US-20260128436-A1 - BATTERY CASING, PRODUCED AS A LARGE CAST PART, FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND MOTOR VEHICLE HAVING A BATTERY CASING OF THIS KIND

Abstract

A battery casing, produced as a large cast part, for a motor vehicle, having a bottom portion that has a width extending in the vehicle transverse direction and a length extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and having at least one side wall that extends upward in the vehicle vertical direction, outside of the bottom portion, in order to laterally delimit, at least on one side, an interior for arranging battery cells and/or battery modules on the bottom portion. At least one additional wall extends upward from the bottom portion or extending outward, in relation to the area of the interior, from the bottom portion and is formed as a protective element.

Inventors

• Stefan Reinsch
• Matthias Graul
• Johannes Sperber

Assignees

• VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20251219

Priority Date

20230619

Claims (10)

1. 1 . A battery casing, produced as a large cast part, for a motor vehicle, the battery casing comprising: a bottom portion that has a width extending in a vehicle transverse direction and a length extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction; at least one side wall that extends upward in a vehicle vertical direction, outside of the bottom portion, in order to laterally delimit, at least on one side, an interior for arranging battery cells and/or battery modules on the bottom portion; and at least one additional wall extends upward from the bottom portion or extending outward, in relation to an area of the interior, from the bottom portion, the at least one additional wall being formed as a protective element.
2. 2 . The battery casing according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one additional wall extends upward in the vehicle vertical direction from the bottom portion and is designed as a load path extending completely through the interior.
3. 3 . The battery casing according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one additional wall extends outward in the vehicle transverse direction, outside of the bottom portion, and is designed as a crash element.
4. 4 . The battery casing according to claim 1 , wherein the one additional wall is designed as a crash element or multiple additional walls are designed as crash elements, on every side facing outward in the vehicle transverse direction.
5. 5 . The battery casing according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one additional wall is designed as a crash element and has a at least two closed substructures.
6. 6 . The battery casing according to claim 5 , wherein the substructures are arranged directly adjacent to one another such that a largely homogeneous overall structure is produced, or wherein the substructures are spaced apart from one another by connecting structures such that a nonhomogeneous overall structure is produced.
7. 7 . The battery casing according to claim 1 , wherein a fluid channel is formed in the at least one additional wall, at least in some places.
8. 8 . The battery casing according to claim 7 , wherein the fluid channel is created by forming a unilaterally open cavity in the additional wall and by a fluid-tight sealing of the cavity with at least one separate element.
9. 9 . The battery casing according to claim 1 , wherein at least one additional wall is designed as a longitudinal load path, wherein at least one additional wall is designed as a transverse load path, and/or wherein a fluid path is formed that extends through the side wall and at least one additional wall.
10. 10 . A motor vehicle comprising the battery casing according to claim 1 , wherein the battery casing extends across a major part of the width of the motor vehicle.

Description

This nonprovisional application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2024/061304, which was filed on Apr. 24, 2024, and which claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2023 205 724.7, which was filed in Germany on Jun. 19, 2023, and which are both herein incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The invention relates to a battery casing, produced as a large cast part, for a motor vehicle, which extends across a major part of the vehicle width extending in the vehicle transverse direction (y direction) of a motor vehicle for which the battery casing is intended. In addition, the invention relates to a motor vehicle having at least one such battery casing. Description of the Background Art A battery casing cover that is produced as a cast aluminum part for a motor vehicle is known from KR 20200126843 A. This battery casing cover has a groove for a seal, screw holes, and screw points, which are integrally molded. An energy storage unit for a motor vehicle, a mounting arrangement of such an energy storage unit on a body of a motor vehicle, and a motor vehicle having such an energy storage unit are known from DE 10 2017 011 994 B3, which corresponds to US 2021/0016649. In this case, the energy storage unit is or can be reversibly and detachably mounted on a body of the motor vehicle, wherein the energy storage unit also has a support frame. The support frame is composed of longitudinal member elements and cross member elements that are produced individually and connected to one another to form a ladder-like structure. The longitudinal member elements and cross member elements are designed as load paths in some cases. No reference is made in the document to a battery casing produced as a large cast part. A battery casing for a battery module, as well as a battery module having a battery casing, and a vehicle are known from DE 10 2020 210 202 A1, which corresponds to US 2022/052395. This battery casing has the size of a battery module and is rather small in comparison with a motor vehicle. It is disclosed that the battery casing can be created in a sandwich construction by means of a die-cast part, and structures for increasing crash safety and temperature control areas can be provided in the casing side walls. No reference is made in the document to a battery casing produced as a large cast part. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention is to provide a battery casing, produced as a large cast part, for a motor vehicle, as well as a motor vehicle having such a battery casing, that permit simple production and assembly and that permit reliable arrangement and operation of battery cells and/or battery modules in the battery casing. A major part of the vehicle width can mean a width of at least 50 percent, preferably at least 70 percent, further preferably at least 80 percent, and especially preferably at least 90 percent. A battery casing according to the invention, produced as a large cast part, for a motor vehicle, includes a bottom portion that has a width extending in the vehicle transverse direction and a length extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Furthermore, at least one side wall is formed that extends upward in the vehicle vertical direction, outside of the bottom portion, in order to laterally delimit, at least on one side, an interior for arranging battery cells and/or battery modules on the bottom portion. In addition, at least one additional wall extending upward from the bottom portion or extending outward, in relation to the area of the interior, from the bottom portion is formed as a protective element. As a whole, the result is thus a receiving structure for battery cells and/or battery modules that is produced as a large cast part and hence in one piece, and that, with the bottom portion and the at least one side wall, not only provides a protected receiving space for battery cells and/or battery modules but also has at least one protective element formed in one piece with the battery casing. A battery casing of this nature can be produced with high precision and has the advantage over battery casings made of individual parts that it has very small manufacturing tolerances. Assembly tolerances and assembly-related defects are eliminated. In summary, an integral battery casing is formed that permits reliable arrangement and reliable operation of battery cells and/or battery modules. Furthermore, fewer joining methods or fewer joining operations are needed to produce the battery casing according to the invention. In addition, battery casings according to the invention have better recyclability. A bottom portion within the meaning of the invention can be understood, for example, as a structure designed in the manner of a plate with a flat surface for arranging battery cells and/or battery modules. The bottom portion preferably has a rectangular basic shape. A side wall within the meaning o