FR3161071A1 - BATTERY COMPRISING A MODULE AND A FIXING MEANS - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical energy storage battery comprising: - a casing (1) having an inner face (Fi) for supporting a module (2), - the electrical energy storage module (2), comprising a sleeve (3) for fixing the module (2) to the inner face (Fi), - a means (5, 6) for fixing the module (2) to the inner face (Fi), comprising on the one hand a protrusion (5) of the inner support face (Fi) extending partly into the bore (A) of the sleeve (3), this protrusion (5) comprising a first thread, and on the other hand a clamping device (6) comprising a clamping head (7) extended by a threaded body (8) cooperating by screwing with the first thread, this sleeve (3) comprising a first end (E1) bearing on the inner face (Fi), and in contact with the inner face (Fi), and a second, opposite end (E2), receiving the support of the clamping head (7), the threaded body (8) penetrating the sleeve (3) through the second end (E2). Figure 1.

Description

BATTERY COMPRISING A MODULE AND A FIXING MEANS

The present invention relates to a battery, and more particularly to a battery of an electrically powered vehicle powering an electric motor.

Throughout the text of this document, the term “battery” will be understood to mean an assembly comprising battery modules containing electrochemical energy storage cells. These modules comprise, for example, a strapping holding the stacked cells in compression against each other, and each have an outer casing comprising interfaces for fixing this module in a casing, this casing possibly including at least part of the strapping. This battery possibly comprises electrical or electronic means for managing the electrical energy of these modules. These modules are grouped in the casing or tray and form a battery block, called a battery, this battery block often being referred to by the English expression “battery pack”, this casing generally containing a mounting interface, and connection terminals.

Furthermore, throughout the text of this document, the term electrochemical energy storage cell will be understood to mean cells generating current by chemical reaction, for example lithium-ion (or Li-ion), Ni-Mh, or Ni-Cd or even lead type.

In this field, it is known to cool or heat the battery modules by a plate traversed by a heat transfer fluid. This plate is in contact by thermal conduction with the modules through a heat exchange surface. This plate must also be positioned and fixed in the casing.

In general, the module fixing interface comprises a screw whose free end passes through a nut welded under a sheet of the casing, the screw head resting on the module. The free end of the screw has an elongated, unthreaded shape, for example in the shape of a cone, so as to guide the screw during the screwing operation, this free end protruding from the nut. This interface, although simple, has a disadvantage due to its height, the height being for example along the axis of the screw: Not only does the nut protrude from the sheet of the casing, but the free end protruding from the nut further increases the total height of this interface.

So such a battery has:
- either a reduced internal space and therefore a reduced energy density,
- either a larger external footprint, and in particular reduced ground clearance if this battery is fixed under a vehicle floor, which is the vast majority of situations.

The aim of the invention is to remedy this problem. To this end, the invention relates to an electrical energy storage battery comprising:
- a casing having an internal face for supporting a module,
- the electrical energy storage module, comprising a sleeve for fixing the module to the internal face,
- a means for fixing the module to the internal face, comprising on the one hand a protrusion of the internal support face extending partly into the bore of the sleeve, this protrusion comprising a first thread, and on the other hand a clamping device comprising a clamping head extended by a threaded body cooperating by screwing with the first thread,
this sleeve comprising a first end bearing on the internal face, and in contact with the internal face, and a second, opposite end, receiving the support of the clamping head, the threaded body penetrating the sleeve through the second end.

Thus the protrusion allows the module to be centered relative to the casing by penetrating the fixing sleeve. In addition, the clamping head of the clamping device allows the fixing sleeve to be pressed against the casing. But above all, this protrusion extends into the sleeve and cooperates by threading with the clamping device, so that the first thread and the threaded body cooperate in an area located in an internal space delimited by the casing. In other words, the internal face being for example the bottom of the casing, this fixing means not only may not protrude outside this bottom, and therefore has a reduced external size, but also does not reduce the useful internal space of the casing (i.e. the space available to house the modules) since it is integrated into the sleeve of the module itself.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the protrusion is a second sleeve whose bore comprises the first thread. This second sleeve is for example a smooth nut with a flange, this flange bearing and/or welded on a face of the casing opposite the internal support face. The smooth part of the nut is configured so as to center the module relative to the casing.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the clamping device is a screw. Thus the clamping head is the screw head, and the threaded body of this screw is screwed into the thread of the smooth nut with collar according to the previous example.

