Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120244404 | PRISMATIC CELL SYSTEM WITH THERMAL MANAGEMENT FEATURES - A battery module includes a plurality of electrochemical cells provided side-by-side one another and a thermal management feature extending substantially the length of the battery module. The thermal management feature is coupled to a first side of each of the electrochemical cells and includes a passage though which a thermal management fluid may pass and a heat sink provided within the passage to transfer heat between the electrochemical cells and the thermal management fluid. | 09-27-2012 |
20120247107 | BATTERY MODULE AND METHOD INCORPORATING EXTERIOR CASING AND LINER - A battery module includes a rigid external casing made, for example, of a metallic sheet material. Securement features, tabs, and so forth may be formed in the material of the casing. The casing may be made by stamping and bending metallic sheet. A liner is disposed in the casing, and one or more battery cells are disposed in the liner. The liner may comprise an insulative sheet material that is cut and folded to generally conform to the casing. The structure may include a bus bar assembly, compression members, a thermal component and other structural and functional elements. | 10-04-2012 |
20120263988 | BATTERY SYSTEM HAVING AN EXTERNAL THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - Battery systems and modules having external thermal management systems are provided. In one embodiment, a battery module includes a housing and at least one electrochemical cell disposed within the housing. The battery module also includes a thermal interface having a first side in contact with the at least one electrochemical cell. The battery module also includes a heat sink in contact with a second side of the thermal interface. The thermal interface is adapted to enable heat transfer from the at least one electrochemical cell to the heat sink. | 10-18-2012 |
20120308869 | ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS WITH IMPROVED HEAT COLLECTION AND TRANSFER SYSTEMS - Provided herein are electrochemical cells having improved heat collection and transfer systems. For example, one electrochemical cell includes a drawn can having a blind side and a second side opposite the blind side. The cell also includes a positive terminal disposed in the blind side of the can and electrically coupled to at least one positive electrode disposed within the can and a negative terminal disposed in the blind side of the can and electrically coupled to at least one negative electrode disposed within the can. The cell further includes a base coupled to a substantially flat edge disposed on the second side of the can. A bottom surface of the base is adapted to maintain a substantially flat configuration when coupled to a heat sink. | 12-06-2012 |
20130192807 | METHOD FOR COOLING A LITHIUM-ION BATTERY PACK - Systems are disclosed for battery modules with cooling systems. In accordance with disclosed embodiments, the cooling system may be disposed against an external surface of a housing of the battery module. The cooling system may utilize a coolant to remove heat generated by cells within the battery module, to prevent the cells from aging prematurely. Embodiments of the cooling system may include cold plates, tubes, fins, and plates, or a combination thereof, which may route the coolant along the surface of the battery module housing. Such features may create a large effective cooling surface against the battery module housing to promote a high heat transfer rate from the cells to the coolant. | 08-01-2013 |
20130273829 | AIR COOLED THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR HEV BATTERY PACK - Systems are disclosed for battery modules/systems with cooling systems. In accordance with disclosed embodiments, the cooling system may be disposed against an external surface of a housing of the battery system. The cooling system may utilize air as a coolant to remove heat generated by cells within the battery module, to prevent the cells from aging prematurely. Embodiments of the cooling system may include manifolds, channels, fins, or a combination thereof, which may route the cooling air along the surface of the battery module housing. Such features may create an isothermal temperature distribution within the battery system. | 10-17-2013 |
20130330594 | MANUFACTURING SERVICE DISCONNECT THAT IS PART OF BUSBAR - A battery system includes at least a first battery module and a second battery module, and a service disconnect unit electrically coupling the first battery module to the second battery module. The service disconnect unit comprises a bus bar that includes a first portion electrically connected to the first battery module, and a second portion electrically connected to the second battery module. The service disconnect unit also comprises a removable conductive member configured to electrically connect the first portion of the bus bar to the second portion of the bus bar. | 12-12-2013 |
20150072174 | LAYERED BATTERY MODULE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLY - A method of manufacturing a battery module for use in a vehicle is presented. The method may include disposing battery cells into a lower housing and disposing a lid assembly over the battery cells. The lid assembly may include a lid and bus bar interconnects disposed on the lid. The method may also include disposing a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly onto the lid assembly and electrically coupling portions of the lid assembly, portions of the PCB assembly, and the battery cells to each other. | 03-12-2015 |
20150072175 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VENTING PRESSURIZED GAS FROM A BATTERY MODULE - Present embodiments are directed to a battery module including a venting assembly and a method of manufacturing the battery module. The venting assembly may, in certain embodiments, be designed to vent gases from a plurality of battery cells disposed in a housing of the battery module. Each of the plurality of battery cells may include a battery cell vent. The venting assembly may include a lid designed to be coupled to the housing and disposed over the battery cells in the housing. In some embodiments, the lid includes a vent chamber formed in the lid and designed to receive and direct gases vented from the plurality of battery cells away from the battery module. | 03-12-2015 |
20150072176 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING CONNECTIONS OF A BATTERY MODULE - A battery module includes a housing and battery cells disposed in the housing, each of the battery cells including two terminals. The battery module also includes bus bar cell interconnects including a first material, where each bus bar cell interconnect is configured to electrically couple two adjacent battery cells via an electrical coupling with a first terminal of one of the adjacent battery cells and a second terminal of the other adjacent battery cell, where at least one of the first and second terminals includes the first material. The battery module includes welds, each weld being disposed at a corresponding welding point to directly couple one of the bus bar cell interconnects with the corresponding at least one terminal including the first material. Each welding point is accessible for welding from a position above the battery cells when the interconnects are disposed over the battery cells. | 03-12-2015 |
