BATTERY TRAY

The invention relates to a battery tray for holding battery elements for providing electrical energy in electrically driven vehicles. The battery tray has a battery pan having a reinforcing structure which is arranged on the outside in front of a side wall of the battery pan. The reinforcing structure comprises an outer profile which is configured as U-shaped in cross-section with a web and two legs as well as an opening. The outer profile is directed with the opening towards the battery pan and is connected to the battery pan using the legs. In the longitudinal direction (LR) of the outer profile, multiple sleeves are provided at a distance from one another, wherein a sleeve extends between the legs and connects openings in the legs.

The invention relates to a battery tray according to the features in the preamble of claim1.

Battery trays, which are arranged between the axles of the vehicle, are used to hold battery elements for providing electrical energy in electrically powered vehicles. One of the essential safety requirements for a battery tray is good crash performance. In order to satisfy this requirement, the battery tray is protected by an external reinforcing structure. The main function of the reinforcing structure is to dissipate energy in case of a crash and to increase the overall rigidity of the battery tray and the body. This increases the crash safety of the batteries, in particular in the event of a side impact.

DE 10 2018 126 068 A1 makes a battery tray for an electric vehicle part of the prior art. The battery tray has a battery pan which is inserted into an outer frame and is closed by a lid. The frame is produced in cross section from at least two profile components joined together, wherein at least one of these profile components is produced as a sheet metal formed component.

In the battery tray known from US 2010/0307848 A1, the battery pan is also protected by a reinforcing structure that surrounds it on the outside and has a hollow chamber.

DE 10 2017 217 814 A1 discloses a battery housing for a vehicle having a battery tray having a lateral peripheral outer frame. A mounting profile is connected to the outer frame for fastening the battery housing to the vehicle. The mounting profile can be composed of multiple parts. In one embodiment, the mounting profile is configured as U-shaped in cross section with a web and two legs and an opening, wherein the opening of the outer profile is directed towards the battery pan and the legs are connected to the battery pan.

A battery housing having a peripheral external connection profile is also described in DE 10 2016 214 974 A1.

Furthermore, WO 2017/207502 A1 discloses a battery housing having an external connection profile.

DE 11 2018 002 641 T5 discloses a vehicle body substructure for the lower part of a vehicle body.

The battery trays have to be mechanically stable and fastened to the body or chassis of a vehicle. The battery pan is to be integrated as extensively as possible into the body, which presents design and assembly challenges.

The outer reinforcing structure in front of a side wall of the battery pan is constructed from one or more components. These are welded to one another and to the battery pan. The high number of individual components and the multitude of welded joints can result in warping in the welded construction. The high number of individual components also results in an increase in tolerances or tolerance chains. These, as well as any welding warpage, have to be compensated for in order to ensure a connection capable of mass production of the battery pan in a motor vehicle.

Proceeding from the prior art, the invention is based on the object of creating a battery tray improved with respect to function and assembly.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a battery tray according to claim1.

A battery tray for holding battery elements for providing electrical energy in electrically driven vehicles has a battery pan having a reinforcing structure which is arranged on the outside in front of at least one side wall of the battery pan. The reinforcing structure has an outer profile. The inner profile is configured as U-shaped in cross section and has a web and two legs as well as an opening. The outer profile is a one-piece or single-shell U-shaped shell body and preferably does not have any further outer shells, which are known in the prior art for energy dissipation in case of a crash. The opening of the outer profile is directed towards the battery pan. The outer profile is connected to the battery pan via the legs.

Multiple sleeves are provided in the reinforcing structure. These are fastening or mounting sleeves, which are in particular cylindrical or in the form of rectangular tubes. Usually, multiple sleeves arranged at a distance from one another are provided in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing structure. A sleeve extends between the legs of the inner profile over the entire height of the inner profile. The sleeve connects openings in the legs. The sleeves are oriented coaxially to the openings. The sleeve and opening lie on a common longitudinal axis. The sleeves are used to feed through fasteners via which the battery tray is secured in the body or chassis of a vehicle. In particular, the battery tray is secured to side sills and, if necessary, floor cross members in the motor vehicle via the sleeves and suitable fasteners.

