Battery pack venting system for electrified vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9685645-B2
Application number	US-201414332980-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 16, 2014
Priority date	Jul 16, 2014
Publication date	Jun 20, 2017
Grant date	Jun 20, 2017

Abstract

A battery pack according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an enclosure that establishes a vent chamber and tubing in fluid communication with the vent chamber. A check valve is mounted outside of the enclosure and is connected to the tubing. The check valve permits flow of battery vent byproducts in a first direction but blocks the flow of atmospheric air in a second, opposite direction.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A battery pack, comprising:
an enclosure that establishes a vent chamber and houses a battery cell having a vent for expelling battery vent byproducts into said vent chamber, and said vent chamber is an open space extending between said battery cell and said enclosure;
tubing in fluid communication with said vent chamber; and
a check valve mounted outside of said enclosure and connected to said tubing, said check valve permitting flow of said battery vent byproducts in a first direction while blocking the flow of atmospheric air in a second, opposite direction.

2. The battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein said check valve is an umbrella valve that includes a sealing disk and a seat, said sealing disk movable between a first position in which said sealing disk covers an opening of said seat and a second position in which said sealing disk is displaced from said opening.

3. The battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein said check valve is a duckbill valve that includes a seal with movable lips, wherein said lips are movable between a first position in which said lips are closed and a second position in which said lips are spread apart.

4. The battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein said check valve is an inline check valve that includes a seat and a seal movable between a first position in which said seal is against said seat and a second position in which said seal is moved away from said seat.

5. The battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein said enclosure establishes a cooling flow path separate from said vent chamber.

6. The battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein said tubing includes multiple branches connected to an end wall of said enclosure, said branches in fluid communication with said vent chamber.

7. The battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein said check valve is mounted at an interface between said tubing and a vehicle interface structure.

8. The battery pack as recited in claim 7 , wherein said vehicle interface structure extends between said enclosure and a vehicle structure.

9. The battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein said enclosure includes a tray, a cover attached to said tray, and end walls.

10. An electrified vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle structure;
a battery pack mounted to said vehicle structure and including a plurality of battery cells each having a vent for venting battery vent byproducts;
a venting system for purging said battery vent byproducts from said battery pack and including a vent chamber and a check valve; and
said check valve mounted within an opening of a vehicle interface structure mounted between said battery pack and said vehicle structure.

11. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein said venting system includes tubing connected between said vent chamber and said check valve.

12. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein said battery pack includes an enclosure having a tray, said check valve mounted to said tray and including an outlet that is exposed to atmosphere.

13. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein said vehicle structure is a vehicle side member that opens to atmosphere.

14. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein said battery pack includes a cooling flow path that is sealed from said vent chamber.

15. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein said battery pack is liquid cooled.

16. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein said battery pack is air cooled.

17. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein said check valve permits said battery vent byproducts to flow in a first direction but blocks any reverse flow of atmospheric air in a second, opposite direction.

18. The battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein said check valve is located remotely from said vent of said battery cell.

19. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein said vent chamber and said check valve are located externally to said plurality of battery cells.

20. The battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein said vent chamber is established by said battery cell, a cover of said enclosure, and portions of a frame assembly that holds said battery cell.

21. The battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein said check valve is mounted within an opening of a vehicle interface structure that extends from said enclosure.

22. The battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein said tubing attaches to said enclosure without extending into said vent chamber.

23. An electrified vehicle, comprising:
a battery enclosure establishing an open space acting as a vent chamber;
a battery array inside said battery enclosure and including battery cells with vents for expelling battery vent byproducts into said vent chamber;
tubing attached to said enclosure without extending inside said vent chamber; and
a check valve connected to said tubing and located outside said battery enclosure.

24. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 23 , comprising a cooling flow path sealed from said vent chamber.

25. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 24 , wherein said cooling flow path is axially between said battery array and a second battery array.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Janarthanam Suriyaprakash Ayyangar
• Perumalla Sai

Classifications

• H01M50/367

  Internal gas exhaust passages forming part of the battery cover or case; Double cover vent systems · CPC title

• H01M10/613 Primary

  Cooling or keeping cold · CPC title

• H01M2/1252

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01M10/625

  Vehicles · CPC title

• B60K1/04

  of the electric storage means for propulsion · CPC title