DE102020126398A1 - Device for fastening and guiding a cable and traction battery of a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (21b) for fastening and guiding a cable (20) in the area of a gap between assemblies, in particular in the area of a gap (19) between a battery housing (11) of a traction battery (10) of a motor vehicle and module housings (16) of battery modules (15 ) of the traction battery (10) or in the area of a gap between a body structure of the motor vehicle and module housings (16) of battery modules (15) of a traction battery (10) and/or in the area of a gap between module housings (16) of battery modules (15), wherein the device (21b) comprises a foam monolithic body (22), said foam monolithic body (22) having a cable fixing and guiding portion (23), said fixing and guiding portion (23) having a width which is smaller than the width of the gap, the monolithic body (22) of foamed plastic further having an insertion and clamping portion (24). eist, via which the device (21b) together with the respective cable mounted on the fastening and guide section (23) can be inserted at least in sections into the gap and clamped in the gap, and wherein the insertion and clamping section (24) is at least in the area of clamping lugs (25) thereof has a width greater than the width of the gap.

Description

The invention relates to a device for fastening and guiding a cable in the area of a gap between assemblies, in particular in the area of a gap between a battery housing of a traction battery of a motor vehicle and module housings of battery modules of the traction battery or in the area of a gap between a body structure of a motor vehicle and module housings of battery modules a traction battery and/or in the area of a gap between module housings of battery modules of a traction battery. Furthermore, the invention relates to a traction battery of a motor vehicle.

Traction batteries for motor vehicles known from practice, namely for electric vehicles or also hybrid vehicles, typically have a battery housing in which battery modules are accommodated. Traction batteries for motor vehicles without a separate battery housing are also known. In this case, at least some of the battery modules are directly adjacent to a body structure of a motor vehicle.

Each battery module has a module housing and battery cells accommodated in the module housing. Furthermore, a battery module can have a control unit within the module housing. The control unit of a battery module can also be arranged outside the module housing in its own housing, particularly when a number of battery modules share a common control unit. Cables run between the battery modules, in particular the control units of the same. In traction batteries known from practice, these cables are fastened and routed via devices, these devices being designed as hard and dimensionally stable plastic clips made of polypropylene. The problem here is that, for example in the event of a crash, such hard and stable plastic clips can damage the module housing of battery modules and the battery cells arranged in the module housing.

Out of DE 101 40 714 A1 a grommet for guiding a cable is known.

In the US 2016 / 366 796 A1 proposes guiding a cable in a protector, the protector comprising a trough-like base body and a cover, each of which has a layer of urethane foam.

Out of JP 2001 314 012 A , out of US 2020 / 154 582 A1 and from U.S. 6,064,003 A other devices for guiding a cable are known.

There is a need to improve the attachment and routing of a cable, particularly in the area of a battery module of a traction battery.

The object of the invention is to create a new type of device for fastening and guiding a cable and a new type of traction battery for a motor vehicle.

This object is achieved by a device according to claim 1 for fastening and guiding a cable in the area of a gap between assemblies.

The device for fastening and guiding a cable in the area of a gap between assemblies has a monolithic body made of foam.

The foam monolithic body has a cable attachment and routing portion. The mounting and guiding portion of the foam monolithic body has a width smaller than the width of the gap.

Furthermore, the monolithic body made of the foam has an insertion and clamping section, via which the device together with the cable mounted on the fastening and guiding section can be inserted at least in sections into the gap and clamped in the gap. The insertion and clamping section of the monolithic body made of the foam has a width, at least in the area of clamping lugs, which is greater than the width of the gap.

The device according to the invention allows an advantageous attachment and routing of a cable in the area of a gap between assemblies. In particular, the device according to the invention is suitable for fastening and guiding a cable in the area of a gap between a battery housing of a traction battery and module housings of battery modules of the traction battery or in the area of a gap between a body structure of the motor vehicle and module housings of battery modules of a traction battery and/or in the area of a gap between module housings of battery modules of the traction battery. In the event of a crash, the devices according to the invention, which are designed as monolithic bodies and consist entirely of foam, can deform. There is no fear that the devices will damage a module case and battery cells accommodated in the module case.

