Integrated stackable battery

• US 9,385,360 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2010
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Stoughton, Thomas B., Bucchi, Robert S., Schroeder, Jerome O., Leutheuser, Andrew H.
• Primary Examiner(s): GATEWOOD, DANIEL S
• Application Number:
  US12/853,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20120040221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,156 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6551 Surfaces specially adapted for heat dissipation or radiation, e.g. fins or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/211 adapted for pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/503 characterised by the shape of the interconnectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/507 comprising an arrangement of two or more busbars within a container structure, e.g. busbar modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A reversibly connected battery pack is provided. The reversibly connected battery pack includes a pair of end frames, at least one frame, a plurality of battery cells, and at least one power connector. One end frame has a positive terminal, and the other has a negative terminal. The frame(s) is positioned between the pair of end frames. Each of the plurality of battery cells has a positive tab and a negative tab. The positive tab of one of the plurality of battery cells is electrically connected to the positive terminal in the end frame, and the negative tab of another one of the plurality of battery cells is electrically connected to the negative terminal in the end frame. The plurality of battery cells are positioned in the frame(s) and the end frames. The plurality of battery cells and the positive and negative tabs are supported by the frame and the pair of end frames. There is at least one power connector electrically connecting the negative tab of one battery cell with the positive tab of an adjacent battery cell.

Claims

1. A reversibly connected battery pack comprising:

a pair of end frames, one end frame having a positive terminal and the other end frame having a negative terminal;

at least one frame positioned between the pair of end frames such that a stackable relationship between the pair of end frames and the frame is formed thereby;

a plurality of battery cells, each of the plurality of battery cells having a positive tab and a negative tab disposed on opposite sides of the battery cell such that the positive tab of one of the plurality of battery cells is electrically connected to the positive terminal, and the negative tab of another one of the plurality of battery cells is electrically connected to the negative terminal, the plurality of battery cells positioned in the frame and the pair of end frames such that the plurality of battery cells and the positive and negative tabs are supported by the frame and the pair of end frames such that each of the plurality of battery cells are independently removable from the battery pack; and

a plurality of external power connectors providing electrical connection between the cells through an external buss line, each external power connector comprising a spring-loaded conductive clip removeably inserted substantially within said at least one frame such that a contact surface is formed on opposite stackable sides of said at least one frame and each external power connector contacts and electrically connects the negative tab of one of the plurality of battery cells and the positive tab of an adjacent one of the plurality of battery cells, without reliance on stacking pressure.

2. The battery pack of claim 1 wherein the spring loaded metal clip has at least two elastic prongs, the prongs of the spring loaded conductive clip removably inserted in a slot in the frame.

3. The battery pack of claim 2 wherein there are a plurality of spring loaded conductive clips, and wherein the plurality of spring loaded clips are attached along an electrically non-conducting flexible mounting device.

4. The battery pack of claim 2 wherein the slot has a ramp and the spring loaded metal clip has a notch in the prongs, and wherein the ramp expands the prongs until the notch clears the ramp and the prongs snap onto the positive and negative tabs.

5. The battery pack of claim 1 further comprising a cooling fin positioned in the frame, or in one of the end frames, or both.

6. The battery pack of claim 1 wherein the end frames or the frame further include a raised edge portion and at least one opening in the raised edge portion for receiving a sensor.

7. The battery pack of claim 1 wherein two battery cells are positioned in the frame, or one of the end frames, or both, and wherein the positive tabs of the two battery cells are electrically connected to each other and the negative tabs of the two battery cells are electrically connected to each other.

8. The battery pack of claim 7 further comprising a cooling fin positioned between the two battery cells.

9. The battery pack of claim 1 further comprising complementary interlocking pins and holes on the frame, or one of the end frames, or both.

10. The battery pack of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of internal power conductors and at least one bolt or tie rod extending through the pair of end frames and the frame.

11. The battery pack of claim 1 wherein there is a cooling channel opening in the frame, or one of the end frames, or both.