Method for the external application of battery pack encapsulant

• US 8,216,502 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2008
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tesla Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tesla Motors Incorporated (Tesla Inc.)
• Inventors: Hermann, Weston Arthur, Kohn, Scott Ira, Mendez, Noel Jason, Villanueva, Ernest Matthew, Jacobs, Alexander Thomas, Zhou, Peng
• Primary Examiner(s): Gupta, Yogendra
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, JEREMIAH R
• Application Number:
  US12/315,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20100136413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 429/186, 429/99, 429/177, 264/272.21, 264/272.11, 264/272.14
• US Class Current: 264/272.21
• 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 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A method and apparatus for simplifying battery pack encapsulation is provided. The battery pack includes a pair of complementary housing members with each housing member including a plurality of cell constraints into which the ends of corresponding battery cells are inserted during assembly. One or both housing members also include at least one, and preferably a plurality, of raised encapsulant injection ports. The raised encapsulant injection ports are designed to extend above the surface of the respective housing members and beyond the injected encapsulation material, thus ensuring that the ports remain open after encapsulation material injection.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a battery pack, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting a first end of each of a plurality of battery cells into a corresponding cell constraint of a first plurality of cell constraints located on an interior surface of a first housing member;

inserting a second end of each of said plurality of battery cells into a corresponding cell constraint of a second plurality of cell constraints located on an interior surface of a second housing member, wherein said first housing member, said second housing member and said plurality of battery cells comprise a battery pack assembly;

injecting a first quantity of encapsulation material through a first plurality of raised encapsulant injection ports within said interior surface of said second housing member, wherein said first quantity of encapsulation material surrounds said first end of each of said plurality of battery cells, wherein said first quantity of encapsulation material surrounds a first section of a second plurality of raised encapsulant injection ports within said interior surface of said first housing member, and wherein said first quantity of encapsulation materials does not contact a second section of said second plurality of raised encapsulant injection ports within said interior surface of said first housing member, wherein said second section of said second plurality of raised encapsulant injection ports extends further from said interior surface of said first housing member than does said first section of said second plurality of raised encapsulant injection ports;

rotating said battery pack assembly; and

injecting a second quantity of encapsulation material through said second plurality of raised encapsulant injection ports within said interior surface of said first housing member, wherein said second quantity of encapsulation material surrounds said second end of each of said plurality of battery cells, wherein said second quantity of encapsulation material surrounds a first section of said first plurality of raised encapsulant injection ports within said interior surface of said second housing member, and wherein said second quantity of encapsulation materials does not contact a second section of said first plurality of raised encapsulant injection ports within said interior surface of said second housing member, wherein said second section of said first plurality of raised encapsulant injection ports extends further from said interior surface of said second housing member than does said first section of said first plurality of raised encapsulant injection ports.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first plurality of cell constraints is comprised of a first plurality of cell mounting wells, and wherein said second plurality of cell constraints is comprised of a second plurality of cell mounting wells.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of coupling said first housing member to said second housing member prior to said step of injecting said first quantity of encapsulation material.

4. A method of manufacturing a battery pack, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting a first end of each of a plurality of battery cells into a first plurality of cell constraints located on an interior surface of a first housing member;

adding a first quantity of encapsulation material into said first housing member, wherein said first quantity of encapsulation material covers said interior surface of said first housing member and surrounds said first end of each of said plurality of battery cells, wherein said first quantity of encapsulation material surrounds a first section of a plurality of raised encapsulant injection ports within said interior surface of said first housing member, and wherein said first quantity of encapsulation materials does not contact a second section of said plurality of raised encapsulant injection ports within said interior surface of said first housing member, wherein said second section of said plurality of raised encapsulant injection ports extends further from said interior surface of said first housing member than does said first section of said plurality of raised encapsulant injection ports;

inserting a second end of each of said plurality of battery cells into a second plurality of cell constraints located on an interior surface of a second housing member, wherein said first housing member, said second housing member and said plurality of battery cells comprise a battery pack assembly;

rotating said battery pack assembly; and

injecting a second quantity of encapsulation material through said plurality of raised encapsulant injection ports within said interior surface of said first housing member, wherein said second quantity of encapsulation material surrounds said second end of each of said plurality of battery cells.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said first plurality of cell constraints is comprised of a first plurality of cell mounting wells, and wherein said second plurality of cell constraints is comprised of a second plurality of cell mounting wells.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of coupling said first housing member to said second housing member prior to said rotating step.