The reinforcing structure extends in the longitudinal direction of the side wall. The outer profile forms a hollow profile together with the side wall of the battery pan at least over the majority of the length of the reinforcing structure. This is characterized by advantageous static and dynamic load behavior. In particular, the rigidity of the reinforcing structure transverse to the battery pan is improved. In the event of a side impact, the legs of the inner profile can deform with energy dissipation, wherein the outside leg of the outer profile acts as a tension strut and holds the legs in position relative to one another to a limited extent.

An advantageous embodiment provides that the sleeves have an upper and/or a lower collar. The sleeves have a sleeve body. A circumferential collar in particular is provided at one end or at both ends of the sleeve body. The collar is oriented outward from the sleeve body. In particular, the collar is a materially-uniform component of the sleeve or sleeve body.

It is also possible that a collar is formed by a separate collar body.

The collars absorb the friction and pressure forces that arise when tightening assembly elements guided through the sleeves, for example screw connecting elements. This can protect the surface of the components in the area of a screw connection from damage and reduce the surface pressure. In particular, the collars ensure tolerance compensation. The flat collar surface is larger than the sleeve surface, so that the sleeves or their sleeve bodies can be aligned or positioned horizontally before welding with the outer profile. The alignment takes place according to the defined assembly hole distances.

The sleeves can rest with their collars inside on the inner side of a leg of the outer profile.

The collars can rest on the legs on the outside, i.e. on the outer side.

A combination is also possible in which a first collar rests on an inner side of a first leg and a second collar rests on an outer side of a second leg.

The sleeve is joined to the outer profile or the legs of the outer profile in the area of the collar.

The sleeves extend between the opening in the lower leg and the opening in the upper leg and are joined to the legs. The legs can be reinforced in the area of the opening. Such a reinforcement can be achieved, for example, by embossing the material in the legs or by increasing the wall thickness in the area of an opening.

A further embodiment is that one or each sleeve is guided with an upper sleeve section and/or a lower sleeve section through an opening in a leg. The sleeve or sleeve section can terminate flush with the outside of the leg or protrude in relation to the outside with the sleeve section.

The sleeves can be formed in multiple parts and can have a first sleeve element and a second sleeve element. The sleeve elements have coaxial through openings and are connected to one another at mutually facing end sides. The connection is in particular friction-locked and/or form-fitting.

Each leg particularly advantageously has a joining flange at the end. The joining flanges are a one-piece component of the legs made of the same material and are connected at the ends to the legs directed towards the battery pan.

An embodiment which is particularly advantageous in practice provides that a lower leg has a lower joining flange, wherein the lower joining flange engages at least in some areas under a pan bottom of the battery pan. The lower leg is materially bonded to the battery pan using the lower joining flange, in particular welded, preferably spot welded or spot welded and adhesively bonded.

An upper leg has an upper joining flange, wherein the upper joining flange is joined to the side wall or an upper pan edge of the battery pan.

A further embodiment provides that a joining flange is set at an angle to a leg. In particular, the upper joining flange is set on the upper leg at an angle, preferably perpendicular to the leg and directed outwards away from it.

Furthermore, a leg can have multiple leg sections, wherein at least two leg sections are aligned differently relative to one another.

Between the at least two leg sections there can be a bend, a curve, a step, a kink, or even an indentation via which the leg sections merge into one another. The profiling and alignment of the leg sections in relation to one another increases their rigidity and improves their load behavior.

At least one stiffening element which increases the rigidity can be provided in the rear web of the outer profile. Such a stiffening element can be embodied, for example, by a bead, a redirection, or an embossing.

The outer profile can have sections in some areas having different wall thicknesses and/or different material qualities. In particular, the outer profile can be partially reinforced by reinforcing elements, in particular sheet metal components, so-called patches. These are sheet metal sections or patches in a geometrically adapted shape and material quality, which are preferably already joined in a flat state before the outer profile is manufactured and then formed together to form the outer profile. The patches are arranged on the inside or outside of the outer profile. The outer profile can also be produced from a Tailor Rolled Blank (TRB). As a result, the outer profile has different sheet thicknesses. The advantage here is the homogeneous transition between two thickness ranges.

The outer profile and the reinforcing elements or components can also consist of materials of different material quality.

The side wall of the battery pan can also be reinforced or have a reinforcement, at least in some areas. The side wall can be embodied thicker than the rest of the battery pan. It is particularly advantageous that the side wall is provided with a reinforcement in the form of patches with adapted geometry and material quality.

