Carriers for battery cells

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12589642-B2
Application number	US-202318194521-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2023
Priority date	Dec 30, 2022
Publication date	Mar 31, 2026
Grant date	Mar 31, 2026

Abstract

A carrier may include a base with several cell bores, with each cell bore designed to carry a battery cell. The carrier may include several walls, with each wall having one or more surfaces that conform to a shape or surface of the battery cell. For example, a surface of the wall may include an arc with a shape that corresponds to that of a cylindrical battery cell. One of the walls may include opposing surfaces, each of which conform to the shape of multiple battery cells. Also, each cell bore may include a ledge to seat a battery. Additionally, a carrier may include several ribs that provide a vent or channel to direct a gas. In addition to battery cells, carriers may also carry cooling tubes designed to cool the battery cells.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A carrier, comprising:
a base comprising cell bores configured to receive battery cells, the cell bores comprising a first cell bore, a second cell bore, and a third cell bore, the base further comprising: a first base surface, and a second base surface opposite the first base surface; and a first wall integrally formed with and extending from the base, the first wall positioned between the first cell bore and the second cell bore, the first wall comprising: a first wall surface configured to conform to a shape of a first battery cell in response to the first battery cell positioned in the first cell bore, the first wall surface comprising i) a first arc having a first axis aligned with the first cell bore and ii) a second arc having a second axis aligned with the second cell bore, a top rib positioned between the first arc and the second arc, a second wall surface configured to conform to a shape of a second battery cell in response to the second battery cell positioned in the third cell bore, and bottom ribs extending from the second wall surface.

2 . The carrier of claim 1 , wherein:
the second wall surface comprises a third arc having a third axis aligned with the second cell bore.

3 . The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the bottom ribs comprise:
a first bottom rib; and a second bottom rib parallel with respect to the first bottom rib, wherein the first bottom rib and the second bottom rib interweave between the cell bores.

4 . The carrier of claim 3 , wherein
the first bottom rib and the second bottom rib combine to surround a column of cell bores of the cell bores.

5 . The carrier of claim 1 , further comprising a ledge located within the first cell bore, wherein the first cell bore comprises:
a first diameter greater than a battery cell diameter of the first battery cell, and a second diameter based on the ledge, wherein the second diameter is less than the battery cell diameter.

6 . The carrier of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second wall extending from the base; and a third wall extending from the base, wherein the first wall is positioned between, and substantially parallel with respect to, the second wall and the third wall.

7 . The carrier of claim 6 , wherein the second wall comprises:
a first surface comprising a third arc configured to conform to a third battery cell of the battery cells, and a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface comprising indentations.

8 . The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises:
a first side that includes a first dimension; and a second side that includes a second dimension, wherein the second dimension is at least four times greater than the first dimension.

9 . The carrier of claim 8 , wherein the carrier is implemented in a vehicle.

10 . The carrier of claim 1 , wherein
the first wall extends from the first base surface, and a plurality of ribs extend from the second base surface.

11 . A battery, comprising:
a carrier comprising:
a base comprising bores configured to receive a first set of battery cells and a second set of battery cells, the base comprising:
a first side that includes a first dimension,
a second side that includes a second dimension that is greater than the first dimension,
ribs,
a first surface, and
a second surface opposite the first surface;

a wall that separates the first set of battery cells from the second set of battery cells, the wall extending from the first surface; a first I-beam; a second I-beam, wherein the first I-beam and the second I-beam are coupled to the carrier; and a lid structure coupled to the first I-beam and the second I-beam, wherein ribs extend from the second surface and are coupled with the lid structure.

12 . The battery of claim 11 , wherein the carrier further comprises ribs coupled to the lid structure.

13 . The battery of claim 11 , wherein the battery is implemented in a vehicle.

14 . The battery of claim 11 , wherein the wall comprises:
a first surface that includes a first set of arcs, and a second surface that includes a second set of arcs, wherein the second surface is opposite the first surface.

15 . A battery, comprising:
a carrier comprising:
a base comprising bores configured to receive a first set of battery cells and a second set of battery cells,
a wall extending from the base, the wall separating the first set of battery cells from the second set of battery cells, the wall comprising:
a first surface,
a first rib extending from the first surface and positioned between a first battery and a second battery of the first set of battery cells, and
a second surface opposite the first surface,
a second rib extending from the second surface and positioned between a third battery and a fourth battery of the second set of battery cells, and

a groove formed in the base; and
a cooling tube interweaved between battery cells of the first set of battery cells, wherein the cooling tube is disposed in the groove.

16 . The battery of claim 15 , wherein the groove is formed at an edge of the base.

17 . The battery of claim 15 , wherein the base comprises:
a first side that includes a first dimension, and a second side that includes a second dimension that is at least four times greater than the first dimension.

18 . The battery of claim 17 , wherein the cooling tube comprises a dimension substantially equal to the second dimension.

Assignees

• Rivian Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Jacobs Tyler
• Ting Darren Yaoshun
• Summerson Eldon James
• Eaton Diana Kei
• Pruett Matthew

Classifications

• H01M50/213

  adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic (H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01M50/244

  Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method · CPC title

• H01M10/6557 Primary

  arranged between the cells · CPC title

• H01M2220/20

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

• B60L50/64

  Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles · CPC title