Module backbone system

• US 9,960,396 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2014
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Artisan Vehicle Systems Inc. (Sandvik AB)
• Original Assignee: Artisan Vehicle Systems Inc. (Sandvik AB)
• Inventors: Huff, Brian R., Kasaba, Mike, Davis, Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): Crepeau, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US14/494,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20150086825A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/10 Batteries in stationary systems, e.g. emergency power source in plant
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/224 Metals
• 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: H01M 50/51 Connection only in series
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/522 Inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An apparatus and battery system are disclosed. The apparatus includes a first panel, a first bus bar, and a second panel. The first panel includes a first upper surface and a first lower surface. The first upper surface includes a first cavity extending into the first upper surface towards the first lower surface. The first bus bar is within the first cavity. The second panel has a second lower surface in direct contact with the first upper surface. The second lower surface extends over a substantial portion of the first cavity.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first panel including a first upper surface and a first lower surface;

wherein the first upper surface includes a first cavity extending into the first upper surface towards the first lower surface;

a first bus bar within the first cavity;

a second panel having a second lower surface in direct contact with the first upper surface;

wherein the second lower surface extends over a substantial portion of the first cavity;

wherein the first bus bar includes a coupling element extending outward from the first upper surface;

wherein the second panel includes an opening;

wherein the coupling element extends through the opening; and

wherein the first cavity positions the coupling element to align with the opening.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first cavity includes an inner surface;

and

wherein the first bus bar is contained within the inner surface.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first bus bar and the first cavity are approximately equal in size.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first upper surface includes a second cavity extending into the first upper surface towards the first lower surface;

wherein the apparatus further includes a second bus bar within the second cavity; and

wherein the first bus bar is spaced from the second bus bar.

5. An apparatus comprising:

a first panel, the first panel including a first upper surface and a first lower surface;

wherein the first upper surface includes a first cavity extending into the first upper surface towards the first lower surface and wherein the first upper surface includes a second cavity extending into the first upper surface towards the first lower surface; and

wherein the first cavity is spaced from the second cavity;

a first bus bar within the first cavity;

a second bus bar within the second cavity; and

a second panel having a second lower surface in direct contact with the first upper surface;

wherein the second lower surface extends over a substantial portion of the first cavity and wherein the second lower surface extends over a substantial portion of the second cavity;

wherein the first bus bar includes a first coupling element and wherein the first bus bar includes a second coupling element;

wherein the apparatus further includes a first terminal of a first battery module, the first terminal being mechanically coupled to the first coupling element;

wherein the first cavity positions the first coupling element to align with the first terminal;

wherein the second bus bar includes a third coupling element;

wherein the apparatus further includes a second terminal of the first battery module, the second terminal being mechanically coupled to the third coupling element;

wherein the second cavity positions the third coupling element to align with the second terminal; and

wherein the first terminal is spaced from the second terminal.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the first lower surface includes a first back cavity extending into the first lower surface towards the first upper surface;

wherein the first back cavity is spaced from the first cavity and wherein the first back cavity is spaced from the second cavity;

wherein the apparatus further includes;

a first back bus bar within the first back cavity; and

a third panel having a third upper surface in direct contact with the first lower surface;

wherein the third upper surface extends over a substantial portion of the first back cavity.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein the first panel includes a hole extending from the first lower surface to the first upper surface;

wherein the apparatus further includes a link positioned within the hole, the link being mechanically coupled to the second bus bar and the link being mechanically coupled to the first back bus bar;

wherein the second cavity positions the second bus bar to align with the link; and

wherein the first back cavity positions the first back bus bar to align with the link.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first back bus bar includes a first back coupling element and wherein the first back bus bar includes a second back coupling element;

wherein the apparatus further includes a first back terminal of a second battery module, the first back terminal being mechanically coupled to the first back coupling element;

wherein the first back cavity positions the first back coupling element to align with the first back terminal; and

wherein the first battery module and the first back battery module are positioned on opposite sides of the first panel.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first panel, the second panel, and the third panel have substantially similar heights;

and

wherein the first panel, the second panel; and

the third panel have substantially similar lengths.

10. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first bus bar has a shape corresponding with a shape of the first cavity;

and

wherein the second bus bar has a shape corresponding with a shape of the second cavity.

11. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first cavity is coplanar with the second cavity.

12. A battery system comprising:

a backbone comprising;

a first panel including a first upper surface and a first lower surface;

wherein the first upper surface includes a first cavity extending into the first upper surface towards the first lower surface;

a first bus bar within the first cavity, the first bus bar including a first coupling element and a second coupling element;

a second panel having a second lower surface in direct contact with the first upper surface; and

wherein the second lower surface extends over a substantial portion of the first cavity;

a first bay for a first battery module, the first bay comprising a first guide pin, wherein the first coupling element extends into the first bay; and

a second bay for a second battery module, the second bay comprising a second guide pin, wherein the second coupling element extends into the second bay.

13. The battery system according to claim 12, wherein the first battery module is positioned within the first bay;

wherein the first battery module includes a first guide pin socket, a first terminal, and a second terminal;

wherein a mechanical coupling of the first guide pin and the first guide pin socket positions the first terminal within the first bay; and

wherein the first cavity positions the first coupling element to align with the first terminal.

14. The battery system according to claim 13, wherein the second battery module is positioned within the second bay;

wherein the second battery module includes a second guide pin socket, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal;

wherein a mechanical coupling of the second guide pin and the second guide pin socket positions the third terminal within the second bay; and

wherein the first cavity positions the second coupling element to align with the third terminal.

15. The battery system according to claim 14, further comprising:

wherein the first upper surface includes a second cavity;

wherein the second cavity is spaced from the first cavity;

a second bus bar positioned within the second cavity, the second bus bar including a third coupling element and a fourth coupling element;

wherein the second lower surface extends over a substantial portion of the second cavity; and

wherein the third coupling element extends into the first bay.

16. The battery system according to claim 15, further comprising:

wherein the mechanical coupling of the first guide pin and the first guide pin socket positions the second terminal within the first bay; and

wherein the second cavity positions the third coupling element to align with the second terminal.