Process of manufacturing a battery system assembly using the battery system assembly press

• US 9,960,402 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2017
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thunder Power New Energy Vehicle Development Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Thunder Power New Energy Vehicle Development Company Limited
• Inventors: Mastrandrea, Francesco, Tutzer, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, MINH N
• Application Number:
  US15/468,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20180069224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0481 Compression means other than compression means for stacks of electrodes and separators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/058 Construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/643 Cylindrical cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6555 arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6557 arranged between the 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 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/249 specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/289 characterised by spacing elements or positioning means within frames, racks or packs spacing elements inside cells other than separators, membranes or diaphragms H01M50/471
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/50 Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
• 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: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a battery pack is disclosed. The method includes placing first and second sets of battery cells in first and second battery cell holders of a battery system assembly press, placing a cooling duct in a gap between the first and second sets of battery cells, and applying a first and second forces to the first and second sets of battery cells to cause the first and second sets of battery cells to respectively press against first and second sides of the cooling duct. The method also includes, while applying the first and second forces, placing the first and second plurality of battery cells in a first tray configured to hold the first and second plurality of battery cells.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a battery pack, the method comprising:

placing a first plurality of battery cells in a first battery cell holder of a battery system assembly press;

placing a second plurality of battery cells in a second battery cell holder of the battery system assembly press;

placing a cooling duct in a gap between the first and second pluralities of battery cells;

applying a first force to the first plurality of battery cells and a second force to the second plurality of batteries, wherein the first and second forces cause the first and second pluralities of battery cells to press against the cooling duct, wherein the first plurality of battery cells is pressed against a first side of the cooling duct, where the second plurality of battery cells is pressed against a second side of the cooling duct, and wherein the first side of the cooling duct is opposite the second side of the cooling duct; and

while applying the first and second forces, placing the first and second plurality of battery cells in a first tray configured to hold the first and second plurality of battery cells,

wherein the first force is applied to the first plurality of batteries battery cells through the first battery cell holder, and wherein the second force is applied to the second plurality of battery cells through the second battery cell holder.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the first and second forces to the first and second plurality of battery cells causes the cooling duct to deform.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the gap between the first and second pluralities of battery cells corresponds with a gap between the first and second battery cell holders.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first force is applied to the first battery cell holder with a first slide, and wherein the second force is applied to the second battery cell holder with a second slide.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first and second forces cause first slide and the first battery cell holder to move with respect to the second slide and the second battery cell holder.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first and second slides and the first and second battery cell holders are slidably connected with at least one rail, and wherein the first and second forces cause the first slide and the first battery cell holder to slide along the rail.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second forces cause the first plurality of batteries to move with respect to the second plurality of batteries, such that the size of the gap between the first and second plurality of batteries is reduced.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising placing the first and second plurality of battery cells in a second tray configured to hold the first and second plurality of battery cells.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first and second trays is configured to apply a force to the first and second plurality of battery cells which causes the first and second plurality of battery cells to be pressed against the cooling duct.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising removing the first and second pluralities of battery cells from the first and second battery cell holders prior to placing the first and second plurality of battery cells in the second tray.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising attaching the upper tray to the lower tray.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

electrically connecting the first plurality of battery cells to at least one first busbar; and

electrically connecting the second plurality of battery cells to at least one second busbar.

13. A method of manufacturing a battery pack, the method comprising:

placing a first plurality of battery cells in a first battery cell holder of a battery system assembly press;

placing a second plurality of battery cells in a second battery cell holder of the battery system assembly press;

placing a cooling duct in a gap between the first and second pluralities of battery cells;

applying a first force to the first plurality of battery cells and a second force to the second plurality of batteries, wherein the first and second forces cause the first and second pluralities of battery cells to press against the cooling duct, wherein the first plurality of battery cells is pressed against a first side of the cooling duct, where the second plurality of battery cells is pressed against a second side of the cooling duct, and wherein the first side of the cooling duct is opposite the second side of the cooling duct; and

while applying the first and second forces, placing the first and second plurality of battery cells in a first tray configured to hold the first and second plurality of battery cells,

wherein the first and second forces cause the first plurality of batteries to move with respect to the second plurality of batteries, such that the size of the gap between the first and second plurality of batteries is reduced.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein applying the first and second forces to the first and second plurality of battery cells causes the cooling duct to deform.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the gap between the first and second pluralities of battery cells corresponds with a gap between the first and second battery cell holders.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising placing the first and second plurality of battery cells in a second tray configured to hold the first and second plurality of battery cells.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first and second trays is configured to apply a force to the first and second plurality of battery cells which causes the first and second plurality of battery cells to be pressed against the cooling duct.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising removing the first and second pluralities of battery cells from the first and second battery cell holders prior to placing the first and second plurality of battery cells in the second tray.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising attaching the upper tray to the lower tray.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

electrically connecting the first plurality of battery cells to at least one first busbar; and

electrically connecting the second plurality of battery cells to at least one second busbar.

21. A method of manufacturing a battery pack, the method comprising:

placing a first plurality of battery cells in a first battery cell holder of a battery system assembly press;

placing a second plurality of battery cells in a second battery cell holder of the battery system assembly press;

placing a cooling duct in a gap between the first and second pluralities of battery cells;

applying a first force to the first plurality of battery cells and a second force to the second plurality of batteries, wherein the first and second forces cause the first and second pluralities of battery cells to press against the cooling duct, wherein the first plurality of battery cells is pressed against a first side of the cooling duct, where the second plurality of battery cells is pressed against a second side of the cooling duct, and wherein the first side of the cooling duct is opposite the second side of the cooling duct;

while applying the first and second forces, placing the first and second plurality of battery cells in a first tray configured to hold the first and second plurality of battery cells; and

placing the first and second plurality of battery cells in a second tray configured to hold the first and second plurality of battery cells.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein applying the first and second forces to the first and second plurality of battery cells causes the cooling duct to deform.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the gap between the first and second pluralities of battery cells corresponds with a gap between the first and second battery cell holders.