According to an advantageous development, the insertion and clamping section has at least one projection which engages in a central area of the fastening and guiding section on a first longitudinal side thereof in such a way that the fastening and guiding section protrudes in relation to the respective projection, with one of the first Longitudinal side opposite second longitudinal side of the fastening and guiding section, the respective cable can be mounted. In particular, the insertion and clamping section has two projections, each of which engages in the central area of the fastening and guiding section on the first longitudinal side thereof in such a way that the projections are spaced apart and the fastening and guiding section projects laterally opposite the respective projection. The respective projection encloses an angle of preferably 90° with the insertion and clamping section. This enables a particularly advantageous clamping of the device in the gap and thus ultimately the attachment and routing of a cable in the gap. Particularly preferred is the embodiment in which the insertion and clamping section of the device according to the invention comprises two projections which run essentially parallel to one another, run at an angle of 90° relative to the fastening and guiding section and are spaced apart from one another. In this way, the device can advantageously be introduced into the gap and clamped in the gap together with the cable attached and routed to the device.

According to an advantageous development, a single clamping lug is formed on the respective projection, in which case, if the device has two projections, the clamping lugs of the two projections are formed on the same side of the respective projection and are directed away from each other. This is preferred, on the one hand, in order to be able to manufacture the device easily and to insert it at least in sections via the clamping lugs without the risk of an undesired bending of the device into a respective gap and to clamp it in the gap.

The traction battery of a motor vehicle is defined in claim 11.

• 1 eine schematisierte Darstellung eines exemplarischen Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Traktionsbatterie eines Kraftfahrzeugs;
• 2a eine Ansicht von unten auf eine erste erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung zur Befestigung und Führung eines Kabels;
• 2b eine Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung der 2a zusammen mit einem Kabel;
• 2c eine Ansicht von oben auf die Vorrichtung der 2a;
• 3a eine Ansicht von unten auf eine zweite erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung zur Befestigung und Führung eines Kabels;
• 3b eine Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung der 3a zusammen mit einem Kabel;
• 3c eine Ansicht von oben auf die Vorrichtung der 3a.

Preferred developments of the invention result from the dependent claims and the following description. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, without being limited thereto. It shows:

• 1 a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a traction battery according to the invention of a motor vehicle;
• 2a a bottom view of a first inventive device for fastening and guiding a cable;
• 2 B a side view of the device 2a along with a cable;
• 2c a top view of the device 2a ;
• 3a a bottom view of a second inventive device for fastening and guiding a cable;
• 3b a side view of the device 3a along with a cable;
• 3c a top view of the device 3a .

The invention relates to a device for fastening and guiding a cable in the area of a gap between assemblies.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a traction battery of a motor vehicle.

In particular, the invention is used for fastening and routing cables that are to be routed in the area of a gap between a battery housing of a traction battery in a motor vehicle and module housings of battery modules of the traction battery that are arranged in the battery housing.

The invention is described below for this preferred application.

1 shows a highly schematic traction battery 10 of a motor vehicle. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the traction battery 10 has a battery housing 11 which includes side walls 12 which delimit the battery housing 11 on the outside and define a receiving space for battery modules 15 .

Furthermore, the battery housing 11 in the embodiment shown has struts 13 which divide the receiving space of the battery housing 11 into a plurality of sections 14, namely in the embodiment shown 1 in four sections 14. The number of four sections 14 is purely exemplary.

The battery modules 15 are arranged in the battery housing 11 . Here are in the embodiment 1 A total of sixteen battery modules 15 are arranged in the battery housing 11, namely four battery modules 15 in each section 14. The number of four battery modules 15 per section 14 is purely exemplary.

Within the sections 14, the battery modules 15 directly adjoin one another. When the struts 13 are omitted, further battery modules 15 directly adjoin one another.

For one of the battery modules 15 is in 1 the structure of the same is visualized, with each battery module 15 in the exemplary embodiment shown having a module housing 16 and battery cells 17 accommodated in the module housing 16 .

Furthermore, in the embodiment 1 a control unit 18 for the respective battery module 15 is accommodated in the module housing 16 of the battery module 15 .

It should be pointed out at this point that the control device 18 can also be arranged outside of the module housing 16 and can have its own housing. This is the case in particular when a number of battery modules 15 share a common control device 18 .

The battery modules 15 are arranged in the battery housing 11 in such a way that gaps 19 are formed between the module housings 16 and the side walls 12 and the struts 13 of the battery housing 11 . Cables can run in the area of this column 19, whereby in 1 Such a cable 20 is shown, which extends in the battery housing 11 along the battery modules 15 accommodated in the battery housing 11. In particular when the struts 13 are omitted, such gaps for cable routing can also be formed between immediately adjacent battery modules 15.

Devices 21 are used to guide and fasten such a cable 20 in the respective gap 19 between the respective battery module 15 and the respective side wall 12 or the respective strut 13 of the battery housing 11 Gap 19 is used. this is in 1 shown in the area of a battery module 15, in which case different devices 21a and 21b can be used.