According to one embodiment of the invention, this screw has a free end opposite the tightening head, the length of the threaded body being configured so that the free end occupies a position between a position protruding from the second sleeve by a value at most equal to 1.5 times the diameter of the screw, and a non-emerging position of the second sleeve.

According to one embodiment of the invention, this free end forms a cone for engaging the screw in the second sleeve.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the protrusion is an added element fixed to the casing. For example, the added element is welded to the casing.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the internal face is a double bottom of the casing, or alternatively a boss of the casing on which the first end rests and is in contact.

This double bottom is not necessarily over the entire surface of the bottom of the casing. This double bottom is for example located around the protrusion, in particular this double bottom is a stiffening crosspiece of the internal support face, in particular a casing bottom crosspiece.

According to one embodiment of the invention, this double bottom of the casing or this boss of the casing having respectively: a void of a height, and a variation in height of the internal face, of 16 mm maximum each.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the module comprises:
- a first and second module end,
- two sides connecting the two ends together,
the fixing sleeve being secured to an outer face of one of the sides.

This arrangement allows for a fixing sleeve to be placed on one side of the module, and in particular on each side of the module, i.e. on two opposite sides. The positioning of the fixing sleeves can therefore be chosen at any location depending on the length of the module, i.e. between its two ends.

This sleeve has, for example, an axis orthogonal to the internal face. This sleeve is, for example, coaxial with the protrusion. This sleeve is, for example, secured to the module by assembly, hooping, or made from the material on the module side.

Other features and advantages will appear on reading the description below of a particular, non-limiting embodiment of the invention, made with reference to the sole FIG. 1 in which:

FIG. 1 : represents a schematic sectional view of an electrical energy storage battery according to one embodiment of the invention.

There FIG. 1 discloses an electrical energy storage battery comprising, according to the invention:
- a casing 1 having an internal face Fi for supporting a module 2,
- the electrical energy storage module 2, comprising a fixing sleeve 3 of the module 2 to the internal face Fi,
- a means 5, 6 for fixing the module 2 to the internal face Fi, comprising on the one hand a protrusion 5 of the internal support face Fi extending partly into the bore A of the sleeve 3, this protrusion 5 comprising a first thread, and on the other hand a clamping device 6 comprising a clamping head 7 extended by a threaded body 8 cooperating by screwing with the first thread,
this sleeve 3 comprising a first end E1 bearing on the internal face Fi, and in contact with the internal face Fi, and a second end E2, opposite, receiving the support of the clamping head 7, the threaded body 8 penetrating the sleeve 3 via the second end E2.

For example, the electrical energy storage module 2 includes a heat exchange surface S.

For example and in a manner not illustrated, this battery comprises a conduction heat exchange plate with the heat exchange surface S, inserted between this heat exchange surface S and the internal support face Fi, this plate comprising in its thickness a hollow part intended to receive a heat transfer fluid, and a solid part crossed by a hole over its entire thickness.

In a manner not illustrated, this casing is closed by a cover so as to form a hermetic internal space containing the modules. This cover is for example formed by a part of the floor of a motor vehicle but not necessarily. For example this battery, that is to say a battery according to the previous definition, can be assembled outside the vehicle (casing, module, cover) then fixed, once assembled, to the motor vehicle and in particular under the floor of this motor vehicle. This vehicle is for example electrically powered, the battery powering an electric motor. For example this vehicle is a so-called hybrid vehicle, or with fully electric propulsion. An application is also possible outside the automotive field, for example for construction site stations such as generator sets, or electrical energy storage plants.

This battery possibly includes electrical or electronic means for managing the electrical energy of these modules, for example and non-exhaustively: a charger, a current converter, a battery pack control computer, an inverter, charge and discharge control cards for each module and/or each cell, a junction box including contactors for electrical isolation of the battery pack or for cutting off and energizing external circuits connected to the battery pack. All these electrical or electronic means can be integrated at the level of each cell, and/or each module.

The internal support face Fi of the module 2 is in this example the bottom of the casing 1, this casing 1 forming a container closed by a cover not shown. FIG. 1 illustrates a partial view of this background in section.

It should be noted that on the FIG. 1 , for simplicity, only the sections of module 2, fixing sleeve 3, and protrusion 5 are hatched, according to the practice of industrial drawings. In particular the hatching of module 2 is purely for the purpose of legibility of the figure, it is clearly implicit that this module 2 is not a block of solid material but as previously described contains, among other things, the cells.

