Battery cell welding mask

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11742553-B1
Application number	US-202218056974-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Nov 18, 2022
Priority date	Nov 18, 2022
Publication date	Aug 29, 2023
Grant date	Aug 29, 2023

Abstract

An apparatus is provided. The apparatus can include plate including an opening. The apparatus can include a clamp to couple a battery cell with the plate with a terminal of a cell of the battery module at least partially exposed through the opening. The apparatus can include a spring positioned with the clamp and the plate, the spring to cause the clamp to align the battery cell with a current collector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a plate comprising an opening;
a clamp to couple a battery cell with the plate, wherein a terminal of the battery cell is at least partially exposed through the opening;
a spring positioned with the clamp and the plate, the spring causes the clamp to align the battery cell with a current collector; and
a pin to pass through the plate and the spring, the pin to couple the clamp with the plate.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
a triplet of clamps comprising the clamp;
wherein the triplet of clamps is configured to clamp two battery cells comprising the battery cell with the current collector.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
a triplet of clamps comprising, a first clamp of the triplet to clamp a positive terminal of a first battery cell of a plurality of battery cells with a first positive current collector, a second clamp of the triplet to clamp a negative terminal of the first battery cell and a negative terminal of a second battery cell of the plurality of battery cells with a negative current collector, and a third clamp of the triplet to clamp a positive terminal of the second battery cell with a second positive current collector.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spring contacts the plate and the clamp.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spring is a first spring, the apparatus further comprising:
a second spring;
wherein the first spring and the second spring bias the clamp to align the battery cell with the current collector.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spring is a first spring, the apparatus further comprising:
a second spring;
wherein the first spring and the second spring are on opposing sides of the opening.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spring is a first spring, the apparatus further comprising:
a second spring;
wherein the clamp is configured to receive the battery cell between the first spring and the second spring.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a laser, wherein the laser is configured to:
move to a first portion of the battery cell; and
micro-weld a line segment on the portion of the battery cell.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a laser, wherein the laser is configured to:
move to a first portion of the battery cell;
micro-weld a first line segment on the first portion of the battery cell;
move to a second portion of the battery cell or a second battery cell; and
in response to moving to the second portion, micro-weld a second line segment on the second portion of the battery cell or the second battery cell.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a laser, wherein the laser is configured to:
change from an inactive state to an active state;
micro-weld a first line segment on a first portion of the battery cell;
change, in response to micro-welding the first line segment, from the active state to the inactive state;
move to a second portion of the battery cell or a second battery cell;
change, in response to moving to the second portion, from the inactive state to the active state; and
micro-weld a second line segment on the second portion of the battery cell or on the second battery cell.

11. A method, comprising:
providing a plate comprising an opening;
providing a clamp to couple a battery cell with the plate, wherein a terminal of the battery cell is at least partially exposed with the opening;
causing, with a spring positioned with the clamp and the plate, the clamp to align the battery cell with a current collector; and
passing a pin to couple the clamp with the plate.

12. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
biasing a triplet of clamps comprising the clamp, the triplet clamping two battery cells comprising the battery cell with the current collector.

13. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
biasing a triplet of clamps, the biasing causing a first clamp of the triplet to clamp a positive terminal of a first battery cell of the plurality of battery cells with a first positive current collector, a second clamp of the triplet to clamp a negative terminal of the first battery cell and a negative terminal of a second battery cell of the plurality of battery cells with a negative current collector, and a third clamp of the triplet to clamp a positive terminal of the second battery cell with a second positive current collector.

14. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
causing the clamp to align the battery cell with the current collector with two springs comprising the spring.

15. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
biasing the clamp away from the plate by two springs comprising the spring on opposing sides of the opening.

16. An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of plates comprising an opening and coupled with a board;
a clamp to couple a battery cell to at least one of the plurality of plates such that a terminal of the battery cell is at least partially exposed through the opening;
wherein the clamp clamps the battery cell to a current collector; and

a pin to pass through a plate of the plurality of plates and a spring between the clamp and the plate, the pin to couple the clamp with the plate.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of plates is connected with the board across an opening and adjacent to another plate of the plurality of plates.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , comprising:
the spring to bias the clamp to clamp the battery cell with the current collector.

Assignees

• Rivian Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Kathpalia Bharat
• Beecher Bryce Fredrick Alexander

Classifications

• H01M50/258

  Modular batteries; Casings provided with means for assembling · CPC title

• H01M50/528

  Fixed electrical connections, i.e. not intended for disconnection · CPC title

• H01M50/516 Primary

  by welding, soldering or brazing · CPC title

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title

• H01M50/566

  by welding, soldering or brazing · CPC title