Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080315839 | Early detection of battery cell thermal event - A battery module for use in an electric vehicle is disclosed. The battery module includes a plurality of cells arranged in a predetermined pattern within the module. The battery module also includes an optical pyrometer arranged inside the module. The optical pyrometer is installed within the module after being tuned to detect a predetermined frequency or band of frequencies. The pyrometer will be used to detect an increase in short wave radiation density from one of the battery cells within the module wherein that battery cell has a temperature above a predetermined threshold. The optical pyrometer will be used to communicate an electric signal to a control system of the electric vehicle wherein that control system will implement a predetermined mitigation process to contain the thermal event of that one cell within the battery module. | 12-25-2008 |
20110214808 | SELECTIVE CURE OF ADHESIVE IN MODULAR ASSEMBLIES - Methods and systems for decreasing costs (expense, mass, and/or cure time) associated with use of adhesives when assembling modularized components, particularly for assemblies having many elements such as for example battery modules used in electric vehicles. The methods and systems enable use of high-wettability adhesives (defined generally in this application as low viscosity and/or low surface tension adhesives) for assembling such modularized components. A first method including (a) dispensing a high-wettability adhesive into a first module fixture populated with a plurality of elements wherein the first module fixture provides a plurality of bonding wells with each bonding well accepting a first portion of one or more of the elements with the module fixture including one more apertures communicated with one or more of the bonding wells, the adhesive being selectively curable upon application of a curing modality; (b) applying the curing modality selectively to a first portion of the dispensed adhesive in a seal zone, the seal zone including one or more regions surrounding the apertures wherein the dispensed adhesive in the seal zone is sufficiently cured to inhibit significant quantities of the adhesive from emerging from the apertures while the adhesive continues to be dispensed into the module fixture wherein the curing modality is not applied to a second portion of the adhesive outside of the seal zone; and (c) applying the curing modality to the second portion of the dispensed adhesive. | 09-08-2011 |
20110298417 | METHODOLOGY FOR CHARGING BATTERIES SAFELY - An apparatus and method for identifying a presence of a short circuit in a battery pack. A fault-detection apparatus for a charging system that rapidly charges a collection of interconnected lithium ion battery cells, the safety system includes a data-acquisition system for receiving a set of data parameters from the collection while the charging system is actively charging the collection; a monitoring system evaluating the set of data parameters to identify a set of anomalous conditions; and a controller comparing the set of anomalous conditions against a set of predetermined profiles indicative of an internal short in one or more cells of the collection, the controller establishing an internal-short state for the collection when the comparing has a predetermined relationship to the set of predetermined profiles. | 12-08-2011 |
20120037310 | SELECTIVE CURE OF ADHESIVE IN MODULAR ASSEMBLIES - The system includes a module fixture supporting a plurality of elements, the module fixture defining a plurality of bonding wells with each bonding well accepting a first portion of one or more of the elements with the module fixture including one or more apertures communicated with one or more of the bonding wells with the bonding wells having a nominal depth; and a dispensing system, coupled to the module fixture, for dispensing a high-wettability adhesive into each the bonding well and surrounding each the element substantially filling the bonding well up to the nominal depth without significant overfill, the adhesive being selectively curable upon application of a curing modality; and a curing structure for selectively exposing the adhesive to the curing modality as the adhesive emerges from the apertures during dispensation of the adhesive. | 02-16-2012 |
20120111444 | FILL PORT FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY ENCLOSURE - An apparatus and method providing for coolant agent ingress of a high energy density battery enclosure during an internal thermal event. A solution includes a specialized battery enclosure and, in some embodiments, an associated vehicle structure providing a normally closed, pressure activated fill port. Preferably the fill port is positioned so an operator of the fill port is clear from any hot gases exiting from the enclosure. | 05-10-2012 |
20120111445 | PERFORATION APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY ENCLOSURE - A perforation tool for a battery enclosure system of a vehicle battery pack, comprising: an engaging tip configured to mechanically breach a thermal-control-agent-retaining enclosure of a traction battery pack including a plurality of interconnected batteries with the enclosure reinforced for mechanical protection of the batteries when installed in an electric vehicle; a port for receiving a thermal-control agent having a pressure in a range of about 5-100 psi; and a housing, coupled to the tip and to the port, wherein the tip includes an aperture and wherein the housing includes a channel communicating the port to the aperture wherein the pressurized thermal-control agent is produced at the tip at about the pressure. | 05-10-2012 |
20140088809 | DETECTION OF OVER-CURRENT IN A BATTERY PACK - A controller identifies a condition of a hazardous internal short by comparing patterns of series element voltages to the last known balance condition of the series elements. If the loaded or resting voltage of one or more contiguous series elements uniformly drop from the previously known condition by an amount consistent with an over-current condition, an over-current internal short circuit fault is registered. The desired response is to prevent the affected series elements from heating to a hazardous temperature by summoning the maximum heat rejection capability of the system until the short ceases and the affected elements cool, the cooling function is no longer able to operate due to low voltage, or the affected series string has drained all of its energy through the short. Also includes are responses that allow the battery pack to continue to power the cooling system even though it may enter an over-discharged state. | 03-27-2014 |
20150039255 | METHODOLOGY FOR CHARGING BATTERIES SAFELY - An apparatus and method for identifying a presence of a short circuit in a battery pack. A fault-detection apparatus for a charging system that rapidly charges a collection of interconnected lithium ion battery cells, the safety system includes a data-acquisition system for receiving a set of data parameters from the collection while the charging system is actively charging the collection; a monitoring system evaluating the set of data parameters to identify a set of anomalous conditions; and a controller comparing the set of anomalous conditions against a set of predetermined profiles indicative of an internal short in one or more cells of the collection, the controller establishing an internal-short state for the collection when the comparing has a predetermined relationship to the set of predetermined profiles. | 02-05-2015 |