Battery pack water drain system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020152935-A1
Application number	US-201916680346-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 11, 2019
Priority date	Nov 13, 2018
Publication date	May 14, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A drain system is described for allowing fluid to drain from a battery pack while maintaining structural integrity of the battery pack. A frame of the battery pack is comprised of several retaining members in which valves are disposed to allow fluid to exit the battery pack. The valves are positioned such that forces normally experienced while driving a vehicle, such as acceleration, deceleration, and turning forces, cause the fluid to flow toward and through the valves.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A battery frame for a vehicle, comprising:
a base plate; a plurality of retaining members fixedly connected from the base plate, wherein the plurality of retaining members extend from the base plate in a vertical direction; a plurality of cross members coupled to at least one of the base plate or one or more of the plurality of retaining members, wherein the base plate, the plurality of retaining members, and the plurality of member define a plurality of at least partial cavities for a plurality of battery modules; a plurality of valves located on one or more of the plurality of retaining members, wherein the plurality of valves allow liquid to exit the battery frame.

2 . The battery frame of claim 1 , wherein the base plate is coupled to each of the plurality of retaining members at an angle.

3 . The battery frame of claim 2 , wherein the angle is at least 3 degrees in a direction from a front to a rear of the battery frame.

4 . The battery frame of claim 2 , wherein the angle comprises a high region at a front of the battery frame and a low region at a rear of the battery frame.

5 . The battery frame of claim 1 , wherein the base plate does not include any through holes.

6 . The battery frame of claim 1 , wherein the base plate includes a plurality of through holes, and wherein substantially all of the through holes are filled or covered.

7 . The battery frame of claim 1 , wherein the substantially all of the through holes are filled or covered by a bolt or a weld.

8 . The battery frame of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of retaining members comprise two side retaining members and a rear retaining member.

9 . The battery frame of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of retaining members further comprise a front retaining member.

10 . The battery frame of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of valves are located on the side retaining members only.

11 . The battery frame of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of valves are located on the rear retaining member only.

12 . The battery frame of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the plurality of valves is located on a rear lower portion of at least one of the side retaining members only.

13 . The battery frame of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the plurality of valves is located on a lower portion of the rear retaining member.

14 . The battery frame of claim 1 , further comprising one or more channels in the base plate.

15 . The battery frame of claim 14 , wherein the one or more channels direct the liquid to one or more of the plurality of valves.

16 . The battery frame of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of cross members includes one or more fluid passages at an end of the at least one cross member nearest the base plate.

17 . The battery frame of claim 1 , further comprising a battery module attached to the base plate, the retaining members, or the cross members, wherein the battery module includes one or more fluid passages at an end of the battery module nearest the base plate.

18 . The battery frame of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of cross members attaches to only the base plate or the plurality of retaining members.

19 . The battery frame of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of cross members attaches to a plurality of the retaining members.

20 . The battery frame of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of valves each comprise one-way valves.

21 . A battery frame for a vehicle, comprising:
a base plate; a retaining structure fixedly connected from the base plate, wherein the retaining structure extends from the base plate in a vertical direction; a battery attachment structure coupled to at least one of the base plate or retaining structure, wherein the base plate, the retaining structure, and the battery attachment structure define a plurality of at least partial cavities for a plurality of battery modules; and a plurality of valves located on the retaining structure, wherein the plurality of valves allow liquid to exit the battery frame.

22 . The battery frame of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of valves are located to facilitate exit of the liquid during forward acceleration of a vehicle.

23 . The battery frame of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of valves are located to facilitate exit of the liquid during deceleration of a vehicle.

24 . The battery frame of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of valves are located to facilitate exit of the liquid during turning of a vehicle.

25 . The battery frame of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of valves are located to facilitate exit of the liquid during changes in suspension height of a vehicle.

Assignees

• Rivian Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Wynn Nathaniel C
• Sekar Vignesh
• Butterfield Kyle
• Collins Tyler

Classifications

• H01M2220/20

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

• H01M2/1077 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• B60R16/04

  Arrangement of batteries · 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

• H01M50/204

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