Power supply temperature sensor and system
First Claim
1. A temperature sensor arrangement for an electrical power supply system having a power supply housing configured to receive at least one power supply unit therein and including an aperture therethrough forming a generally elongate opening having two long sides and two short sides, and providing communication between a respective power supply unit and an ambient environment outside the housing, the power supply housing further including a pair of flexible locking members adjacent the aperture and disposed along a length of a respective long side, the sensor arrangement comprising:
- a sensor having a sensing element and configured to sense a temperature of a respective power supply unit; and
a sensor housing surrounding at least a portion of the sensor, the sensor housing including a first portion surrounding at least a portion of the sensing element to electrically insulate the sensing element from the respective power supply unit, the first portion of the sensor housing being configured to be disposed through the aperture in the power supply housing to contact the respective power supply unit to facilitate conductive heat transfer between the respective power supply unit and the first portion of the sensor housing, the sensor housing including a retaining feature having a raised portion configured to cooperate with the flexible locking members to inhibit movement of the sensor housing, thereby maintaining contact between the first portion of the sensor housing and the respective power supply unit,the raised portion of the sensor housing including a generally quadrilateral cross section having two long sides and two short sides, the raised portion being further configured to be at least partially inserted into the elongate opening in a first position wherein the long sides of the raised portion are parallel to the long sides of the elongate opening, the sensor housing being rotatable in the elongate opening to a second position wherein the long sides of the raised portion are generally perpendicular to the long sides of the elongate opening and the raised portion engages the flexible locking members.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power supply temperature sensor and system includes a power supply housing configured to receive at least one power supply unit, such as a battery cell. The power supply housing includes an aperture which provides communication between the battery cell and an ambient environment outside the power supply housing. A sensor having a sensing element is configured to sense a temperature of the battery cell, and a sensor housing surrounds at least a portion of the sensor, including at least a portion of the sensing element. This electrically isolates the sensing element from the battery cell. A portion of the sensor housing is configured to be disposed through the aperture in the power supply housing to make contact with the battery cell to facilitate conductive heat transfer between the battery cell and the sensor housing, thereby facilitating an accurate measurement of the temperature of the battery cell.
128 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A temperature sensor arrangement for an electrical power supply system having a power supply housing configured to receive at least one power supply unit therein and including an aperture therethrough forming a generally elongate opening having two long sides and two short sides, and providing communication between a respective power supply unit and an ambient environment outside the housing, the power supply housing further including a pair of flexible locking members adjacent the aperture and disposed along a length of a respective long side, the sensor arrangement comprising:
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a sensor having a sensing element and configured to sense a temperature of a respective power supply unit; and a sensor housing surrounding at least a portion of the sensor, the sensor housing including a first portion surrounding at least a portion of the sensing element to electrically insulate the sensing element from the respective power supply unit, the first portion of the sensor housing being configured to be disposed through the aperture in the power supply housing to contact the respective power supply unit to facilitate conductive heat transfer between the respective power supply unit and the first portion of the sensor housing, the sensor housing including a retaining feature having a raised portion configured to cooperate with the flexible locking members to inhibit movement of the sensor housing, thereby maintaining contact between the first portion of the sensor housing and the respective power supply unit, the raised portion of the sensor housing including a generally quadrilateral cross section having two long sides and two short sides, the raised portion being further configured to be at least partially inserted into the elongate opening in a first position wherein the long sides of the raised portion are parallel to the long sides of the elongate opening, the sensor housing being rotatable in the elongate opening to a second position wherein the long sides of the raised portion are generally perpendicular to the long sides of the elongate opening and the raised portion engages the flexible locking members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An electrical power supply system, comprising:
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a power supply housing configured to receive at least one power supply unit therein and including; an aperture therethrough forming a generally elongate opening having two long sides and two short sides, and providing communication between a respective power supply unit and an ambient environment outside the housing, and a pair of flexible locking members adjacent the aperture and disposed along a length of a respective long side; a sensor having a sensing element and configured to sense a temperature of a respective power supply unit; and a sensor housing surrounding at least a portion of the sensor, the sensor housing including a first portion surrounding at least a portion of the sensing element to electrically insulate the sensing element from the respective power supply unit, the first portion of the sensor housing being configured to be disposed through the aperture in the power supply housing to contact the respective power supply unit to facilitate conductive heat transfer between the respective power supply unit and the first portion of the sensor housing, the sensor housing including a retaining feature having a raised portion including a generally quadrilateral cross section having two long sides and two short sides, and configured to cooperate with the flexible locking members to inhibit movement of the sensor housing, thereby maintaining contact between the first portion of the sensor housing and the respective power supply unit, the raised portion being further configured to be at least partially inserted into the elongate opening in a first position wherein the long sides of the raised portion are parallel to the long sides of the elongate opening, the sensor housing being rotatable in the elongate opening to a second position wherein the long sides of the raised portion are generally perpendicular to the long sides of the elongate opening, and the raised portion engages the flexible locking members. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification