Cell module assemblies

• US 9,577,227 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2013
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tesla Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tesla Motors Incorporated (Tesla Inc.)
• Inventors: Sumpf, Robert D., Villanueva, Ernest, Hegeman, David E., Batavia, Satvik Vipin, Singh, Ganesh, Prilutsky, Alex, Kohn, Scott I., Edwards, Bruce P., Tennessen, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): APICELLA, KARIE O
• Application Number:
  US14/056,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20150111082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: 429/120
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/643 Cylindrical cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6557 arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• 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 50/224 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/227 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/229 Composite material consisting of a mixture of organic and inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/262 with fastening means, e.g. locks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/267 having means for adapting to batteries or cells of different types or different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A method includes: assembling a thermal-exchange tube in a module housing for an energy storage pack; assembling cells in the module housing, wherein the thermal-exchange tube runs between rows of the cells; applying an adhesive that affixes the cells and the thermal-exchange tube to the module housing; curing a first portion of the adhesive by radiation, wherein a second portion of the adhesive is shielded from the radiation by the cells or the thermal-exchange tube; and curing at least the second portion of the adhesive by a chemical cure mechanism.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

assembling a thermal-exchange tube in a module housing for an energy storage pack;

assembling a mount in a slot on an edge of the module housing;

attaching the module housing to a member of the energy storage pack using a flange on the mount;

assembling cells in the module housing, wherein the thermal-exchange tube runs between rows of the cells;

applying an adhesive that affixes the cells and the thermal-exchange tube to the module housing and that affixes the mount to the module housing;

curing a first portion of the adhesive by radiation, wherein a second portion of the adhesive is shielded from the radiation by the cells or the thermal-exchange tube; and

curing at least the second portion of the adhesive by a chemical cure mechanism.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the adhesive is an acrylate epoxy adhesive.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermal-exchange tube is a scalloped thermal-exchange tube, wherein the cells datum to the module housing by the scalloped thermal-exchange tube and not by the module housing.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising adding a cell spreader element between at least some adjacent cells.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning the mount on the module housing using ribs in the slot.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the member has a split to accommodate at least the flange, and wherein the split is level with a center of mass for the assembly of the module housing, the thermal-exchange tube, the cells and the adhesive.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing a crumple zone between the module housing and an enclosure of the energy storage pack.

8. An energy storage pack comprising:

a module housing;

cells; and

a thermal-exchange tube running between rows of the cells, wherein the cells and the thermal-exchange tube are affixed to the module housing by an adhesive, a first portion of the adhesive being cured by applied radiation, wherein a second portion of the adhesive is shielded from the radiation by the cells or the thermal-exchange tube, and wherein the second portion of the adhesive is cured by a chemical cure mechanism, wherein the module housing includes structure having three triangle shapes on one half of a footprint of each cell and that is oversized relative to the cells, and wherein the adhesive fills gaps between the cells and the structure in affixing the cells to the module housing.

9. The energy storage pack of claim 8, wherein the thermal-exchange tube is a scalloped thermal-exchange tube, and wherein the cells datum to the module housing by the scalloped thermal-exchange tube and not by the module housing, the energy storage pack further comprising a cell spreader element added between at least some adjacent cells.

10. The energy storage pack of claim 8, wherein the thermal-exchange tube has an elongate cross section with two essentially parallel main side surfaces, and wherein the thermal-exchange tube has internal ribs that connect the main side surfaces to each other, wherein the internal ribs are non-perpendicular to the main side surfaces.

11. The energy storage pack of claim 10, wherein each of the internal ribs curves outward toward a nearest edge of the thermal-exchange tube.

12. The energy storage pack of claim 10, wherein each of the internal ribs is straight and slanted relative to the main side surfaces.

13. The energy storage pack of claim 8, wherein the thermal-exchange tube is made of aluminum or a polymer.

14. The energy storage pack of claim 8, wherein the module housing is configured to accept at least two different types of cells.

15. The energy storage pack of claim 8, wherein the module housing is configured to have non-energy placeholders instead of some of the cells which reduces a capacity of the energy storage pack.

16. The energy storage pack of claim 8, wherein the module housing is configured to receive at least some of the cells in each of multiple alternative orientations.

17. The energy storage pack of claim 8, wherein the energy storage pack is configured to be positioned on a lower cross-member of an enclosure, and wherein the energy storage pack is held in place by at least one pin before the energy storage pack is mechanically restrained by an upper cross-member.