# US 12,002,977 B2 · Battery pack structures and systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,002,977 B2 - Document ID: US12002977B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/318,182 - Filed: 2021-05-12 - Published: 2022-04-28 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-10-22 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Nivay Anandarajah; Evan D. Maley; Alexander J. Clarabut; Yu-Hung Li; John M. Schoech - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12002977B2 ## CPC - H01M 50/20: Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders (structural combination of accumulators with charging apparatus H01M10/46) - H01M 10/6557: arranged between the cells - H01M 50/30: Arrangements for facilitating escape of gases - H01M 50/204: Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells - H01M 50/209: adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells (H01M50/216 takes precedence) - H01M 50/287: Fixing of circuit boards to lids or covers - H01M 50/358: External gas exhaust passages located on the battery cover or case - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - 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 Battery packs according to some embodiments of the present technology may include a longitudinal beam. The packs may include a plurality of battery cells disposed adjacent the longitudinal beam. Each battery cell may be characterized by a first surface, and a second surface opposite the first surface. Each battery cell may be characterized by a third surface extending vertically between the first surface and the second surface. The first surface may face the longitudinal beam, and battery terminals may extend from the third surface. Each battery cell may be characterized by a fourth surface opposite the third surface. The packs may include a lid coupled with the first surface of each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells. The packs may include a base coupled with the second surface of each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A battery pack comprising: a longitudinal beam; a plurality of battery cells disposed adjacent the longitudinal beam; a lid coupled to a first surface of each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells, wherein the lid comprises a first heat exchanger coupled to at least two battery cells of the plurality of battery cells; and a base extending along a second surface of each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells such that each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells provides support to, and increases a rigidity of, the battery pack, wherein the base comprises a second heat exchanger coupled to at least two battery cells of the plurality of battery cells. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the base is coupled with each battery cell with a thermal interface material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the base defines fluid channels extending orthogonally to the longitudinal beam. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The battery pack of claim 3, further comprising: a lateral wall extending from the longitudinal beam between two battery cells, wherein the base defines a recess in which the lateral wall is seated, and wherein the recess is fluidly isolated from the fluid channels defined by the base. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the plurality of battery cells comprise a first set of battery cells and a second set of battery cells, wherein the first set of battery cells are disposed along a first surface of the longitudinal beam, wherein the second set of battery cells are disposed along a second surface of the longitudinal beam, the battery pack further comprising: a first side beam, wherein the first set of battery cells are disposed between the first side beam and the first surface of the longitudinal beam; and a second side beam, wherein the second set of battery cells are disposed between the second side beam and the second surface of the longitudinal beam. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The battery pack of claim 5, wherein the base comprises a first fluid port extending through the first side beam, and wherein the base comprises a second fluid port extending through the second side beam. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The battery pack of claim 6, wherein the first fluid port is proximate a first longitudinal end of the longitudinal beam, and wherein the second fluid port is proximate a second longitudinal end of the longitudinal beam opposite the first longitudinal end of the longitudinal beam. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a fluid manifold on each lateral end of the base. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The battery pack of claim 8, wherein each manifold defines a channel extending longitudinally along the manifold and fluidly coupled with a plurality of fluid channels defined by the base. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The battery pack of claim 9, wherein the channel is formed to distribute a liquid through the plurality of fluid channels. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The battery pack of claim 9, wherein the channel increases in volume from a first end of the channel to a second end of the channel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The battery pack of claim 11, wherein the channel increasing volume extends in a first direction in a first manifold of the base, and wherein the channel increasing volume extends in a second direction opposite the first direction in a second manifold of the base. ### Claim 13 A battery pack comprising: a longitudinal beam characterized by a first longitudinal surface and a second longitudinal surface opposite the first longitudinal surface; a first side beam; a second side beam; a plurality of battery cells comprising: a first set of battery cells disposed between the first side beam and the first longitudinal surface of the longitudinal beam; a second set of battery cells disposed between the second side beam and the second longitudinal surface of the longitudinal beam; a lid comprising a first heat exchanger coupled against at least two battery cells of the plurality of battery cells; and a base extending along a second surface of each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells such that each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells provides support to, and increases a rigidity of, the battery pack, wherein: the base comprises a second heat exchanger defining a plurality of fluid channels through the second heat exchanger; and at least two of the plurality of fluid channels are isolated from each other. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The battery pack of claim 13, further comprising: a first lateral wall extending between the first side beam and the first longitudinal surface of the longitudinal beam, wherein the first lateral wall extends between two battery cells of the first set of battery cells; and a second lateral wall extending between the second side beam and the second longitudinal surface of the longitudinal beam, wherein the second lateral wall extends between two battery cells of the second set of battery cells, wherein the base defines a first recess in which the first lateral wall is seated, wherein the base defines a second recess in which the second lateral wall is seated, and wherein the first and second recesses are fluidly isolated from the plurality of fluid channels defined by the base. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The battery pack of claim 14, wherein the base comprises a first fluid port extending through the first side beam, wherein the base comprises a second fluid port extending through the second side beam, wherein the first fluid port is proximate a first longitudinal end of the longitudinal beam, and wherein the second fluid port is proximate a second longitudinal end of the longitudinal beam opposite the first longitudinal end of the longitudinal beam. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The battery pack of claim 15, wherein the base comprises a fluid manifold on each lateral end of the base, wherein each manifold defines a channel fluidly coupled with the first fluid port or the second fluid port, wherein the channel extends longitudinally along the manifold and fluidly couples with the plurality of fluid channels defined by the base. ### Claim 17 A battery pack comprising: a longitudinal beam characterized by a first longitudinal surface and a second longitudinal surface opposite the first longitudinal surface; a first side beam; a second side beam; a plurality of battery cells comprising: a first set of battery cells disposed between the first side beam and the first longitudinal surface of the longitudinal beam; a second set of battery cells disposed between the second side beam and the second longitudinal surface of the longitudinal beam; a lid comprising a first heat exchanger secured to at least two battery cells of the plurality of battery cells; and a base extending along a second surface of each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells such that each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells provides support to, and increases a rigidity of, the battery pack, wherein: the base comprises a second heat exchanger defining a plurality of fluid channels through the base; and the second heat exchanger is coupled to at least two battery cells of the plurality of battery cells. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The battery pack of claim 1, wherein: the second heat exchanger defines a plurality of fluid channels; and at least one fluid channel of the plurality of fluid channels runs underneath the at least two battery cells. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The battery pack of claim 13, wherein the at least two fluid channels are fluidly isolated from each other. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the second heat exchanger is monolithic.