Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Barton W McLaughlin

Andrew P Oury

Robert J Heydel

Michael A Celotto

Charles W McClure

Todd H Fast

Kevin T Joy

Gary M Insana

Laurence J Wilson, Iii

A modular battery pack and method of making a battery pack. Prismatic can battery cells are interspersed with cooling frames along a stacking axis within a housing such that numerous a cell-frame assemblies, each with a cooling path, are formed. Resiliently-biased sealing members on the frames are arranged such that they remain out of the way of a footprint defined by the joined cells and frames to promote ease of high-speed cell-to-frame assembly. Upon formation of the cell-frame assembly and subsequent placement into the housing with inner walls that press against the protruding ends of the sealing member, the sealing member is forced by the housing to come into contact engagement with a corresponding surface of the edge of the battery cell. The generally linear, planar contact surface formed by the contact engagement promotes the formation of a sealing surface that makes it harder for introduced cooling air to escape. By this sealing member construction, cell-frame assemblies may be produced with high-speed automated assembly techniques that may have both large manufacturing tolerances prior to assembly and substantially gap-free cell-to-cooling frame contacting surfaces after assembly.

Cell cooling frames with cantilevered side seals

Apparatus for protecting battery cells. In some embodiments, a battery may comprise a series of battery cells and one or more protective plates positioned between the adjacent battery cells. In some embodiments, the plates may also be configured to provide a cooling function relative to adjacent battery cells. The plate(s) may comprise a first section and a second section coupled with the first section. The plate may be configured to fail under predetermined conditions such that, upon experiencing the predetermined conditions, at least a portion of the second section is configured to separate from at least a portion of the first section.

Protective battery cell plates

System and methods for retaining a battery system included in a vehicle are presented. In certain embodiments, a system for enclosing a battery system may utilize a plurality of modular components. The modular components may include a plurality of first side components and a plurality of second side components coupled to the plurality of first side components. A first top component and a second top component may be coupled to the first side components. In certain embodiments, the second top component may be configured to prevent the first top component from being decoupled from the first side components.

Battery enclosure systems and methods

A battery cell has a main body including active material configured to generate power from an electrochemical reaction. A first terminal is disposed on the main body and includes an integrated busbar. The integrated busbar is configured to place the battery cell in electrical communication with a second terminal of an adjacent battery cell.

Battery cell with integrated busbar

A modular battery pack and method of making a battery pack. The modular structure includes an open box with an interlocking features to allow for flexibility in assembly of numerous battery pack configurations. The design is such that numerous sub-module assemblies are formed that can be fastened, connected or otherwise secured to a tray, frame or other underlying primary support structure. Aligned stacks of individual battery cells can be placed within the volume defined within the box-like structure so that portions of the box-like structure move in response to a spring-like force imparted by the stack of battery cells. Adapter plates facilitate the modular construction by an interlocking connection between the box-like structure and the underlying support structure.

Module mounting and structure with adaptor plate

A battery cell module includes a battery cell, a sliding repeating element, and a guide rail. The repeating element is disposed adjacent the battery cell. A gap is defined between the battery cell and the repeating element. The repeating element has a main body with at least one spacer coupled thereto. The guide rail cooperates with the at least one spacer and permits the repeating element to move with an expansion of the battery cell. The cooperation of the guide rail with the at least one spacer thereby militates against an overcompression of the battery cell.

Growing community of inventors

Troy, MI, United States of America

Barton W McLaughlin