A joining flange can have multiple joining tabs arranged at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction of the outer profile. Cutouts or recesses are provided between the joining tabs.

The outer profile of the reinforcing structure is welded to the battery pan using the joining flanges and/or the joining tabs. The lower leg is welded to the battery pan in the area of the bottom lateral edge of the battery pan and the upper leg of the outer profile is welded to the upper area of the side wall or an upper flange of the battery pan.

In practice, material-bonding joining by means of spot welding and spot welding adhesive bonding is considered particularly advantageous. Spot welding adhesive bonding represents a combination of adhesive bonding with the spot welding joining method. Spot welded joints as well as spot welded adhesive joints have not only high strengths and a high stiffening effect, but also a sufficiently high elongation at fracture, even under sudden loads such as a crash.

A further embodiment that is advantageous in practice provides that installation elements are provided in the reinforcing structure. Installation elements can be load guide bodies, bulkhead plates, and similar internal reinforcing and/or functional components. In addition to the pure reinforcing or stiffening of defined length sections of the reinforcing structure and the increased energy dissipation, they are primarily used to create load paths for targeted passing on into the remainder of the battery tray structure, in particular via the above-mentioned internal struts in the interior of the battery tray.

In addition to installation elements in the reinforcing structure, reinforcing or stiffening elements can also be integrated in the battery pan. Such reinforcing or stiffening elements can be formed by longitudinal and/or transverse profiles or struts that extend on the pan bottom.

Furthermore, a lid can form the upper end of the battery pan, the battery tray is particularly advantageously designed and intended to be integrated into the body or chassis of a vehicle. The battery tray forms a supporting part of the body (cell-to-body). The floor of the vehicle can form the battery lid in this case.

The battery pan is in particular a deep-drawn part made in one piece and of one material. The outer profile is also preferably produced using compression molding or deep-drawing technology. Due to its U-shaped cross section, the inner profile has a channel-like course in which multiple sleeves are arranged at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction.

The battery pan can also be formed from a sheet metal plate by folding it to form the battery pan. For this purpose, a sheet metal plate is provided, the geometry of which corresponds to the development of the battery pan. A cooling plate can optionally be joined directly to the sheet metal plate before it is then folded to form the battery pan. The battery pan is designed as a folded component. Folded corners of the battery pan are joined and sealed.

The battery pan, as well as the reinforcing structure and the components forming the reinforcing structure, in particular the outer shell, can be formed by hot stamping steel sheets. Hot stamping is also known as press hardening. During hot stamping, a sheet of manganese-boron steel is heated to a temperature above the specific austenitization temperature of the material, placed in a forming tool, and hot formed into the formed component, wherein it cools during forming. Clamped in the forming tool, the formed components are hardened by cooling.

Coated steel sheets that can be hot stamped can also be used here. In particular these are manganese-boron steel sheets provided with an aluminum/silicon coating. The components of the reinforcing structure and the battery pan have a tensile strength of 1,000 MPa and higher.

The battery pan as well as the outer profile of the reinforcing structure can also be manufactured from extra-high-strength and ultra-high-strength cold-form steels. These components have a tensile strength of greater than 980 MPa. In particular, the outer profile has a tensile strength of greater than or equal to 1,180 MPa.

In principle, in both cases it is also possible to use tailored blanks of different sheet thicknesses, steel grades, or technologies to create custom-tailored strength properties having local soft zones for the battery pan as well as for the outer profile, for example, to deliberately increase the transverse rigidity and increase the crash performance and, for example, to prevent cracks during welding or to set locally weakened zones having better deformation capacity for energy absorption.

The invention is described in more detail hereinafter with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. In the figures:

FIG.1shows a battery tray according to the invention in a cross-sectional view;

FIG.2shows the battery tray in a schematic top view,

FIG.3shows a view of a section of the battery tray showing a further embodiment of a reinforcing structure;

FIG.4like3, shows a view of a section of the battery tray showing a second embodiment of a reinforcing structure; second embodiment;

FIG.5like3, shows a view of a section of the battery tray showing a third embodiment of a reinforcing structure;

FIG.6shows a further embodiment of a battery tray according to the invention in a cross-sectional view;

FIG.7shows the battery tray as shown inFIG.6in a schematic top view;

FIG.8shows a view of a section of the battery tray showing a further embodiment of a reinforcing structure;

