Battery temperature regulating system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9583801-B2
Application number	US-201414314191-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2014
Priority date	Jun 25, 2014
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

A temperature regulating system for regulating the temperature of a battery in a vehicle. The system regulates airflow to the battery for cooling or warming the battery based on the speed of the vehicle and the temperature of the battery. The system provides active cooling airflow to the battery when the battery temperature is above a recommended temperature range, or when the battery temperature is within the recommended temperature range and the speed of the motor vehicle is below a speed threshold. The system provides passive cooling airflow when the battery temperature is within the recommended temperature range and the speed of the motor vehicle is above a speed threshold. The system provides active warming airflow when the battery temperature is below the recommended temperature range.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for regulating a temperature of a battery of a vehicle, the system comprising:
a fan configured to selectively supply airflow to a battery of a vehicle, operation of the fan being dependent on a temperature of the battery and a speed of the vehicle;
wherein the fan supplies cooling airflow to the battery when (a) the temperature of the battery is above an extreme upper temperature threshold, and (b) the temperature of the battery is between an upper temperature threshold and the extreme upper temperature threshold, and the speed of the vehicle is below a speed threshold; and
wherein the fan does not supply cooling airflow to the battery when (a) the temperature of the battery is between the upper temperature threshold and the extreme upper temperature threshold and the speed of the vehicle is above the speed threshold, and (b) the temperature of the battery is below the upper temperature threshold.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a battery box defining an interior configured to house the battery, the battery box including first and second apertures through which airflow is delivered to and vented from the interior of the battery box, the battery box defining an air-tight housing surrounding the battery except for the first and second apertures.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a duct in fluid communication with the interior of the battery box and configured to supply cooling airflow to the battery when the vehicle is moving in a forward direction, and when the fan is supplying cooling airflow to the battery.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the duct is connected to the battery box to form an air-tight seal around the first aperture and wherein the fan is connected to the battery box to form an air-tight seal around the second aperture.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the duct extends at a downward angle from the battery box to a front of the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 3 , wherein:
the fan does not supply airflow to the battery when the temperature of the battery is between the upper temperature threshold and a lower temperature threshold; and
the fan supplies warming airflow to the battery when the temperature of the battery is below the lower temperature threshold and a temperature of the warming airflow is above the temperature of the battery.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein cooling airflow is supplied from outside an engine compartment of the vehicle and warming airflow is supplied from inside the engine compartment.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a controller configured to control operations of the fan in accordance with the temperature of the battery and the speed of the vehicle, and at least one sensor in communication with the controller, wherein:
the at least one sensor is configured to detect the temperature of the battery, the speed of the vehicle, and a temperature of the warming airflow.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the extreme upper temperature threshold is a temperature between 65° C. and 75° C., the upper temperature threshold is a temperature between 45° C. and 55° C., the lower temperature threshold is a temperature between −5° C. to 5° C., and the speed threshold is a speed between 15 km/h and 25 km/h.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the warming airflow is supplied to the battery when the temperature of the battery is below the lower temperature threshold and the temperature of the warming airflow is above a warming airflow temperature threshold, which is a temperature above the lower temperature threshold.

11. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first aperture and the second aperture are on different sides of the battery box.

12. The system of claim 6 , further including an airflow restricting component configured to prevent cooling airflow from being supplied through the duct and to the battery when the fan is operated to provide warming airflow to the battery.

13. The system of claim 7 , wherein the fan is configured to rotate in a forward rotational direction to draw cooling airflow through the duct and to the interior of the battery box and a reverse rotational direction to drive warming airflow from the engine compartment into the interior of the battery box.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Steinmeyer Christopher Leonard
• Baker Deryk
• Settles Jr Robert
• Owens Jr Charles Richard
• Vu Duong Hoang

Classifications

• H01M10/486

  for measuring temperature · CPC title

• H01M2220/20

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

• B60L11/1874

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• H01M10/651

  characterised by parameters specified by a numeric value or mathematical formula, e.g. ratios, sizes or concentrations · CPC title

• H01M10/6563

  with forced flow, e.g. by blowers · CPC title