Integrated battery unit with cooling and protection expedients for electric vehicles
First Claim
1. An integrated battery unit (IBU) for coupling a battery pack to an electric battery charger, the battery pack having one or more battery cells for providing power to the electric vehicle by way of a motor controller coupled to the IBU through controller connection cables, the IBU comprising:
- battery connection cables electrically connecting the IBU to the battery pack;
a housing for attachment to the battery pack and accommodation in a battery compartment in the electric vehicle in which the battery pack is removably disposed;
a connector for removably coupling the controller connection cables to the IBU; and
a disconnector disposed in the housing and including a charging receptacle in communication with the exterior of the housing, the charging receptacle electrically connected to the battery connection cables and operable to electrically isolate the vehicle motor controller from the battery charger when the battery charger is mated to the charging receptacle for fast charging the battery pack.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods of and apparatus for removing heat generated by cells of a battery pack. The methods and apparatus may employ one or more fan modules disposed between or next to cells of the battery pack, or one or more fans directly mounted to the battery pack or battery pack case housing the cells. Further, a motor controller isolation system operates to electrically isolate the motor controller of the electric vehicle when the battery pack is being charged. The motor controller isolation system may be integrated with the integrated battery pack and thermal and ventilation system. The integrated system, or “integrated battery unit (IBU),” is preferably manufactured in a manner that requires no, modifications to the electric vehicle in which the IBU is installed.
-
Citations
14 Claims
-
1. An integrated battery unit (IBU) for coupling a battery pack to an electric battery charger, the battery pack having one or more battery cells for providing power to the electric vehicle by way of a motor controller coupled to the IBU through controller connection cables, the IBU comprising:
-
battery connection cables electrically connecting the IBU to the battery pack; a housing for attachment to the battery pack and accommodation in a battery compartment in the electric vehicle in which the battery pack is removably disposed; a connector for removably coupling the controller connection cables to the IBU; and a disconnector disposed in the housing and including a charging receptacle in communication with the exterior of the housing, the charging receptacle electrically connected to the battery connection cables and operable to electrically isolate the vehicle motor controller from the battery charger when the battery charger is mated to the charging receptacle for fast charging the battery pack. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method for modifying a battery pack of an electric vehicle, the battery pack including one or more battery cells that are rechargeable by a battery charger and operable to deliver power to the electric vehicle by way of a motor controller through controller connection cables, comprising:
-
coupling to the battery pack an integrated battery unit (IBU), the IBU including; battery connection cables for electrically connecting the IBU to the battery pack; a housing for attachment to the battery pack and accommodation in a battery compartment in the electric vehicle in which the battery pack is removably disposed; a connector; and a disconnector disposed in the housing and including a charging receptacle in communication with the exterior of the housing, the charging receptacle electrically connected to the battery connection cables and to the connector; and removably connecting the connector to the controller connecting cables; and using the disconnector to electrically isolate the vehicle motor controller from the battery charger when the battery charger is mated to the charging receptacle for fast charging of the battery pack. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
Specification