Spacers for fixing battery cells within a battery package casing and associated systems and methods

• US 8,252,441 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Greatbatch Limited (Greatbatch Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Micro Power Electronics, Inc. (Electrochem Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Planck, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anthony, Julian
• Application Number:
  US12/201,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20090061301A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 429 96-100
• US Class Current: 429/96
• 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 50/529 Intercell connections through partitions, e.g. in a battery casing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53135 Storage cell or battery

Abstract

A battery support system for supporting at least one battery cell disposed within a battery package is described herein. In one embodiment, the battery support system includes a spacer element having a frame member configured to be proximate to an end of the battery cell. The frame member has first projections extending away from the frame member in a first direction. The first projections are configured to engage a portion of the side surface of the battery cell. In a particular embodiment, the frame member further has second projections extending away from the frame member in a second direction generally opposite the first direction. The second projections are configured or positioned to provide a stand-off between the end of the battery cell and an interior surface of the battery package in which the battery support system is disposed.

Claims

1. A battery package, comprising:

a casing having an interior surface;

at least one battery cell disposed within the casing, the battery cell having a first end, a second end spaced apart from the first end and a side surface between the first and second ends; and

a spacer element disposed within the casing and interpoed between the battery cell and the interior surface of the casing, the spacer element including a frame member proximate to the first end of the battery cell, first projections carried by the frame member and extending away from the first end of the battery cell and toward the interior surface of the casing, and second projections carried by the frame member and extending in a generally opposite direction from the first projections and away from the interior surface of the casing, wherein the second projections are engaged with the side surface of the battery cell.

2. The battery package of claim 1 wherein the interior-surface is a first interior surface, the casing further has a second interior surface, the spacer element is a first spacer element, the frame member is a first frame member, and wherein the battery package further comprises:

a second spacer element disposed within the casing and interposed between the battery cell and the second interior surface of the casing, the second spacer element including a second frame member proximate to the second end of the battery cell, third projections carried by the second frame member and extending away from the second end of the battery cell and toward the second interior surface of the casing, and fourth projections carried by the second frame member, extending away from the second interior surface of the casing and engaged with the side surface of the battery cell.

3. The battery package of claim 1 wherein the frame member includes a frame opening between individual first projections.

4. The battery package of claim 3 wherein the frame opening is a first frame opening between a first set of individual first projections, and the frame member further includes:

a second frame opening between a second set of individual first projections; and

a gap adjacent to the first and second frame openings, the gap connecting the first and second frame openings within the frame member.

5. The battery package of claim 3 wherein the frame member further includes a gap adjacent to the frame opening, the gap being positioned so that the frame opening is not fully enclosed.

6. The battery package of claim 3, further comprising a conductive connector routed through the frame opening of the frame member and electrically intercoupling at least two battery cells.

7. The battery package of claim 1 wherein the first projections are positioned to provide at least one of shock absorption and flexure for the spacer element.

8. The battery package of claim 1 wherein the frame member includes a finger a tab positioned to hold a circuit board at a fixed position relative to the spacer element.

9. A battery support system for supporting at least one battery cell having spaced apart ends and a side surface between the ends, the battery support system comprising:

a spacer element including a frame member configured to be proximate to an end of the battery cell, the frame member having first having projections extending away from the frame member in a first direction and second projections extending away from the frame member in a direction generally opposite the direction the first projections extend away from the frame member, wherein the first projections are positioned to engage a portion of the side surface of the battery cell.

10. The battery support system of claim 9 wherein the spacer element is a first spacer element, the frame member is a first frame member, the end of the battery cell is a first end of the battery cell, the portion of the side surface of the battery cell is a first portion of the side surface of the battery cell, and wherein the battery support system further comprises a second spacer element icluding a second frame member having third projections extending away from the second frame member, wherein the third projections are positioned to engage a second portion of the side surface of the battery cell.

11. The battery support system of claim 10 wherein the first and second space elements are generally identical.

12. The battery support system of claim 9 wherein the spacer element is intactly removable from the portion of the side surface of he battery cell.

13. The battery support system of claim 9 wherein the battery cell is a first battery cell, and wherein the second projections are configured to engage a portion of a side surface of a second battery cell.

14. The battery support system of claim 9 wherein the frame member includes an opening between at least two projections.

15. The battery support system of claim 14 wherein the opening is a first opening, and wherein the frame member further includes:

a second opening between at least two projections, wherein the second opening is adjecent to the first opening; and

a gap coupling the first opening to the second opening.

16. The battery support system of claim 14 wherein the frame member does not fully surround the opening.

17. A method for assembling a battery package, the method comprising:

engaging a side surface of at least one battery cell with a first set of projections extending away from a frame member a spacer element, wherein the projctions in the first set conformably fit around at least at portion of the side surface of the battery cell;

engaging an interior surface of the battery package with a second set of projections extending away from the frame member, wherein the projections in the second set extend in a direction generally opposite the direction the projections in the first set extend away from the frame member, forming an empty space between a terminal end of the battery cell and the interior surface of battery package; and

disposing the spacer element and the battery cell within a battery package.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the frame member is a first frame member, the spacer element is a first spacer element, and wherein the method further comprises engaging a side surface of the battery cell with a third set of projections extending away from a second frame member of a second spacer element, wherein the projections in third set conformably fit around at least a portion of the side surface of the battery cell, and wherein disposing includes disposing the first and second spacer elements and the battery cell within the battery package.

19. A method for retrofitting a battery package, the method comprising:

receiving dimensions for a battery package having an internal volume sized to receive a first set of battery cells having a first length; and

based at least in part on the received dimensions, sizing a distance between at least one first spacer element and at least one second spacer element to attach to a second set of battery cells having a second length smaller than the first length, wherein the first spacer element includes a frame member and a set of projections extending away from the frame member and positioned to engage side surfaces of the battery cells in the second set, wherein the second set of battery cells and the attached first spacer element are juxtaposed to be disposed within the internal volume of the battery package.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

attaching the first spacer element to the second set of battery cells; and

disposing the second set of battery cells and the attached first spacer element within the internal volume of the battery package.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the set of projections is a first set of projections, and wherein the first spacer element further includes a second set of projections extending away from the frame member and configured to engage an interior surface of the battery package.