1 shows by way of example that in the exemplary embodiment shown, six devices 21 are used for each battery module 15, which on the one hand serve to align the respective battery module 15 in the battery housing 11 and on the other hand serve to guide and fasten the cable 20 shown on one side of the respective battery module 15. The devices 21a can be conventional, hard and dimensionally stable plastic clips. The device 21b is a device according to the invention for fastening and guiding a cable in the area of a gap between two assemblies.

It should be pointed out that the devices 21a can also be completely or partially replaced by devices 21b according to the invention.

2a , 2 B and 2c show a first embodiment of a device 21b according to the invention for fastening and guiding a cable in the area of a gap between assemblies, wherein in 2 B the device 21b is shown together with the cable 20.

The device 21b according to the invention has a monolithic body 22 made of foam. The device 21b therefore consists of one piece and is made of the foam material throughout. The foam is preferably a foam with flame retardant properties. An EPDM foam with flame-retardant properties is particularly preferably used.

The monolithic foam body 22 has a fastening and guiding section 23 for the cable 20 and also an insertion and clamping section 24, via which the device 21b together with the cable 20 mounted on the fastening and guiding section 23 can be inserted at least in sections into the respective gap 19 and can be clamped in the gap 19.

The width of the fastening and guiding section 23 of the monolithic foam body 22 of the device 21b according to the invention is smaller than the width of the respective gap 19 and is preferably matched to the width of the cable 20 to be installed.

The insertion and clamping section 24 of the monolithic foam body 22 of the device 21b according to the invention, on the other hand, has a width, at least in the area of clamping lugs 25, which is greater than the width of the respective gap 19.

When the device 21b is inserted into the respective gap 19, the foam body 22 is compressed at least in the region of the clamping lugs 25, with the clamping lugs 25 then clamping the device 21b in the respective gap 19 by friction.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the insertion and clamping section 24 has two projections 26 which act in a central region of the fastening and guiding section 23 on a first longitudinal side in such a way that the fastening and guiding section 23 projects laterally opposite the two projections 26 and in such a way that the two projections 26 are spaced apart from one another and each enclose an angle of 90° with the fastening and guiding section 23 .

On a second longitudinal side opposite this first longitudinal side, the cable 20 can be mounted on the fastening and guiding section 23, with this according to FIG 2 B preferably a winding tape 27 is used, which is wound around the cable 20 to be assembled and the fastening and guiding section 23 at least in sections.

This wrapping tape 27 is preferably a self-adhesive wrapping tape 27.

In the embodiment of 2a until 2c a single clamping lug 25 is formed in the region of each projection 26 of the insertion and clamping section 24 . The clamping lugs 25 are formed on the same side of the respective projection 26 and are angled or oriented relative to the respective projection 26 in such a way that the clamping lugs 25 are directed away from one another. A particularly advantageous clamping of the device 21b together with the cable 20 fastened and routed to the device 21b can hereby take place in the respective gap 19.

The embodiment of 2a until 2c can in particular be modified in such a way that the insertion and clamping section 25 has a single projection 26 on which the two clamping lugs 25 are then formed. In this case, the projection then extends continuously between the in 2a and 2 B visible free space between the two projections 26.

Show another embodiment of a device according to the invention 3a , 3b and 3c , where in 3b the device 21b is again shown together with the cable 20. The embodiment of 3a until 3c differs from the embodiment of 2a until 2c only by the execution of the two projections 26 of the insertion and clamping section 24 and by the execution of the clamping lugs 25. With regard to all other details, reference can be made to the above statements on the exemplary embodiment of FIG 2a until 2c to get expelled.

In the embodiment of 3a until 3c are formed on each of the two projections 26 more, namely two, clamping lugs 25, in each case at least one on opposite sides of the respective projection 26. This can in particular 3a and 3c be removed, which show that the clamping lugs 25 protrude on both sides of the device 21 b.

The projections 26 are there as best 3a can be removed, contoured wavy, with bumps of the wave contours of the projections 26 form the clamping lugs 25.

Also in the embodiment of 3a until 3c the two projections 26 can be replaced by a common, single projection 26 which then forms the plurality of clamping lugs 25 .

The invention therefore proposes a novel device 21b for fastening and guiding a cable 20 in the area of a gap 19 between assemblies, which has a monolithic body 22 made of foam.

As already stated, the foam preferably has flame-retardant properties and is preferably designed as an EPDM foam. However, other foam materials that have flame-retardant properties can also be used.

