Battery module separator plates

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10164296-B2
Application number	US-201514656500-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2015
Priority date	Mar 12, 2015
Publication date	Dec 25, 2018
Grant date	Dec 25, 2018

Abstract

The present disclosure includes a battery module having a first electrochemical cell and a second electrochemical cell positioned adjacent to the first electrochemical cell. The battery module also includes a separator plate disposed between the first electrochemical cell and the second electrochemical cell. The separator plate includes a body comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first side is disposed adjacent a first face of the first electrochemical cell and includes a first indention. The first indention defines a first space between the first face of the first electrochemical cell and the first side of the separator plate. The first space is configured to enable swelling of the first electrochemical cell into the first space.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A battery module, comprising:
a first electrochemical cell and a second electrochemical cell positioned adjacent to the first electrochemical cell;
a separator plate disposed between the first electrochemical cell and the second electrochemical cell; and
a body of the separator plate comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side;
wherein the first electrochemical cell comprises a first terminal and a second terminal, the second electrochemical cell comprises a third terminal and a fourth terminal, the first terminal of the first electrochemical cell is positioned adjacent to the third terminal of the second electrochemical cell, the second terminal of the first electrochemical cell is positioned adjacent to the fourth terminal of the second electrochemical cell, the separator plate comprises a large tab extending between the first and third terminals, the large tab includes a first length extending along a length of the separator plate, the separator plate comprises a small tab extending between the second and fourth terminals, the small tab includes a second length extending along the length of the separator plate, and the second length is less than the first length;
wherein the second length of the small tab of the separator plate permits an electrical coupling between the second and fourth terminals, and wherein the first length of the large tab of the separator plate blocks an additional electrical coupling between the first and third terminals; and
wherein the large tab comprises a first upper edge disposed no higher than top surfaces of the first terminal and the third terminal, and wherein the small tab comprises a second upper edge disposed no higher than top surfaces of the second terminal and the fourth terminal.

2. The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical cells are prismatic, lithium-ion (Li-ion) electrochemical cells.

3. The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the separator plate comprises curved end pieces on either end of the body of the separator plate, and wherein the curved end pieces conform to a first curvature of the first electrochemical cell and a second curvature of the second electrochemical cell.

4. The battery module of claim 3 , wherein the curved end pieces comprise opposing concave surfaces.

5. The battery module of claim 3 , wherein the curved end pieces comprise slots that extend through the separator plate.

6. The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the separator plate comprises a first material configured to electrically isolate a first housing of the first electrochemical cell from a second housing of the second electrochemical cell.

7. The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the separator plate comprises at least a first foot configured to extend under, and to contact, at least a first bottom surface of at least the first electrochemical cell.

8. The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the separator plate comprises ribs configured to increase a grip between the separator plate and the first and second electrochemical cells.

9. The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the small tab comprises a first height, wherein the large tab comprises a second height, and wherein the first height and the second height are substantially equal.

10. The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the small tab and large tab are offset from a first outer edge and a second outer edge of the separator plate, respectively.

11. The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the large tab overlaps with at least a first portion of the first terminal and the third terminal along the length of the separator plate, and wherein the small tab overlaps with at least a second portion of the second terminal and the fourth terminal along the length of the separator plate.

12. A battery module comprising a separator plate disposed between a first electrochemical cell of the battery module and a second electrochemical cell of the battery module, wherein the separator plate comprises:
a first tab disposed along an upper edge of the separator plate, wherein the first tab is spaced from a first outer edge of the separator plate by a first distance; and
a second tab disposed along the upper edge of the separator plate, wherein the second tab is spaced from a second outer edge of the separator plate opposing the first outer edge of the separator plate by a second distance, wherein the first distance is equal to the second distance, wherein the first tab extends along the upper edge a third distance, wherein the second tab extends along the upper edge a fourth distance, wherein the third distance is greater than the fourth distance, wherein the third distance of the first tab is configured to block an electrical coupling between a first terminal of the first electrochemical cell and a second terminal of the second electrochemical cell, wherein the fourth distance of the second tab is configured to permit an additional electrical coupling between a third terminal of the first electrochemical cell and a fourth terminal of the second electrochemical cell, wherein the first tab comprises a first upper tab edge disposed no higher than top surfaces of the first terminal and the second terminal, and wherein the second tab comprises a second upper tab edge disposed no higher than top surfaces of the third terminal and the fourth terminal.

13. The battery module of claim 12 , wherein the separator plate comprises a body having a first thickness and a foot having a second width that exceeds the first thickness of the body.

14. A battery module stack, comprising:
a first prismatic electrochemical cell comprising a first broad side;
a second prismatic electrochemical cell comprising a second broad side; and
a separator disposed between the first prismatic electrochemical cell and the second prismatic electrochemical cell, wherein the separator comprises a first face disposed adjacent to the first broad side of the first prismatic electrochemical cell, a second face disposed adjacent to the second broad side of the second prismatic electrochemical cell, an edge extending between the first face and the second face of the separator, a first tab protruding from the edge, and a second tab protruding from the edge, wherein the first tab extends along the edge a first distance such that the first tab blocks an electrical coupling between a first terminal of the first electrochemical cell and a second terminal of the second electrochemical cell, wherein the first tab extends upwardly to a first height that is no higher than top surfaces of the first terminal and the second terminal, and wherein the second extends along the edge a second distance, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance such that the second tab permits an additional electrical coupling between a third terminal of the first electrochemical cell and a fourth terminal of the second electrochemical cell, and wherein the second tab extends upwardly to a second height that is no higher than top surfaces of the third terminal and the fourth terminal.

15. The battery module stack of claim 14 , wherein the first tab is disposed a first distance from a first outer edge of the separator, the second tab is disposed a second distance from a second outer edge of the separator, and the first distance is substantially equal to the second distance.

16. The battery module of claim 9 , wherein the first height is continuous along the first length, and wherein the second height is continuous along the second length.

17. The battery module of claim 9 , wherein the first height of the large ta

Assignees

• Johnson Controls Tech Co

Inventors

• Mack Robert J
• Dekeuster Richard M
• Czarnecki Jennifer L
• Fuhr Jason D
• Johnson Mark R
• Lobert Jonathan P

Classifications

• H01M10/625

  Vehicles · CPC title

• H01M6/42

  Grouping of primary cells into batteries (H01M6/40 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M10/4207 Primary

  for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially · CPC title

• H01M2220/20

  Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title

• H01M10/052

  Li-accumulators · CPC title