Service panel for accessing a serviceable part

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9246148-B2
Application number	US-201314030335-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 18, 2013
Priority date	Sep 18, 2013
Publication date	Jan 26, 2016
Grant date	Jan 26, 2016

Abstract

A battery assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an enclosure assembly defining an interior and a service panel integrally formed in the enclosure assembly. The service panel includes a ductile portion that is removable to access the interior.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A battery assembly, comprising:
an enclosure assembly defining an interior; and
a service panel integrally formed in said enclosure assembly, wherein said service panel includes a ductile portion that is removable to access said interior, said ductile portion circumscribing a perimeter of a body of said service panel.

2. The battery assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said interior accommodates at least one serviceable part.

3. The battery assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said enclosure assembly includes a tray made of a first material and a cover made of a second material different from said first material.

4. The battery assembly as recited in claim 3 , wherein said first material is a metal and said second material is a thermoplastic.

5. The battery assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said ductile portion includes a tear strip.

6. The battery assembly as recited in claim 5 , comprising a pull tab connected to said tear strip.

7. The battery assembly as recited in claim 5 , wherein said service panel includes a center body that is bounded by said tear strip.

8. The battery assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said ductile portion includes a perforation.

9. The battery assembly as recited in claim 1 , comprising a replacement panel configured to reseal said interior after removal of at least said ductile portion.

10. The battery assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said ductile portion is irreversibly removable from said enclosure assembly.

11. A battery assembly, comprising:
an enclosure assembly defining an interior; and
a service panel integrally formed in said enclosure assembly, wherein said service panel includes a ductile portion that is removable to access said interior, said ductile portion including a tear strip defined by a first groove and a second groove that are molded into a portion of said enclosure assembly.

12. A battery assembly, comprising:
an enclosure assembly defining an interior; and
a service panel integrally formed in said enclosure assembly, wherein said service panel includes a ductile portion that is removable to access said interior, said ductile portion including a perforation that circumscribes an outer periphery of a membrane of said service panel.

13. An enclosure assembly, comprising:
a housing containing at least one serviceable part;
a service panel integrally formed into said housing; and
said service panel having a ductile portion that is plastically deformable to expose said at least one serviceable part, said ductile portion circumscribing a perimeter of a body of said service panel.

14. The assembly as recited in claim 13 , wherein said ductile portion is irreversibly removable from said housing.

15. The assembly as recited in claim 13 , wherein said enclosure assembly is a battery assembly of an electric vehicle.

16. The assembly as recited in claim 13 , wherein said ductile portion includes a tear strip.

17. A method, comprising:
deforming a ductile portion of a service panel of an enclosure assembly by applying a pulling force to the ductile portion, wherein deforming the ductile portion includes severing a tear strip from the enclosure assembly or tearing a membrane away from the enclosure assembly along a perforation; and
exposing at least one serviceable part housed inside of the enclosure assembly in response to deforming the ductile portion.

18. The method as recited in claim 17 , comprising the step of:
prior to deforming the ductile portion, determining whether the at least one serviceable part requires servicing.

19. The method as recited in claim 17 , comprising the step of:
replacing at least a portion of the service panel with a replacement panel.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Maguire Patrick Daniel

Classifications

• H01M50/342 Primary

  Non-re-sealable arrangements · CPC title

• H01M50/28

  Composite material consisting of a mixture of organic and inorganic materials · CPC title

• H01M50/262

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

• H01M50/278

  Organic material · CPC title

• B60L50/64

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