Battery system, battery pack handling system and electrolyte evacuation and refill station

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11955666-B2
Application number	US-202117156782-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2021
Priority date	Jan 25, 2021
Publication date	Apr 9, 2024
Grant date	Apr 9, 2024

Abstract

A battery system includes an enclosure having opposed first and second major walls, a perimetral wall connecting the first and second major walls along respective perimeters thereof, and an interior defined by the first and second major walls and the perimetral wall, wherein the enclosure is configured for containing an anode assembly, a cathode assembly and an electrolyte within the interior. A longitudinal embossment is formed in the perimetral wall extending outward from the interior and extending along opposed adjacent portions of the first and second perimeters. A wall port is defined in the perimetral wall in fluid communication with the interior, wherein the wall port is configured for permitting flow of the electrolyte therethrough into and out of the interior. First and second electrodes extend through the perimetral wall and are configured for electrical connection with the anode assembly and cathode assembly, respectively.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A battery system, comprising:
a generally prismatic enclosure having opposed first and second major walls with respective first and second perimeters and respective first and second widths, a perimetral wall connecting the first and second major walls along the first and second perimeters and including one or more generally flat perimetral surfaces, and an interior defined by the first and second major walls and the perimetral wall, wherein the enclosure is configured for containing an anode assembly, a cathode assembly and an electrolyte operatively disposed within the interior, and wherein the perimetral wall has a perimetral wall width as measured between the first and second major walls;
a longitudinal embossment formed in the perimetral wall extending outward from the interior and from the one or more generally flat perimetral surfaces and extending along opposed adjacent portions of the first and second perimeters, wherein the longitudinal embossment has an embossment width that is less than the perimetral wall width and an outer width as measured across the opposed adjacent portions of the first and second perimeters that is greater than either of the first and second widths;
a wall port defined in the perimetral wall in fluid communication with the interior, wherein the wall port is configured for permitting flow of the electrolyte therethrough into and out of the interior; and
first and second electrodes each extending through the perimetral wall and configured for electrical connection with the anode assembly and cathode assembly, respectively.

2. A battery system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a manifold having an inner channel therein and a plurality of fittings each in fluid communication with the inner channel, each of the fittings configured for coupling with the wall port for permitting flow of the electrolyte between the inner channel of the manifold and the interior of the enclosure.

3. A battery system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second major walls is generally rectangular with each having a respective width and a respective height smaller than the respective width, wherein the longitudinal embossment has a length extending along the respective heights.

4. A battery system according to claim 1 , further comprising the anode assembly, the cathode assembly and the electrolyte operatively disposed within the interior of the enclosure.

5. A battery system according to claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal embossment defines a conduit on an interior side thereof, wherein the conduit is configured for permitting flow of a gas byproduct therethrough.

6. A battery system according to claim 2 , further comprising:
the anode assembly, the cathode assembly and the electrolyte operatively disposed within the interior of the enclosure, wherein the first and second electrodes are electrically connected with the anode assembly and cathode assembly, respectively;
a gas handler operatively connected with the manifold for receiving and/or filtering gas byproduct from the interior of the enclosure, wherein the manifold is operatively connected with the enclosure; and
a refill port operatively connected with the manifold for evacuating electrolyte from the interior of the enclosure and for introducing electrolyte into the interior of the enclosure, wherein the refill port is configured for fastenable extension through a housing wall of a housing, wherein the housing is configured for containing the enclosure, the manifold and the gas handler.

7. A battery system according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a first duct operatively connecting the manifold and the gas handler;
a first valve disposed in the first duct and configured to open and close flow through the first duct;
a second duct operatively connecting the manifold and the refill port; and
a second valve disposed in the second duct and configured to open and close flow through the second duct.

8. A battery system according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a boot cover having a wrap-around wall surrounding and defining a plenum therewithin, an opening in the wrap-around wall defined by a lip about the opening, and a gas port and a liquid port each defined in the wrap-around wall, wherein the gas port is in fluid communication with the plenum, and wherein the liquid port has an inner connector portion disposed within the plenum and configured for coupling with the refill port when the boot cover is placed over the refill port with the lip in sealed engagement with an outer surface of the housing wall;
a first pump operatively connected with the gas port and configured for applying suction to the gas port; and
a second pump operatively connected with the liquid port and configured for applying suction to the liquid port.

9. A battery system according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a third duct operatively connecting the gas port and the first pump; and
a fourth duct operatively connecting the liquid port and the second pump.

10. A battery system according to claim 9 further comprising: a gas byproduct tank configured for receiving gas byproduct from the first pump via a fifth duct operatively connecting the first pump and the gas byproduct tank; and a used electrolyte tank configured for receiving electrolyte from the second pump via a sixth duct operatively connecting the second pump and the used electrolyte tank.

11. A battery system according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a fresh electrolyte tank configured for supplying electrolyte to the liquid port;
wherein the second pump is operatively connected with the liquid port and/or the fresh electrolyte tank and is further configured to cause electrolyte from the fresh electrolyte tank to be pumped to the liquid port.

12. A battery system according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a fresh electrolyte tank configured for supplying electrolyte to the liquid port; and
a third pump operatively connected with the liquid port and/or the fresh electrolyte tank and configured to cause electrolyte from the fresh electrolyte tank to be pumped to the liquid port.

13. A battery system according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a collector/tester configured for receiving and/or testing a sample of electrolyte from the enclosure, wherein the collector/tester is operatively connected with at least one of the liquid port, the fourth duct, the sixth duct and the second pump.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Dharmasena Ruchira
• He Meinan
• Cai Mei

Classifications

• H01M50/609 Primary

  Arrangements or processes for filling with liquid, e.g. electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M50/103 Primary

  prismatic or rectangular (H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01M50/204

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

• H01M50/30 Primary

  Arrangements for facilitating escape of gases · CPC title

• H01M50/60

  Arrangements or processes for filling or topping-up with liquids; Arrangements or processes for draining liquids from casings · CPC title