The device 21b according to the invention can also be used to fasten and guide a cable in the area of a gap between module housings of directly adjacent battery modules.

If the traction battery does not have a separate battery housing, the device 21b according to the invention for fastening and guiding a cable in the area of a gap between a body structure of the motor vehicle and the module housing of battery modules and/or in the area of a gap between the module housings of directly adjacent battery modules for come into action.

The invention also proposes a traction battery 10 which uses the device 21b according to the invention for fastening and guiding a cable 20 in the area of a gap 19 in particular between the battery housing 11 and the battery modules 15 . The device 21b according to the invention is used in particular where forces acting on the traction battery 10 in the event of a crash can lead to damage to a battery module 11 and thus to battery cells 17 arranged in the battery module 11 .

Traction batteries without a separate battery housing 11 are also known. In this case, the battery modules are without a battery housing 11 surrounded at least in sections by a body structure of the motor vehicle. In particular, the device 21b according to the invention then serves to fasten and guide a cable in the area of a gap between the body structure of the motor vehicle and the module housings of the battery modules.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 10140714 A1 [0004]
• US 2016/366796 A1 [0005]
• JP2001314012A [0006]
• US 2020/154582 A1 [0006]
• US6064003A [0006]

Claims (11)

Device (21b) for fastening and guiding a cable (20) in the area of a gap between assemblies, in particular in the area of a gap (19) between a battery housing (11) of a traction battery (10) of a motor vehicle and module housings (16) of battery modules (15 ) the traction battery (10) or in the area of a gap between a body structure of the motor vehicle and module housings (16) of battery modules (15) of a traction battery (10) and/or in the area of a gap between module housings (16) of battery modules (15), wherein the device (21b) has a monolithic body (22) made of a foam, wherein the monolithic body (22) made of the foam has a fixing and guiding portion (23) for a cable, wherein the fastening and guiding section (23) has a width which is smaller than the width of the gap, wherein the monolithic body (22) made of the foam also has an insertion and clamping section (24), via which the device (21b) together with the respective cable mounted on the fastening and guide section (23) can be inserted at least in sections into the gap and in the gap can be clamped, the insertion and clamping section (24) having a width, at least in the region of clamping lugs (25), which is greater than the width of the gap. device after claim 1 , characterized in that the insertion and clamping section (24) has at least one projection (26) which engages in a central region of the fastening and guiding section (23) on a first longitudinal side of the fastening and guiding section (23) in such a way that the fastening and guiding section (23) protrudes laterally opposite the respective projection (26), the respective cable being mountable on a second longitudinal side of the fastening and guiding section (23) opposite the first longitudinal side. device after claim 2 , characterized in that the respective projection (26) with the insertion and clamping section (23) encloses an angle of 90 °. device after claim 2 or 3 , characterized in that the respective cable can be mounted on the fastening and guiding section (23) via a self-adhesive winding tape (27). Device according to one of claims 2 until 4 , characterized in that the insertion and clamping section (23) has two projections (26), each of which engages in the central area of the fastening and guiding section (23) on the first longitudinal side of the fastening and guiding section (23) in such a way that the projections (26) are spaced apart and the fastening and guiding section (23) projects laterally in relation to the respective projection (26). Device according to one of Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that a single clamping lug (25) is formed on the respective projection (26). device after claim 5 and 6 , characterized in that the clamping lugs (25) of the two projections (20) are formed on the same side of the respective projection (26) and are directed away from each other. Device according to one of Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that a plurality, in particular two, clamping lugs (25) are formed on the respective projection (25). device after claim 5 and 8th , characterized in that the clamping lugs (25) of each projection (26) are formed on two opposite sides of the respective projection (26). device after claim 9 , characterized in that the projections (26) are contoured wavy, with bumps of the wavy contours form the clamping lugs (25). Traction battery (10) of a motor vehicle, having a plurality of battery modules (15), each of which has a module housing (16) and battery cells (17) arranged in the module housing (16), the battery modules (15) being located in a battery housing (11) of the traction battery (10 ) are arranged or are at least partially surrounded by a body structure of the motor vehicle without a battery housing, the battery modules (15) being arranged in such a way that there is at least one gap (19) between the battery housing (11) and the module housings (16) of the battery modules (15). or at least one gap is formed in the area between the body structure of the motor vehicle and the module housings (16) of battery modules (15) and/or at least one gap is formed between the module housings (16) of the battery modules (15), with at least one cable (20), with devices (21b) according to one of Claims 1 until 10 for fastening and guiding the respective cable (20) in the area of the at least one gap (19).

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