Traction battery enclosure clamping device and securing method

A battery assembly, comprising:

• first and second pieces of an enclosure;
• a flange of the first piece;
• and
• a clamping device compressing together the flange and a portion of the second piece to seal an interface between the first and second pieces, and having an interior area that receives the flange such that the clamping device extends continuously from a first side, about an outer edge, to an opposite, second side of the flange,
• wherein the flange is a first flange, and the portion of the second piece is a second flange, the clamping device extending continuously from a first side of the second flange, about an outer edge of the second flange, to an opposite, second side of the second flange,
• wherein the clamping device is a clip, the battery assembly further comprising an insert disposed within the interior area of the clip that is separate from the clip, the clip held by the insert in an expanded position when the insert is set, the clip moveable to a clamped position when the insert is released, wherein the insert is configured to release in response to at least one of the first or second flanges contacting the insert as the first and second flanges are moved relative to the clip into the interior area.

A battery assembly, comprising:

• first and second pieces of an enclosure;
• a flange of the first piece;
• and
• a clamping device compressing together the flange and a portion of the second piece to seal an interface between the first and second pieces, and having an interior area that receives the flange such that the clamping device extends continuously from a first side, about an outer edge, to an opposite, second side of the flange,
• wherein the clamping device is a continuous monolithic portion of the second piece.

A battery enclosure securing method, comprising:

• holding a clamping device in an expanded position;
• receiving a flange of a first enclosure piece within an open area of a clamping device while the clamping device compresses together the flange and a portion of a second enclosure piece, the clamping device extending continuously from a first side of the flange, about an outer edge of the flange, to an opposite, second side of the flange when the flange is received within the open area;
• and
• during the receiving, contacting a component within an interior area of the clamping device to release the clamping device from the expanded position to a clamped position.