DE102020122286A1 - System and method for manufacturing a battery assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (10) and method for producing a battery arrangement (12) from at least one battery module (14) and a battery housing (16). The system (10) comprises a feed device (18) which has a feed channel (20) and a closure device (22), the feed channel (20) being arranged on an outside of the battery housing (16) and the closure device (22) being in is arranged in the battery housing (16) and has a through-channel (24). In a first state of the feed device (18), the through-channel (24) through the battery housing (16) is aligned with a bottom of the battery module (14), in a second state the through-channel (24) is closed through the battery housing (16), wherein the feed channel (20) is separated from the through channel (24) by a predetermined breaking point (26) in the second state.

Description

The invention relates to a system for producing a battery arrangement from at least one battery module and a battery housing and a method for producing a battery arrangement with such a system.

When assembling a battery arrangement, a filling material, a so-called gap filler, is used to improve heat transfer. This can be introduced, for example, by means of an injection method when installing the battery arrangement. A corresponding feed channel is required for this in order to introduce the filling material.

A disadvantage of this feed channel for the injection process is that it takes up space in the battery arrangement, which blocks space for other components after assembly.

From the DE 10 2018 206 800 A1 a generic system for producing a battery arrangement is known which has at least one feed channel which runs through a battery module in an insertion device provided.

From the DE 10 2018 208 070 A1 a method for producing a battery module device for a motor vehicle and such a battery module device for a motor vehicle are known.

From the DE 10 2017 116 420 A1 discloses a battery thermal interface material installation assembly and method that, among other things, discloses moving a material through a conduit to a cavity in a battery assembly.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved system and method for producing a battery arrangement, through which a reduced space requirement on the battery arrangement can be achieved.

This object is solved by the independent patent claims. Advantageous developments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims, the following description and the figures.

The invention is based on the idea that the feed channel for the filling material is designed as a detachable component that can be removed after assembly and space is therefore available for other components, for example sensors or cell monitoring electronics. In order to prevent the filling material from swelling back, provision is made for an access to be closed again after filling.

The invention relates to a system for producing a battery arrangement from at least one battery module and a battery housing, with a feed device having a feed channel and a closure device, the feed channel being arranged on an outside of the battery housing and the closure device being arranged in the battery housing and having a Having a through channel, wherein the feed device has a first and a second state, wherein in the first state the through channel is aligned through the battery housing to a bottom of the battery module and the feed channel is connected to the through channel for introducing a filling material at a connection point and wherein in the second state, the through-channel is closed by the battery housing and the supply channel is separated from the through-channel, the connection point having a predetermined breaking point which is designed to open the supply channel v on the pass-through channel upon a change from the first state to the second state.

In other words, a supply channel runs on the outside of a battery housing and opens into a through-channel, with the through-channel leading through the battery housing to a bottom of a battery module for introducing a filling material. The feed channel is connected to the through-channel at a connection point which has a predetermined breaking point, so that the feed channel can be broken off and removed, in particular after the filling material has been introduced. Furthermore, the through-channel can be closed during or after the demolition process. Here, a change from a first state, in which the through-channel is open and the feed channel is connected to the through-channel, to a second state in which the through-channel is closed and the feed channel is broken off and removed at the predetermined breaking point, can be carried out mechanically, preferably by changing or closing a closure device in which the through-channel is located. The closure device can preferably be embodied as a valve-like component which, for example, closes the through-channel when it rotates.

The invention has the advantage that after filling in a filling material (gap filler), the feed channel used for filling can be separated from the outside of the battery housing, which creates space for further installation space, with further components such as for example a sensor system and/or cell monitoring electronics. Overall, a better use of space for the battery arrangement can be achieved in that a fixed feed channel is dispensed with.

The invention also includes embodiments that result in further advantages.

One embodiment provides that the closure device has a cylindrical shape and the passage channel is arranged in a radial direction of the cylindrical shape, the closure device being designed to be rotatable in a recess of the battery housing between the first state and the second state, the closure device being designed to Rotation from the first state to the second state to separate the connection point of the feed channel and the through channel by means of a force on the predetermined breaking point and to close the through channel at least on one side of a wall of the battery housing. In other words, the closure device has a cylindrical shape through which the through-channel runs, for example along a diameter of the cylindrical shape. The cylindrical closure device can be arranged in a recess of the battery housing, so that in the first state one side of the through-channel is aligned with the bottom of the battery module and the other side of the through-channel with an outside of the battery housing, with the side of the through-channel pointing outwards in is connected to the feed channel via the predetermined breaking point in the first state and is therefore open for the introduction of the filling material. By rotating the cylindrical closure device, the through-channel can be turned inwards, in which case the feed channel can be broken off, in particular if the feed channel is pressed against the outside of the battery housing by the rotation. If the closure device is turned into the second state, the through-channel can preferably be delimited on at least one side, preferably on both sides, by the wall of the battery housing and thus closed off. This embodiment has the advantage that a simple and space-saving possibility can be created to provide access to the bottom of the battery module in a first state and to close the through-channel and remove the feed channel in the second state.

