# US 11,028,947 B2 · Coupling for electric vehicle battery pack

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- Number: US 11,028,947 B2
- Document ID: US11028947B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/087,268
- Filed: 2013-11-22
- Published: 2015-05-28
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2013-11-22
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Giriraj Srinivasan; Neil Robert Burrows; James McManaman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028947B2

## CPC

- F16L 13/08: Soldered joints
- F16L 23/026: by welding
- F16L 39/00: Joints or fittings for double-walled or multi-channel pipes or pipe assemblies {(quick-acting joints for double-walled or multi-channel pipes or pipe assemblies F16L37/56)}
- F28F 9/0253: {with multiple channels, e.g. with combined inflow and outflow channels}
- H01M 10/613: Cooling or keeping cold
- H01M 10/625: Vehicles
- H01M 10/6556: Solid parts with flow channel passages or pipes for heat exchange (closed pipes H01M10/6552)
- H01M 10/6567: Liquids
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16)
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

An example coupling for an electric vehicle battery pack includes an attachment member configured to connect to a cold plate, a fluid inlet extending from the attachment member, and a fluid outlet extending from the attachment member.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of communicating fluid to and from a cold plate of an electric vehicle, comprising:
securing an attachment member of a coupling to a cold plate extension that is affixed to the cold plate of a battery pack within the electric vehicle;
communicating fluid into the cold plate extension from a fluid outlet extending from the attachment member;
communicating fluid from the cold plate extension to a fluid inlet extending from the attachment member; and
redirecting the fluid within the attachment member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising securing by fastening the coupling to the cold plate extension with a mechanical fastener, wherein the fluid enters the attachment member from the cold plate through an opening in a common surface of the attachment member and is communicated from the attachment member back to the heat exchanger through another opening in the common surface, wherein the fastener extends through a fastener surface of the attachment member that is separate and distinct from the common surface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet interface with a common surface of the attachment member, wherein the common surface is aligned along a first plane, and the attachment member interfaces with the extension of the cold plate at an interfacing surface that is aligned along a second plane containing a line that is transverse to the first plane.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the attachment member comprises an interfacing surface, and a plurality of walls extending away from the interfacing surface, the interfacing surface interfacing with the cold plate, the fluid inlet extending from at least one of the plurality of walls, the fluid outlet extending from at least one of the plurality of walls, wherein the plurality of walls extend from the interfacing surface to a fastener surface, the fastener surface defining an opening to receive a fastener that secures the attachment member to the extension.