Battery pack retention assembly and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9722223-B1
Application number	US-201615058643-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 2, 2016
Priority date	Mar 2, 2016
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

Abstract

An exemplary battery pack retention assembly includes a bracket, a protrusion configured to transition from a disengaged position with the bracket to an engaged position with the bracket in response to movement of a battery pack enclosure relative to a portion of vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A battery pack retention assembly, comprising:
a bracket;
a protrusion configured to transition from a disengaged position with the bracket to an engaged position with the bracket in response to movement of a battery pack enclosure relative to a portion of a vehicle,
wherein the bracket and the protrusion provide a retention assembly to secure the battery pack enclosure to the portion; and
one or more mechanical fasteners securing the battery pack enclosure to the portion and positioned outside a perimeter established by a plurality of enclosure sidewalls and end walls of the battery pack enclosure, the bracket and the protrusion both positioned laterally within the perimeter when the protrusion is in the engaged position.

2. The battery pack retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion or the bracket extends directly from the battery pack enclosure, and the protrusion in the engaged position with the bracket holds the battery pack enclosure relative to the vehicle.

3. The battery pack retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion includes a neck portion extending along an axis from a surface to a head portion that is enlarged relative to the neck portion, at least a portion of the bracket positioned between the head and the surface when the protrusion is in the engaged position.

4. The battery pack retention assembly of claim 3 , wherein the neck portion is received within a slot of the bracket when the protrusion is in the engaged position with the bracket.

5. The battery pack retention assembly of claim 4 , wherein the bracket includes a floor and a flange extending from the bracket, the flange is angled relative to the floor, wherein the slot extends from the floor through the flange, the flange configured to bend as the protrusion moves through the slot to the engaged position with bracket.

6. The battery pack retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion extends along an axis from a surface and includes a post and at least one tang extending from the post in a direction transverse to the axis, the bracket positioned between the at least one tang and the surface when the protrusion is in the engaged position.

7. The battery pack retention assembly of claim 6 , wherein the protrusion is received within an opening of the bracket when the protrusion is in the engaged position.

8. The battery pack retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bracket provides a pocket having a floor, and the protrusion includes a tab spaced from a surface, the floor of the pocket positioned between the tab and the surface when the protrusion is in the engaged position.

9. The battery pack retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion extends from the battery pack enclosure, and the bracket is directly attached to an underbody of an electrified vehicle.

10. The battery pack retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion extends from an underbody of an electrified vehicle, and the bracket is directly attached to the battery pack enclosure.

11. The battery pack retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the battery pack enclosure has a plurality of sidewalls and a plurality of endwalls, the sidewalls and endwalls extending from a tray to a lid, the sidewalls and endwalls establishing a perimeter of the battery pack enclosure, wherein the protrusion and the bracket are within the perimeter.

12. The battery pack retention assembly of claim 11 , wherein the bracket or the protrusion is directly attached to the lid.

13. The battery pack retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the movement of the battery pack enclosure relative to a portion of the vehicle is a movement in a forward direction relative to the vehicle in a direction away from a rear of the vehicle.

14. A battery pack assembly, comprising:
a bracket;
a protrusion configured to transition from a disengaged position with the bracket to an engaged position with the bracket in response to movement of a battery pack enclosure relative to a portion of a vehicle;
a support structure of an electrified vehicle, and the battery pack enclosure, wherein the bracket and the protrusion provide a retention assembly that can transition from the disengaged position to the engaged position to secure the battery pack enclosure to the support structure, wherein the retention assembly can transition from the disengaged position to the engaged position in response to movement of the battery pack enclosure relative to the support structure,
wherein the battery pack enclosure has a plurality of sidewalls and a plurality of endwalls, the sidewalls and endwalls extending from a tray to a lid, the sidewalls and endwalls establishing a perimeter of the battery pack enclosure, wherein the retention assembly is within the perimeter; and
a plurality of mechanical fasteners securing the battery pack enclosure to the support structure, the plurality of mechanical fasteners positioned outside the perimeter.

15. A battery pack assembly, comprising:
a retention assembly having a bracket and a protrusion, the protrusion configured to transition from a disengaged to an engaged position with the bracket in response to movement of an enclosure of a battery pack relative to a support structure of a vehicle, the retention assembly positioned laterally within a perimeter of the enclosure established by a plurality of enclosure sidewalls and end walls; and
one or more mechanical fasteners configured to secure the enclosure to the support structure from a position outside the perimeter.

16. The battery pack retention assembly of claim 15 , wherein the bracket is secured to the support structure and the protrusion extends directly from the enclosure.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Maguire Patrick Daniel

Classifications

• B60K1/04 Primary

  of the electric storage means for propulsion · CPC title

• H01M50/204

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

• B60L50/64

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

• H01M50/262

  with fastening means, e.g. locks · 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