IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,139,525
Granted Patent B2
US 11,139,525 · App. 16/851,597 · Granted Oct 5, 2021

Clamping device for a battery module, battery module, and motor vehicle

Inventors: Martin Schuessler (Koesching, DE); Steffen Walter (Gaimersheim, DE); Dirk Höfner (Wellheim, DE)
Assignee: AUDI AG
H01M50/20H01M10/0468H01M10/0481H01M10/4207H01M50/258H01M2220/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,139,525
App. No.
16/851,597
Granted
Oct 5, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a clamping device for clamping a cell stack having multiple battery cells disposed next to each other in a stacking direction (x), wherein the clamping device comprises at least one fastening element for fastening the clamping device to a battery housing, and first and second end plate units, wherein at least the first end plate unit includes an end plate which is firmly connected to the at least one fastening element and a deformation plate. The deformation plate is configured such that the deformation plate can be deformed by a deformation force (F) applied to the deformation plate in the case of a cell stack received in the clamping device when at least one battery cell of the cell stack swells.

Claims (20)

1. A clamping device for clamping a cell stack having multiple battery cells disposed next to each other in a stacking direction (x), wherein the clamping device comprises at least one fastening element for fastening the clamping device to a battery housing, wherein the clamping device comprises a first end plate unit and a second end plate unit for delimiting the cell stack in a stacking direction (x) on both sides, wherein at least the first end plate unit includes a first end plate and a first deformation plate, and wherein the first end plate is firmly connected to the at least one fastening element, the first deformation plate is configured such that the first deformation plate can be deformed by a deformation force (F) applied to the first deformation plate in the case of a cell stack received in the clamping device when at least one battery cell of the cell stack swells, wherein the first end plate and the first deformation plate are disposed at a spacing from and not contacting each other, and are connected to each other via a coupling element in such a manner that at least a major part of the deformation force (F) cannot be transferred to the first end plate, wherein the first end plate unit and the second end plate unit are connected by two opposing side plates, and at least the first end plate extends between and contacts each of the two opposing sides.

2. The clamping device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second end plate units and the two side plates are arranged relative to each other such that a cuboid receiving area for receiving a cell stack is provided.

3. The clamping device according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling element is firmly connected to at least one of the two side plates and to the at least one fastening element, particularly wherein the at least one fastening element is disposed in a corner area which is formed by an end region of the end plate facing one of the side plates and an end region of the coupling element facing the end plate.

4. The clamping device according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling element comprises a plate-like central portion on which the deformation plate is disposed, as well as two edge parts, which follow the central portion on opposite sides towards the respective side plates, wherein the respective edge parts are arranged at an angle, such that the end regions pointing in the direction of the first end plate run parallel to the respective side plate.

5. The clamping device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastening element is configured as a sleeve, particularly having a female thread, for coupling with a corresponding fastening means, particularly a screw.

6. The clamping device according to claim 1 , wherein the first deformation plate is at least partially corrugated.

7. The clamping device according to claim 1 , wherein the first end plate comprises a metallic plate core and at least one plastic part which is directly disposed on the plate core.

8. The clamping device according to claim 1 , wherein the first deformation plate comprises at least one functional component, particularly a control unit configured as a cell management controller and/or a gripper receiving means for coupling to a gripper of a handling device for moving and positioning a battery module that comprises the clamping device.

9. A battery module having a clamping device according to claim 1 , wherein the battery module comprises a cell stack having multiple battery cells disposed next to each other in a stacking direction (x), wherein the cell stack is delimited on both sides in the stacking direction (x) by the first and second end plate units.

10. The clamping device according to claim 2 , wherein the coupling element is firmly connected to at least one of the two side plates and to the at least one fastening element, particularly wherein the at least one fastening element is disposed in a corner area which is formed by an end region of the end plate facing one of the side plates and an end region of the coupling element facing the end plate.

11. The clamping device according to claim 2 , wherein the coupling element comprises a plate-like central portion on which the deformation plate is disposed, as well as two edge parts, which follow the central portion on opposite sides towards the respective side plates, wherein the respective edge parts are arranged at an angle, such that the end regions pointing in the direction of the first end plate run parallel to the respective side plate.

12. The clamping device according to claim 3 , wherein the coupling element comprises a plate-like central portion on which the deformation plate is disposed, as well as two edge parts, which follow the central portion on opposite sides towards the respective side plates, wherein the respective edge parts are arranged at an angle, such that the end regions pointing in the direction of the first end plate run parallel to the respective side plate.

13. The clamping device according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one fastening element is configured as a sleeve, particularly having a female thread, for coupling with a corresponding fastening means, particularly a screw.

14. The clamping device according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one fastening element is configured as a sleeve, particularly having a female thread, for coupling with a corresponding fastening means, particularly a screw.

15. The clamping device according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one fastening element is configured as a sleeve, particularly having a female thread, for coupling with a corresponding fastening means, particularly a screw.

16. The clamping device according to claim 2 , wherein the first deformation plate is at least partially corrugated.

17. The clamping device according to claim 3 , wherein the first deformation plate is at least partially corrugated.

18. The clamping device according to claim 4 , wherein the first deformation plate is at least partially corrugated.

19. The clamping device according to claim 5 , wherein the first deformation plate is at least partially corrugated.

20. The clamping device according to claim 2 , wherein the first end plate comprises a metallic plate core and at least one plastic part which is directly disposed on the plate core.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 7, 2020
From: SCHUESSLER, MARTIN; WALTER, STEFFEN; HÖFNER, DIRK
To: AUDI AG
Reel/Frame 053142/0635 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2019 205 777.2 · Apr 23, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200343498A1 · Oct 29, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,463,278