Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Dave Moschet

Saravanan Paramasivam

Rajaram Subramanian

Daniel Miller

Kimberley King

Kanchana Perumalla

Suriyaprakash Ayyangar Janarthanam

Bhaskara Rao Boddakayala

James Maurice Boileau

Sai K Perumalla

Anil Reddy Pullalarevu

Tom M Gunther

Shamsuddin A Syed

Melissa Kathryn Christensen

Himanshu Khandelwal

Patrick Daniel Maguire

Brian Utley

Thomas Edward Smith

Hari Krishna Addanki

Eid Farha

Jesus Cardoso

Mohammadreza Eftekhari

Jingmei Shen

Micah Smith

Amar Marpu

Louis Paspal

Brent Zapczynski

Samir Subba

Edward Popyk

Michael Luchtman

Jeffery Christ

Derek Langley

Battery pack designs are provided for use in electrified vehicles. Exemplary battery packs may include a battery array that includes one or more interconnected array frames. A split thermal fin may be held within the one or more array frames. The proposed designs of the split thermal fin enable a reduction of the amount of thermal interface material required between the thermal fin and a support structure (e.g., a heat exchanger plate) of the battery pack.

Battery array frames with split thermal fin designs for reducing thermal interface material usage

A battery pack assembly includes, among other things, a tray, a lid secured to the tray to provide an enclosure having an interior, at least one battery module disposed within the interior, a cross-member disposed within the interior adjacent to the at least one battery module, and a stanchion secured to the cross-member. The stanchion disposed entirely within the interior. The assembly further includes a fastener that extends through an opening in the lid to engage the stanchion.

Traction battery securing assembly and method

A traction battery pack assembly includes, among other things, first and second pieces of an enclosure having an interior area. An attachment rim is disposed at a periphery of the first piece. The attachment rim has a stand-off that includes a platform portion and turned flange. The platform portion extends outward from the interior area in a first direction. The platform portion provides an aperture. The turned flange extends away from the platform portion in a second direction and terminates at an end face. The second direction is transverse to the first direction. The aperture is configured to receive a fastener that clamps the end face against the second piece.

Battery pack enclosure with turned flange

A battery assembly according to a non-limiting aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an array of battery cells, and a thermal exchange plate assembly adjacent the array. The thermal exchange plate assembly includes an inlet, an outlet, a main channel, and a bypass channel configured to direct fluid from the inlet to the outlet while substantially bypassing the main channel.

Thermal exchange plate assembly for vehicle battery

This disclosure details exemplary battery pack designs for use in electrified vehicles. Exemplary battery packs may include a battery array that includes one or more interconnected array frames. A split thermal fin may be held within the one or more array frames. The proposed designs of the split thermal fin enable a reduction of the amount of thermal interface material required between the thermal fin and a support structure (e.g., a heat exchanger plate) of the battery pack.

A battery pack assembly includes, among other things, a first battery component, a different, second battery component and an enclosure that has a cover secured to a tray to provide an interior. The first and second battery components are disposed within the interior. The cover has a first area that is disposed directly above the first battery component. The cover has a second area that is disposed directly above the second battery component. The battery pack assembly further includes a rib of the cover. The rib extends into the interior from the first area. The rib is configured to contact the first battery component to inhibit relative movement of the second area toward the second battery component.

Traction battery enclosure and load directing method

A vehicle assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an enclosure, a high voltage component housed inside the enclosure and a blocking member configured to restrict access to the high voltage component along a path that extends through the enclosure.

Vehicle enclosure for preventing access to high voltage components

This disclosure details battery assemblies for electrified vehicles. An exemplary battery assembly may employ one or more compression limiters that maintain the integrity and positioning of a plurality of battery arrays housed inside the battery assembly. The compression limiters may include a body and an attachment head near an end of the body. The attachment head is configured to engage a portion of a support structure of a battery array.

Compression limiters for electrified vehicle battery assemblies

An exemplary support assembly includes, among other things, a hoop bracket coupling a battery pack to a vehicle body structure, and a tuned bracket within an open area of the hoop bracket. The tuned bracket is configured to control a collapse of the hoop bracket in response to a load above a threshold level to reduce a transfer of the load to the battery pack. An exemplary supporting method includes coupling a battery pack to a vehicle body structure using a hoop bracket disposed alongside the battery pack. The hoop bracket includes an open area that receives a tuned bracket. The tuned bracket is configured to control a deformation of the hoop bracket in response to a load above a threshold level to reduce a transfer of the load to the battery pack.

Collapsible battery pack support assembly and supporting method

A battery assembly includes a grouping of battery cells and an array plate assembly contacting at least one cell of the grouping of battery cells. The array plate assembly including a spring plate adapted to exert a compressive spring force against the at least one cell. The compressive spring force may be based on a dimensional profile of the grouping of battery cells.

Array plate assemblies for applying compressive spring forces against battery cell stacks

An electrified vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a floor pan and a battery assembly mounted to an underside of the floor pan. The battery assembly includes an open top such that the floor pan acts as a cover of the battery assembly.

Coverless battery assembly for electrified vehicle

A battery assembly according to a non-limiting aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a housing, an array of battery cells provided within the housing, and a thermal exchange assembly adjacent the array and including an inlet, an outlet, and a tube configured to direct fluid from the inlet to the outlet. Further, the tube is overmolded with the housing. This disclosure also relates to a method of forming a battery assembly.

Thermal exchange assembly for vehicle battery

An exemplary battery pack heat exchanger includes a wall of an enclosure, and a heat exchanger lid held against the wall to provide a chamber that receives a fluid to exchange thermal energy with a battery array that is outside of the chamber. An exemplary method of managing battery pack thermal energy includes moving a fluid through a chamber within an enclosure wall of a battery pack to adjust thermal energy levels of the battery pack.

Battery pack heat exchanger

A battery assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a compression limiter including a body and an attachment head near a first end of the body and configured to engage a structural member of the battery assembly.

An example battery pack separator includes a spacer section and a vent section. The spacer section has a portion that is operative to fit between a first battery cell and a second battery cell along an axis. The portion has a perimeter. A vent section has an aperture that extends away from the axis outside the perimeter.

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Dearborn, MI, United States of America

Dave Moschet