Power supply device for a motor vehicle

• US 9,052,148 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• 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, Meijering, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): HARRIS, GARY D
• Application Number:
  US13/333,243
• Publication Number:
  US 20120129018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: 429/9, 429/100
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2275/08 by clamping or clipping
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/12 Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels F28D1/02, F28D1/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/02 Details of electrodes H01M4/00; of non-active parts H01M50/00
• 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 10/6554 Rods or plates
• 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 10/6567 Liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/658 by thermal insulation or shielding
• 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: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A power supply device for a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle, truck or motorcycle, comprises 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 includes a cooler block having a holder for the storage cell modules and a heat dissipating structure for dissipating heat emitted by the storage cell modules. The heat dissipating structure is provided on at least one side of the holder. The cooler block includes a clamping device operatively configured to generate a predefined force by which the heat dissipating structure can be pressed against a respective storage cell module.

Claims

1. A power supply device for a motor vehicle,

comprising:

one or more storage cell modules, each storage cell module comprising at least one of one or more electrochemical storage cells and double layer capacitors arranged next to and/or on top of one another and coupled to one or more thermally conducting and mechanically rigid profiles,

wherein the thermally conductive and mechanically rigid profiles comprise aluminum;

a cooler block comprising a holder for the storage cell modules; and

a heat dissipating structure for dissipating heat emitted by the storage cell modules, the heat dissipating structure being arranged on at least one side of the holder;

wherein the cooler block further comprises a clamping device generating a predefined force by which the heat dissipating structure is pressable against the one or more thermally conducting and mechanically rigid profiles, and wherein the clamping device comprises at least one clamping plate having a curvature generating a spring force oriented opposite to the curvature when the clamping plate is in a clamped, planar position, whereby the clamping plate is, by virtue of the spring force generated by the curvature, presses the heat dissipating structure against the one or more thermally conducting and mechanically rigid profiles, said profiles transfer heat from the at least one of one or more electrochemical storage cells and double layer capacitors to the heat dissipating structure.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the clamping device comprises a plurality of connecting members operatively configured to generate the predefined force and to transmit the predefined force to the heat dissipating structure.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the heat dissipating structure comprises:

cooling plates respectively mounted at least on opposing sides of the holder; and

cooling ducts operatively configured for conveying a coolant or refrigerant, the cooling ducts being flow-coupled at an end side of the holder via flexible cooling ducts.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the clamping device comprises two clamping plates arranged on each side of the heat-dissipating structure facing away from the storage cell modules;

and

wherein the plurality of connecting members connect together said clamping plates via at least one of a force-fit and a material bond.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein both clamping plates are made of metal or a synthetic plastic.

6. The device according to claim 4, wherein the clamping plates comprise a thermally insulating material.

7. The device according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of connecting members are connected to the cooling plates mounted on opposing sides of the holder.

8. The device according to claim 7, further comprising one or more support rails made of a rigid material, the plurality of connecting members being connected directly or indirectly to the cooling plates or the clamping plates via the one or more support rails.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein at least one connecting member comprises a screw engaging with a nut having a cylindrical shape and an internal thread;

and

further wherein said nut is operatively connected to the heat dissipating structure on one side of the holder and the screw is operatively connected to the heat dissipating structure on the opposite side of the holder.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the cylindrical shaped nut has a front end and a rear end, the nut being designed such that the screw does not project beyond the rear end upon application of the predefined force of the clamping device generated by the screw.

11. The device according to claim 2, wherein at least two of the plurality of connecting members extend through the holder.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein a respective connecting member extends laterally past a storage cell module or between two storage cell modules.

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

a crash plate extending at least one of laterally past a storage cell module and between two storage cell modules, said crash plate projecting in sections beyond the clamping device;

whereby in an event of a crash, said crash plate absorbs forces acting on the device and deflects said forces around the storage cell modules.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the crash plate has pegs extending through the heat dissipating structure and the clamping device, said pegs projecting beyond the clamping device.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the crash plate and the pegs extend in a direction corresponding to an extended direction of the plurality of connecting members.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the clamping plate has at least one of a holder and attachment for an electronic component.

17. The device according to claim 1, further comprising thermally conducting and mechanically rigid profiles operatively configured to connect together the 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 rigid profiles.

18. The device according to claim 1, 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 for securing the device in a vehicle.

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

20. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a corrosion inhibiting layer arranged between the clamping device and the heat dissipating structure.

22. The device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more thermally conducting and mechanically rigid profiles comprise one or more extruded metal profiles having a cross sectional shape adapted to a shape of the at least one of one or more electrochemical storage cells and double layer capacitors, wherein the one or more profiles further have a flat side against which the heat dissipating structure is pressed by virtue of the spring force generated by the clamping plate.

23. The cooler block according to claim 1, wherein the one or more thermally conducting and mechanically rigid profiles comprise one or more extruded metal profiles having a cross sectional shape adapted to a shape of the at least one of one or more electrochemical storage cells and double layer capacitors, wherein the one or more profiles further have a flat side against which the heat dissipating structure is pressed by virtue of the spring force generated by the clamping plate.

21. A cooler block for a power supplying device of a motor vehicle, the power supplying device having one or more storage cell modules, each storage cell module comprising at least one of one or more electrochemical storage cells and double layer capacitors arranged next to and/or on top of one another and coupled to one or more thermally conducting and mechanically rigid profiles, wherein the thermally conductive and mechanically rigid profiles comprise aluminum;

the cooler block comprising;

a holder for the one or more storage cell modules;

a heat dissipating structure for dissipating heat emitted by the one or more storage cell modules, the heat dissipating structure being provided on at least one side of the holder;

a clamping device generating a predefined force by which the heat dissipating structure is pressable against the one or more thermally conducting and mechanically rigid profiles, and wherein the clamping device comprises at least one clamping plate having a curvature generating a spring force oriented opposite to the curvature when the clamping plate is in a clamped, planar position, whereby the clamping plate is, by virtue of the spring force generated by the curvature, presses the heat dissipating structure against the one or more thermally conducting and mechanically rigid profiles, said profiles transfer heat from the at least one of one or more electrochemical storage cells and double layer capacitors to the heat dissipating structure.