FIG.9like8; shows a view of a section of the battery tray showing a further embodiment of a reinforcing structure;

FIG.10like8; shows a view of a section of the battery tray showing a further embodiment of a reinforcing structure;

FIG.11like8; shows a view of a section of the battery tray showing a further embodiment of a reinforcing structure;

FIG.12like8; shows a view of a section of the battery tray showing a further embodiment of a reinforcing structure;

FIG.13like8; shows a view of a section of the battery tray showing a further embodiment of a reinforcing structure;

FIG.14shows a technically schematic and simplified top view of a reinforcing structure from above;

FIG.15shows a top view of another embodiment of an reinforcing structure;

FIG.16shows a top view of another embodiment of an reinforcing structure;

FIG.17shows a top view of another embodiment of an reinforcing structure;

FIG.18shows a top view of another embodiment of an reinforcing structure;

FIG.19shows a cross section through the reinforcing structure according to the representation ofFIG.18in the area of a sleeve;

FIG.20shows a cross section through the reinforcing structure according to the illustration inFIG.18in the area of a reinforcing element;

FIG.21shows a longitudinal section through the upper leg of an outer profile of a reinforcing structure;

FIG.22shows a technically schematic and simplified top view of the upper leg of a reinforcing structure;

FIG.23shows a cross section through the stiffening structure corresponding to the representations ofFIGS.21and22in the area of a sleeve;

FIG.24shows a cross section through the reinforcing structure in the area outside a sleeve;

FIG.25shows a section of the outer profile of a reinforcing structure; and

FIG.26shows a view of a section of the battery pan showing a further embodiment of a reinforcing structure;

InFIGS.1to26, the same reference numerals are used for identical or functionally corresponding components or component parts, even if a repeated description is omitted for reasons of simplicity.

FIGS.1and2as well asFIGS.6and7show a battery tray1according to the invention and components thereof.

The battery tray1has a battery pan2deep-drawn from sheet steel. The battery pan2is configured as rectangular in cross section and has a pan bottom3and side walls, namely two longitudinal walls4,5and two end walls6,7, which complement one another to form a circumferential pan wall8. On the upper pan edge9, outwardly directed flange sections10extend along the longitudinal walls4,5and the end walls6,7, which also complement one another in a circumferentially closed manner to form an upper flange11. The pan wall8delimits a pan interior12of the battery pan2.

A plurality of inner struts13are optionally arranged in the pan interior12. The inner struts13extend on the pan bottom3transversely between the longitudinal walls4,5and are secured by material bonding in the battery pan2.

The battery pan2is closed on the top side, with a seal interposed, by a lid14, which rests on the flange11at the edge. In the exemplary embodiments shown, the lid14is detachably connected to the battery pan2by means of screw connection means15.

The battery tray1has a reinforcing structure16. The reinforcing structure16extends on the outside of the battery pan2in front of the longitudinal walls4,5.

The cross-sectional views inFIGS.1and2each show a reinforcing structure16only on one side of the battery pan2. The views inFIGS.2and7illustrate that a reinforcing structure16is arranged on both longitudinal sides of the battery pan2along the longitudinal walls4,5.

The end walls6,7can also optionally be connected to a corresponding reinforcing structure16.

In a further embodiment (not shown), the battery tray1can be rotated by 90° around the vertical axis with respect to the installation position in the motor vehicle in comparison to the embodiment according toFIGS.1and2, so that the battery tray1could be coupled to bottom cross members or ladder frame cross members via the reinforcing structure16.

The reinforcing structure16has an outer profile17. The outer profile17is configured as U-shaped in cross section and has a web18as well as two legs19,20and an opening21. The opening21extends over the length L of the outer profile17, which corresponds to the length of the reinforcing structure16. The opening21of the outer profile17is directed towards the battery pan2. The legs19,20are connected to the battery pan2. The opening21of the outer profile17directed towards the battery pan2is closed by a longitudinal wall4or5of the battery pan2. The rear web18is located on the outside on the side facing away from the longitudinal wall4,5of the battery pan2.

The outer profile17is a sheet metal formed part which is formed in one piece from a steel sheet. The outer profile17can be a hot-stamped sheet steel component or a cold-formed formed component made of, in particular, ultra-high-strength (UHSS) cold-form steels. A UHSS formed component has a tensile strength Rm>980 MPa and a proportional martensitic structure.

