BATTERY PACK RETENTION ASSEMBLY AND RETENTION METHOD

• US 20180076430A1
• Filed: 11/20/2017
• Published: 03/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Subramanian, Rajaram, Gunther, Tom M., Paramasivam, Saravanan, Droste, Steve, Gunna, Rohit
• Granted Patent: US 10,644,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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 50/289 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

An exemplary method of securing portions of a battery pack includes, among other things, slidably engaging a portion of a battery cell frame within a channel of an extrusion, and securing the extrusion to a support to secure the battery cell frame.

Claims

1. A method of securing portions of a battery pack, comprising:

slidably engaging a portion of a battery cell frame within a channel of an extrusion; and

securing the extrusion to a support to secure the battery cell frame.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery cell frame extends about the perimeter of at least one battery cell.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion is a foot extending laterally outward from the remaining portions of the battery support frame.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the extrusion engages a portion of a plurality of other battery cell frames.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the extrusion to limit both upward and downward movement of the battery cell frame.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising snap-fitting the extrusion to the battery cell frame.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel is provided by an upper retention flange, a lower retention flange, and a wall of the extrusion, the upper retention flange extending from the wall to an upper retention flange leading edge, the lower retention flange extending from the wall to a lower retention flange leading edge, and further comprising snap-fitting a ridge within a groove when the channel receives the portion, the snap-fit feature position entirely within the channel when the channel receives the portion such that the snap-fit feature is spaced a distance from both the upper retention flange leading edge and the lower retention flange leading edge.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the extrusion extends longitudinally along a first axis, and the channel and the groove extend along a second axis aligned with the first axis.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the portion is a foot extending laterally from other portions of the frame, the upper retention flange positioned against an upwardly facing surface of the foot when the channel receives the foot, the lower retention flange positioned against a downwardly facing surface of the foot when the channel receives the foot.

10. A battery pack securing method, comprising:

engaging a portion of a battery cell frame within a channel of an extrusion, the channel provided by upper and lower flanges extending from a wall;

snap-fitting a snap-fit feature during the engaging, the snap-fit feature disposed entirely within the channel; and

securing the extrusion to a support to secure the battery cell frame.

11. The battery pack securing method of claim 10, wherein the snap-fit feature includes ridge and groove that are positioned entirely within the channel when the extrusion engages the portion such that ridge and groove are both spaced a distance from a leading edge of the upper flange and a leading edge of the lower flange.

12. The battery pack securing method of claim 11, wherein the upper and lower flanges extend from the wall to the respective leading edges.

13. The battery pack securing method of claim 10, further comprising slideably receiving the portion within the channel during the engaging.

14. The battery pack securing method of claim 13, wherein the extrusion extends longitudinally along a first axis, and the snap-fit feature comprises a channel and a groove extending along a second axis aligned with the first axis.

15. The battery pack securing method of claim 14, securing an end cap to a longitudinal end portion of the extrusion to limit movement of the extrusion relative to the portion along the first axis.

16. The battery pack securing method of claim 10, wherein the extrusion has a “

C”

shaped cross-sectional profile.

17. The battery pack securing method of claim 10, wherein the channel is provided entirely by the upper flange, the lower flange, and the wall as a monolithic structure.