20150072177 | BATTERY MODULE LID ASSEMBLY SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME - A lid assembly for use in a battery module includes a lid with apertures extending through the lid in a vertical direction, where each of the apertures is configured to receive a terminal of a battery cell of the battery module. The lid assembly also includes one or more extensions extending away from the lid in the vertical direction. Each of the one or more extensions is configured to couple the lid to a printed circuit board assembly of the battery module. The lid assembly also includes walls extending away from the lid in the vertical direction. Each of the walls is configured to extend between a first terminal of a first battery cell and a second terminal of a second battery cell. | 03-12-2015 |
20150072187 | BLADED FUSE CONNECTORS FOR USE IN A VEHICLE BATTERY MODULE - A battery system having a bladed fuse connector and a method of operation of the bladed fuse connector are provided. The system may, in certain embodiments, include a printed circuit board (PCB) and a high current interconnect. The high current interconnect may be mounted to and extending upward from the PCB. The battery system may also include a fuse. The fuse may limit an amount of current flowing through the battery system. Additionally, the battery system may include a bladed fuse connector coupled between the high current interconnect and the fuse. The bladed fuse connector may carry a current between the high current interconnect and the fuse. To that end, the bladed fuse connector may include an S-shaped bend between the high current interconnect and the fuse. | 03-12-2015 |
20150072193 | BATTERY MODULE LID SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system includes a lid disposed over battery cells in a battery module. The lid includes flexible fingers, and each of the flexible fingers aligns with a corresponding one of the battery cells. Each of the flexible fingers is configured to exert a downward force against the corresponding one of the battery cells, and the flexible fingers are configured to accommodate varying heights of the battery cells. | 03-12-2015 |
20150072195 | SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING VOLTAGE MEASUREMENTS OF BATTERY CELLS TO A PCB WITHIN A BATTERY MODULE - A battery module and a method of manufacture are provided. The battery module may include a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly. The PCB assembly may include a PCB designed to be disposed in a battery module for controlling operations of the battery module. The PCB may also include voltage sensing circuitry. In addition, the PCB assembly may include a bus bar cell interconnect. The bus bar cell interconnect may electrically couple batteries of the battery module. The PCB assembly may also include a voltage sense connection tab. The voltage sense connection tab may carry a voltage between a bus bar cell interconnect of the battery module and the voltage sensing circuitry on the PCB. | 03-12-2015 |
20150072196 | HIGH CURRENT INTERCONNECT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE IN A BATTERY MODULE - A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly may include a PCB and a high current interconnect mounted on the PCB. The high current interconnect may be configured to electrically couple a first high current bladed component, a second high current bladed component, and a trace disposed on the PCB. The high current interconnect may include feet made of a conductive material that are coupled to the PCB. The trace may be coupled to the feet via a weld. | 03-12-2015 |
20150072206 | BATTERY MODULE HOUSING AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME - A battery module includes a housing configured to hold prismatic battery cells within a space defined by four interior walls of the housing. The housing includes a first interior wall that includes partitions extending upwards from a bottom of the housing and a second interior wall that includes partitions extending upwards from the bottom of the housing. The first interior wall faces opposite the second interior wall. The partitions disposed on the first interior wall and the partitions disposed on the second interior wall define slots between adjacent partitions, where each of the slots increases in width between the adjacent partitions from the bottom of the housing upwards. Each of the slots is configured to retain one of the prismatic battery cells. | 03-12-2015 |
20150072207 | BATTERY TERMINAL POST SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE - A terminal for a battery module and a method of manufacture of the terminal are provided. The battery module may include a plurality of battery cells and a bus bar. The bus bar may be electrically coupled to the plurality of battery cells. The battery module also may include a battery terminal that carries a voltage from the bus bar. The battery terminal may include a generally cylindrical terminal portion and a connector. The connector may be coupled to the bus bar cell interconnect. The battery terminal also may include a bent portion. The bent portion is disposed between the terminal portion and the connector. | 03-12-2015 |
20150072208 | BATTERY CELL INTERCONNECT WITH STRESS DISTRIBUTION OVER A GEOMETRIC FORM - A battery module including bus bar cell interconnects and a method of manufacture are provided. The battery module may, in certain embodiments, include a housing, a plurality of battery cells disposed in the housing, and a bus bar cell interconnect. The bus bar cell interconnect is designed to electrically couple a first battery cell and a second battery cell. In some embodiments, the bus bar cell interconnect includes a first end electrically coupled with a first terminal of the first battery cell and a second end electrically coupled with a second terminal of the second battery cell. The bus bar cell interconnect also includes a curved portion disposed between the first end and the second end, and the bus bar cell interconnect is designed to distribute stress across the curved portion. | 03-12-2015 |
20150072209 | BUS BAR LINK FOR BATTERY CELL INTERCONNECTIONS IN A BATTERY MODULE - A bus bar including a first end comprising a first material and a second end comprising a second material and a method of manufacture are provided. The first end is designed to be coupled to a terminal of a first battery cell of a battery module and includes a first collar disposed on the first end designed to receive and surround the terminal of the first battery cell of the battery module. The second end is designed to be coupled to a terminal of a second battery cell of the battery module and includes a second collar disposed on the second end designed to receive and surround the terminal of the second battery of the battery module. The first and second batteries of the battery module are adjacent to one another. Moreover, the bus bar includes a joint electrically and mechanically coupling the first end and the second end. | 03-12-2015 |