Pressure management device for battery pack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12080903-B2
Application number	US-202017600022-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2020
Priority date	Apr 15, 2019
Publication date	Sep 3, 2024
Grant date	Sep 3, 2024

Abstract

A battery pack includes a battery pack housing having a lid joined to an open end via a fluid-impermeable seal. The battery pack further includes a battery module disposed within the battery housing and comprising a plurality of electrochemical cells. In addition, the battery pack includes a pressure compensation device positioned within the battery pack housing, the pressure compensation device having a first bladder fluidly coupled to a second bladder by a primary fitting. The battery pack housing is filled with a dielectric fluid. And further, the pressure compensation device has a second fluid.

First claim

We claim:

1. A battery pack comprising:
a battery pack housing having a lid joined to an open end via a fluid-impermeable seal;
a battery module disposed within the battery housing and comprising a plurality of electrochemical cells; and
a pressure compensation device positioned within the battery pack housing, the pressure compensation device comprising a first bladder fluidly coupled to a second bladder by a primary fitting,
wherein the battery pack housing is filled with a dielectric fluid, and
wherein the pressure compensation device comprises a second fluid.

2. The battery pack of claim 1 , further comprising a third bladder fluidly coupled to the second bladder by a secondary fitting.

3. The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the first bladder is at least partially positioned between the lid and the battery module.

4. The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the primary fitting protrudes through the lid of the battery housing and is coupled to a vent block having a bore positioned outside of the battery pack housing, wherein the bore opens at a predetermined fluid pressure.

5. The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the second bladder is disposed around the battery module.

6. The battery pack of claim 2 , wherein at least two battery modules are grouped together as a cassette, and the second bladder is disposed around the cassette.

7. The battery pack of claim 6 , wherein the battery pack comprises a first pair of cassettes, and the second bladder is disposed between the cassettes of the first pair of cassettes.

8. The battery pack of claim 7 , further comprising a second pair of cassettes, and the third bladder is disposed between the cassettes of the second pair of cassettes.

9. The battery pack of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first bladder, the second bladder, and the third bladder comprises a pair of metal-and-polymer laminated sheets coupled together along a seal line.

10. The battery pack of claim 9 , wherein the pair of metal-and-polymer laminated sheets are coupled together along the seal line via heating.

11. The battery pack of claim 2 , wherein the secondary fitting comprises a flexible tube.

12. The battery pack of claim 1 , further comprising a protective sheet positioned between the first bladder and the battery module.

13. The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first bladder and the second bladder comprises a fluid permeable support shell.

14. The battery pack of claim 13 , wherein the support shell comprises a first half-shell and a second-half shell positioned around a corresponding bladder.

15. A battery pack comprising:
a battery pack housing having a lid joined to an open end via a fluid-impermeable seal;
a cassette disposed within the battery housing comprising at least a pair of battery modules, wherein each of the battery modules comprise a plurality of electrochemical cells; and
a pressure compensation device positioned within the battery pack housing, the pressure compensation device comprising:
a first bladder at least partially positioned between the lid and the cassette,
a second bladder fluidly coupled to the first bladder by a primary fitting and disposed at least partially around the cassette, and
a third bladder fluidly coupled to the second bladder by a secondary fitting,
wherein the battery pack housing is filled with a dielectric fluid,
wherein the pressure compensation device comprises a second fluid,
wherein the primary fitting protrudes through the lid of the battery housing and is coupled to a vent block having a bore positioned outside of the battery pack housing, and
wherein the bore opens at a predetermined fluid pressure.

16. The battery pack of claim 15 , wherein the battery pack comprises a first pair of cassettes, and the second bladder is disposed between the cassettes of the first pair of cassettes.

Assignees

• Bosch Gmbh Robert
• Nikola Corp
• Kotik Mark
• Bisaro Adam
• Lynk Kevin Mitchell
• Heaton Anthony Albert
• Schoch Sebastian

Inventors

• Kotik Mark
• Bisaro Adam
• Lynk Kevin Mitchell
• Heaton Anthony Albert
• Schoch Sebastian

Classifications

• H01M2220/20

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

• H01M50/271

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

• H01M50/317

  Re-sealable arrangements · CPC title

• H01M50/572

  Means for preventing undesired use or discharge · CPC title

• H01M50/209 Primary

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