Test system for a battery module

• US 8,816,692 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2011
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Tom, Kwok, Koetting, William, Howay, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US13/308,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20130141105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/132, 320/150, 429/426, 429/427, 429/431, 429/433
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/00 Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means G01N3/00 – G01N25/00 take precedence; measurement or testing of electric or magnetic variables or of electric or magnetic properties of materials G01R
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/27 Association of two or more measuring systems or cells, each measuring a different parameter, where the measurement results may be either used independently, the systems or cells being physically associated, or combined to produce a value for a further parameter
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4285 Testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A test system for a battery module is provided. The system includes a housing having a bottom plate; and first, second, third and fourth side walls coupled to the bottom plate that defines an interior region. The system further includes a mounting fixture that fixedly holds the battery module thereon. The system further includes first, second, third and fourth coupling members. The system further includes a lid coupled to the housing utilizing the first, second, third and fourth coupling members. The system further includes a battery charging system that charges the battery module.

Claims

1. A test system for a battery module, comprising:

a housing having a bottom plate; and

first, second, third and fourth side walls coupled to the bottom plate that define an interior region;

the first and third walls being disposed substantially parallel to one another;

a mounting fixture configured to fixedly hold the battery module thereon, the mounting fixture coupled to the bottom plate within the interior region;

first, second, third and fourth coupling members, the first and second coupling members coupled to an upper end of the first wall, the third and fourth coupling members coupled to an upper end of the third wall;

a lid coupled to the housing utilizing the first, second, third and fourth coupling members;

a battery charging system configured to charge the battery module while the battery module is fixedly held in the mounting fixture; and

the lid including a plate portion and first and second bars coupled to the plate portion, the plate portion configured to cover an upper open end of the housing, the first bar configured to be received in an aperture of the first coupling member and in an aperture of the third coupling member, the second bar configured to be received in an aperture of the second coupling member and in an aperture of the fourth coupling member.

2. The test system of claim 1, further comprising a vacuum system configured to extract gases from the interior region of the housing.

3. The test system of claim 1, further comprising an argon gas delivery system configured to deliver argon gas into the interior region of the housing.

4. The test system of claim 1, further comprising an actuatable cylinder coupled to the housing, the actuatable cylinder configured to extend a rod from a first operational position to a second operational position such that the rod penetrates the battery module at the second operational position.

5. The test system of claim 1, further comprising a voltage sensor configured to generate a voltage signal indicative of an output voltage of at least one battery cell within the battery module.

6. The test system of claim 5, further comprising a computer configured to receive the voltage signal and to store a voltage value in an internal memory corresponding to the voltage value.

7. The test system of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor configured to generate a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of at least one battery cell within the battery module.

8. The test system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second, third and fourth side walls has an aperture extending therethrough, and a viewing window disposed in the aperture.

9. The test system of claim 1, wherein the plate portion of the lid has an aperture extending therethrough, and a viewing window disposed in the aperture.

10. The test system of claim 1, wherein the first, second, third and fourth side walls are constructed of steel.

11. The test system of claim 10, wherein the plate portion of the lid is constructed of steel.

12. A test system for a battery module, comprising:

a housing having a bottom plate; and

first, second, third and fourth side walls coupled to the bottom plate that define an interior region;

the first and third walls being disposed substantially parallel to one another;

a mounting fixture configured to fixedly hold the battery module thereon, the mounting fixture coupled to the bottom plate within the interior region;

first, second, third and fourth coupling members, the first and second coupling members coupled to an upper end of the first wall, the third and fourth coupling members coupled to an upper end of the third wall;

a lid coupled to the housing utilizing the first, second, third and fourth coupling members;

a battery charging system configured to charge the battery module while the battery module is fixedly held in the mounting fixture; and

a vacuum system configured to extract gases from the interior region of the housing.

13. A test system for a battery module, comprising:

a housing having a bottom plate; and

first, second, third and fourth side walls coupled to the bottom plate that define an interior region;

the first and third walls being disposed substantially parallel to one another;

a mounting fixture configured to fixedly hold the battery module thereon, the mounting fixture coupled to the bottom plate within the interior region;

first, second, third and fourth coupling members, the first and second coupling members coupled to an upper end of the first wall, the third and fourth coupling members coupled to an upper end of the third wall;

a lid coupled to the housing utilizing the first, second, third and fourth coupling members;

a battery charging system configured to charge the battery module while the battery module is fixedly held in the mounting fixture; and

an argon gas delivery system configured to deliver argon gas into the interior region of the housing.

14. A test system for a battery module, comprising:

a housing having a bottom plate; and

first, second, third and fourth side walls coupled to the bottom plate that define an interior region;

the first and third walls being disposed substantially parallel to one another;

a mounting fixture configured to fixedly hold the battery module thereon, the mounting fixture coupled to the bottom plate within the interior region;

first, second, third and fourth coupling members, the first and second coupling members coupled to an upper end of the first wall, the third and fourth coupling members coupled to an upper end of the third wall;

a lid coupled to the housing utilizing the first, second, third and fourth coupling members;

a battery charging system configured to charge the battery module while the battery module is fixedly held in the mounting fixture; and

an actuatable cylinder coupled to the housing, the actuatable cylinder configured to extend a rod from a first operational position to a second operational position such that the rod penetrates the battery module at the second operational position.

15. A test system for a battery module, comprising:

a housing having a bottom plate; and

first, second, third and fourth side walls coupled to the bottom plate that define an interior region;

the first and third walls being disposed substantially parallel to one another;

a mounting fixture configured to fixedly hold the battery module thereon, the mounting fixture coupled to the bottom plate within the interior region;

first, second, third and fourth coupling members, the first and second coupling members coupled to an upper end of the first wall, the third and fourth coupling members coupled to an upper end of the third wall;

a lid coupled to the housing utilizing the first, second, third and fourth coupling members;

a battery charging system configured to charge the battery module while the battery module is fixedly held in the mounting fixture; and

at least one of the first, second, third and fourth side walls having an aperture extending therethrough, and a viewing window disposed in the aperture.

16. A test system for a battery module, comprising:

a housing having a bottom plate; and

first, second, third and fourth side walls coupled to the bottom plate that define an interior region;

the first and third walls being disposed substantially parallel to one another;

a mounting fixture configured to fixedly hold the battery module thereon, the mounting fixture coupled to the bottom plate within the interior region;

first, second, third and fourth coupling members, the first and second coupling members coupled to an upper end of the first wall, the third and fourth coupling members coupled to an upper end of the third wall;

a lid coupled to the housing utilizing the first, second, third and fourth coupling members;

a battery charging system configured to charge the battery module while the battery module is fixedly held in the mounting fixture; and

the plate portion of the lid having an aperture extending therethrough, and a viewing window disposed in the aperture.