Assemblies for supporting battery arrays and other components within battery packs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11239520-B2
Application number	US-201916386619-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 17, 2019
Priority date	Apr 17, 2019
Publication date	Feb 1, 2022
Grant date	Feb 1, 2022

Abstract

This disclosure details assemblies for mounting and supporting components within battery packs. Exemplary battery packs may include a first battery array, a second battery array positioned adjacent to the first battery array, a crossmember positioned between the first battery array and the second battery array, and a support bracket connected to the crossmember. Together, the crossmember and the support bracket established an assembly. Both the first battery array and the second battery array may be secured to the crossmember, and the support bracket may support a second tier structure above at least one of the first battery array or the second battery array.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A battery pack, comprising:
a first battery array;
a second battery array adjacent the first battery array;
a crossmember positioned between the first battery array and the second battery array; and
a support bracket connected directly to the crossmember,
wherein both the first battery array and the second battery array are secured to the crossmember,
wherein the support bracket includes a platform, a first anchoring arm that extends from the platform, and a second anchoring arm that extends from the platform, and further wherein the first anchoring arm extends through a first through-hole of an upper platform of the crossmember and the second anchoring arm extends through a second through-hole of the upper platform,
wherein the first anchoring arm is received in abutting contact with a first side of a stanchion of the crossmember and the second anchoring arm is received in abutting contact with a second side of the stanchion.

2. The battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein a first flange of a first side plate of the first battery array is secured to the crossmember by a first mechanical fastener, and a second flange of a second side plate of the second battery array is secured to the crossmember by a second mechanical fastener.

3. The battery pack as recited in claim 2 , wherein the first mechanical fastener and the second mechanical fastener are received through the first and second through-holes of the upper platform of the crossmember.

4. The battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second anchoring arms are welded to the stanchion of the crossmember.

5. The battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein the support bracket supports a second tier structure above the first battery array or the second battery array, and wherein the second tier structure is secured to the support bracket by a mechanical fastener.

6. The battery pack as recited in claim 5 , wherein the mechanical fastener is received within a hole formed in the platform of the support bracket.

7. The battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein the crossmember includes a base, the stanchion that extends upwardly from the base, and the upper platform disposed at an opposite end of the stanchion from the base.

8. The battery pack as recited in claim 7 , wherein a first base portion of the base is attached to a first section of a tray of an enclosure assembly of the battery pack, and a second base portion of the base is attached to a second section of the tray.

9. The battery pack as recited in claim 7 , comprising a hollow section formed in the base and the stanchion.

10. The battery pack as recited in claim 7 , wherein the stanchion includes a first stanchion portion having a first thickness and a second stanchion portion having a second thickness that is smaller than the first thickness.

11. The battery pack as recited in claim 10 , wherein the upper platform includes a third thickness that is greater than the first thickness.

12. The battery pack as recited in claim 7 , wherein the upper platform includes a first platform portion that extends in a first direction laterally away from the stanchion and a second platform portion that extends in a second, opposite direction laterally away from the stanchion.

13. The battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein the crossmember and the support bracket form an assembly, and the assembly further comprises an isolator mount attached to the crossmember.

14. The battery pack as recited in claim 13 , wherein the isolator mount includes an elastomeric bushing.

15. The battery pack as recited in claim 7 , wherein the crossmember and the support bracket are each disposed inside of an enclosure assembly of the battery pack.

16. The battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein the platform includes a hole adapted for accommodating a mechanical fastener, and further comprising a second tier structure secured to the support bracket by the mechanical fastener.

17. A battery pack, comprising:
a first battery array;
a second battery array adjacent the first battery array;
a crossmember positioned between the first battery array and the second battery array,
wherein both the first battery array and the second battery array are secured to the crossmember;
a support bracket including a platform, a first anchoring arm that extends from the platform, and a second anchoring arm that extends from the platform, and further wherein the first anchoring arm extends through a first through-hole of an upper platform of the crossmember and the second anchoring arm extends through a second through-hole of the upper platform,
wherein the first anchoring arm is received in abutting contact with a first side of a stanchion of the crossmember and the second anchoring arm is received in abutting contact with a second side of the stanchion; and
a second tier structure supported above the first battery array or the second battery array by the support bracket,
wherein the second tier structure is a third battery array, a battery electronics device, a control module, or a wiring.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Gupta Rohan
• Farha Eid
• Danyo Michael William

Classifications

• H01M50/204 Primary

  Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells · CPC title

• H01M50/262

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

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title

• Y02T10/70

  Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries · CPC title

• H01M2220/20

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