COOLING DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE BATTERY

A cooling device for a vehicle battery with battery cells, and which includes a cooling body which thermally contacts the battery cells. The cooling body has channels through which a coolant flows. A coolant distributor is provided on the cooling body and includes an inflow and/or an outflow for coolant which is fluidically connected to certain channels. A first flow opening is formed at the inflow and/or outflow of the coolant distributor and extends in a direction of a main channel of the channels, the main channel being the channel which is furthest away from the inflow and/or outflow.

DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1illustrates diagrammatically a cooling device for a vehicle battery comprising a cooling body1with a plurality of channels2through which a coolant flows. In accordance with embodiments, the number of channels2may be an even number.

A coolant distributor3having an inflow5and an outflow6is arranged at a first end of the cooling body1, i.e., at the same end of the cooling body1. A cover element4is arranged at an opposite, second end of the cooling body1. In contrast to the coolant distributor3, the cover element4has no inflow or outflow and is structurally configured to deflect the coolant flow within the cooling body1. The channels2of the cooling body1open into the coolant distributor3and the cover element4. A partition wall is arranged on the coolant distributor3and separates a distribution chamber9in the region of the inflow5from a further distribution chamber9in the region of the outflow6.

First flow openings7are formed on the inflow5and the outflow6and extend in a direction of a respective main channel10. The main channel10of each respective channel2fluidically connected to the inflow5and/or outflow6is the channel2which is furthest away from the inflow5and/or outflow6. A second flow opening8is formed at the inflow5and outflow6and is structurally configured to prevent the formation of an air inclusion.

Coolant flowing from the inflow5passes through the first flow opening7into the distribution chamber9in the region of the inflow5, and is deflected in particular in the direction of the opening of the main channel10furthest away, but via the distribution chamber9also enters the other channels2which are fluidically connected to the distribution chamber9. Through the channels2illustrated at the bottom inFIGS. 1 and 2, the coolant reaches the cover element4where it is deflected, so that via the above-mentioned channels2it reaches the other distribution chamber9in the region of the outflow6. There the coolant leaves the distribution chamber9, preferably through the first flow opening7which is formed on the outflow6, and in a smaller quantity through the second flow opening8of the outflow6.

By the use of at least one correspondingly oriented flow opening, embodiments of the invention therefore achieves an even coolant flow in a simple and economic manner.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS