Cooling manifold

• US 8,403,030 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2009
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Payne, Josh
• Primary Examiner(s): Leo, Leonard R
• Application Number:
  US12/433,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20100276132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,426 Days
• Field of Search: 165/80.4, 165/185, 361/699, 361/704, 429/120
• US Class Current: 165/80.4
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0266 with separate evaporating and condensing chambers connected by at least one conduit; Loop-type heat pipes; with multiple or common evaporating or condensing chambers F28D15/043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 21/02 of carbon, e.g. graphite
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2275/14 by using form fitting connection, e.g. with tongue and groove
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/06 the means being attachable to the element
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/12 Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels F28D1/02, F28D1/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6555 arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20936 Liquid coolant with phase change
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4935 Heat exchanger or boiler making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49389 Header or manifold making

Abstract

A cooling manifold and a method for manufacturing the cooling manifold are provided. The cooling manifold includes a housing that defines an interior region having a serpentine flow path therein. The housing has a first plurality of grooves extending from a first surface of the housing into the housing. The grooves do not fluidly communicate with the interior region. The first plurality of grooves receive a portion of a thermally conductive member therein to conduct heat energy from the thermally conductive member to the housing. The cooling manifold further includes a top cap configured to seal a first end of the housing and a bottom cap configured to seal a second end of the housing.

Claims

1. A cooling manifold, comprising:

a thermally conductive member having a flat panel portion and an extension portion extending from the flat panel portion, the extension portion having first, second and third portions, the first portion extending from an end of the flat panel portion substantially perpendicular to the flat panel portion, the second portion extending from an end of the first portion substantially perpendicular to the first portion, the third portion extending from an end of the second portion substantially perpendicular to the second portion and substantially parallel to the first portion;

a housing that defines an interior region having a serpentine flow path therein, the housing having a first plurality of grooves extending from a first surface of the housing into the housing, the grooves do not fluidly communicate with the interior region, a first groove of the first plurality of grooves having first and second groove portions, the first groove portion extending into the housing perpendicular to the first surface, and the second groove portion extending from an end of the first groove portion parallel to the first surface;

the first and second groove portions configured to receive the second and third portions, respectively, of the thermally conductive member therein, and the first surface configured to receive the first portion of the thermally conductive member thereon, to conduct heat energy from the thermally conductive member to the housing;

a top cap configured to seal a first end of the housing, the top cap having first and second apertures extending therethrough;

a bottom cap configured to seal a second end of the housing;

a first fluid port coupled to the top cap such that the first fluid port fluidly communicates with the first aperture in the top cap; and

a second fluid port coupled to the top cap such that the second fluid port fluidly communicates with the second aperture in the top cap.

2. The cooling manifold of claim 1, wherein the housing is constructed from at least one of aluminum, copper, silver, and gold.

3. The cooling manifold of claim 1, wherein the top cap has a second plurality of grooves extending therethrough such that each groove of the second plurality of grooves communicates with a corresponding groove of the first plurality of grooves in the housing.

4. The cooling manifold of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive member is constructed of graphite.

5. A cooling manifold, comprising:

a thermally conductive member having a flat panel portion and an extension portion extending from the flat panel portion, the extension portion having first, second and third portions, the first portion extending from an end of the flat panel portion substantially perpendicular to the flat panel portion, the second portion extending from an end of the first portion substantially perpendicular to the first portion, the third portion extending from an end of the second portion substantially perpendicular to the second portion and substantially parallel to the first portion;

a housing that defines an interior region having a serpentine flow path therein, the housing having a first plurality of grooves extending from a first surface of the housing into the housing, the grooves do not fluidly communicate with the interior region, a first groove of the first plurality of grooves having first and second groove portions, the first groove portion extending into the housing perpendicular to the first surface, and the second groove portion extending from an end of the first groove portion parallel to the first surface;

the first and second groove portions configured to receive the second and third portions, respectively, of the thermally conductive member therein, and the first surface configured to receive the first portion of the thermally conductive member thereon, to conduct heat energy from the thermally conductive member to the housing;

a top cap configured to seal a first end of the housing, the top cap having a second plurality of grooves extending therethrough, a second groove of the second plurality of grooves communicating with the first groove of the first plurality of grooves in the housing, the second groove having third and fourth groove portions configured to receive the second and third portions, respectively, of the thermally conductive member therein;

a bottom cap configured to seal a second end of the housing;

a first fluid port coupled to the top cap such that the first fluid port fluidly communicates with the interior region of the housing; and

a second fluid port coupled to the top cap such that the second fluid port fluidly communicates with the interior region of the housing.

6. The cooling manifold of claim 5, wherein the housing is constructed from at least one of aluminum, copper, silver, and gold.

7. The cooling manifold of claim 5, wherein the thermally conductive member is constructed of graphite.