Battery assembly with temperature control device

• US 9,853,334 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2014
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EnerDel, Inc. (Ener1, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EnerDel, Inc. (Ener1, Inc.)
• Inventors: Buck, Derrick S., Fattig, Robert N., Silk, Bruce J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, JEREMIAH R
• Application Number:
  US14/467,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20150079443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0413 Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0468 Compression means for stacks of electrodes and separators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0472 Vertically superposed cells with vertically disposed plates
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0486 Frames for plates or membranes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/049 Processes for forming or storing electrodes in the battery container
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/38 Construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/615 Heating or keeping warm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/655 Solid structures for heat exchange or heat conduction
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6551 Surfaces specially adapted for heat dissipation or radiation, e.g. fins or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6555 arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/656 characterised by the type of heat-exchange fluid
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53135 Storage cell or battery

Abstract

A battery module of the present invention is adaptable to be utilized in various configurations including and not limited to an overlapping battery cell packaging configuration and a vertical stack battery cell packaging configuration used in an automotive and non-automotive applications. The battery module has a plurality of battery heatsink assemblies with the cells disposed therebetween. A plurality of rods extend through the each heatsink assemblies to secure the heatsink assemblies and the cell with one another to form the battery module.

Claims

1. A battery assembly comprising:

a plurality of prismatic cells, each having a central portion;

a plurality of frames including first, second, and third frames holding the plurality of prismatic cells such that the central portions of plurality of prismatic cells are spaced apart from each other, each of the first, second, and third frames having an open central portion, the plurality of frames interlocked to be removably coupled together; and

a plurality of compliant devices positioned between the plurality of prismatic cells and adjacent the central portions of the plurality of prismatic cells, wherein a first compliant device of the plurality of compliant devices is received in an open central portion of the first frame of the plurality of frames, a first prismatic cell of the plurality of prismatic cells is held relative to the first frame by the second frame, a second prismatic cell of the plurality of prismatic cells is held relative to the first frame by the third frame, and the first compliant member is positioned between a central portion of the first prismatic cell and a central portion of the second prismatic cell.

2. A battery assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of prismatic cells includes a raised portion extending to a peripheral lip portion, a negative terminal and a positive terminal, the raised portion including the central portion.

3. A battery assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the first compliant member includes a layer of expandable material sized to substantially cover the raised portion of the first prismatic cell.

4. A battery assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein a second compliant device of the plurality of compliant devices is received in an open central portion of a fourth frame of the plurality of frames, a third prismatic cell of the plurality of prismatic cells is held relative to the fourth frame by a fifth frame, a fourth prismatic cell of the plurality of prismatic cells is held relative to the fourth frame by a sixth frame, and the second compliant member is positioned between a central portion of the third prismatic cell and a central portion of the fourth prismatic cell.

5. The battery assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plurality of frames are interlocked at a snap interface.

6. A battery assembly comprising:

a plurality of prismatic cells, each having a central portion;

a plurality of frames holding the plurality of prismatic cells such that the central portions of plurality of prismatic cells are spaced apart from each other, each of the frames having an open central portion, the plurality of frames being removably coupled together;

a plurality of compliant devices positioned between the plurality of prismatic cells and adjacent the central portions of the plurality of prismatic cells, wherein a first compliant device of the plurality of compliant devices is received in an open central portion of a first frame of the plurality of frames, a first prismatic cell of the plurality of prismatic cells is held relative to the first frame by a second frame, a second prismatic cell of the plurality of prismatic cells is held relative to the first frame by a third frame, and the first compliant member is positioned between a central portion of the first prismatic cell and a central portion of the second prismatic cell;

a second compliant device of the plurality of compliant devices is received in an open central portion of a fourth frame of the plurality of frames, a third prismatic cell of the plurality of prismatic cells is held relative to the fourth frame by a fifth frame, a fourth prismatic cell of the plurality of prismatic cells is held relative to the fourth frame by a sixth frame, and the second compliant member is positioned between a central portion of the third prismatic cell and a central portion of the fourth prismatic cell; and

a heat sink positioned between the first prismatic cell and the third prismatic cell, the heat sink contacting the first prismatic cell through an open center of the second frame, and the heat sink contacting the third prismatic cell through an open center of the fifth frame.

7. A battery assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein the heat sink includes a first surface in contact with the raised portion of the first prismatic cell and a second surface in contact with the raised portion of the third prismatic cell.