Elastic bladder and battery cell assemblies including same
First Claim
1. A battery stack comprisinga first cell,a second cell positioned adjacent the first cell in a stacked arrangement with the first cell, the first and second cells each includinga cell housing,a positive electrode, anda negative electrode,the positive electrode and the negative electrode sealed within the cell housing along with an electrolyte, andan elastic member disposed between the first cell and the second cell, the elastic member comprisinga first sheet,a second sheet layered with the first sheet,whereinthe first sheet and the second sheet are joined along a first sealed line that forms a peripheral edge of the elastic member,the first sheet and the second sheet are joined along a second sealed line that is spaced apart from the peripheral edge, the second sealed line forming a closed shape,a first interior space is defined between the first sheet, the second sheet, the first sealed line and the second sealed line,a second interior space is defined between the first sheet, the second sheet and within the second sealed line,the first interior space is at least partially inflated, and the second interior space is less inflated than the first interior space, andthe elastic member is free of a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A battery pack includes a battery housing and electrochemical cells disposed in the battery housing in a stacked configuration. Elastic bladders are disposed between adjacent cells of a cell stack. The elastic bladders are configured to serve as a compression spring that provide a predetermined compression force to each cell while accommodating cell growth during use. The elastic bladders may include surface features such as strategically shaped and/or located protrusions or restrained regions that are configured to permit compliance and can be tuned to address the requirements of a specific application and permit application of varying stiffness characteristics across a surface of a cell.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A battery stack comprising
a first cell, a second cell positioned adjacent the first cell in a stacked arrangement with the first cell, the first and second cells each including a cell housing, a positive electrode, and a negative electrode, the positive electrode and the negative electrode sealed within the cell housing along with an electrolyte, and an elastic member disposed between the first cell and the second cell, the elastic member comprising a first sheet, a second sheet layered with the first sheet, wherein the first sheet and the second sheet are joined along a first sealed line that forms a peripheral edge of the elastic member, the first sheet and the second sheet are joined along a second sealed line that is spaced apart from the peripheral edge, the second sealed line forming a closed shape, a first interior space is defined between the first sheet, the second sheet, the first sealed line and the second sealed line, a second interior space is defined between the first sheet, the second sheet and within the second sealed line, the first interior space is at least partially inflated, and the second interior space is less inflated than the first interior space, and the elastic member is free of a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet.
-
9. A battery module comprising
a cell support element; -
a first cell supported on the cell support element, a second cell supported on the cell support element, the second cell positioned adjacent the first cell in a stacked arrangement with the first cell, the first and second cells each including a cell housing, a positive electrode, and a negative electrode, the positive electrode and the negative electrode sealed within the cell housing along with an electrolyte, and an elastic member disposed between the first cell and the second cell, the elastic member comprising a first sheet, a second sheet layered with the first sheet, wherein the first sheet and the second sheet are joined along a first sealed line that forms a peripheral edge of the elastic member, the first sheet and the second sheet are joined along a second sealed line that is spaced apart from the peripheral edge, the second sealed line forming a closed shape, a first interior space is defined between the first sheet, the second sheet, the first sealed line and the second sealed line, a second interior space is defined between the first sheet, the second sheet and within the second sealed line, the first interior space is at least partially inflated, and the second interior space is less inflated than the first interior space, and the elastic member is free of a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A battery pack comprising
a battery pack housing; -
a first cell disposed in the housing, a second cell disposed in the housing, the second cell positioned adjacent the first cell in a stacked arrangement, the first and second cells each including a cell housing, a positive electrode, and a negative electrode, the positive electrode and the negative electrode sealed within the cell housing along with an electrolyte, and an elastic member disposed between the first cell and the second cell, the elastic member comprising a first sheet, a second sheet layered with the first sheet, wherein the first sheet and the second sheet are joined along a first sealed line that forms a peripheral edge of the elastic member, the first sheet and the second sheet are joined along a second sealed line that is spaced apart from the peripheral edge, the second sealed line forming a closed shape, a first interior space is defined between the first sheet, the second sheet, the first sealed line and the second sealed line, a second interior space is defined between the first sheet, the second sheet and within the second sealed line, the first interior space is at least partially inflated, and the second interior space is less inflated than the first interior space, and the elastic member is free of a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
Specification