# US 11,993,140 B2 · Load transferring battery cell arrangement for traction battery pack > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,993,140 B2 - Document ID: US11993140B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/211,252 - Filed: 2021-03-24 - Published: 2022-09-29 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2021-03-24 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Kevin Mackenzie; Jude Berthault - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993140B2 ## CPC - B60K 1/04: of the electric storage means for propulsion - H01M 50/107: having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic (H01M50/103, H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence) - H01M 50/119: Metals - H01M 50/213: adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic (H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence) - H01M 50/244: Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method - H01M 50/249: specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains (constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64) - H01M 50/264: for cells or batteries, e.g. straps, tie rods or peripheral frames - B60K 2001/0438: {Arrangement under the floor} - B60Y 2200/141: Light trucks - B60Y 2306/01: Reducing damages in case of crash, e.g. by improving battery protection - H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - 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 - 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 ## Abstract A traction battery assembly includes, among other things, battery cells configured to be positioned between a first frame rail of an electrified vehicle and an opposite, second frame rail of the electrified vehicle. The battery cells are arranged to transfer a load from the first frame rail to the second frame rail. A method of securing battery cells includes, among other things, positioning battery cells between a first frame of an electrified vehicle and an opposite, second frame rail of the electrified vehicle. The battery cells are positioned to transfer a load from the first frame rail to the second frame rail. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A traction battery assembly, comprising: a plurality of battery cells configured to be positioned between a first frame rail of an electrified vehicle and an opposite, second frame rail of the electrified vehicle, the plurality of battery cells arranged to transfer a load from the first frame rail to the second frame rail, wherein each battery cell within the plurality of battery cells comprises an outer case, the outer case of each battery cell within the plurality of battery cells directly secured to at least one outer case of another battery cell within the plurality of battery cells. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The traction battery assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of battery cells are cylindrical battery cells. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The traction battery assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of battery cells includes inner battery cells and peripheral battery cells, the inner battery cells having outer cases that are directly secured to the outer cases of at least two other battery cells. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The traction battery assembly of claim 3, wherein the plurality of battery cells are cylindrical battery cells. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The traction battery assembly of claim 3, wherein the outer cases are a metal or metal alloy. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The traction battery assembly of claim 3, wherein the inner battery cells have outer cases that are directly secured to the outer cases of at least six other battery cells within the plurality of battery cells. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The traction battery assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer case of each battery cell within the plurality of battery cells is welded to at least one outer case of another battery cell within the plurality of battery cells. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The traction battery assembly of claim 1, further comprising a frame assembly having a plurality of apertures, the frame assembly spanning from the first rail to the second rail, each of the apertures within the plurality of apertures holds a respective one of the battery cells within the plurality of battery cells. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The traction battery assembly of claim 8, wherein the frame assembly comprises a sheet of material, the plurality of apertures extending from an upper surface of the sheet of material to an opposite, lower surface of the sheet of material. ### Claim 10 A traction battery assembly, comprising: a plurality of battery cells configured to be positioned between a first frame rail of an electrified vehicle and an opposite, second frame rail of the electrified vehicle, the plurality of battery cells arranged to transfer a load from the first frame rail to the second frame rail, and a frame assembly having a plurality of apertures, the frame assembly spanning from the first rail to the second rail, each of the apertures within the plurality of apertures holds a respective one of the battery cells within the plurality of battery cells, the frame assembly includes an upper plate and a lower plate that is spaced from the upper plate, the plurality of apertures are provided by pockets in the upper plate and pockets in the lower plate, wherein an outer case of each battery cell within the plurality of battery cells is welded to at least one outer case of another battery cell within the plurality of battery cells. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The traction battery assembly of claim 10, wherein the plurality of battery cells are a plurality of cylindrical battery cells. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The traction battery assembly of claim 1, wherein the first frame rail is a passenger side frame rail, wherein the second frame rail is a driver side frame. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The traction battery assembly of claim 12, wherein the passenger side frame rail is secured relative to the driver side frame rail without any frame cross-member that overlaps with any of the plurality of battery cells along a longitudinal axis of the electrified vehicle. ### Claim 14 A method of securing a plurality of battery cells, comprising: positioning a plurality of battery cells between a first frame rail of an electrified vehicle and an opposite, second frame rail of the electrified vehicle, the plurality of battery cells positioned to transfer a load from the first frame rail to the second frame rail, wherein the plurality of battery cells are directly secured to one another. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of battery cells are cylindrical battery cells. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of battery cells are welded to each other. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of battery cells each include an outer case, wherein the plurality of battery cells are each held within a respective aperture within a frame assembly, the frame assembly spanning from the first frame rail to the second frame rail, the outer cases of the battery cells within the plurality of battery cells are spaced apart from one another when the plurality of battery cells are held within the frame assembly.