# US 12,183,871 B2 · Pressure module, in particular for lithium-ion battery cells

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,183,871 B2
- Document ID: US12183871B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/605,625
- Filed: 2020-04-30
- Published: 2022-06-30
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2019-05-02
- Assignees: Oerlikon Friction Systems (Germany) GmbH
- Applicants: Oerlikon Friction Systems (Germany) GMBH
- Inventors: Michael Maag; Jessica Uhlemann; Markus Gradler; Tobias Fritz; Thomas Ubler; Heribert Walter
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12183871B2

## CPC

- H01M 10/0481: {Compression means other than compression means for stacks of electrodes and separators}
- F28D 1/0366: {the conduits being formed by spaced plates with inserted elements (F28D1/0358 takes precedence)}
- F28F 3/12: Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels {(F28D1/02, F28D1/03 take precedence)}
- H01M 10/0525: Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
- H01M 10/647: Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
- H01M 10/653: characterised by electrically insulating or thermally conductive materials
- H01M 10/6555: arranged between the cells
- H01M 10/6557: arranged between the cells
- H01M 10/6567: Liquids
- H01M 50/202: Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
- H01M 50/227: Organic material
- H01M 50/264: for cells or batteries, e.g. straps, tie rods or peripheral frames
- F28D 2021/0029: {Heat sinks}
- H01M 10/625: Vehicles
- H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general)
- F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

The invention relates to a pressure module (1) for a battery cell, wherein: the pressure module is an elastomer component for compensating for swelling, and has a simultaneous cooling or heating function, for rechargeable batteries; and the pressure module (1) comprises an outer covering (2) made of a polymer material which surrounds a cavity (9) that has a channel structure; and connections for the inlet (5) and outlet (6) for the thermal transfer medium are provided in the outer covering (2); wherein the outer covering (2) has two main faces opposite one another which are interconnected via the edges thereof, wherein structural elements (10a, 10b; 19a, 19b) are provided on the inner faces (7, 8) and are arranged so as to correspond to one another and to interact with one another so as to define and stabilise the channel structure for conducting the thermal transfer medium.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A pressure module (1) for a battery cell,
which has an at least partially elastomeric component for pressure compensation with, at the same time, a cooling and heating function for batteries,
wherein the pressure module (1) comprises an outer covering (2) made of a polymer material, which surrounds a cavity (9) that has a channel structure and, in the outer covering (2), a connection for an inlet (5) and outlet (6) for a heat transfer medium is provided,
wherein the pressure module (1) comprises two main surfaces opposing each other, which are interconnected via the edges thereof,
wherein, on opposite inner faces (7, 8) of the main surfaces, raised structural elements (10a, 10b; 19a, 19b) are provided wherein the raised structural elements (10a, 10b; 19a, 19b) on the opposite inner faces (7, 8) correspond to one another and interact with one another to define and stabilize the channel structure for conveying the heat transfer medium.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The pressure module (1) according to claim 1,
wherein, along each of two opposing edge regions of the main surfaces, a conduit (15, 16) extends, running along the edge region from one side (3) to the opposite side (4) of the pressure module (1), and the conduits (15, 16) are connected to the channel structure in the cavity (9).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The pressure module (1) according to claim 1,
wherein the structural elements (10a, 10b) are bar-shaped sections, which are arranged at a spacing from one another along the length extension on the inner faces (7, 8),
wherein trough-shaped depressions (11a, 11b) between two adjacent bar-shaped sections (10a, 10b) define a flow channel,
wherein a bar-shaped section (10a, 10b) of one of the inner faces (7, 8) is arranged in each case opposite-lying to a trough-shaped depression (11a, 11b) on the opposing inner face (7, 8) and, when there is a pressure load, the bar-shaped sections (10a, 10b) engage in the respectively opposing trough-shaped depression (11a, 11b), and the width of the bar-shaped sections (10a, 10b) is chosen such that, when they engage in an opposing trough-shaped depression (11a, 11b), free cross-sectional volumes (14) remain and form an open channel structure for conveying the heat transfer medium.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The pressure module (1) according to claim 3,
wherein, when a section (10a, 10b) engages in an opposite-lying trough-shaped depression (11a, 11b), at least lateral free cross-sectional volumes remain open.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The pressure module (1) according to claim 1,
wherein, on the inner faces (7, 8), nub-shaped raised elements (19a, 19b) are provided and, between the nub-shaped raised elements (19a, 19b), free surfaces extend for the through-flow of the heat transfer medium,
wherein the nub-shaped raised elements (19a, 19b) on the one inner face are arranged opposite to the free surface on the opposing inner face (7, 8).

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The pressure module (1) according to claim 5,
wherein the diameter of the nub-shaped raised elements (19a, 19b) is chosen such that, when there is a pressure load, a free intervening volume for conveying the heat transfer medium is formed.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The pressure module (1) according to claim 5,
wherein the nub-shaped raised elements (19a, 19b) have a cylinder shape, a truncated cone shape, or a shape with a polygonal cross-sectional area.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The pressure module (1) according to claim 1,
wherein the raised structural elements (10a, 10b; 19a, 19b) have a flat front face.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The pressure module (1) according to claim 1,
wherein, along the inner faces (7, 8), a reinforcement plate (17, 18) is provided in each case and the structural elements (10a, 10b; 19a, 19b; 11a, 11b), which lie opposite to one another and face the cavity (9), are arranged on the surfaces of the reinforcement plates (17, 18).

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The pressure module (1) according to claim 9,
wherein the reinforcement plates (17, 18) are made of a fiber composite material.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The pressure module (1) according to claim 1,
wherein, between the main surfaces along the edge of the outer covering (2), an intermediate layer (22) made of a compressible material is provided.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The pressure module (1) according to claim 11,
wherein the intermediate layer (22) is made of a polymer foam.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The pressure module (1) according to claim 1,
wherein the outer covering (2) is made of an elastomer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The pressure module (1) according to claim 1,
wherein the structural elements (10a, 10b; 11a, 11b) are made of a material chosen from among an elastomer, a thermoset plastic, or a thermoplastic.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The pressure module (1) according to claim 1,
wherein the pressure module (1) has, at least on one of the main surfaces of the outer covering (2), a trough-shaped depression (21) for holding a battery.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The pressure module (1) according to claim 1, wherein said raised structural elements (10a, 10b; 19a, 19b) extending from opposing inner faces (7, 8) are arranged off-set of each other.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The pressure module (1) according to claim 1, wherein in the pressure-relieved state the front faces of the raised structural elements (10a, 10b; 19a, 19b) are not in contact with the opposite inner face (7, 8).