Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Pax Daniel Maguire

Jacob Mathews

Venkateswa Anand Sankaran

Rajaram Subramanian

Bhaskara Rao Boddakayala

Douglas X Zhu

Yongcai Wang

John Jardine

Patrick Lively Padgett

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 heater system for an electrical storage device, such as a high voltage traction battery, is connectable to an external AC power source maintain a proper temperature of the battery as long as the system remains connected to the external power source. The battery temperature can be maintained at a level that ensures that the vehicle will start even in extremely cold climates. The heater system includes a heater disposed within the battery itself. Other system components, such as an AC/DC converter and a control module, may be connected to the battery heater system outside of the battery, allowing the battery heater system to act as a modular component that can be easily included in or excluded from a vehicle as an option, either alone or in a package with an engine block heater. The battery heater system is designed so that it can be connected along with the engine block heater to the AC power source using a single common connector.

Electrical storage device heater for vehicle

A terminal connector includes a pair of spaced-apart connector units each having a connector plate, a pair of clamp arms extending from the connector plate, a clamp carried by the pair of clamp arms and a connecting cable attached to the clamp of each of the pair of connector units. A battery module and a battery system are also disclosed.

Battery terminal connector

A circuit disconnect assembly for a high-voltage electrical storage device in a vehicle includes a handle, a fuse and a detent. The handle is manually manipulated within a housing of a circuit between a locked position and an unlocked position. The fuse includes a first terminal and a second terminal which are moveable by the handle between the locked position to close the circuit and the unlocked position to open the circuit. The detent prevents shifting of the handle until a predetermined force is applied to the handle.

Circuit disconnect assembly

A circuit disconnect assembly for a high-voltage electrical storage device in a vehicle integrates a grip portion and a fuse holder portion into one unit. The handle is easily manipulated manually within a housing of the storage device to open a high-voltage circuit and allow quick replacement of the fuse. The handle is manually shiftable between a locked state and an unlocked state to connect and disconnect the fuse from the circuit.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Pax Daniel Maguire