Device that is intended for supplying power to a motor vehicle and comprises a cooler block

• US 8,871,372 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Eckstein, Frank, Lath, Bjoern, Goesmann, Hubertus, Dirmeier, Micha, Petz, Philipp
• Primary Examiner(s): SIDDIQUEE, MUHAMMAD S
• Application Number:
  US13/333,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20120121946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 429/120
• US Class Current: 429/120
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/005 the electric storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/04 Arrangement of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2306/01 Reducing damages in case of crash, e.g. by improving battery protection
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/08 Structural combinations, e.g. assembly or connection, of hybrid or EDL capacitors with other electric components, at least one hybrid or EDL capacitor being the main component
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/18 against thermal overloads, e.g. heating, cooling or ventilating
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/82 Fixing or assembling a capacitive element in a housing, e.g. mounting electrodes, current collectors or terminals in containers or encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/28 Structural combinations of electrolytic capacitors, rectifiers, detectors, switching devices with other electric components not covered by this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4264 with capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6554 Rods or plates
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/242 adapted for protecting batteries against vibrations, collision impact or swelling
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/249 specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 Energy storage using capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A device for supplying power to a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle, truck or motorcycle, includes one or more storage cell modules, each of which includes one or more electrochemical storage cells and/or double layer capacitors that are arranged next to and/or on top of one another. The device has a cooler block that includes a holder for the storage cell modules and a structure for dissipating the heat emitted by the storage cell modules. The cooler block has a force absorbing device with at least one—in particular, plate-shaped—force absorbing element, by which in the case of a crash a force acting on the device is absorbed and is deflected around the storage cell modules.

Claims

1. A power supply device for a motor vehicle, comprising:

at least two storage cell modules, each storage cell module comprising at least one of electrochemical storage cells or double layer capacitors arranged next to and/or on top of one another;

a cooler block comprising a holder for the storage cell modules, a heat dissipating structure for dissipating heat emitted by the storage cell modules, and a force absorbing device, wherein the heat dissipating structure comprises cooling plates having cooling ducts configured for a coolant or a refrigerant, mounted, respectively, on at least opposing sides of the holder; and

wherein the force absorbing device comprises at least one plate-shaped force absorbing element arranged between the at least two storage cell modules by which, in an event of a crash, a force acting on the power supply device is absorbed and deflected around the at least two storage cell modules;

wherein the cooler block comprises a clamping device having a clamping plate arranged on each side of the heat dissipating structure facing away from the storage cell module; and

wherein the clamping device comprises a plurality of connecting members operatively configured to generate a predefined force and to transmit said predefined force to the heat dissipating structure.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one plate-shaped force absorbing element projects, at least in sections, beyond the cooler block.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one plate-shaped force absorbing element is operatively configured to interact with one or more components surrounding the cooler block.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one plate-shaped force absorbing element extends laterally past the storage cell modules.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least two force absorbing elements, each force absorbing element being assigned to a respective holder, the holders for each of the two force absorbing elements being adjacent to one another; and

wherein the at least two force absorbing elements are arranged in succession in a force conducting direction.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the two force absorbing elements has pegs extending through the cooler block and projecting beyond the cooler block.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein respective pegs of the successively arranged force absorbing elements are arranged in juxtaposition relative to one another.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one plate-shaped force absorbing element extends in one of a longitudinal axis and transverse axis direction of the vehicle when the power supply device is installed in the vehicle.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the heat dissipating structure is pressable against a respective storage cell module by said predefined force.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the cooling ducts being flow-connected on an end said of the holder via flexible cooling ducts.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of connecting members connect together the clamping plates via at least one of a force-fit and material bond.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of connecting members connect together via a force and/or form-fit the cooling plates mounted on opposing sides of the holder.

13. The device according to claim 12, further comprising one or more support rails made of a rigid material;

and

wherein the plurality of connecting members is connected directly or indirectly to the cooling plates or clamping plates via the one or more support rails.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of connecting members extend through the holder.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein a respective connecting member extends laterally past a storage cell module or between the two storage cell modules.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the plate-shaped force absorbing element extends in a direction corresponding to an extending direction of the connecting members.

17. The device according to claim 9, further comprising thermally conducting and mechanically rigid profiles operatively configured to connect together a plurality of storage cells and/or double layer capacitors of a storage cell module;

and

wherein the clamping device presses the heat dissipating structure against the thermally conducting and mechanically rigid profiles.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the clamping device comprises at least one fixed bearing on one side of the holder and at least one floating bearing on the other side of the holder, said bearings being operatively configured to secure the power supply device in the vehicle.

19. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cooler block is self-supporting.

20. A cooler block for a power supply device for a motor vehicle, the power supply device comprising at least two storage cell modules, each storage cell module comprising at least one of electrochemical storage cells or double layer capacitors arranged next to and/or on top of one another, the cooler block comprising:

a holder for the storage cell modules;

a heat dissipating structure for dissipating heat emitted by the storage cell modules, wherein the heat dissipating structure comprises cooling plates having cooling ducts configured for a coolant or a refrigerant, mounted, respectively, on at least opposing sides of the holder; and

a force absorbing device comprising at least one plate-shaped force absorbing element arranged between the at least two storage cell modules, said force absorbing element absorbing a crash induced force acting on the power supply device and deflecting said force around the at least two storage cell modules;

wherein the cooler block comprises a clamping device having a clamping plate arranged on each side of the heat dissipating structure facing away from the storage cell module; and

wherein the clamping device comprises a plurality of connecting members operatively configured to generate a predefined force and to transmit said predefined force to the heat dissipating structure.