Vent devices for electrified vehicle battery packs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017288187-A1
Application number	US-201615090668-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 5, 2016
Priority date	Apr 5, 2016
Publication date	Oct 5, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A battery pack according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an enclosure that houses at least one battery cell and a vent device comprised of a polymeric material and adapted to discharge battery vent byproducts vented by the battery cell to a location external to the enclosure while preventing ingress of environmental fluids into the enclosure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A battery pack, comprising:
an enclosure that houses at least one battery cell; and a vent device comprised of a polymeric material and adapted to discharge battery vent byproducts vented by said battery cell to a location external to said enclosure while preventing ingress of environmental fluids into said enclosure.

2 . The battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein said vent device includes a vent tube and a removable cap received over said vent tube.

3 . The battery pack as recited in claim 2 , wherein said vent tube includes a barb received within a groove of said removable cap.

4 . The battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein said vent device includes a flap movable between a first position in which an outlet of said vent device is closed and a second position in which said outlet is open.

5 . The battery pack as recited in claim 4 , wherein said flap is part of a grommet of said vent device.

6 . The battery pack as recited in claim 4 , wherein said flap is part of a vent tube of said vent device.

7 . The battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein said vent device includes a predefined failure area configured to plastically deform in response to pressure build-up inside said vent device.

8 . The battery pack as recited in claim 7 , wherein said predefined failure area includes a notch formed in an outer surface of a vent tube.

9 . The battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein said vent device includes a vent tube having a closed end, a predefined failure area formed near said closed end, and an enlarged section disposed between said predefined failure area and said closed end.

10 . The battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein said vent device includes a vent tube, a bulb formed on an end of said vent tube, and a stress notch formed in said bulb.

11 . The battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein said vent device is mounted externally of said enclosure.

12 . The battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein said vent device is at least partially mounted inside the enclosure.

13 . A battery pack, comprising:
a vent device including a flap this is movable between a first position and a second position to expose an outlet of said vent device if a pressure inside said vent device exceeds a threshold pressure.

14 . The battery pack as recited in claim 13 , wherein said flap is part of a grommet of said vent device.

15 . The battery pack as recited in claim 13 , wherein said flap is part of a vent tube of said vent device.

16 . The battery pack as recited in claim 13 , wherein said flap is connected to a base of said vent device by a hinge.

17 . The battery pack as recited in claim 13 , wherein battery vent byproducts are discharged from said vent device if said flap is in said second position and environmental elements are block from ingress into said vent device if said flap is in said first position.

18 . A battery pack, comprising:
a vent device configured to plastically deform at a predefined failure area to expose an outlet of said vent device if a pressure inside said vent device exceeds a threshold pressure.

19 . The battery pack as recited in claim 18 , wherein said predefined failure area is a notch formed in an external surface of a tube.

20 . The battery pack as recited in claim 18 , wherein said predefined failure area is a stress notch formed in a bulb of said vent device.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Maguire Patrick Daniel

Classifications

• H01M50/262

  with fastening means, e.g. locks · CPC title

• B60L50/64

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

• H01M50/271

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

• 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

• H01M50/209

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