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EP-4737840-A1 - CONNECTOR FOR FLUIDICALLY CONNECTING AN INTER-CELL COOLANT CHANNEL TO A PIPING SYSTEM OF A BATTERY COOLING SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE, COOLING ASSEMBLY FOR A BATTERY COOLING SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE, BATTERY ASSEMBLY, AND VEHICLE

EP4737840A1EP 4737840 A1EP4737840 A1EP 4737840A1EP-4737840-A1

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a connector (30) for fluidically connecting an inter-cell coolant channel (24) to a piping system (50) of a battery cooling system (20) for a vehicle. The connector (30) comprises a connection interface (32) for fluidically connecting the connector (30) to the inter-cell coolant channel (24), an inlet port (38) for supplying coolant to the connector (30), and an outlet port (42) for discharging coolant from the connector (30). The inlet port (38) is fluidically connected to the connection interface (32). The outlet port (42) is fluidically connected to the connection interface (32). The inlet port (38) and the outlet port (42) are arranged on a same side of the connector (30). Additionally, a cooling assembly (22) for a battery cooling system (20) for a vehicle is described. Furthermore, a battery assembly (16) for a vehicle is shown. Also, a vehicle is presented.

Inventors

  • KARLSSON, DANIEL
  • PERSSON, KLAS

Assignees

  • Volvo Car Corporation

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20241029

Claims (15)