The legs19,20and the web18enclose a longitudinal channel. The outer profile17forms, together with a respective longitudinal wall4,5of the battery pan2, a hollow profile22at least over the predominant part of the length L of the reinforcing structure16. The reinforcing structure16extends in the longitudinal direction LR in front of a side wall4,5.

Multiple sleeves17are provided in the hollow profile23of the reinforcing structure16. These extend vertically between the legs19,20of the outer profile17. Openings24,25are provided in the upper leg19and the lower leg20, which are connected by the sleeves23(see alsoFIGS.3to5in this regard).

The sleeves23are arranged at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction LR of the outer profile17and the reinforcing structure16.

Each sleeve23has a sleeve body26. In the sleeve23in the embodiment according toFIG.3, a circumferential collar27is provided at the lower end of the sleeve body26. This can be formed by a separate disk body28. The collar27can also be an integral part of the sleeve23made of the same material. With a sleeve section29at the upper end of the sleeve body26, the sleeve23is guided through the opening24in the upper leg19and protrudes in relation to the outer side30of the upper leg19.

In the sleeve23in the embodiment according toFIG.4, a collar27is provided at the lower end of the sleeve body26. This collar concentrically encloses the lower opening25in the lower leg20and rests against the inner side31of the lower leg20. The sleeve body26of the sleeve23rests on the upper leg19circumferentially around the opening24on the inner side32of the upper leg19. On the outside, concentric with the opening29or the sleeve longitudinal axis LH, an upper collar27is provided which rests on the outer side30of the upper leg19.

In the sleeve23according to the illustration inFIG.5, the sleeve23or its sleeve body26has an upper sleeve section29and a lower sleeve section33. With the upper sleeve section29, the sleeve23is guided through the opening24in the upper leg19. With the lower sleeve section33, the sleeve23is guided through the opening25in the lower leg20.

The lower sleeve section33ends approximately flush with the outer side34of the lower leg20. The upper sleeve section29protrudes in relation to the outer side30of the upper leg19.

In the case of the sleeves23in the embodiment according to the illustrations inFIGS.1and6, a collar27is provided in each case at the upper end and at the lower end of the sleeve body26, with which the sleeve23rests on the inside on the upper leg19or on the lower leg20.

The openings24in the upper leg19and the openings25in the lower leg20, the sleeves23, and the collars27each lie on a common sleeve longitudinal axis LH and are arranged concentrically thereto.

Tolerance compensation can be achieved in the collarless sleeve23according toFIG.5when directly coupled to the legs19,20via a suitable welding process using a relatively large amount of welding filler material. This is shown as an example inFIG.26.

At the ends of the legs19,20, joining flanges35,36are provided.

The lower leg20has a lower joining flange36. The lower joining flange36engages at least in some areas under the pan bottom3of the battery pan2and is joined to the battery pan2.

The upper joining flange35on the upper leg19is set at an angle α to the upper leg19. In the embodiment according toFIGS.1and3to6, the joining flange35is directed outward transversely to the upper leg19and in particular is directed at a right angle away from the upper leg19. The transition from the leg19to the joining flange35is rounded.

The outer profile17is joined by material bonding to the battery pan2. This is done via the lower joining flange36and the upper joining flange35. The lower joining flange36engages in some areas under the lower longitudinal edge section37of the battery pan2. The upper joining flange35is supported against the side wall4,5of the battery pan2.

In the illustration inFIG.10, a joining web38directed towards the upper pan edge9of the battery pan2is bent over on the upper joining flange35. The joining web38abuts against the outer edge of the upper flange11and is joined thereto, in particular by laser welding.

With the exception of the butt joint, the materially-bonded joining of the outer profile17and the battery pan2is carried out in particular by spot welding or spot welding adhesive bonding.

The sleeves23shown inFIGS.8to19and22and23are shown in a technically simplified manner and are to be understood schematically. The sleeves23each extend between an opening25in the lower leg20and an opening24in the upper leg19of the outer profile17and connect them. The sleeves23are configured and intended so that screw fasteners can be passed through them and the battery tray1can be fixed in the body or chassis of a vehicle. The sleeve23also basically has a supporting function of the outer profile17itself against deformation caused by the screwing force. The battery tray1is attached in a vehicle via the outer profile17and the sleeves23arranged therein by means of suitable screw fasteners.

