Shippable battery module and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11355807-B2
Application number	US-202016746027-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 17, 2020
Priority date	Jan 17, 2020
Publication date	Jun 7, 2022
Grant date	Jun 7, 2022

Abstract

A method of transporting a battery module includes transporting the battery module containing at least one battery and a backplane disposed in a cabinet to an operating site such that the at least one battery is electrically isolated from the backplane during the transporting, installing the battery module at the operating site, and electrically connecting the at least one battery to the backplane after the transporting.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A battery module, comprising:
a cabinet;
a battery disposed in the cabinet and comprising a first terminal;
a battery rack disposed in the cabinet and configured to support the battery in a transport position and in an operating position;
a backplane comprising a second terminal and at least one bus bar or connection circuitry electrically connected to the second terminal; and
a locking mechanism configured to lock the battery in the transport position on the battery rack, such that the battery is prevented from moving to the operating position, wherein:
when the battery is in the operating position, the first terminal is configured to contact the second terminal to electrically connect the battery to the backplane, and
when the battery is in the transport position, the first terminal is configured to be separated from the second terminal by a distance to electrically.

2. The battery module of claim 1 , wherein:
the battery comprises a locking tab; and
the locking mechanism comprises a locking pin configured to extend through the locking tab and a rail of the battery rack, to lock the battery in the transport position.

3. The battery module claim 1 , wherein:
the battery module comprises a plurality of batteries that comprise locking tabs; and
the locking mechanism comprises locking pins configured to extend through the locking tabs of each battery and rails of the battery rack, to lock the batteries in the transport position.

4. The battery module of claim 1 , wherein:
the battery module comprises a plurality of batteries; and
the locking mechanism comprises a locking bar configured to lock the batteries in the battery rack.

5. The battery module of claim 1 , further comprising an electrical contactor located between the second terminal and the backplane and configured to selectively electrically connect the battery to the backplane, when the battery is in the operating position.

6. The battery module of claim 1 , wherein:
the first terminal and the second terminal are blind mate electrical connections; and
when the battery is in the transport position, the distance between the first connector and the second connector ranges from about 2 cm to about 10 cm.

7. A modular fuel cell system comprising the battery module of claim 1 and fuel cell power modules.

Assignees

• Bloom Energy Corp

Inventors

• Ballantine Arne
• Mahler Jessica
• Parker Ross
• Pmsvvsv Prasad
• Juday Samuel

Classifications

• H01M50/502

  Interconnectors for connecting terminals of adjacent batteries; Interconnectors for connecting cells outside a battery casing · CPC title

• H01M50/20 Primary

  Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders (structural combination of accumulators with charging apparatus H01M10/46) · CPC title

• H01M2250/10

  Fuel cells in stationary systems, e.g. emergency power source in plant · CPC title

• H01M16/006

  of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries · CPC title

• H01M2250/402

  Combination of fuel cell with other electric generators · CPC title