Battery Pack Maintenance for Electric Vehicle

• US 20140117997A1
• Filed: 09/27/2013
• Published: 05/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I.
• Application Number:
  US14/039,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20140117997A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/62 charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/22 Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4285 Testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/54 Reclaiming serviceable parts of waste accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/84 : Recycling of batteries or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

A method and apparatus for repairing or testing a used battery pack from an electric vehicle include removing the battery pack from the vehicle. Battery tests are performed on at least some of the plurality of batteries and battery test results for each of the batteries tested are obtained. A cradle is configured to receive at least two different types of batteries. The cradle includes connectors to electrically couple circuitry of a battery tester to the battery.

Claims

1-30. -30. (canceled)

31. An apparatus for testing a battery of a battery pack from an electric vehicle, comprising:

test circuitry configured to perform a battery test on the battery;

a cradle configured to receive the battery, the cradle comprising;

first and second connectors configured to electrically connect the test circuitry to end connectors of the battery; and

a midpoint connector configured to electrically connect the test circuitry to an electrical midpoint between the end connectors.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the cradle includes a lock mechanism to secure the battery in the cradle.

33. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the cradle includes a temperature sensor.

34. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the midpoint connector includes a plurality of electrical connectors configured to couple to a plurality of electrical midpoints between the end connectors of the battery.

35. The apparatus of claim 31 including a second midpoint connector configured to couple to additional midpoint connections between the end connectors of the battery.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the midpoint connectors are positioned opposite one another.

37. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the second midpoint connector is carried on a slidable portion.

39. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the cradle includes a cover configured to cover the battery.

40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the cradle includes a switch actuated by the cover when the cover is in a closed position.

41. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the test circuitry is configured to measure a dynamic parameter of the battery.

42. The apparatus of claim 31 including polarity switching circuitry configured to selectively switch polarity of the first and second connectors coupled to the test circuitry.

43. The apparatus of claim 34 including polarity switching circuitry configured to switch polarity of the electrical connectors coupled to the electrical midpoints.

44. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the first and second connectors comprise Kelvin connections.

38. The apparatus of claim 38 including a lock mechanism to secure the slidable portion to a base of the cradle.

45. A method for testing a battery of a battery pack from an electric vehicle, comprising:

removing the battery pack from the electric vehicle;

removing a battery from the battery pack;

placing the battery in a cradle configured to receive the battery, wherein placing the battery pack in a cradle includes aligning first and second end connectors on the battery with first and second connectors on the cradle;

aligning a midpoint connector on the cradle with an electrical midpoint connector between the first and second end connectors on the battery pack;

testing the battery with test circuitry coupled to the battery through the first and second connectors and the midpoint connector.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein the cradle including securing the battery in the cradle.

47. The method of claim 45 including sensing battery pack temperature.

48. The method of claim 45 wherein the midpoint connector includes a plurality of electrical connectors configured to couple to a plurality of electrical midpoints between the end connectors of the battery.

49. The method of claim 45 wherein the cradle includes a second midpoint connector configured to couple to additional midpoint connections between the end connectors of the battery.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein the midpoint connectors are positioned opposite one another.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein the second midpoint connector is carried on a slidable portion.

52. The method of claim 51 including covering the battery in the cradle with a cover.

53. The method of claim 52 including actuating a switch using the cover when the cover is in a closed position.

54. The method of claim 45 including measuring a dynamic parameter of the battery.

55. The method of claim 45 including selectively switching polarity of the first and second connectors coupled to the test circuitry.

56. The method of claim 48 including switching polarity of the electrical connectors coupled to the electrical midpoints.

57. The method of claim 45 wherein the first and second connectors comprise Kelvin connections.