Service panel for accessing a serviceable part

• US 10,312,489 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2015
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2013
• 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): Douyette, Kenneth J
• Application Number:
  US14/967,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20160099450A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/224 Metals
• 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 50/276 Inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/278 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/28 Composite material consisting of a mixture of organic and inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/30 Arrangements for facilitating escape of gases
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/342 Non-re-sealable arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making

Abstract

A battery assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an enclosure assembly defining an interior and a service panel integrally formed in the enclosure assembly. The service panel includes a ductile portion that is removable to access the interior.

Claims

1. A battery assembly, comprising:

an enclosure assembly defining an interior; and

a service panel integrally formed in said enclosure assembly, said service panel including a ductile portion that is removable to access said interior,

wherein said ductile portion includes a tear strip or a perforation molded into said enclosure assembly.

2. The battery assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said interior accommodates at least one serviceable part.

3. The battery assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said enclosure assembly includes a tray made of a first material and a cover made of a second material different from said first material.

4. The battery assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein said first material is a metal and said second material is a thermoplastic.

5. The battery assembly as recited in claim 1, comprising a pull tab connected to said tear strip.

6. The battery assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said tear strip is defined by a first groove and a second groove that are molded into a portion of said enclosure assembly.

7. The battery assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said service panel includes a center body that is bounded by said tear strip.

8. The battery assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said perforation circumscribes an outer periphery of a membrane of said service panel.

9. The battery assembly as recited in claim 1, comprising a replacement panel configured to reseal said interior after removal of at least said ductile portion.

10. The battery assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said ductile portion is irreversibly removable from said enclosure assembly.

11. The battery assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said at least one serviceable part is a control module, a BUS electrical center, or a fuse.

12. An electrified vehicle battery, comprising:

a tray comprised of a first material;

a cover attached to said tray and comprised of a second material different from said first material; and

a service panel integrally molded as part of said cover, a portion of said service panel being plastically deformable to expose an interior of said electrified vehicle battery.

13. The electrified vehicle battery as recited in claim 12, wherein said first material is metallic and said second material is plastic.

14. The electrified vehicle battery assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein said portion of said service panel includes a tear strip and a center body bounded by said tear strip.

15. The electrified vehicle battery as recited in claim 14, wherein said tear strip is established by a first groove and a second groove molded in said cover.

16. The electrified vehicle battery as recited in claim 15, comprising a pull tab connected to said tear strip.

17. The electrified vehicle battery as recited in claim 16, wherein one of said first groove and said second groove terminates short of said pull tab such that said center body remains attached to said tear strip after plastically deforming the service panel.

18. The electrified vehicle battery as recited in claim 12, wherein said cover includes a first portion comprised of said second material and a second portion comprised of a third material.

19. The electrified vehicle battery as recited in claim 18, wherein said second material is a thermoplastic and said third material is a metal.

20. The electrified vehicle battery as recited in claim 12, wherein said portion of said service panel includes a perforation that circumscribes an outer periphery of a membrane of said service panel.