A further embodiment provides that a band is fitted at least partially around the cylindrical shape of the closure device, the band being designed to rotate the closure device from the first to the second state when the band is subjected to a tensile force. In other words, a band is wrapped around the cylinder shape of the closure device in such a way that when the band is pulled, the closure device is rotated in order to rotate it from the first to the second state. This means that the tape is unrolled from the cylindrical shape when there is a pulling force, with the cylinder rotating as it unwinds. This embodiment has the advantage that the closure device can easily be rotated from the first to the second state.

Provision is preferably made for the band to be glued to the closure device. This results in the advantage that after a pull on the tape in order to bring the closure device from the first to the second state, the tape can be easily removed at the splice and more space can thus be made available for further components. Alternatively, the band can also be firmly attached to the closure device and removed by cutting it off.

Provision is particularly preferably made for the connection point to connect the feed channel to the through channel in two areas in the first state, with the first area comprising the predetermined breaking point and in the second area the feed channel being connected to the through channel via the band that is attached to the closure device and is glued to the feed channel. In other words, the feed channel and the through-channel are connected on the one hand via the predetermined breaking point and on the other hand via an adhesive connection of the tape. A seal of the channels can thus be achieved for the first state, which improves the introduction of the filling material. Furthermore, with this embodiment, the feed channel can be easily removed after the filling material has been introduced.

A further embodiment provides that the closure device has a locking device which is designed to lock the closure device in the second state. In other words, the locking device is designed to fix the closure device in the second state. For example, the locking device can have a nub or a spring pin that snaps into the locking device or out of the locking device into a counterpart in the recess of the battery housing. This embodiment results in the advantage that the passage channel remains firmly closed in the second state and the filling material can be prevented from swelling back.

Provision is preferably made for the feed channel to be arranged in a removable manner on the outside of the battery housing. This means that the feed channel is not firmly connected to the outside of the battery housing, but preferably only to the connection point to the through channel or via detachable fastening means. For example, the feed channel can be glued or screwed to the outside of the battery housing. Such a connection can be easily detached, as a result of which the feed channel can be removed in an improved manner and more installation space can thus be made available.

In particular, it is provided that the closure device is arranged in an end plate of the battery housing and the feed channel is arranged along the end plate upwards beyond the battery module. In other words, the closure device is arranged in an end plate (end plate) and the feed channel is arranged along this end plate beyond the battery module. This results in the advantage that the feed channel can be easily reached for an injection filling and more installation space can be made available for further components on the end plate after the feed channel has been removed.

A further embodiment provides that the through-channel is designed to guide the filling material into a channel structure of the base of the battery module in the first state. In other words, the through-channel leads directly into a channel structure in the bottom of the battery module, from where the filling material can be distributed evenly on the bottom of the battery module. This embodiment results in the advantage that an improved spreading of the filling material can be provided by guiding the filling material through the through-channel into the channel structure of the floor.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a method for producing a battery arrangement with a system according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein a filling material is introduced via a feed channel and a through-channel of a closure device to a base of a battery module, the closure device for introducing the filling material being located in is in a first state, with the closing device being brought into a second state after the introduction of the filling material has been completed, with the through-channel being closed by the battery housing in the second state and the supply channel being closed at a predetermined breaking point of a connection point between the supply channel and the through-channel during the change to the second state is aborted and removed. This results in the same advantages and possible variations as with the system.

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

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

• 1 eine Perspektivansicht auf ein schematisches System zum Herstellen einer Batterieanordnung gemäß einer beispielhaften Ausführungsform;
• 2 eine schematische Seitenansicht eines Systems zum Herstellen einer Batterieanordnung gemäß einer beispielhaften Ausführungsform;
• 3 ein schematisches Verfahrensdiagramm zum Herstellen einer Batterieanordnung gemäß einer beispielhaften Ausführungsform.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below. For this shows:

• 1 a perspective view of a schematic system for manufacturing a battery assembly according to an exemplary embodiment;
• 2 12 shows a schematic side view of a system for manufacturing a battery assembly according to an exemplary embodiment;
• 3 FIG. 12 is a schematic process diagram for manufacturing a battery assembly according to an exemplary embodiment.

