Battery assembly with array frame and integrated heat exchanger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016133997-A1
Application number	US-201414536966-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 10, 2014
Priority date	Nov 10, 2014
Publication date	May 12, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A battery assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an array frame including a frame body and a slot formed through the frame body. A heat exchanger is received within the slot.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A battery assembly, comprising:
an array frame including a frame body and a slot formed through said frame body; a heat exchanger received within said slot.

2 . The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said frame body extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a top portion, a bottom portion and frame arms that extend between said top portion and said bottom portion.

3 . The assembly as recited in claim 2 , wherein said top portion includes a first side and a second side that each include an alternating pattern of rigid snap arms and flexible snaps arms.

4 . The assembly as recited in claim 2 , wherein said slot is formed in said bottom portion of said frame body.

5 . The assembly as recited in claim 1 , comprising a thermal fin extending within said frame body, wherein said thermal fin includes a body and a leg that extends to a position outside of said frame body.

6 . The assembly as recited in claim 5 , wherein said heat exchanger is biased against said leg of said thermal fin.

7 . The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said frame body includes a bottom portion including a top wall and a bottom wall that extend between opposing ends, said slot extending horizontally between said opposing ends and vertically between said top wall and said bottom wall.

8 . The assembly as recited in claim 7 , comprising a spring feature that protrudes upwardly from said bottom wall.

9 . The assembly as recited in claim 8 , wherein said spring feature is angled relative to said bottom wall.

10 . The assembly as recited in claim 8 , wherein said spring feature is corrugated.

11 . A battery assembly, comprising:
an array frame including at least one retention arm; and a heat exchanger connected to said array frame by said at least one retention arm.

12 . The assembly as recited in claim 11 , wherein said array frame houses a battery cell, and comprising a thermal interface material between said battery cell and said heat exchanger.

13 . The assembly as recited in claim 11 , wherein said array frame includes an open bottom that establishes a pocket bound by side walls and a top wall, wherein said at least one retention arm protrudes from at least one of said side walls and said top wall.

14 . The assembly as recited in claim 11 , wherein said array frame is mounted to a tray.

15 . The assembly as recited in claim 14 , comprising an air gap between said heat exchanger and said tray.

16 . A battery assembly, comprising:
a battery array including a plurality of array frames; a lower cover connected to at least a portion of said plurality of array frames; and a heat exchanger secured between said battery array and said lower cover.

17 . The assembly as recited in claim 16 , comprising a thermal interface material between said heat exchanger and said plurality of array frames.

18 . The assembly as recited in claim 16 , wherein one of said portion of said plurality of array frames and said lower cover includes a rigid retention arm and the other of said portion of said plurality of array frames and said lower cover includes a flexible retention arm that engages said rigid retention arm to secure said lower cover to said portion of said plurality of array frames.

19 . The assembly as recited in claim 18 , wherein said flexible retention arm includes an extension that overlaps a second extension of said rigid retention arm.

20 . The assembly as recited in claim 16 , wherein said battery array is mounted to a tray.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Vejalla Dhanunjay
• Denlinger Adam
• Adler Thomas
• Maguire Patrick Daniel

Classifications

• H01M50/249

  specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains (constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64) · CPC title

• H01M50/211

  adapted for pouch cells · CPC title

• B60L50/64

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

• H01M2/1077

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01M10/625

  Vehicles · CPC title