IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,892,510
Granted Patent B2
US 10,892,510 · App. 16/007,068 · Granted Jan 12, 2021

Method for producing an energy supply unit

Inventors: Thomas Hoefler (Groebenzell, DE); Paul Eitzenberger (Frankfurt am Main, DE); Martin Moser (Munich, DE); Lukas Wittchen (Neuried, DE); Stefan Haase (Munich, DE)
Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
H01M8/248B60L50/64B60L50/72H01G11/12H01G11/78H01G11/82H01G11/84H01M2/1072H01M2/1077H01M8/2475H01M10/0481H01M2220/20H01M2250/20Y02T90/40
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,892,510
App. No.
16/007,068
Granted
Jan 12, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method is provided for producing an energy supply unit for a vehicle having a housing and a stack, realized as a fuel-cell stack, battery stack or capacitor stack, arranged in the housing. The method includes providing the housing, including first and second tie-rod plates and first and second pressure-plate arrangements, wherein each pressure-plate arrangement is fastened to each tie-rod plate, arranging the stack between the two tie-rod plates and between the two pressure-plate arrangements, applying a bracing force to the two pressure-plate arrangements for the purpose of bracing the stack, and fastening at least the first pressure-plate arrangement to both tie-rod plates while the bracing force is being maintained upon the two pressure-plate arrangements. At least one pressure-plate arrangement includes a tolerance compensation system including an end plate securely connected to the tie-rod plates, a contact-pressure plate arranged between the end plate and the stack, and a positioning arrangement.

Claims (33)

1. A method for producing an energy supply unit having a housing and a stack, including a fuel-cell stack, battery stack or capacitor stack, arranged in the housing, the method comprising:

providing the housing, including a first tie-rod plate, a second tie-rod plate, a first pressure-plate arrangement and a second pressure-plate arrangement, wherein each pressure-plate arrangement is fastened to each tie-rod plate,

arranging the stack between the first and second tie-rod plates and between the first and second pressure-plate arrangements,

applying a bracing force to the first and second pressure-plate arrangements for the purpose of bracing the stack, and

fastening at least the first pressure-plate arrangement to both tie-rod plates while the bracing force is being maintained upon the first and second pressure-plate arrangements,

wherein at least one of the first and second pressure-plate arrangements includes a tolerance compensation system, wherein the tolerance compensation system includes an end plate to be securely connected to the tie-rod plates, a contact-pressure plate arranged between the end plate and the stack, and a positioning arrangement,

wherein a distance between the end plate and the contact-pressure plate is altered by the positioning arrangement,

wherein the positioning arrangement includes a free space between the contact-pressure plate and the end plate, and wherein a hardenable material is injected into the free space.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the positioning arrangement is actuated for the purpose of altering the distance between the end plate and the contact-pressure plate after the first and second tie-rod plates have been securely connected to the first and second pressure-plate arrangements.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, for the purpose of altering the distance between the end plate and the contact-pressure plate, the positioning arrangement is actuated from outside, through at least one of the first and second tie-rod plates and the first and second pressure-plate arrangements.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the positioning arrangement comprises a screw, and wherein the contact-pressure plate is supported on the end plate by means of the screw.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an eccentric is used as the positioning arrangement, between the contact-pressure plate and the end plate.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a cylinder/piston system is provided, wherein the hardenable material is injected into the cylinder and the piston moves as a result, wherein the piston moves the contact-pressure plate.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a cylinder/piston system is provided and the free space is located outside the cylinder/piston system, and wherein the contact-pressure plate is moved by the piston and the hardenable material is injected into the free space.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the housing is wrapped in a fiber-reinforced plastic, wherein the wrapping is laid around the first and second tie-rod plates and around the first and second pressure-plate arrangements.

9. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein, for the purpose of altering the distance between the end plate and the contact-pressure plate, the positioning arrangement is actuated from outside, through at least one of the first and second tie-rod plates and the first and second pressure-plate arrangements.

10. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the positioning arrangement comprises a screw, and wherein the contact-pressure plate is supported on the end plate by means of the screw.

11. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein an eccentric is used as the positioning arrangement, between the contact-pressure plate and the end plate.

12. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein a cylinder/piston system is provided, wherein the hardenable material is injected into the cylinder and the piston moves as a result, wherein the piston moves the contact-pressure plate.

13. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein a cylinder/piston system is provided and the free space is located outside the cylinder/piston system, and wherein the contact-pressure plate is moved by the piston and the hardenable material is injected into the free space.

14. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the housing is wrapped in a fiber-reinforced plastic, wherein the wrapping is laid around the first and second tie-rod plates and around the first and second pressure-plate arrangements.

15. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the housing is wrapped in a fiber-reinforced plastic, wherein the wrapping is laid around the first and second tie-rod plates and around the first and second pressure-plate arrangements.

16. An energy supply unit for a vehicle, comprising:

a housing having a first tie-rod plate, a second tie-rod plate, a first pressure-plate arrangement and a second pressure-plate arrangement, wherein the first and second tie-rod plates and the first and second pressure-plate arrangements form four sides of the housing,

a stack arranged in the housing and realized as a fuel-cell stack, battery stack or capacitor stack, between the first and second tie-rod plates and between the first and second pressure-plate arrangements,

wherein the first and second pressure-plate arrangements are fastened to the first and second tie-rod plates in order to maintain a bracing force upon the stack,

wherein at least one of the first and second pressure-plate arrangements includes a tolerance compensation system, wherein the tolerance compensation system includes an end plate, which is securely connected to the first and second tie-rod plates, a contact-pressure plate arranged between the end plate and the stack, and a positioning arrangement,

wherein a distance between the end plate and the contact-pressure plate can be altered by the positioning arrangement,

wherein the positioning arrangement includes a free space between the contact-pressure plate and the end plate, and wherein a hardenable material is injected into the free space.

17. The energy supply unit as claimed in claim 16 , wherein, for the purpose of altering the distance between the end plate and the contact-pressure plate, the positioning arrangement can be actuated from the outside, through at least one of the first and second tie-rod plates and the first and second pressure-plate arrangements.

18. The energy supply unit as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the positioning arrangement comprises a screw, and wherein the contact-pressure plate is supported on the end plate by the screw, and/or wherein an eccentric is used as a positioning arrangement between the contact-pressure plate and the end plate.

19. The energy supply unit as claimed in claim 16 , wherein a cylinder/piston system is provided, wherein the hardenable material is injected into the cylinder in order to move the cylinder, wherein the piston moves the contact-pressure plate.

20. The energy supply unit as claimed in claim 16 , wherein a cylinder/piston system is provided and the free space is located outside the cylinder/piston system, and wherein the contact-pressure plate can be moved by the piston and the hardenable material is injected into the free space.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 12, 2018
From: HOEFLER, THOMAS; EITZENBERGER, PAUL; MOSER, MARTIN; WITTCHEN, LUKAS; HAASE, STEFAN
To: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 046846/0599 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2015 225 351 · Dec 16, 2015 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTEP2016076393 · Nov 2, 2016
Related Publication 20180294503A1 · Oct 11, 2018