Monoblock battery assembly with cross-flow cooling

• US 6,689,510 B1
• Filed: 09/26/2000
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chevron Texaco Corporation (Chevron Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc (BASF SE)
• Inventors: Corrigan, Dennis A., Gow, Philippe, Muller, Marshall D., Higley, Lin R., Osgood, Anthony, Puttaiah, Rajeev, Ovshinsky, Stanford R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kalafut, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALEJANDRO, RAYMOND
• Application Number:
  US09/670,155
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• Field of Search: 429/149, 429/156, 429/158, 429/159, 429/160, 429/120, 429/99, 429/96, 429/148, 429/71, 429/163, 429/176
• US Class Current: 429/149
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0413 Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/24 Alkaline accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/345 Gastight metal hydride accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6557 arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6561 Gases
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6567 Liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6568 characterised by flow circuits, e.g. loops, located externally to the cells or cell casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/112 Monobloc comprising multiple compartments
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/227 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/278 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/394 Gas-pervious parts or elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/528 Fixed electrical connections, i.e. not intended for disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/529 Intercell connections through partitions, e.g. in a battery casing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/548 on opposite sides of the cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/42 Grouping of primary cells into batteries H01M6/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 : Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A multi-cell monoblock battery in which a plurality of electrochemical cells are disposed in a battery case. The battery case includes one or more cell partitions which divide the interior of the case into a plurality of cell compartments that house the electrochemical cells. Preferably, one or more coolant channels are integrally formed with at least one of the cell partitions. The coolant channels may have inlets and outlets disposed in the walls of the battery case so as to provide a cross-flow cooling design.

Claims

1. A multi-cell monoblock battery, comprising:

a battery case including a plurality of cell partitions dividing said case into cell compartments, said cell partitions including at least a first cell partition having a draft angle and a second cell partition tapering opposite said draft angle; and

a plurality of electrochemical cells disposed in said case.

2. The battery of claim 1, wherein at least one of said cell partitions includes at least one coolant channel.

3. The battery of claim 1, wherein said second cell partition includes at least one coolant channel.

4. The battery of claim 1, wherein said first cell partition is formed integral with at least one wall of said case and/or with the bottom of said case as a one-piece construction.

5. The battery of claim 1, wherein said electrochemical cells are nickel-metal hydride cells.

6. The battery of claim 1, wherein said battery case is formed of a plastic material.