BATTERY SYSTEM AND MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY WITH TWO MANIFOLD MEMBERS REMOVABLY COUPLED TOGETHER

• US 20120045684A1
• Filed: 08/23/2010
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Gadawski, Thomas J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,758,922 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/120
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0985 the flexible hook extending radially inwardly from an outer part and engaging a bead, recess or the like on an inner part F16L37/0982 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/03 comprising junction pieces for four or more pipe members
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/1157 using hooks, pawls, or other movable or insertable locking members
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/12 Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels F28D1/02, F28D1/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0243 Header boxes having a circular cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0275 with multiple branch pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/06 by dismountable joints
• 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 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6552 Closed pipes transferring heat by thermal conductivity or phase transition, e.g. heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6555 arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery system and a manifold assembly are provided. The assembly includes a first manifold member having a first tubular wall. The first manifold member further includes a first sealing member disposed on a first inner surface proximate to the first end, and a first male connecting portion extending from the second end. The manifold assembly further includes a second manifold member having a second tubular wall. The second manifold member further includes a second sealing member disposed on a second inner surface proximate to a third end, and a second male connecting portion extending from a fourth end. The first male connecting portion of the first manifold member is configured to be removably coupled to the fourth end of the second manifold member such that the second sealing member of the second manifold member contacts an outer surface of the first male connecting portion.

Claims

1. A manifold assembly, comprising:

a first manifold member having a first tubular wall with a first end and a second end, the first tubular wall further having a first inner surface defining a first central aperture that extends from the first end to the second end, the first tubular wall further having a first plurality of apertures extending therethrough, the first manifold member further having a first plurality of tubular port members disposed on the first tubular wall over the first plurality of apertures, the first manifold member further having a first sealing member disposed on the first inner surface proximate to the first end, and a first male connecting portion extending from the second end;

a second manifold member having a second tubular wall with a third end and a fourth end, the second tubular wall further having a second inner surface defining a second central aperture that extends from the third end to the fourth end, the second tubular wall further having a second plurality of apertures extending therethrough, the second manifold member further having a second plurality of tubular port members disposed on the second tubular wall over the second plurality of apertures, the second manifold member further having a second sealing member disposed on the second inner surface proximate to the third end, and a second male connecting portion extending from the fourth end; and

the first male connecting portion of the first manifold member configured to be removably coupled to the fourth end of the second manifold member within the second central aperture such that the second sealing member of the second manifold member contacts an outer surface of the first male connecting portion.

2. The manifold assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a connecting fitting having a tubular coupling portion, an abutment ring, and a tubular body, the abutment ring being disposed around an outer surface of the tubular coupling portion a predetermined distance from an end of the tubular coupling portion, the tubular coupling portion configured to be removably coupled to the first end of the first manifold member within the first central aperture such that the first sealing member of the first manifold member contacts the outer surface of the tubular coupling portion and the abutment ring abuts against the first end of the first manifold member.

3. The manifold assembly of claim 2, wherein the tubular body of the connecting fitting is an arcuate-shaped tubular body.

4. The manifold assembly of claim 3, wherein the arcuate-shaped tubular body has a 90 degree bend therein.

5. The manifold assembly of claim 2, wherein the tubular body of the connecting fitting has first and second circumferentially disposed ledges extending outwardly from an outer surface of the tubular body.

6. The manifold assembly of claim 2, wherein the connecting fitting is constructed of plastic.

7. The manifold assembly of claim 2, further comprising a retaining member configured to removably hold the connecting fitting on the fourth end of the second manifold member.

8. The manifold assembly of claim 7, wherein the retaining member has a ring-shaped portion and first and second finger portions extending in a first direction from the ring-shaped portion, the ring-shaped portion having a third central aperture, the ring-shaped portion being slidably disposed on the tubular body of the connecting fitting such that the tubular body is received through the third central aperture and the ring-shaped portion is slidably disposed against the abutment ring, a diameter of the second central aperture being less than a diameter of the abutment ring, the first and second finger portions configured to removably engage first and second notches, respectively, in the first tubular wall of the first manifold member to fixedly hold the connecting fitting on the first manifold member.

9. The manifold assembly of claim 1, further comprising an end cap configured to be removably coupled to the second male connecting portion of the second manifold member.

10. The manifold assembly of claim 9, wherein the end cap comprises:

a circular-shaped body having an inner surface defining an aperture that extends into the circular-shaped body but not completely through the circular-shaped body;

a third sealing member disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface of the circular-shaped body; and

first and second finger portions extending in a first direction from the circular-shaped body configured to removably engage first and second notches, respectively, in the second tubular wall of the second manifold member, and the inner surface of the circular-shaped body is configured to receive the second male connecting portion of the second manifold member therein, and the third sealing member is configured to contact an outer surface of the second male connecting portion.

11. The manifold assembly of claim 1, wherein the first tubular wall of the first manifold assembly is constructed of plastic.

12. The manifold assembly of claim 11, wherein the plastic is at least one of polyethylene and polypropylene.

13. The manifold assembly of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of tubular port members of the first manifold member are constructed of an elastomer.

14. The manifold assembly of claim 13, wherein the elastomer is at least one of styrene, ethylene, butylene, propylene, and diene.

15. A battery system, comprising:

a plurality of battery cells and a plurality of heat exchangers disposed adjacent to the plurality of battery cells;

a manifold assembly having first and second manifold members, the first and second manifold members fluidly communicating with the first and second plurality of heat exchangers, respectively;

the first manifold member having a first tubular wall with a first end and a second end, the first tubular wall further having a first inner surface defining a first central aperture that extends from the first end to the second end, the first tubular wall further having a first plurality of apertures extending therethrough, the first manifold member further having a first plurality of tubular port members disposed on the first tubular wall over the first plurality of apertures, the first manifold member further having a first sealing member disposed on the first inner surface proximate to the first end, and a first male connecting portion extending from the second end;

the second manifold member having a second tubular wall with a third end and a fourth end, the second tubular wall having a second inner surface defining a second central aperture that extends from the third end to the fourth end, the second tubular wall further having a second plurality of apertures extending therethrough, the second manifold member further having a second plurality of tubular port members disposed on the second tubular wall over the second plurality of apertures, the second manifold member further having a second sealing member disposed on the second inner surface proximate to the third end, and a second male connecting portion extending from the fourth end; and

the first male connecting portion of the first manifold member configured to be removably coupled to the fourth end of the second manifold member within the second central aperture such that the second sealing member contacts an outer surface of the first male connecting portion;

the first plurality of tubular port members of the first manifold member being coupled to the first plurality of heat exchangers of the first plurality of battery cell assemblies; and

the second plurality of tubular port members of the second manifold member being coupled to the second plurality of heat exchangers of the second plurality of battery cell assemblies.

16. The manifold assembly of claim 15, wherein the first tubular wall of the first manifold assembly is constructed of plastic.

17. The manifold assembly of claim 16, wherein the plastic is at least one of polyethylene and polypropylene.

18. The manifold assembly of claim 15, wherein the first plurality of tubular port members of the first manifold member are constructed of an elastomer.

19. The manifold assembly of claim 18, wherein the elastomer is at least one of styrene, ethylene, butylene, propylene, and diene.