The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features of the invention that are to be considered independently of one another and that also develop the invention independently of one another. Therefore, the disclosure is also intended to encompass combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those illustrated. 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 symbols designate elements with the same function.

In 1 1 is a perspective view of a system 10 for manufacturing a battery assembly 12 according to an exemplary embodiment. The battery assembly 12 may include at least one battery module 14 and a battery case 16, wherein the battery case 16 has an end plate 16 (endplate) may have. To produce the battery arrangement 12 , a feeding device 18 can be provided, which comprises a feeding channel 20 and a closure device 22 . In a first state, the feed channel 20 can be arranged on an outer side of the end plate 16 and connected to the closure device 22 , with the closure device 22 preferably being arranged in a wall of the end plate 16 . In particular, the feed channel 20 can be connected at a connection point to a through-channel 24 of the closure device 22, with the through-channel 24 being able to conduct a filling material, in particular a gap filler, through the wall of the end plate 16 to the base of the battery module 14. This means that in the first state of the feed device 18 or the closure device 22, a filling material can be fed to the bottom of the battery module 14, for example by carrying out an injection process, in which case an injection head (not shown) can be placed on the feed channel 20 and the filling material can be guided to the bottom of the battery module 14 via the feed channel and the through channel.

Provision is preferably made for the closure device 22 to have a cylindrical shape and for the through-channel 24 to run through the cylindrical shape in a radial direction, so that the through-channel 24 passes through the wall of the end plate 16 . The cylindrical closure device 22 can in particular be arranged and rotatably mounted in a recess in the end plate 16 . The closure device 22 can thus be switched from the first state into a second state by a rotation.

During the rotation into the second state, a force can in particular act on the connection point of the feed channel 20 and the through channel 24, the connection point preferably having a predetermined breaking point 26 which separates the channels from one another when the force is applied. This means that during the rotation from the first to the second state, the feed channel 20 breaks off from the closure device 22, in particular from the through-channel 24, and can be removed. In addition, the cylinder-shaped closure device 22 can rotate into a position in which the passageway 24 is closed by a wall of the end plate 16 to prevent back-swelling of the filling material.

In order to apply a force to the closure device 22 to change it from the first state to the second state, a strap 28 can be provided, which is attached at least partially around the cylindrical shape of the closure device 22, wherein when the strap 28 is pulled, the closure device 22 is rotated. As a result of the rotation, a force can act on the predetermined breaking point 26, as a result of which the feed channel 20 is severed and the through-channel 24 can be closed.

Particularly preferably, the feed channel 20 can be connected to the cylindrical closure device 22 in two areas, one area having the predetermined breaking point and the feed channel 20 in the second area being connected to the through-channel 24 via the band 28 that connects the closure device 22 to the feed channel 20 glued together. In particular, this adhesive connection can be separated in the second state in order to be able to separate the feed channel 20 from the closure device 22 .

Separating the feed channel 20 from the closure device 22 results in the advantage that space can be provided for additional installation space on the end plate 16 , as a result of which additional sensors can be arranged on the battery module 14 .

Provision is preferably additionally made for the closure device 22 to have a locking device (not shown), for example a nub, which fixes the closure device 22 in the second state, so that the through-channel 24 remains closed and the filling material can be prevented from swelling back.

In 2 a schematic side view of the feeding device 18 on or in the end plate 16 in the first state is shown on the left-hand side. In the first state on the left-hand side, the feed channel 20 is connected to the closure device 22 and the through-channel 24 for introducing the filling material. In this case, a connection point via the predetermined breaking point 26 is still intact.

After introducing the filling material, the closure device 22 can be put into the second state by pulling on the band 28, which is on the right-hand side of the 2 is shown.

In the second state, the connection between the feed channel 20 and the through-channel 24 at the predetermined breaking point 26 can have been severed by rotating the closing device 22, with the closing device 22 being rotated by the rotation into a position in which the through-channel 24 can be separated from the wall the end plate 16 is closed. In this way, the filling material can be prevented from swelling back. The feed channel 20 can then be removed from the end plate 16, for example by additionally removing the band 28 from the closure device 22. whereby 16 more space is created on this side of the end plate.

In 3 Illustrated is a schematic process diagram for manufacturing a battery assembly 12 with a system 10 according to an example embodiment. In a step S10, in which a closure device 22 is in a first state, a filling material can be introduced via a feed channel 20 and a through-channel 24 to a bottom of a battery module 14, with the filling material preferably being guided into a channel structure of the bottom of the battery module 14 from where it can spread evenly.

