Battery pack filtering device and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016372726-A1
Application number	US-201514742654-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 17, 2015
Priority date	Jun 17, 2015
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An exemplary battery pack filtering device includes, among other things, a frame that provides at least one passageway to communicate air through the frame to an interior of a battery pack, a desiccant held by the frame, and a membrane configured to block liquid from communicating through the at least one passageway to the interior.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A battery pack filtering device, comprising:
a frame that provides at least one passageway to communicate air through the frame to an interior of a battery pack; a desiccant held by the frame; and a membrane configured to block liquid from communicating through the at least one passageway to the interior.

2 . The battery pack filtering device of claim 1 , wherein the desiccant directly contacts the membrane.

3 . The battery pack filtering device of claim 1 , wherein the membrane is directly secured to the frame.

4 . The battery pack filtering device of claim 1 , wherein the membrane is permeable to water vapor and repels liquid water.

5 . The battery pack filtering device of claim 1 , further comprising a seal at an interface between the frame and a wall of the battery pack.

6 . The battery pack assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a threaded connector to secure the frame relative to the battery pack.

7 . The battery pack filtering device of claim 6 , wherein the threaded connector provides a portion of the passageway.

8 . The battery pack filtering device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the membrane or the desiccant are outside the interior of the battery pack.

9 . The battery pack filtering device of claim 1 , wherein the membrane and the desiccant are inside the interior of the battery pack.

10 . The battery pack filtering device of claim 1 , wherein the frame is dome-shaped.

11 . A battery pack assembly, comprising:
a housing having an interior area that contains at least one battery array of an electric vehicle; and a filtering device received within a vent of the housing; a membrane of the filter that blocks movement of liquid to the interior area through the vent; and a desiccant of the filter that adsorbs liquid.

12 . The battery pack assembly of claim 11 , wherein the filter is removeably attachable to the housing.

13 . The battery pack assembly of claim 11 , wherein the membrane is upstream from the desiccant relative to a direction of flow through the vent into the interior area.

14 . The battery pack assembly of claim 11 , wherein the vent is configured to communicate air to and from the interior area to equalize a pressure of the interior area with a pressure outside the housing.

15 . A method of equalizing pressure in a battery, comprising:
communicating a flow of air through a passageway in a frame to an interior of a battery pack; blocking movement of at least some liquid through the passageway using a membrane; and adsorbing at least some liquid in the passageway with a desiccant.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising directly contacting the membrane with the desiccant.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the membrane is upstream from the desiccant relative to the flow of air to the interior of the battery pack.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the frame is removably attachable to a housing of the battery pack.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the passageway comprises a plurality of apertures in the frame.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the desiccant and the membrane are outside the interior.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Baldwin Christopher Steven

Classifications

• H01M50/227

  Organic material · CPC title

• H01M50/224

  Metals · CPC title

• H01M50/204

  Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells · CPC title

• H01M2/12 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01M2220/20

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