Apparatus and method for manufacturing a modular battery pack with fluid circulation tube and interleaved fins

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016190665-A1
Application number	US-201615063645-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 8, 2016
Priority date	Mar 27, 2012
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A battery pack includes at least one serpentine fluid circulation tube that extends around part of the periphery of a plurality of electric cells. First and second segments of the tube are disposed adjacent a first and a second edge of a first set of the plurality of electric cells. The sets of electric cells are disposed in an alternating arrangement. A first fin and a second fin are provided between each of the electric cells. The fins have a reverse turn wrapped around the segments of the tube. The fins have internal ends that are disposed between the electric cells and the tube segments. The battery pack may be assembled by folding the fins around the electric cells and the tube or by preforming folded sheets that define thermal fins and assembling the folded sheets over segments of the tube from opposite sides of the electric cells.

First claim

1 . A battery cooling system comprising:
a plurality of cells; first and second tubes disposed at opposite ends of the cells; and first and second fins disposed between the cells such that on a first battery side, the first fin is configured to wrap around alternating cell ends to encase the first tubes therebetween, and on a second battery side, the second fin is configured to wrap around respective second tubes and the first fin is configured to wrap around alternating cell ends.

2 . (canceled)

3 . The battery cooling system of claim 1 , further comprising a thermal compound provided between the first fin, the first tubes and the cell ends, and provided between the second fin, the second tubes and the cell ends.

4 . The battery cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cells further includes a second cell end not enclosed by either of the first and second fins.

5 . The battery cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the first fin is continuous and extends from between a first cell and a second cell that is adjacent the first cell, around one of the first tubes and between the second cell and a third cell that is adjacent the second cell.

6 . The battery cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the second fin is continuous and extends from between a first cell and a second cell that is adjacent the first cell, around one of the second tubes and between the second cell and a third cell that is adjacent the second cell.

7 . A battery assembly comprising:
a plurality of electric cells each having ends disposed in an alternating orientation; first and second tubes disposed adjacent the ends; and first fin and second fins configured to wrap around the ends in a serpentine manner such that on a first side, the first fin encases the first tube therebetween, and on a second side, the second fin wraps around respective second tubes and the first fin wraps around alternating ends.

8 . (canceled)

9 . The battery assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first fins each extend to a first internal end and the second fins each extend to a second internal end.

10 . The battery assembly of claim 9 wherein the first fins form a seam at the first internal end and the second fins form a seam at the second internal end.

11 . The battery assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first fin has a first surface feature that limits movement of one of the electric cells toward the second internal end and the second fin has a second surface feature that limits movement of another one of the electric cells toward the first internal end.

12 . The battery assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first and second surface features are indentations that engage an outer peripheral edge of the electric cell.

13 . The battery assembly of claim 7 , wherein a first electrically insulating layer is provided between the electric cells and the first and second fins to electrically insulate the electric cells from the first and second fins.

14 . The battery assembly of claim 7 , wherein a liquid is circulated from a fluid circulation system through the first and second tubes and back to the fluid circulation system.

15 . (canceled)

16 . (canceled)

17 . (canceled)

18 . A battery assembly comprising:
a plurality of cells that are arranged in an opposite, alternating manner; and first and second fins, wherein the first fin wraps around a respective first tube and the second fin wraps around alternating cell ends to encase the first tube therebetween on a first battery side, and the second fin wraps around a respective second tube and the first fin wraps around alternating cell ends on a second battery side.

19 . (canceled)

20 . The battery assembly of claim 18 , wherein the second fin is configured to wrap around alternating cell ends to encase the second tubes therebetween.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Meyer Robert Hornblower
• Mitchell Robert Alex
• Burrows Neil Robert
• Allan Valerie Jean
• Luther Jeffrey Paul
• Kramer Michael Thomas
• Brennan Patrick Michael

Classifications

• H01M10/0413

  Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes · CPC title

• H01M10/6552

  Closed pipes transferring heat by thermal conductivity or phase transition, e.g. heat pipes · CPC title

• H01M2220/20

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

• H01M10/613 Primary

  Cooling or keeping cold · CPC title

• Y10T29/49108

  Electric battery cell making · CPC title