After completion of the initiation process, the closure device 22 can be brought from the first state to the second state in a step S12, for example by applying a tensile force to a belt 28, as a result of which the closure device 22, which can in particular be cylindrical, rotates. Due to the rotation, a predetermined breaking point 26 can separate the feed channel 20 and the through channel 24 from one another and bring the through channel 24 into a position in which a passage of the through channel 24 is blocked by a wall of a battery housing 16 and thus closed.

Finally, in a step S14, the broken-off supply channel 20 can be removed from the battery housing 16 in order to provide additional installation space on the battery housing 16.

In a further exemplary embodiment, one aspect is that a gap filler filling channel (supply channel 20) is designed as a removable component that can be removed after assembly, thus creating space for other components. In order to prevent the gap filler from swelling back, the access (passage channel 24) should be closed again. For this purpose, a recess can be provided in an end plate 16 of the battery module 14, in which a cylindrical locking mechanism (locking device 22) is attached. An injection channel (supply channel 20) is molded onto this with a defined predetermined breaking point 26. In addition, the closure mechanism 22 and the injection channel 20 are connected via a tape 28 that is glued on.

After the battery module 14 has been assembled, the gap filler is injected under the battery module 14 via the feed channel channel 20 and the closure mechanism 22 . After the introduction of the gap filler has been completed, the feed channel 20 is pulled upwards on the tape 28 that has been glued on. As a result, the locking mechanism 22 rotates and closes the access (through-channel 24) for the gap filler. In addition, the feed channel 20 breaks off at the predetermined breaking point 26 and can be removed. In addition, the band 28 , which in particular can be glued on, can become detached from the closure mechanism 22 . Thus, the space of the feed channel 20 can be used by other components.

Overall, the examples show how an injector closure for a gap filler can be provided by the invention.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 102018206800 A1 [0004]
• DE 102018208070 A1 [0005]
• DE 102017116420 A1 [0006]

Claims (10)

System (10) for producing a battery arrangement (12) from at least one battery module (14) and a battery housing (16), with a feed device (18) which has a feed channel (20) and a closure device (22), the feed channel ( 20) is arranged on an outside of the battery housing (16) and wherein the closure device (22) is arranged in the battery housing (16) and has a through-channel (24); characterized in that the feed device (18) has a first and a second state, wherein in the first state the through channel (24) is aligned through the battery housing (16) to a bottom of the battery module (14) and the feed channel (20) connected to the passageway (24) for introducing a filler material at a junction; and wherein in the second state the through-channel (24) is closed by the battery housing (16) and the supply channel (20) is separated from the through-channel (24); wherein the connection point has a predetermined breaking point (26) which is designed to separate the feed channel (20) from the through channel (24) when there is a change from the first state to the second state. system (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the closure device (22) has a cylindrical shape and the through channel (24) is arranged in a radial direction of the cylindrical shape, wherein the closure device (22) is rotatably formed in a recess of the battery case (16) between the first state and the second state, wherein the closure device (22) is designed to separate the connecting point of the feed channel (20) and the through-channel (24) by means of a force acting on the predetermined breaking point (26) by rotating it from the first state into the second state and the through-channel (24) to close at least on one side of a wall of the battery housing (16). system (10) according to claim 2 , wherein a band (28) is attached at least partially around the cylindrical shape of the closure device (22), the band (28) being designed to move the closure device (22) from the first to the to rotate second state. system (10) according to claim 3 wherein the band (28) is adhered to the closure means (22). System (10) according to one of claims 3 or 4 , wherein the connection point connects the feed channel (20) to the through channel (24) in the first state in two areas, wherein the first area comprises the predetermined breaking point (26) and in the second area the feed channel (20) to the through channel (24) is connected via the band (28) which is glued to the closure device (22) and the feed channel (20). System (10) according to one of claims 2 until 5 , wherein the closure device (22) has a locking device which is designed to lock the closure device (22) in the second state. A system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the feed channel (20) is removably arranged on the outside of the battery housing (16). System (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure device (22) is arranged in an end plate (16) of the battery housing and the feed channel (20) is arranged along the end plate (16) upwards beyond the battery module (14). . System (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the through channel (24) is designed to direct the filling material into a channel structure of the bottom of the battery module (14) in the first state. Method for producing a battery arrangement (12) with a system (10) according to one of Claims 1 until 9 , wherein a filling material is introduced (S10) via a feed channel (20) and a through-channel (24) of a closure device (22) to a base of a battery module (14), the closure device (22) for introducing the filling material being in a first state, wherein after the introduction of the filling material has been completed, the closure device (22) is brought into a second state (S12), wherein in the second state the through-channel (24) is closed by the battery housing (16) and the feed channel (20) is closed a predetermined breaking point (26) of a connection point between the feed channel (20) and the through channel (24) is broken off and removed when changing to the second state (S14).

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