Battery pack securing method

• US 10,069,123 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2017
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Maguire, Patrick Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Meyer, Jacob B
• Application Number:
  US15/630,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20170288185A1
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0438 Arrangement under the floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/90 Vehicles comprising electric prime movers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2306/01 Reducing damages in case of crash, e.g. by improving battery protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2410/10 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/249 specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/262 with fastening means, e.g. locks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An exemplary securing method includes securing a battery pack relative to a portion of an electrified vehicle by engaging a retention feature inside a perimeter of a battery pack enclosure, and by fastening the battery pack enclosure to the portion with at least one fastener outside the perimeter. The perimeter is established by a plurality of sidewalls and endwalls of the battery pack enclosure.

Claims

1. A method of securing a battery pack to an electrified vehicle, comprising:

moving a battery pack enclosure relative to a portion of an electrified vehicle to fully transition a protrusion from a disengaged position with a bracket to an engaged position with the bracket, the protrusion in the engaged position securing the battery pack enclosure to the electrified vehicle, the protrusion and the bracket both positioned laterally within a perimeter of the battery pack enclosure when the protrusion is in the engaged position, the perimeter established by a plurality of sidewalls and endwalls of the battery pack enclosure; and

further securing the battery pack to the electrified vehicle using a fastener that is positioned outside of the perimeter.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the protrusion contacting a pocket floor of the bracket when the protrusion is in the engaged position.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion is an underbody of the electrified vehicle, and the moving is a moving of the battery pack enclosure relative to the underbody.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the moving is a horizontal movement of the battery pack enclosure relative to the underbody.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the moving is a relative movement of the battery pack enclosure toward a front of the electrified vehicle.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the moving is a vertical movement of the battery pack enclosure relative to the underbody.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the protrusion has a neck portion extending along an axis from a surface to a head portion that is enlarged relative to the neck portion, wherein the neck portion is received within a slot of the bracket during the moving such that at least a portion of the bracket is positioned between the head and the surface when the protrusion is in the engaged position.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the bracket includes a floor and a flange extending from the bracket, the flange angled relative to the floor, and further comprising bending the flange as the protrusion moves through the slot to the engaged position with bracket.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the protrusion extends along an axis from a surface, the protrusion having a post and at least one tang extending from the post in a direction transverse to the axis, wherein a bracket is positioned between the at least one tang and the surface when the protrusion is in the engaged position.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the bracket has a pocket with a floor, the protrusion having a tab spaced from a surface, wherein the floor of the pocket is positioned between the tab and the surface when the protrusion is in the engaged position.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the protrusion extends from the battery pack enclosure, and the bracket is directly attached to an underbody of the electrified vehicle.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the protrusion extends from an underbody of the electrified vehicle, and the bracket is directly attached to the battery pack enclosure.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the bracket or the protrusion is directly attached to a lid of the battery pack enclosure.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the fastener is a mechanical fastener.

15. A securing method, comprising:

moving an enclosure of a battery pack relative to a portion of an electrified vehicle to fully transition a protrusion from a disengaged position to an engaged position with a bracket, the protrusion and the bracket laterally inside a perimeter of the enclosure that is established by a plurality of sidewalls and endwalls of the enclosure when the protrusion is in the engaged position; and

after the moving, fastening the enclosure to the portion at a position outside the perimeter.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising fastening using at least one mechanical fastener.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the protrusion in the engaged position with the bracket secures and holds the enclosure relative to the portion.

18. A securing method, comprising:

securing a battery pack relative to a portion of an electrified vehicle by moving the battery pack relative to the portion to engage a bracket with a protrusion at a position inside a perimeter established by a plurality of sidewalls and endwalls of a battery pack enclosure, and by fastening the battery pack enclosure to the portion with at least one fastener outside the perimeter.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one fastener is a mechanical fastener.