Battery pack with phase change material

• US 10,305,155 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2017
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Ebner, Jeremy R., Schulz, Cameron R., Thorson, Troy C., Gehring, Todd M., Kolden, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Marks, Jacob B
• Application Number:
  US15/667,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20170331163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/659 by heat storage or buffering, e.g. heat capacity or liquid-solid phase changes or transition
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/317 Re-sealable arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A bladder configured to support a phase change material in a heat transfer relationship with at least one battery cell including a wall defining a channel, the phase change material surrounding a portion of the channel.

Claims

1. A bladder configured to support phase change material in a heat transfer relationship with at least one battery cell, the bladder comprising:

a wall defining a channel, the phase change material surrounding a portion of the channel.

2. The bladder of claim 1, wherein the wall defines an opening fluidly connected to the channel.

3. The bladder of claim 2, further comprising a flange, the opening being defined in the flange.

4. The bladder of claim 2, wherein, in response to a change in phase of the phase change material, the wall is configured to collapse the channel.

5. The bladder of claim 4, wherein, in response to the channel collapsing, a fluid in the channel is configured to be displaced through the opening.

6. The bladder of claim 5, wherein the fluid includes air.

7. The bladder of claim 1, wherein the wall is an inner wall, and wherein the bladder further comprises an outer wall spaced from the inner wall.

8. The bladder of claim 7, wherein the phase change material is positioned between the outer wall and the inner wall.

9. The bladder of claim 7, wherein, in response to a change in phase of the phase change material, the inner wall is configured to collapse the channel.

10. The bladder of claim 9, wherein the inner wall is formed of an elastic material.

11. The bladder of claim 9, wherein the inner wall defines an opening fluidly connected to the channel, and wherein, in response to the channel collapsing, a fluid in the channel is configured to be displaced through the opening.

12. The bladder of claim 11, wherein the fluid includes air.

13. The bladder of claim 1, further comprising a vent in fluid communication with the channel, and wherein, in response to a change in phase of the phase change material, a fluid in the channel is configured to be displaced through the vent.

14. The bladder of claim 1, wherein, in response to a change in phase of the phase change material, the channel is configured to change in volume.

15. A vessel containing phase change material, the phase change material in a heat transfer relationship with at least one battery cell, the vessel comprising:

an outer wall;

an inner wall defining a channel; and

a vent in fluid communication with the channel, the phase change material being positioned between the outer wall and the inner wall.

16. The vessel of claim 15, wherein the phase change material surrounds a portion of the channel.

17. The vessel of claim 15, wherein, in response to a change in phase of the phase change material, the inner wall is configured to collapse the channel.

18. The vessel of claim 15, wherein, in response to a change in phase of the phase change material, a fluid in the channel is configured to pass through the vent.

19. The vessel of claim 18, wherein the fluid includes air.

20. The vessel of claim 15, further comprising a flange, the vent being positioned through the flange.