Traction battery with increased reliability

• US 8,912,757 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2009
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Fink, Holger
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ARUN C
• Application Number:
  US13/138,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20110285351A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,828 Days
• Field of Search: 320/117
• US Class Current: 320/117
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The invention relates to a traction battery having at least two serially connected battery modules, each of which has a first battery module pole, a second battery module pole, and at least one inserted series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells. A first terminal of the series circuit of battery modules is connected to a first battery pole, while a second terminal of the series circuit of battery modules is connected to a second battery pole. According to the invention, at least one battery module of the at least two serially connected battery modules is a first battery module which has at least one disconnecting device and a bridging device. When triggered accordingly, the at least one disconnecting device interrupts the connection between the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells and the first battery module pole and/or the second battery module pole and/or interrupts the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells. Furthermore, the first battery module pole and the second battery module pole are short-circuited via the bridging device inserted between the first battery module pole and the second battery module pole when the bridging device is triggered accordingly. Additionally or alternatively, at least one battery module of the at least two serially connected battery modules is a second battery module that has at least one charging and disconnecting device and a bridging device. When triggered accordingly, the at least one charging and disconnecting device interrupts the connection between the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells and the first battery module pole and/or the second battery module pole and/or interrupts the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells and limits charging or compensating currents occurring when the battery module or the battery comprising the battery module is connected. Furthermore, the first battery module pole and the second battery module pole are short-circuited via the bridging device inserted between the first battery module pole and the second battery module pole when the bridging device is triggered accordingly.

Claims

1. A battery, in particular a traction battery, comprising

at least two series-connected battery modules, each of which has a first battery module pole, a second battery module pole, and at least one series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells connected between them;

a first terminal of the series circuit of battery modules is connected to a first battery pole, while a second terminal of the series circuit of battery modules is connected to a second battery pole, wherein

at least one battery module of the at least two serially connected battery modules is a first battery module, which has at least one disconnecting device and one bridging device;

when triggered accordingly, the at least one disconnecting device interrupts a connection between the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells and the first battery module pole and/or second battery module pole and/or interrupts the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells; and

when triggered accordingly, the bridging device, which is connected between the first battery module pole and second battery module pole, short-circuits the first battery module pole and the second battery module pole, and/or

at least one battery module of the at least two series-connected battery modules is a second battery module that has at least one charging and disconnecting device and one bridging device;

when triggered accordingly, the at least one charging and disconnecting device interrupts the connection between the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells and the first battery module pole and/or second battery module pole and/or interrupts the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells and limits charging or equalizing currents occurring when the battery module or the battery with the battery module is switched on; and

when triggered accordingly, the bridging device, which is connected between the first battery module pole and second battery module pole, short-circuits the first battery module pole and second battery module pole.

2. The battery according to claim 1, further comprising a charging device, which is connected between the first terminal of the series circuit of battery modules and the first battery pole and/or is connected between the second terminal of the series circuit of battery modules and the second battery pole, with the battery including only first battery modules.

3. The battery according to claim 2, wherein the bridging device is embodied so that it is able to produce a short-circuit of the first battery module pole and second battery module pole only if there is an interruption of the connection of the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells to the first battery module pole and/or an interruption of the connection of the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells to the second battery module pole and/or an interruption of the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells.

4. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the battery includes only second battery modules.

5. The battery according to claim 4, wherein the bridging device is embodied so that it is able to produce a short-circuit of the first battery module pole and second battery module pole only if there is an interruption of the connection of the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells to the first battery module pole and/or an interruption of the connection of the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells to the second battery module pole and/or an interruption of the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells.

6. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the battery includes n battery modules:

2 second battery modules and n−

2 first battery modules.

7. The battery according to claim 6, wherein the bridging device is embodied so that it is able to produce a short-circuit of the first battery module pole and second battery module pole only if there is an interruption of the connection of the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells to the first battery module pole and/or an interruption of the connection of the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells to the second battery module pole and/or an interruption of the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells.

8. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the bridging device is embodied so that it is able to produce a short-circuit of the first battery module pole and second battery module pole only if there is an interruption of the connection of the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells to the first battery module pole and/or an interruption of the connection of the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells to the second battery module pole and/or an interruption of the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells.