Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

John Jardine

Ihab Grace

Rajaram Subramanian

Mike Popovski

Abigail Evelyn Christensen

Saravanan Paramasivam

Sean Brady

Abdelmonaam Sassi

Micah Smith

Keith Kearney

Anil Reddy Pullalarevu

Stuart Schreiber

Mladen Marjanovic

Tommy M Gunther

Patrick Daniel Maguire

Suriyaprakash Ayyangar Janarthanam

Bhaskara Rao Boddakayala

Michael William Danyo

Steve Droste

Shekar Prabhakar Erasala

Chelliah Madasamy

Yongcai Wang

Amar Marpu

Ahteram Khan

Juil Yum

Pax Daniel Maguire

John Marshall

Charles Moore

A multi-tier traction battery support assembly includes, among other things, a lower-tier battery array, an intermediate bracket directly secured to at least one endplate of the lower-tier battery array, and an upper-tier battery array supported on the intermediate bracket. A multi-tier traction battery support method includes supporting an intermediate bracket with at least one endplate of a lower-tier battery array and supporting an upper battery array with the intermediate bracket. The intermediate bracket is secured directly to the at least one endplate.

Traction battery upper-tier battery array support assembly and support method

An electrified vehicle assembly includes, among other things, a traction battery, and at least one shield extending longitudinally and having a portion that is vertically beneath the traction battery. The shield is removably fastened directly to the traction battery.

Traction battery protection assembly and method

A battery pack assembly includes, among other things, an enclosure providing an interior area that houses one or more battery arrays, a bracket secured relative to the enclosure, and a bracket fastener having a stem extending longitudinally from a head along a longitudinal axis of the bracket fastener. The head is enlarged radially relative to the stem. The head is captured between the bracket and a surface of the enclosure. A battery pack securing method includes, among other things, securing a bracket relative to an enclosure of a battery pack to capture a head of a bracket fastener between the bracket and a surface of an enclosure. The bracket fastener has a stem that extends longitudinally from the head of the bracket fastener.

Battery array attachment assembly and method

A battery assembly includes, among other things, an upper tier tray, an upper battery module supported on the upper tier tray, and a post that supports the upper tier tray. A battery module support method according to another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, supporting an upper tier tray with a post; and supporting an upper battery module with the upper tier tray.

Battery assembly having a support post and battery module supporting method utilizing a support post

A battery pack attachment assembly includes, among other things, a first bracket configured to be secured directly to a vehicle underbody, and a second bracket. The first bracket extends vertically above the first bracket such that the second bracket is spaced from the vehicle underbody when the first bracket is secured directly to the vehicle underbody.

Battery pack to vehicle attachment assembly and attachment method

An apparatus and method, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a battery tray configured to support a plurality of battery cells and at least one cross member positioned between adjacent battery cells. The at least one cross member comprises a base portion that is fixed to the battery tray and an elongated body extending outwardly from the base portion. The elongated body extends from a first end at the base portion to a second end that is opposite the first end, and wherein the first end has a first width and the second end has a second width that is less than the first width.

Battery structure comprising tray and cross members

A battery module according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an array of battery cells, a compression structure including a first wall and a second wall, at least one conduit configured to convey fluid adjacent the array, and a tension member connected to the first wall and the second wall. The tension member is adjacent the at least one conduit. This disclosure also relates to an electrified vehicle and a method.

Battery module with tension member resisting deflection

A connected assembly can include, among other things, first and second side rails of a battery pack of an electrified vehicle. The battery pack including a plurality of battery arrays disposed between the first and second side rails within an enclosure assembly. The connected assembly further includes a lateral rail extending from the first side rail to the second side rail, and a bracket assembly directly connected to the first side rail and the lateral rail. A battery pack connection method can include, among other things, directly connecting a bracket assembly to a horizontally facing side of a lateral rail, and directly connecting the bracket assembly to a horizontally facing side of a first side rail of an enclosure assembly that holds a battery pack of an electrified vehicle between the first side rail and a second side rail.

Connected battery pack assembly and connecting method

An exemplary battery assembly includes, among other things, a thermal fin, a frame holding the thermal fin, and a stand-off of the frame configured to limit relative movement of the thermal fin toward a thermal exchange plate. An exemplary thermal fin positioning method, includes limiting relative movement of a thermal fin toward a thermal exchange plate using a stand-off disposed upon a battery cell assembly frame.

Assembly and method to maintain clearance to a thermal fin within a battery assembly

A vehicle underbody includes a tray structure, a battery pack having a plurality of footers and a bracket; and an enclosure surrounding the battery pack. The bracket has a wall attached to the enclosure, a ledge attached to the footers, and a stepped deformation region between the wall and ledge. The stepped deformation region deforms in response to impact to absorb energy associated with the impact.

Bracket attachment structure with fault folds

A vehicle including a pair of spaced apart battery cell arrays, a pair of sub-structures configured to retain the arrays, and a thermal plate assembly disposed between the arrays is provided. Each of the sub-structures may include opposing endplates and opposing upper and lower sidewalls secured to the endplates and each having a flange extending toward and overlapping with the respective flange of the other sub-structure to join the sub-structures without mechanical fastening. The thermal plate assembly may be disposed between the overlapping flanges and the arrays to form a sandwich formation. The thermal plate assembly may include at least one thermal interface component disposed on a side of a thermal plate, and in contact with a portion of at least one of the battery cell arrays.

Support structure for traction battery assembly with integrated thermal plate

A traction battery assembly for a vehicle includes an array of cells stacked on a tray. The array of cells defines opposing longitudinal sides and opposing lateral sides. First and second L-shaped components are attached to the tray. Each of the components includes an end wall and a sidewall that are integrally formed to define a substantially 90&#xb0; corner. The first and second components are attached together such that each of the sidewalls is disposed adjacent one of the longitudinal sides and each of the end walls is disposed adjacent one of the lateral sides to form a housing around the tray that has an open top and an open bottom.

Growing community of inventors

Harrison Township, MI, United States of America

John Jardine