# US 10,870,369 B2 · Battery thermal management assembly and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,870,369 B2 - Document ID: US10870369B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/124,298 - Filed: 2018-09-07 - Published: 2020-03-12 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2018-09-07 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Stephen Pien; Andrew Charles Samyn; Erik Billimoria - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870369B2 ## CPC - B60L 58/26: by cooling - B60K 1/04: of the electric storage means for propulsion - B60K 6/28: characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors - B60K 11/02: with liquid cooling - B60K 11/04: Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds - B60K 11/085: {with adjustable shutters or blinds} - B62D 33/023: Sideboard or tailgate structures {(vehicle side panels in general B62D25/02)} - H01M 10/613: Cooling or keeping cold - H01M 10/625: Vehicles - H01M 10/6568: characterised by flow circuits, e.g. loops, located externally to the cells or cell casings - B60K 2001/003: {with means for cooling the electrical propulsion units} - B60K 2001/005: {the electric storage means} - B60K 2001/0416: {Arrangement in the rear part of the vehicle} - B60K 2001/0438: {Arrangement under the floor} - B60K 2001/0444: {Arrangement on a trailer} - B60Y 2200/90: Vehicles comprising electric prime movers - B60Y 2200/91: Electric vehicles - B60Y 2200/92: Hybrid vehicles - B60Y 2306/05: Cooling - H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - Y02T 10/88: Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract An exemplary vehicle assembly includes, among other things, inner and outer panels of a cargo bed, and a heat exchange module that manages thermal energy levels of a traction battery. The heat exchange module is disposed within a chamber between the inner and outer panels. An exemplary thermal management method includes, among other things, managing thermal energy within a traction battery by exchanging thermal energy between a first fluid and a second fluid at a heat exchange module. The heat exchange module is disposed within a chamber between inner and outer panels of a cargo bed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle assembly, comprising: inner and outer panels of a cargo bed; a heat exchange module that manages thermal energy levels of a traction battery, the heat exchange module disposed within a chamber between the inner and outer panels; and an outlet that communicates the flow of air from the chamber, the outlet opening to a downwardly facing side of the vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein the heat exchange module is a liquid-to-air heat exchange module. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle assembly of claim 1, further comprising a fan that communicates a flow of air through the heat exchange module, the fan disposed within the chamber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle assembly of claim 1, further comprising a pump that moves a liquid to the heat exchange module, the pump disposed outside the chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle assembly of claim 1, further comprising an inlet that communicates a flow of air to the chamber, the inlet opening to a horizontally facing side of a vehicle having the cargo bed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vehicle assembly of claim 5, further comprising at least one louver moveable back and forth between a first position that permits more flow through the inlet and a second position that permits less flow through the inlet. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The vehicle assembly of claim 5, wherein the inlet additionally opens to a front end of the vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein the chamber is forward of a wheel well and aft of a passenger cabin. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein the chamber is a first chamber on a driver side of the vehicle and the heat exchange module is a first heat exchange module, the vehicle further including a second heat exchange module disposed within a second chamber between inner and outer panels of the cargo bed on a passenger side of the vehicle. ### Claim 10 A vehicle assembly, comprising: inner and outer panels of a cargo bed; a heat exchange module that manages thermal energy levels of a traction battery, the heat exchange module disposed within a chamber between the inner and outer panels; an inlet that communicates a flow of air to the chamber, the inlet opening to a horizontally facing side of a vehicle having the cargo bed; and an outlet that communicates the flow of air from the chamber, the outlet opening to a downwardly facing side of the vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicle assembly of claim 10, wherein the heat exchange module is a liquid-to-air heat exchange module. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The vehicle assembly of claim 10, further comprising a fan that communicates a flow of air through the heat exchange module, the fan disposed within the chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The vehicle assembly of claim 10, further comprising a pump that moves a liquid to the heat exchange module, the pump disposed outside the chamber. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The vehicle assembly of claim 10, further comprising at least one louver moveable back and forth between a first position that permits more flow through the inlet and a second position that permits less flow through the inlet. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The vehicle assembly of claim 10, wherein the inlet additionally opens to a front end of the vehicle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The vehicle assembly of claim 10, wherein the chamber is forward of a wheel well and aft of a passenger cabin. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The vehicle assembly of claim 10, wherein the chamber is a first chamber on a driver side of the vehicle and the heat exchange module is a first heat exchange module, the vehicle further including a second heat exchange module disposed within a second chamber between inner and outer panels of the cargo bed on a passenger side of the vehicle. ### Claim 18 A vehicle assembly, comprising: a cargo bed of a pickup truck; a sidewall of the cargo bed, the sidewall extending longitudinally from a front wall of the cargo bed to a tailgate of the cargo bed; and a heat exchange module that manages thermal energy levels of a traction battery, the heat exchange module disposed within a chamber between an inner panel and an outer panel, of the sidewall; an inlet that communicates a flow of air to the chamber, the inlet provided by the sidewall; and an outlet that communicates the flow of air from the chamber, the outlet opening to a downwardly facing side of the vehicle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The vehicle assembly of claim 15, further comprising a side rail cover that encloses the heat exchange module within the chamber. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The vehicle assembly of claim 16, wherein the inlet is provided within the sidewall. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The vehicle assembly of claim 15, wherein the inlet opens into the cargo bed, wherein the inlet is provided by the inner panel. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The vehicle assembly of claim 15, wherein the inlet opens to a horizontally facing side of the vehicle, wherein the inlet is provided by the inner panel.