IP Library Granted Patent US 12,444,809
Granted Patent B2
US 12,444,809 · App. 17/437,161 · Granted Oct 14, 2025

Apparatus for connecting in parallel a plurality of battery cells which are arranged parallel to one another with respect to a joining axis

Inventors: Gerhard Waldschütz (Freistadt, AT); Wolfgang Schmudermaier (Eisgarn, AT); Florian Drexler (Freistadt, AT); Helmut Kastler (Freistadt, AT)
H01M50/503H01M50/50H01M50/512H01M50/524H01M50/526
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,444,809
App. No.
17/437,161
Granted
Oct 14, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A device is described for connecting in parallel multiple battery cells ( 2 ) arranged in parallel to one another with respect to a joining axis using a contact plate ( 1 ) having individual passages ( 3 ). To enable a connection in parallel, which is reliable under periodic mechanical strains and nonetheless detachable, of individual battery cells ( 2 ) independently of their diameter and their relative location to the contact plate ( 1 ), wherein a simple assembling procedure can be maintained and a more flexibly designed serial interconnection of the battery cells can be enabled, it is proposed that each passage ( 3 ) is designed for the jacket-side enclosure of the battery cells ( 2 ) and comprises at least one contact tongue ( 4 ), which has on the passage side a contact body ( 5 ) protruding from the contact tongue ( 4 ) into the passage ( 3 ) in the form of a cut ovoid.

Claims (28)

1. A device for connecting in parallel multiple battery cells arranged in parallel to one another with respect to a joining axis, said device comprising:

a contact plate having individual passages;

wherein each passage is configured to provide a jacket-side enclosure of the battery cells and at least one contact tongue is associated with each passage;

wherein each of said contact tongues has a respective contact body on a side of said contact tongue facing the associated passage; and

said contact bodies each protruding from the respective contact tongue into the passage—and each having a cut ovoid shape that is convex in horizontal and vertical cross sections thereof toward the passage; and

wherein at least two contact tongues are supported in each of the passages.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the contact bodies are pressed out of the contact tongues.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the passages of the contact plate are circular and are arranged according to a densest circle packing with formation of spandrels lying between each group of three passages in said dense circle packing.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein at least three contact tongues arranged circumferentially equidistant to one another around each of the passages.

5. The device according to claim 4 , wherein each contact tongue of one of said passages that is surrounded by six of said passages delimits a spandrel that is also delimited by one of the contact tongues of each of two of the surrounding passages.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein an edge region of the contact plate is formed at least five times wider than a narrowest point between two of said passages.

7. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the passages of the contact plate are circular and are arranged according to a densest circle packing with formation of spandrels lying between each group of three passages in said dense circle packing.

8. The device according to claim 2 , wherein at least three contact tongues arranged circumferentially equidistant to one another around each of the passages.

9. The device according to claim 3 , wherein at least three contact tongues arranged circumferentially equidistant to one another around each of the passages.

10. The device according to claim 7 , wherein at least three contact tongues arranged circumferentially equidistant to one another around each of the passages.

11. The device according to claim 8 , wherein each contact tongue of one of said passages that is surrounded by six of said passages delimits a spandrel that is also delimited by one of the contact tongues of each of two of the surrounding passages.

12. The device according to claim 9 , wherein each contact tongue of one of said passages that is surrounded by six of said passages delimits a spandrel that is also delimited by one of the contact tongues of each of two of the surrounding passages.

13. The device according to claim 10 , wherein each contact tongue of one of said passages that is surrounded by six of said passages delimits a spandrel that is also delimited by one of the contact tongues of each of two of the surrounding passages.

14. The device according to claim 2 , wherein an edge region of the contact plate is formed at least five times wider than a narrowest point between two of said passages.

15. The device according to claim 3 , wherein an edge region of the contact plate is formed at least five times wider than a narrowest point between two of said passages.

16. The device according to claim 4 , wherein an edge region of the contact plate is formed at least five times wider than a narrowest point between two of said passages.

17. The device according to claim 5 , wherein an edge region of the contact plate is formed at least five times wider than a narrowest point between two of said passages.

18. The device according to claim 7 , wherein an edge region of the contact plate is formed at least five times wider than a narrowest point between two of said passages.

19. The device according to claim 11 , wherein an edge region of the contact plate is formed at least five times wider than a narrowest point between two of said passages.

20. The device according to claim 13 , wherein an edge region of the contact plate is formed at least five times wider than a narrowest point between two of said passages.

21. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the cut ovoid shapes of the contact bodies are hemispherical.

22. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the contact plate and the contact tongues are formed from a single piece of metal, and the contact tongues are bent in a direction of the joining axis.

23. The device according to claim 1 , wherein each of said contact tongues is wider than the respective contact body circumferentially of the passage.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 18, 2023
From: KREISEL ELECTRIC GMBH & CO. KG.
To: JOHN DEERE ELECTRIC POWERTRAIN LLC
Reel/Frame 063367/0229 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 28, 2022
From: RAIFFEISENLANDESBANK OBERÖSTERREICH AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
To: KREISEL ELECTRIC GMBH & CO. KG.
Reel/Frame 060336/0759 →
Priority Claims (1)
AT A 50188/2019 · Mar 8, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220173483A1 · Jun 2, 2022
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