ENERGY STORAGE APPARATUS, ENERGY STORAGE CELL AND HEAT-CONDUCTING ELEMENT WITH ELASTIC MEANS

• US 20140113171A1
• Filed: 03/16/2012
• Published: 04/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Li-Tec Battery GmbH (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Li-Tec Battery GmbH (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Schaefer, Tim
• Application Number:
  US14/007,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20140113171A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/120
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0481 Compression means other than compression means for stacks of electrodes and separators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/63 Control systems charging or discharging in response to temperature H01M10/44 , H01M10/443; measurement of temperature H01M10/48 , H01M10/486
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/643 Cylindrical cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/653 characterised by electrically insulating or thermally conductive materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6555 arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6556 Solid parts with flow channel passages or pipes for heat exchange closed pipes H01M10/6552
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/211 adapted for pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/242 adapted for protecting batteries against vibrations, collision impact or swelling
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/293 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

The invention relates to an energy storage device, comprising a plurality of storage cells and a temperature-control device for the temperature-control of the storage cells or of a cell assembly formed by the storage cells, wherein elastic means for the shock-absorbing mounting or spacing are provided between a storage cell and another component, wherein the other component is another storage cell, a retaining element, another housing part or a heat-conducting element. The elastic means are designed and configured as a functional component of the temperature-control device. The invention also relates to storage cells and heat-conducting elements which are suitable for use in the energy storage device according to the invention.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. An energy storage apparatus comprising:

a plurality of storage cells;

a temperature control device configured to control the temperature of the storage cells or a cell assembly formed by the storage cells; and

elastic means are provided between a storage cell of the plurality of storage cells and another component for a shock-absorbing supporting or spacing, wherein the other component is another storage cell of the plurality of storage cells or a retaining element or another housing part or a heat-conducting element, wherein the elastic means is configured to exert a defined pressure on one or more of the storage cells.

18. The energy storage apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the value of the defined pressure is within a specific range, the energy storage apparatus configured such that an upper limiting value and a lower upper limiting value of the range are not exceeded or fallen short of, respectively, during the intended operation of the energy storage apparatus.

19. The energy storage apparatus according to claim 17, wherein at least one elastic means is convexly or concavely adapted to the shape of the cells so that the pressure exerted by said elastic means is changed or sustained such that said elastic means exerts a pressure on one or more of the storage cells which has a value within a specific range, the upper limiting value and lower upper limiting value of which are not exceeded or fallen short of, respectively, during the intended operation of the energy storage apparatus.

20. The energy storage apparatus according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the elastic means is configured such that the outer form and the size of the contact surface or surfaces of the at least one elastic means with its environment changing upon the change in form of at least one storage cell such that the pressure exerted by the elastic means onto its environment via said contact surface or surfaces is within a specific range, an upper or lower limiting value of the specific range not being exceeded or fallen short of, respectively, during the intended operation of the inventive energy storage apparatus.

21. The energy storage apparatus according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the elastic means is realized in such a manner as to result in a constant pressure in its interior.

22. The energy storage apparatus according to claim 21, wherein at least one elastic means is realized in such a manner as to result in a mass being coupled to a gas volume filling the interior of the elastic means under the influence of its own weight force such that the gas volume in the interior of the elastic means remains under a constant pressure.

23. The energy storage apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the elastic means is partially filled with a liquid which is in equilibrium with its vapor at the prevailing temperature so that the vapor of said liquid fills the part of the interior volume of the elastic means which is not filled by the liquid.

24. The energy storage apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the elastic means is configured as a functional component of the temperature control device.

25. The energy storage apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the elastic means comprises a heat-conducting shell and an interior space, wherein the interior space is filled with an elastically resilient material.

26. The energy storage apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the elastic means comprises a heat-conducting or heat permeable shell and an interior space, wherein the interior space is filled with a heat-conducting and elastically resilient material.

27. The energy storage apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the elastic means bears at least partially on the heat exchange surfaces of the storage cells.

28. The energy storage apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the elastic means is electrically conductive.

29. The energy storage apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the elastic means is electrically insulating.

30. The energy storage apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the elastic means is affixed to respective storage cells or formed as an integral component of respective storage cells.

31. The energy storage apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the elastic means is affixed to respective heat-conducting elements, at least sections of which are arranged between respective storage cells, or the elastic means is formed as an integral component of such heat-conducting elements.

32. The energy storage apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the temperature control device comprises a heat exchanger and heat-conducting elements, at least sections of which are arranged between respective storage cells, the heat-conducing elements having heat-conducting contact to the heat exchanger device.

33. The energy storage apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a clamping device configured to brace the storage cells.

34. An energy storage cell comprising:

an active part; and

an enclosure encasing said active part as well as elastic means affixed to the storage cell or formed as an integral component thereof and configured and arranged for the shock-absorbing supporting or spacing of the storage cell relative to other components, wherein the elastic means is configured and arranged to conduct heat, wherein said elastic means is configured so as to exert a defined pressure on one or more of the storage cells.

35. A heat-conducting element for arrangement between energy storage cells, comprising:

An elastic member affixed to said heat-conducting element or formed as an integral component of same and which is configured and arranged to conduct heat, wherein said elastic means is configured so as to exert a defined pressure on one or more storage cells.

36. The heat-conducting element according to claim 35, further comprising:

a thin-walled support structure configured to receive an energy storage cell, wherein the thin-walled structure defines a form of a cuboid, and wherein the thin-walled structure includes at least one flat side and at least two narrow sides flanking the at least one flat side.