Secondary service port for high voltage battery packs
First Claim
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1. A rechargeable high-voltage battery pack, comprising:
- a plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements;
an interlock having a first node and a second node, said first node coupled to said plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements with said interlock responsive to a control signal to control a power communication of said first node to said second node, said interlock enabling said communication with said control signal in a first mode and said interlock disabling said power communication with said control signal in a second mode;
a housing enclosing and sealing said plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements and said interlock with a plurality of exterior walls;
an operational port coupled to a portion of a first particular one exterior wall of said plurality of exterior walls, said operational port coupled to said second node and providing a first energy transfer with respect to said plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements only when said power communication is enabled; and
a service port coupled to a portion of a second particular one exterior wall of said plurality of exterior walls, said service port coupled to said first node and providing a second energy transfer with respect to said plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements without regard to whether said power communication is enabled;
wherein said service port includes an energy transfer direction control limiting said second energy transfer to a single direction, and wherein said single direction discharges said a plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements through said service port.
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Abstract
A system and method for providing energy management and maintenance of a high energy battery pack that does not require installation of the battery pack into an operational EV. A secondary service port is provided to enable certain maintenance operations while by-passing battery pack interlocks and protection mechanisms used when the battery pack is installed into an operating environment.
23 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A rechargeable high-voltage battery pack, comprising:
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a plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements; an interlock having a first node and a second node, said first node coupled to said plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements with said interlock responsive to a control signal to control a power communication of said first node to said second node, said interlock enabling said communication with said control signal in a first mode and said interlock disabling said power communication with said control signal in a second mode; a housing enclosing and sealing said plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements and said interlock with a plurality of exterior walls; an operational port coupled to a portion of a first particular one exterior wall of said plurality of exterior walls, said operational port coupled to said second node and providing a first energy transfer with respect to said plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements only when said power communication is enabled; and a service port coupled to a portion of a second particular one exterior wall of said plurality of exterior walls, said service port coupled to said first node and providing a second energy transfer with respect to said plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements without regard to whether said power communication is enabled; wherein said service port includes an energy transfer direction control limiting said second energy transfer to a single direction, and wherein said single direction discharges said a plurality of series-coupled energy storage elements through said service port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for managing a rechargeable high-voltage battery pack, comprising:
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a) configuring the rechargeable high-voltage battery pack to transfer energy with respect to an exterior operational port through an interlock; and b) bypassing said interlock to transfer energy between the rechargeable high-voltage battery pack and an exterior service port without using said operational port to transfer energy relative to the rechargeable high-voltage battery pack; wherein said exterior service port includes an energy transfer direction control limiting said transfer of energy to a single direction, and wherein said single direction discharges said rechargeable high-voltage battery pack through said exterior service port. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification