Battery pack array retention

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11038231-B2
Application number	US-201615006094-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2016
Priority date	Jan 25, 2016
Publication date	Jun 15, 2021
Grant date	Jun 15, 2021

Abstract

An exemplary battery assembly includes an endwall, an endplate, and a flange secured within a recess to secure the endwall relative to the endplate. One of the endwall or the endplate provides the flange, and the other of the endwall or the endplate provides the recess.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A battery assembly, comprising:
an endwall;
an endplate;
a flange secured within a recess to secure the endwall relative to the endplate, the flange extending transversely from a primary portion of one of the endwall or the endplate, the other of the endwall or the endplate providing the recess; and
a fastener extending at least partially within the recess, the fastener securing the flange within the recess,
wherein the endwall is cast together with a floor of a battery pack enclosure, the endwall and the floor together a single unitary structure, and further comprising a battery pack secured directly to the floor.

2. The battery assembly of claim 1 , wherein the endwall provides the recess and the endplate provides the flange.

3. The battery assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fastener extends to the flange through an open bore within the other of the endwall or the endplate.

4. The battery assembly of claim 3 , wherein the fastener holds a cover or a tray of the battery pack enclosure against the endwall.

5. The battery assembly of claim 3 , wherein the fastener is threadably secured directly to a threaded bore within the other of the endwall or the endplate.

6. The battery assembly of claim 3 , wherein the fastener extends through an aperture in the flange from a first side of the flange to an opposite, second side of the flange.

7. A battery assembly, comprising:
an endwall;
an endplate;
a flange secured within a recess to secure the endwall relative to the endplate; and
a fastener extending at least partially within the recess, the fastener securing the flange within the recess,
wherein the endwall is part of a battery enclosure, and the endplate is a first endplate that sandwiches an array of battery cells together with a second endplate to provide a battery array, wherein the battery enclosure provides an open area to receive the battery array,
the flange extending transversely from a primary portion of one of the endwall or the endplate, the other of the endwall or the endplate providing the recess,
wherein a first side of the first endplate interfaces directly with the array of battery cells, and the flange is disposed along an opposite, second side of the first endplate,
wherein the battery enclosure holds the battery array and a plurality of other battery arrays.

8. The battery assembly of claim 1 , wherein the endplate provides the recess, and the fastener is threadably secured to the endplate to secure the flange within the recess.

9. The battery assembly of claim 1 , wherein the endwall provides the recess, and the fastener is threadably secured to the endwall to secure the flange within the recess.

10. The battery assembly of claim 1 , wherein the endwall provides the recess, and the fastener that secures the flange within the recess extends through an open bore in the endwall.

11. The battery assembly of claim 1 , wherein the endplate provides the recess, and the fastener that secures the flange within the recess extends through an open bore in the endplate.

12. A battery assembly, comprising:
an endwall;
an endplate;
a flange secured within a recess to secure the endwall relative to the endplate, the flange extending transversely from a primary portion of one of the endwall or the endplate, the other of the endwall or the endplate providing the recess; a fastener extending at least partially within the recess, the fastener securing the flange within the recess; and
a battery pack enclosure that includes a cover and a floor secured to the endwall, wherein the flange is configured to be secured within the recess after the cover and the floor are secured to the endwall.

13. The battery assembly of claim 1 , wherein the endwall is a first endwall, and further comprising a second endwall, the first endwall and the second endwall clamping a plurality of battery cells.

14. The battery assembly of claim 1 , wherein the endplate is a first endplate of a first battery array, wherein the endwall provides the recess having a first portion that receives the flange of the first endplate, wherein a second portion of the recess receives a flange of another second endplate of a second battery array that is separate and distinct from the first battery array.

15. The battery assembly of claim 12 , wherein the endplate is a first endplate of a first battery array, wherein the endwall provides the flange having a first portion that is received within the recess of the first endplate, wherein a second portion of the flange is received within a recess of another second endplate of a second battery array that is separate and distinct from the first battery array.

16. The battery assembly of claim 3 , wherein the flange is configured to be drawn against a side of the recess as the fastener is secured.

17. The battery assembly of claim 4 , wherein the fastener is accessible from outside the battery pack enclosure.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Benedict Scott
• Zapczynski Brent
• Reibling Michael
• Farha Eid

Classifications

• H01M50/262 Primary

  with fastening means, e.g. locks · CPC title

• Y02P70/50

  Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product · CPC title

• H01M2220/20

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

• H01M10/0481 Primary

  Compression means other than compression means for stacks of electrodes and separators · CPC title

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title