BATTERY ASSEMBLY REINFORCEMENT MEMBER

• US 20150357615A1
• Filed: 06/04/2014
• Published: 12/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2014
• 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, Gibeau, John Paul
• Granted Patent: US 10,020,475 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/291 characterised by their shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/293 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A battery assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a tray, a battery array mounted to the tray, a cover positioned about the battery array and a reinforcement member disposed between the cover and the battery array.

Claims

1. A battery assembly, comprising:

a tray;

a battery array mounted to said tray;

a cover positioned about said battery array; and

a reinforcement member disposed between said cover and said battery array.

2. The battery assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said reinforcement member is L-shaped and extends between a wall of said cover and said battery array.

3. The battery assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said reinforcement member is T-shaped and extends between said cover and said battery array and between said battery array and a second battery array.

4. The battery assembly as recited in claim 1, comprising a plurality of reinforcement members positioned between said cover and said battery array.

5. The battery assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said reinforcement member is made of a high density foam.

6. The battery assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said reinforcement member is made of an expandable foam.

7. The battery assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said reinforcement member is made of a non-foamed polymer.

8. The battery assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said reinforcement member is made of rubber.

9. The battery assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said reinforcement member is mounted to at least one of said cover and said battery array.

10. The battery assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said reinforcement member is mounted to said cover but spaced from said battery array.

11. The battery assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said reinforcement member is a loosely fitted structure positioned between said cover and said battery array.

12. The battery assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said reinforcement member is at least as wide as said battery array.

13. A battery assembly, comprising:

a first battery array;

a second battery array;

a cover positioned about said first battery array and said second battery array; and

a reinforcement member that extends between said first battery array and said second battery array or between said cover and at least one of said first battery array and said second battery array.

14. The battery assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein said reinforcement member is positioned near a centerline of said first battery array and said second battery array.

15. The battery assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein said reinforcement member includes a first portion that extends between said first battery array and said second battery array, and a second portion that extends between said cover and said at least one of said first battery array and said second battery array.

16. The battery assembly as recited in claim 13, comprising a second reinforcement member disposed between said cover and at least one said first battery array and said second battery array.

17. A method, comprising:

positioning a reinforcement member between a cover and a battery array; and

transferring a first portion of a load applied to the battery array from the battery array, through the reinforcement member, and then to the cover.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, comprising absorbing a second portion of the load with the reinforcement member.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the positioning step occurs after the cover is mounted over the battery array.

20. The method as recited in claim 17, comprising injecting a material into an expandable bag attached to the cover after the cover is mounted over the battery array to form the reinforcement member.