The heat exchange surface S is here a bottom of the module 2, opposite the bottom of the casing 1 and therefore the internal face Fi, but this arrangement is not obligatory: the internal face Fi can be for example not the bottom of the casing 1, but another part of the casing 1 such as the cover or any face of the casing 1 opposite the heat exchange surface S, thus the heat exchange surface S is not necessarily the bottom of the module 2 but can be a top or side C1 of the module 2, reason why the bottom, like the top of the module 2 is also called “side” (S) in this example.

The heat exchange plate, not shown, is a plate well known to those skilled in the art, and which is produced by assembling two sheets one on top of the other, a first of the two sheets having a stamped depression covered by the second sheet and thus forming a hollow part. This assembly is carried out for example by electric welding and/or by gluing for good sealing. These sheets can be metallic or plastic. This hollow part forms for example a channel running through the heat exchange plate along a surface corresponding to the heat exchange surface S. The heat transfer fluid is circulated in this channel by a circulation pump, integrated or not in the hermetic internal space of the battery. The solid part is formed by the junction between the first and the second sheet.

Other cooling plate technologies are known and applicable to this invention, for example plates resulting from a foundry or machining process with more or less complex assemblies, or by large plastic deformation of a single sheet by blowing. The channel can be a narrow channel winding the plate, or a blade-shaped channel crossing the cooling plate in only one direction, this is not important for the invention presented.

The clamping device 6, thanks to its clamping head 7, will clamp the sleeve 3 against the internal face Fi. The clamping head 7 illustrated is only one example among others, and is on the FIG. 1 a screw head with a wide head, i.e. wider than the bore of the sleeve 3 and therefore covering the second end E2. The sleeve 3 takes up the entire clamping force of the clamping device 6.

The protrusion 5 is a second sleeve 5 whose bore includes the first thread. This second sleeve 5 is for example a socket, just like the sleeve 3.

The clamping device 6 is illustrated as a large-headed screw, but alternatively could be a smooth shouldered nut.

On the FIG. 1 a significant clearance is shown between the sleeve 3 and the second sleeve 5. This clearance will be, for example, sliding if a precise relative positioning is required between the module 2 and the internal face Fi. This clearance will be larger if there are several sleeves 3 for the same module 2 so as to absorb manufacturing dispersions. This clearance may be further increased, for example 3 to 6 mm at the radius, for reasons of hyperstaticity. Similarly, the person skilled in the art will know how to adapt the shape of the sleeve 3 and the second sleeve 5 according to the degrees of freedom to be immobilized.

This screw 6 has a free end EL opposite the clamping head 7, the length of the threaded body 8 being configured so that the free end EL occupies a position between a position protruding from the second sleeve 5 by a value at most equal to 1.5 times the diameter of the screw, and a non-emerging position of the second sleeve 5.

For example, this position is flush with the second sleeve 5.

For example, this position is exceeded by a maximum of 16mm, for example between 16mm and 0mm.

This free end EL forms for example a cone for engaging the screw 6 in the second sleeve 5 but this is not obligatory, this shape can be for example cylindrical, or simply not present. This free end EL will for example be locally devoid of thread.

It should of course be noted that the position is measured relative to the most extreme part of the free end EL, for example the top of the cone shape.

the protrusion 5, and therefore the second sleeve 5, is an element added and fixed to the casing 1, like a shouldered socket or a stamped bridge, but in a variant, not illustrated, this protrusion 5 can be a deep boss of the internal face Fi comprising a threaded nut at its bottom to receive the clamping device 6.

For example, the added element 5 is welded to the casing 1 on its shoulder, or screwed, or glued.

Alternatively, the added element 5 is a stud, in particular a stud welded to the internal face Fi.

The inner face Fi is a double bottom 9 of the casing 1, as illustrated in the FIG. 1 , and alternatively a boss of the casing 1. On the FIG. 1 , the double bottom is in fact a sheet metal crosspiece in the shape of an inverted U, the ends of the U of which are welded to the bottom of the casing 1. This U then forms with the bottom of the casing 1 a hollow body that is out of line with the bottom of the casing, this U being located under the sleeve 3. The second sleeve 5 will for example be assembled on this crosspiece before welding this crosspiece to the bottom of the casing.

This double bottom 9 of the casing 1 or this boss of the casing 1 presents respectively: a void of a height, and a variation in height of the internal face Fi, of 16 mm maximum each, but this can be much less. In fact this arrangement allows precisely that, whatever the height of the void, or the variation in height of the internal face Fi, the free end EL does not protrude from the bottom of the casing.

This module 2 includes:
- a first and second module end,
- two sides S, C1 connecting the two ends together,
the fixing sleeve 3 being integral with an outer face of one of the sides C1.