  1. A connector (30) for fluidically connecting an inter-cell coolant channel (24) to a piping system (50) of a battery cooling system (20) for a vehicle (10), the connector (30) comprising: - a connection interface (32) for fluidically connecting the connector (30) to the inter-cell coolant channel (24), - an inlet port (38) for supplying coolant to the connector (30), wherein the inlet port (38) is fluidically connected to the connection interface (32), and - an outlet port (42) for discharging coolant from the connector (30), wherein the outlet port (42) is fluidically connected to the connection interface (32), wherein the inlet port (38) and the outlet port (42) are arranged on a same side of the connector (30).
  2. The connector (30) of claim 1, wherein the inlet port (38) is fluidically connected to the connection interface (32) via an inlet chamber (40) and/or wherein the outlet port (42) is fluidically connected to the connection interface (32) via an outlet chamber (44).
  3. The connector (30) of claim 2, wherein a largest cross section of the inlet chamber (40) is larger than a cross section of the inlet port (38) and/or wherein a largest cross section of the outlet chamber (44) is larger than a cross section of the outlet port (42).
  4. The connector (30) of any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the inlet chamber (40) has a conical shape or a wedged shape and/or wherein the outlet chamber (44) has a conical shape or a wedged shape.
  5. The connector (30) of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an outer surface portion (46) extending between the inlet port (38) and the outlet port (42), wherein the outer surface portion (46) comprises a depression (48).
  6. The connector (30) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet port (38) has an inlet port middle axis (D) and wherein the connection interface (32) has a connection interface middle axis (C), and wherein the inlet port middle axis (D) and the connection interface middle axis (C) enclose an angle of 45° or less and/or wherein the outlet port (42) has an outlet port middle axis (E) and wherein the connection interface (32) has a connection interface middle axis (C), and wherein the outlet port middle axis (E) and the connection interface middle axis (C) enclose an angle of 45° or less.
  7. The connector (30) of claim 6, wherein the inlet port middle axis (D) and the connection interface middle axis (C) enclose an angle of 30° or less and/or wherein the outlet port middle axis (E) and the connection interface middle axis (C) enclose an angle of 30° or less.
  8. The connector (30) of claim 6 or 7, wherein the inlet port middle axis (D) and the connection interface middle axis (C) extend in parallel and/or wherein the outlet port middle axis (E) and the connection interface middle axis (C) extend in parallel.
  9. The connector (30) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection interface (32) comprises a slot-shaped opening (34) for receiving an end portion of the inter-cell coolant channel (24).
  10. The connector (30) of claim 9, wherein a width (36) of the connector (30) extends perpendicularly to a principal extension of the slot-shaped opening (34) and in parallel to a width of the slot-shaped opening (34), wherein a largest width (36) of the connector (30) is smaller than 50mm.
  11. A cooling assembly (22) for a battery cooling system (20) for a vehicle (10), the cooling assembly (22) comprising: - a connector (30) of any one of claims 1 to 10, and - an inter-cell coolant channel (24), wherein the inter-cell coolant channel (24) is fluidically connected to the connection interface (32) of the connector (30).
  12. The cooling assembly (22) of claim 11, wherein the inlet port (38) has an inlet port middle axis (D) and wherein the inter-cell coolant channel (24) has a direction of principal extension (B), and wherein the inlet port middle axis (D) and the direction of principal extension (B) enclose an angle of 45° or less and/or wherein the outlet port (42) has an outlet port middle axis (E) and wherein the inter-cell coolant channel (24) has a direction of principal extension (B), and wherein the outlet port middle axis (E) and the direction of principal extension (B) enclose an angle of 45° or less.
  13. The cooling assembly (22) of claim 12, wherein the inlet port middle axis (D) and the direction of principal extension (B) extend in parallel and/or wherein the outlet port middle axis (E) and the direction of principal extension (B) extend in parallel.
  14. A battery assembly (16) for a vehicle (10), the battery assembly (16) comprising: - at least one cooling assembly (22) according to any one of claims 11 to 13, and - a plurality of battery cells (18) arranged in a plurality of rows, wherein the inter-cell coolant channel (24) of the at least one cooling assembly (22) is positioned between two adjacent rows of battery cells.
  15. A vehicle (10) comprising a battery assembly (16) according to claim 14, wherein the inter-cell coolant channel (24) of the at least one cooling assembly (22) extends in a longitudinal direction (A) of the vehicle (10) and/or wherein the connector (30) of the at least one cooling assembly (22) is arranged in the front of the plurality of battery cells (18) or in the rear of the battery cells with respect to the longitudinal direction (A) of the vehicle (10) or wherein the inter-cell coolant channel (24) of the at least one cooling assembly (22) extends in a lateral direction of the vehicle (10) and/or wherein the connector (30) of the at least one cooling assembly (22) is arranged at a lateral side of the plurality of battery cells (18).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a connector for fluidically connecting an inter-cell coolant channel to a piping system of a battery cooling system for a vehicle. Moreover, the present disclosure is directed to a cooling assembly for a battery cooling system for a vehicle. Additionally, the present disclosure relates to a battery assembly for a vehicle. Furthermore, the present disclosure is directed to a vehicle. BACKGROUND ART The recent advancement in the field of battery electric vehicles show that the energy density in battery systems increases. Increased energy densities lead to increased temperatures of the battery cells in battery systems during charging and discharging. Thus, cooling means are often used to cool the battery systems. Typically, these cooling means comprise a complex design and need a certain space that cannot be used otherwise. SUMMARY Consequently, it is an objective of the present disclosure to reduce the complexity, while maintaining or reducing the overall size of cooling assemblies for battery assemblies of vehicles. The problem is at least partially solved or alleviated by the subject matter of the independent claims of the present disclosure, wherein further examples are incorporated in the dependent claims. According to a first aspect, there is provided a connector for fluidically connecting an inter-cell coolant channel to a piping system of a battery cooling system for a vehicle. The connector comprises: a connection interface for fluidically connecting the connector to the inter-cell coolant channel,an inlet port for supplying coolant to the connector, wherein the inlet port is fluidically connected to the connection interface, andan outlet port for discharging coolant from the connector, wherein the outlet port is fluidically connected to the connection interface, wherein the inlet port and the outlet port are arranged on a same side of the connector. A connector may be understood as connecting means to securely couple the inter-cell coolant channel to the piping system. The coupling is understood as fluidic coupling such that a liquid, e.g. a coolant, may be transferred between the inter-cell coolant channel and the piping system. The inter-cell coolant channel may be seen as at least one channel extending between a plurality of battery cells. This has the effect that the heat generated by the battery cells may be withdrawn via the inter-cell coolant channel. The piping system may be understood as a combination of a supply means and a discharge means such that a coolant can be supplied to the connector using the piping system and such that the coolant can be discharged or withdrawn from the connector. The term "fluidically connecting" or "fluidically connected" means that a connection between the connector and the inter-cell coolant channel is configured such that a coolant can flow from the connector to the inter-cell coolant channel and vice versa. Such coolant or cooling agent may be a liquid, e.g. a water-based coolant, or a gas. This meaning of "fluidically connecting" or "fluidically connected" also applies to the inlet port being fluidically connected to the connection interface and to the outlet port being fluidically connected to the connection interface. The term "port" may be understood as an element or portion for intake or exhaust of the coolant. Therefore, the inlet port may enable a controlled and reliable supply of the coolant to the connector and, thus, to the inter-cell coolant channel. Correspondingly, the outlet port may enable a controlled and reliable discharge of the coolant from the connector and, thus, from the inter-cell coolant channel. This has the effect that a temperature of the connector and, thus, of the inter-cell coolant channel may be controlled efficiently. Arranging the inlet port and the outlet port on the same side of the connector means that only on one side of the connector the inlet port and the outlet port are arranged on. This has the effect that only one side of the connector comprises both ports such that the coolant may enter and/or exit the connector and, thus, the inter-cell coolant channel on this side. This configuration may allow the inlet port and the outlet port to be arranged in a space-saving manner on the connector. This may reduce the overall size of the connector. It is to be noted that due to the fact that the inlet port and the outlet port are arranged on the same side of the connector, also the connection between the piping system and the connector is facilitated. This is due to the fact that both the inlet port and the outlet port are well accessible. Moreover, no further complex components are needed, and the complexity may also be reduced. According to an example, the inlet port is fluidically connected to the connection interface via an inlet chamber. Additionally or alternatively, the outlet port is fluidically connected to the connection interface via an outlet chamber. This means that