Using a spacer to block path of thermally conductive structural adhesive in lithium ion cells

• US 10,601,090 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2017
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NIO Technology Company Limited (Shanghai Anbin Technology Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Nio Usa Inc.
• Inventors: Newman, Austin L., Smith, Alexander J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddiquee, Muhammad S
• Application Number:
  US15/581,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20180316071A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/10 Multiple hybrid or EDL capacitors, e.g. arrays or modules housings, cases, encapsulations or mountings thereof H01G11/78
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/18 against thermal overloads, e.g. heating, cooling or ventilating
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/82 Fixing or assembling a capacitive element in a housing, e.g. mounting electrodes, current collectors or terminals in containers or encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/84 Processes for the manufacture of hybrid or EDL capacitors, or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/653 characterised by electrically insulating or thermally conductive materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6554 Rods or plates
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/289 characterised by spacing elements or positioning means within frames, racks or packs spacing elements inside cells other than separators, membranes or diaphragms H01M50/471
• 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: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

Embodiment include a power source module comprising one or more power cells. Each power cell can comprise a pressure vent on a side of the power cell. The pressure vent can be adapted to relieve an internal pressure of the cell when the internal pressure exceeds a threshold. A cooling plate can be disposed adjacent and substantially parallel to a side of the one or more power cells having the pressure vent. One or more spacers can be disposed between each of the one or more power cells and the cooling plate and substantially surrounding the pressure vent of one of the one or more power cells. A thermally conductive potting material can be disposed between the one or more power cells and the cooling plate. Each spacer prevents the potting material from intruding into an area around the vent of one of the one or more power cells.

Claims

1. A power source module comprising:

one or more power cells, each power cell comprising a pressure vent on a side of the power cell, the pressure vent adapted to relieve an internal pressure of the cell when the internal pressure exceeds a threshold;

a cooling plate disposed adjacent and substantially parallel to a side of the one or more power cells having the pressure vent;

one or more spacers, each spacer disposed between one of the one or more power cells and the cooling plate and substantially surrounding the pressure vent of one of the one or more power cells; and

a thermally conductive potting material disposed between the one or more power cells and the cooling plate, wherein the potting material prevents any of the one or more power cells from directly contacting the cooling plate, provides a thermally conductive layer between the one or more power cells and the cooling plate, and comprises a structural member between and joining the one or more power cells and the cooling plate, and wherein each spacer prevents flow of the liquid potting material into an area around the vent of one of the one or more power cells while the potting material cures.

2. The power source module of claim 1, wherein each spacer creates an expansion area in the cured potting material between each cell and the cooling plate adjacent to the vent of one of the one or more power cells when the vent operates to relieve the internal pressure of the cell.

3. The power source module of claim 2, wherein the cooling plate further comprises one or more holes, each of the one or more holes in the cooling plate aligned with one of the spacers and the vent adjacent to the spacer.

4. The power source module of claim 3, wherein the one or more spacers and the one or more holes in the cooling plate vent pressure from the power cells to outside of the power module when the vent operates to relieve the internal pressure of the cell.

5. The power source module of claim 4, wherein the one or more spacers comprise a substantially doughnut shaped ring having an open center portion, the open center portion aligned with the vent of the adjacent power cell.

6. The power source module of claim 1, wherein the liquid potting material is poured onto the cooling plate and around the one or more power cells prior to curing.

7. An electric vehicle, comprising:

a power source module providing electrical power to one or more components of the electric vehicle, the power source module comprising;

one or more power cells, each power cell comprising a pressure vent on a side of the power cell, the pressure vent adapted to relieve an internal pressure of the cell when the internal pressure exceeds a threshold;

a cooling plate disposed adjacent and substantially parallel to a side of the one or more power cells having the pressure vent;

one or more spacers, each spacer disposed between one of the one or more power cells and the cooling plate and substantially surrounding the pressure vent of one of the one or more power cells; and

a thermally conductive potting material disposed between the one or more power cells and the cooling plate, wherein the potting material prevents any of the one or more power cells from directly contacting the cooling plate, provides a thermally conductive layer between the one or more power cells and the cooling plate, and comprises a structural member between and joining the one or more power cells and the cooling plate, and wherein each spacer prevents flow of the liquid potting material into an area around the vent of one of the one or more power cells while the potting material cures.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein each spacer creates an expansion area in the cured potting material between each cell and the cooling plate adjacent to the vent of one of the one or more power cells when the vent operates to relieve the internal pressure of the cell.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the cooling plate further comprises one or more holes, each of the one or more holes in the cooling plate aligned with one of the spacers and the vent adjacent to the spacer.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the one or more spacers and the one or more holes in the cooling plate vent pressure from the power cells to outside of the power module when the vent operates to relieve the internal pressure of the cell.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the one or more spacers comprise a substantially doughnut shaped ring having an open center portion, the open center portion aligned with the vent of the adjacent power cell.

12. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the liquid potting material is poured onto the cooling plate and around the one or more power cells prior to curing.