In particular, the lower leg20can have at least two leg sections39,40which are aligned differently relative to one another. In this regard, reference is made to the embodiments of the outer profile17according to the illustrations 8 to 10. The lower leg20has a first leg section39. The first leg section39extends essentially parallel to the upper leg19. The opening25and the sleeve23communicating with the opening25are located in the first leg section39of the lower leg20. The second leg section40adjoins the first leg section39via a bend41and extends at an acute angle directed away from the first leg section39in the direction of the lower joining flange36. In particular, the first leg section39is shaped or stamped to locally match an end face of the sleeve23, while the second leg section40is aligned offset and/or inclined from a projection plane of the end face of the sleeve23.

InFIG.1andFIGS.6and7, an installation element42is shown in schematic and simplified form, which is installed in the outer profile17of the reinforcing structure16. Such installation elements42can be, for example, load guide bodies or bulkhead plates. These are joined to the inner profile17, in particular joined by material bonding. Installation elements42, which are configured in a hat shape and have different heights, can also be seen inFIG.15in a top view.

FIGS.8to13each show the outer profile17of a reinforcing structure16and a section of the battery pan2. The sleeve23is designed without a collar and ends flush with the lower leg20and the upper leg19and extends between the openings24,25. The sleeve23can be replaced by sleeve shapes according toFIGS.1and3to5. The figures are presented in a technically simplified manner and are to be understood schematically.

The outer profile16is a hot-formed and press-hardened or cold-formed high-strength shell component. The battery pan2is a hot-formed and press-hardened sheet steel component or a cold-formed component made of ultra-high-strength cold-formed steel.

The longitudinal walls4,5of the battery pan2can be reinforced in some areas and in particular can be made from a tailor welded blank, a tailor rolled blank, or can be reinforced by sheet metal components or patches. The outer profile17is joined to the battery pan2.

In the embodiments according to the illustrations inFIGS.9,12, and13, a stiffening element43in the form of a bead is provided in the outside web18of the outer profile17.

Stiffening elements43in the form of beads in different designs are also shown inFIGS.15,16, and17.

A battery pan2partially reinforced in the area of the side wall4by a reinforcement49is shown in the representation inFIG.11. The side wall4is designed to be thicker at least in some areas than the pan bottom3and the upper pan edge9. The battery pan2is manufactured from a tailor rolled blank for this purpose.

In the embodiment according to the illustration inFIG.12, the side wall4of the battery pan2is reinforced on the inside by a reinforcement in the form of a patch.

In the embodiment according to the illustration inFIG.13, the side wall4of the battery pan2is reinforced on the outside on the side facing toward the opening21of the outer profile17by a reinforcement49in the form of a patch. The reinforcement49extends around the lower longitudinal edge section37of the battery pan2. The lower joining flange36extends over the lower section45of the reinforcement44and is joined to the pan bottom3.

Reinforcing elements46in the outer profile17are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction within the reinforcing structure16in the outer profile17according to the embodiment ofFIG.14. In particular, reinforcing components are placed between the sleeves23. The reinforcing elements46are preferably sheet metal sections or patches which can be joined to the outer profile17on the inside or outside.

FIG.18also shows such a design.

InFIGS.14to18, the arrow shows the direction of impact in the event of a side impact.

FIG.19shows a section through the outer profile17of the reinforcing structure16in the area of a sleeve23.

FIG.20shows a section through the outer profile17in the area of a reinforcing element46. These are patches configured in a U shape that are adapted to the inner contour of the outer profile16and that cover the upper leg19and the lower leg20in some areas and completely cover the rear web18of the outer profile17.

The outer profile17of a reinforcing structure16, which is made from a tailored welded blank, is explained on the basis ofFIGS.21to24.FIG.21shows a section through the upper leg19. The different wall thicknesses can be seen. In the area of a sleeve23, the wall thickness is greater in each case than in the interposed leg sections39,40.FIG.23shows a section through the outer profile17in the area of a sleeve23.FIG.24shows a section through the outer profile17in the area outside a sleeve23.

From the illustration inFIG.25, it can be seen that a joining flange35,36, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment the upper joining flange35, has multiple joining tabs arranged at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction of the outer profile17. Recesses48are provided in the joining flange35between the joining tabs47.

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