Integrated high voltage service disconnect for traction batteries

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9577230-B2
Application number	US-201414226971-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2014
Priority date	Mar 27, 2014
Publication date	Feb 21, 2017
Grant date	Feb 21, 2017

Abstract

A traction battery includes a battery housing having a tray and a cover cooperating to define an interior. A plurality of battery cells are arranged in an array and disposed on the tray within the interior. A service disconnect base is disposed on an exterior surface of the housing and includes a uni-terminal connector having a receptacle disposed within the base and electrically connected to the battery cells. A service disconnect plug is integrally incorporated with a single high voltage cable that is partially disposed in the plug. The service disconnect plug includes a body configured to mechanically engage the base and a prong mechanically connected to the high voltage cable and configured to be received within the receptacle to create an electrical connection between the battery cells and a high voltage bus when the body is engaged with the base. The plug may include a cover portion that enclosures a terminal disposed on the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A traction battery comprising:
a battery housing including a tray and a cover cooperating to define an interior;
a plurality of battery cells arranged in an array and disposed on the tray within the interior;
a service disconnect base disposed on an exterior surface of the battery housing, and including a uni-terminal connector having a receptacle disposed within the service disconnect base and electrically connected to the plurality of battery cells; and
a service disconnect plug integrally incorporated with a single high voltage cable that is partially disposed in the service disconnect plug, the service disconnect plug including a body configured to mechanically engage the service disconnect base, and a prong mechanically connected to the single high voltage cable and configured to be received within the receptacle to create an electrical connection between the battery cells and a high voltage bus when the body is engaged with the service disconnect base.

2. The traction battery of claim 1 further comprising an interlock switch including an interlock connector and an interlock receptacle, wherein the interlock switch is configured to de-energize the uni-terminal connector when the interlock connector is removed from the interlock receptacle.

3. The traction battery of claim 1 wherein the service disconnect base is disposed on an exterior surface of the cover.

4. The traction battery of claim 3 wherein the service disconnect plug and the cover are arranged such that the cover cannot be removed from the tray unless the service disconnect plug is removed from the service disconnect base.

5. The traction battery of claim 1 further comprising an interlock switch including a interlock connector attached to the service disconnect plug and an interlock receptacle disposed in the service disconnect base, and arranged such that the interlock connector is removed from the interlock receptacle when the service disconnect plug is at least partially removed from the service disconnect base, wherein the uni-terminal connector is de-energized when the interlock connector is removed from the interlock receptacle.

6. The traction battery of claim 1 wherein the uni-terminal connector is a negative uni-terminal connector.

7. The traction battery of claim 1 wherein the service disconnect plug further includes a cover portion cooperating with the battery housing to form an enclosure around a second terminal to limit access to the second terminal.

8. The traction battery of claim 7 wherein the uni-terminal connector is a negative uni-terminal connector and the second terminal is a positive terminal.

9. A traction battery comprising:
a housing defining an interior and at least one sidewall;
battery cells disposed in the interior;
a service disconnect base disposed on the sidewall and including a uni-terminal connector electrically connected to the battery cells;
a terminal disposed on exterior surface of the sidewall and electrically connected with the battery cells, wherein the terminal and the uni-terminal connector have opposite polarities;
a first high voltage cable mechanically connected to the terminal to electrically connect the terminal to an electric machine; and
a service disconnect plug including a second high voltage cable having a polarity opposite a polarity of the first high voltage cable and mechanically engageable with the uni-terminal connector to electrically connect the uni-terminal connector with the electric machine, wherein the service disconnect plug further includes a cover portion cooperating with the sidewall to form an enclosure around the terminal to limit access to the terminal when the service disconnect plug engages the service disconnect base.

10. The traction battery of claim 9 further comprising an interlock switch including an interlock connector and an interlock receptacle, wherein the interlock switch is configured to de-energize the terminal when the interlock connector is removed from the interlock receptacle.

11. The traction battery of claim 9 wherein the cover portion includes a top and sidewalls defining at least a portion of the enclosure.

12. The traction battery of claim 9 wherein the second high voltage cable includes a prong that projects outwardly from the service disconnect plug and is receivable within the uni-terminal connector.

13. The traction battery of claim 12 wherein the uni-terminal connector includes a female receptacle configured to receive the prong when the service disconnect plug is connected with the service disconnect base.

14. The traction battery of claim 9 wherein the terminal is a threaded stud and the first high voltage cable is secured to the terminal by a fastener.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Gibeau John Paul

Classifications

• B60L50/64 Primary

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

• H01M50/512

  Connection only in parallel · CPC title

• H01M50/505

  comprising a single busbar · CPC title

• H01M50/211

  adapted for pouch cells · CPC title

• H01M50/591

  Covers · CPC title