9. contacting arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the temperature sensor (20) is designed as a thermocouple.

10. contacting arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the temperature sensor (20) is designed as a resistance thermometer.

11. contacting arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the contacting arrangement (10) further comprises a charging contact (12) for charging and discharging the battery cell (2) with a charging or discharging current.