Traction battery enclosure reinforcement assembly and reinforcing method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11973241-B2
Application number	US-202117495373-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 6, 2021
Priority date	Oct 6, 2021
Publication date	Apr 30, 2024
Grant date	Apr 30, 2024

Abstract

A traction battery assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a tray, at least one battery module, a lid secured to the tray to provide an enclosure having an interior that houses the at least one battery module, the lid having a lid aperture, and a reinforcement member is secured directly to the lid. The reinforcement member has a reinforcement member aperture. A fastener extends through the lid aperture and the reinforcement member aperture. The fastener is secured to a structure within the interior. The reinforcement member is secured directly to the lid separately from the fastener.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A traction battery assembly, comprising:
a tray;
at least one battery module;
a lid secured to the tray to provide an enclosure having an interior that houses the at least one battery module, the lid having a lid aperture;
a reinforcement member secured directly to the lid, the reinforcement member having a reinforcement member aperture;
a fastener that extends through the lid aperture and the reinforcement member aperture, the fastener secured to a structure within the interior, the reinforcement member secured directly to the lid separately from the fastener; and
a washer clamped between the reinforcement member and a head of the fastener at a position outside the reinforcement member aperture.

2. The traction battery assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a cross-member disposed within the interior adjacent to the at least one battery module, and a stanchion secured to the cross-member, the stanchion disposed entirely within the interior, wherein the structure is the stanchion.

3. The traction battery assembly of claim 2 , wherein the stanchion has a threaded bore, wherein the fastener is received within the threaded bore when threadably engaging the stanchion.

4. The traction battery assembly of claim 2 , wherein the stanchion is threadably engaged with the cross-member.

5. The traction battery assembly of claim 2 , wherein the stanchion is secured to an upwardly facing surface of the cross-member.

6. The traction battery assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement member is directly secured to an outer surface of the lid outside the interior.

7. The traction battery assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement member is a circular disk.

8. The traction battery assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fastener has a shaft that extends through the lid aperture and the reinforcement member aperture, wherein the reinforcement member has a diameter that is more than ten times greater than a diameter of the shaft.

9. The traction battery assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement member and the lid are a common material.

10. The traction battery assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement member is made of a first material and the lid is made of a second material that is different the first material.

11. The traction battery assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement member and the lid are directly joined via a plurality of crimps.

12. The traction battery assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement member and the lid are directly joined via a plurality of welds.

13. The traction battery assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement member is entirely outside of the lid aperture.

14. The traction battery assembly of claim 1 , wherein, within the lid aperture, the lid interfaces directly with the fastener.

15. The traction battery assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement member is securable to the lid without the fastener.

16. The traction battery assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lid directly contacts the structure.

17. The traction battery assembly of claim 1 , wherein the washer is entirely outside the reinforcement member aperture.

18. The traction battery assembly of claim 1 , wherein the washer is a sealing washer comprising a polymer-based portion.

19. The traction battery assembly of claim 1 , wherein the washer has a washer aperture having a diameter that is less than a diameter of the reinforcement member aperture and less than a diameter of the lid aperture.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Wang Yongcai
• Swoish James Lawrence
• Christensen Melissa Kathryn
• Guo Yunan
• Khan Ahteram
• Smith Micah
• Luchtman Michael

Classifications

• H01M50/262 Primary

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

• B60K1/04 Primary

  of the electric storage means for propulsion · CPC title

• H01M50/209

  adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells (H01M50/216 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M50/271

  Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings · CPC title

• B60K2001/0438

  Arrangement under the floor · CPC title