For example, this module 2 also includes:
- a stack of electrochemical cells compressed between the two ends of the module, the two sides S, C1 being joined, the heat exchange surface S being an outer face of one side S, the fixing sleeve 3 being integral with an outer face of the other side C1.

This first and second end are part, for example, of a strapping holding the stacked cells in compression against each other, and the sides S, C1 can be part of the strapping but also be independent of it, that is to say not participating in maintaining the compression of the cells. In all cases, these sides, for example four in number to form with the two ends a rectangular parallelepiped, form an outer envelope of the module 2 comprising fixing interfaces (subject of the invention) of this module 2 in the casing 1, this envelope can therefore include part of the strapping. Thus the side C1 carrying the fixing sleeve 3 is for example made of metallic material, in particular aluminum, a tab made of this material or added extending orthogonally to the side C1 and this tab comprising the fixing sleeve 3. For example, this tab and the fixing sleeve 3 form only one piece. For example, this side C1, the tab, and the fixing sleeve 3 form a single piece. For example, this jaw 3 is shrunk or force-fitted into the tab. Of course, this tab is not essential; the fixing sleeve 3 can, for example, be attached to the side C1.

This same side 1 may also comprise several fixing sleeves 3, aligned and extending along the length of the side 1. The battery pack containing several modules, a first module 2 adjacent to a second module 2 may for example have the fixing sleeves 3 staggered relative to each other.

The axis of the fixing sleeve 3 is for example parallel to the side C1 and orthogonal to the internal face Fi, the protrusion 5 being concentric to the fixing sleeve 3.

Electrochemical cells are, for example, parallelepiped or prismatic, and their chemistry is enclosed in a rigid envelope.

Alternatively, the cells are in the form of pockets.

These cells are alternatively cylindrical, but in this case the person skilled in the art knows that they do not need to be compressed together because the cylinder, rigid, and by its shape, prevents the cells from swelling. The strapping then no longer has the function of compressing the cells but of positioning them. However, there will be an envelope containing all of these cells, forming a module, this envelope also being parallelepiped and having two ends and four sides, these sides being equivalent to the sides S, C1 of the present description and the fixing sleeve 3 being integral with an external face of the other side C1.

For example, these cells are lithium-ion (or Li-ion) type.

Claims (10)

Electrical energy storage battery comprising:
- a casing (1) having an internal face (Fi) for supporting a module (2),
- the electrical energy storage module (2), comprising a fixing sleeve (3) of the module (2) to the internal face (Fi),
- a means (5, 6) for fixing the module (2) to the internal face (Fi), comprising on the one hand a protrusion (5) of the internal face (Fi) of the support extending partly into the bore (A) of the sleeve (3), this protrusion (5) comprising a first thread, and on the other hand a clamping device (6) comprising a clamping head (7) extended by a threaded body (8) cooperating by screwing with the first thread,
this sleeve (3) comprising a first end (E1) bearing on the internal face (Fi), and in contact with the internal face (Fi), and a second end (E2), opposite, receiving the support of the clamping head (7), the threaded body (8) penetrating the sleeve (3) via the second end (E2). Battery according to claim 1, the protrusion (5) being a second sleeve (5) whose bore comprises the first thread. Battery according to one of the preceding claims, the clamping device (6) being a screw (6). Battery according to claim 3 in combination with claim 2, this screw (6) having a free end (EL) opposite the tightening head (7), the length of the threaded body (8) being configured so that the free end (EL) occupies a position between a position protruding from the second sleeve (5) by a value at most equal to 1.5 times the diameter of the screw, and a non-emerging position of the second sleeve (5). Battery according to claim 4 or 3, this free end (EL) forming a cone for engaging the screw (6) in the second sleeve (5). Battery according to one of the preceding claims, the protrusion (5) being an added element and fixed to the casing (1). Battery according to claim 6, the added element (5) being welded to the casing (1). Battery according to one of the preceding claims, the internal face (Fi) comprising a double bottom (9) of the casing (1) or a boss of the casing (1) on which the first end (E1) is supported and in contact. Battery according to claim 8, this double bottom (9) of the casing (1) or this boss of the casing (1) having respectively: a void of a height, and a variation in height of the internal face (Fi), of 16 mm maximum each. Battery according to one of the preceding claims, the module (2) comprising:
- a first and second module end,
- two sides (S, C1) connecting the two ends together,
the fixing sleeve (3) being integral with an outer face of one of the sides (C1).