BATTERY ASSEMBLY

• US 20110177379A1
• Filed: 03/25/2010
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Maguire, Patrick Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/731,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20110177379A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/154
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/643 Cylindrical cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6561 Gases
• 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 50/503 characterised by the shape of the interconnectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/516 by welding, soldering or brazing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/569 Constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/588 outside the batteries, e.g. incorrect connections of terminals or busbars
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/59 characterised by the protection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An end-to-end cell connection system for a battery assembly uses a conductive interconnector with an inner portion welded to an end of one cell, a standoff portion contiguous with the ring portion, tabs extending from the standoff portion, with the tabs welded to an end of another cell. By placing an insulator between the interconnector and the one cell, an electrical short is prevented in the event that a longitudinally coupled cell group is jostled. At the cell connections, there is a recess. To hold the cell group in place, the housing has a tab extending into the recess. The tab is at the center so that any dimensional variations are accommodated on each side of the tab. The interconnector also may include a receptacle for a thermistor to obtain a measure of battery assembly temperature. Diverter ribs may be provided in the housing to distribute flow to all cells.

Claims

1. An end-to-end cell connection system, comprising:

a conductive interconnector having;

an inner ring portion welded to an end of a first cell;

a standoff portion contiguous with the inner ring portion;

two tabs extending from the standoff portion, the two tabs welded to an end of a second cell; and

a washer-shaped insulator located between the conductive interconnector and the first cell.

2. The cell connection system of claim 1 wherein the insulator has an inside diameter large enough to slide over an exterior surface of the standoff portion.

3. The cell connection system of claim 1 wherein the insulator is fitted over the standoff portion prior to welding the first cell to the conductive interconnector.

4. The cell connection system of claim 1 wherein the tabs comprise two portions:

a first portion which extends outward from the standoff portion in a radial direction and a second portion which extends from the first portion in a direction toward the second cell.

5. The cell connection of claim 4 wherein the first portion of the tabs is welded to an end cap of the second cell.

6. The cell connection of claim 4 wherein the second portion of the tabs is welded to a cylindrical casing of the second cell.

7. The cell connection system of claim 1, further comprising:

a female receptacle coupled to one of the tabs adapted to accept a temperature sensor.

8. The cell connection system of claim 7 wherein the temperature sensor is a thermistor.

9. The cell connection system of claim 8 wherein the temperature sensor is placed proximate the conductive interconnector thereby indicating the temperature of the conductive interconnector.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a conductive interconnector having;

an inner ring portion welded to the terminal end of the first cell;

a standoff portion adjacent to the inner ring portion; and

at least three tabs extending from the standoff portion, the tabs having a first portion that extends radially outward from the standoff portion and a second portion that extends axially from the first portion in a direction away from the first cell.

10. An end-to-end cell connection system, comprising:

a first cell having;

a cylindrical case and a terminal end crimped onto the cylindrical case thereby forming a crimp joint; and

a snap insulator ring snapped onto the crimp joint and substantially covering the crimp joint.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a crimp joint insulator disposed within the crimp joint to electrically insulate the cylindrical case from the terminal end.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the snap insulator ring has the shape of a surface of revolution generated by revolving a substantially J-shaped figure in three-dimensional space about an axis coplanar with the J-shaped figure.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein a diameter of the snap insulator ring is approximately equal to a diameter of the crimp joint such that the snap insulator ring can be snapped onto the crimp joint without inadvertently slipping off.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a conductive interconnect having;

an inner ring portion affixed to the terminal end of the first cell;

a standoff portion adjacent to the inner ring portion; and

four tabs extending radially from the standoff portion.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the entirety of the snap insulator ring is disposed on a side of the tabs proximate the first cell.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a second cell affixed to the tabs of the conductive interconnector.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the inner ring is affixed to the terminal end of the first cell by welding.

19. A battery, comprising:

a first assembly of cells mechanically coupled longitudinally and having a circumferential recess proximate the coupling; and

a housing having a first tubular compartment configured to receive the first assembly, the first compartment having a tab extending inwardly to index with the recess.

20. The battery of claim 19 wherein the first assembly of cells are mechanically coupled by welding.

21. The battery of claim 19 wherein the first assembly of cells comprises four cells, three couplings between the four cells thereby defining three recesses, and the tab indexes with the middle of the three recesses.

22. The battery of claim 19, further comprising:

a second assembly of cells mechanically coupled longitudinally and have a circumferential recess proximate the coupling wherein the housing further includes a second tubular compartment configured to receive the second assembly and the second compartment has a tab extending inwardly to index with the recess in the second assembly.

23. The battery of claim 19, wherein the first cell assembly comprises:

a first cell;

a second cell;

a conductive interconnector having;

an inner ring portion welded to a terminal end of the first cell;

a standoff portion adjacent to the inner ring portion;

two tabs extending from the standoff portion, the two tabs welded to an end of the second cell; and

a washer-shaped insulator located between the conductive interconnector and the first cell, the recess which indexes with the tab being located in between the washer-shaped insulator and the terminal end of the first cell.

24. The battery of claim 19,

wherein the first cell assembly comprises:

a first cell having a cylindrical case and a terminal end crimped onto the cylindrical case thereby forming a crimp joint;

a snap insulator ring snapped onto the crimp joint and substantially covering the crimp joint;

a crimp joint insulator disposed within the crimp joint to electrically insulate the cylindrical case from the terminal end;

a second cell; and

a conductive interconnector having;

an inner ring portion welded to the terminal end of the first cell;

a standoff portion adjacent to the inner ring portion;

two tabs extending from the standoff portion with the two tabs welded to an end of the second cell.