# US 12,183,902 B2 · Apparatus for battery cooling considering battery expansion > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,183,902 B2 - Document ID: US12183902B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/260,698 - Filed: 2019-07-17 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-18 - Assignees: GoPro, Inc. - Applicants: GoPro, Inc. - Inventors: Juntao Sun; Hsieh Duen Hsing - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12183902B2 ## CPC - H01M 10/613: Cooling or keeping cold - H01M 10/0525: Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries - H01M 10/623: Portable devices, e.g. mobile telephones, cameras or pacemakers - H01M 10/653: characterised by electrically insulating or thermally conductive materials - H01M 10/655: Solid structures for heat exchange or heat conduction - H01M 10/6554: Rods or plates - H01M 10/052: Li-accumulators - H01M 2220/30: Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop - 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 Disclosed herein are implementations of a cooling apparatus for use with a battery or battery pack. The battery may be a lithium-ion battery, and the battery pack may be two or more lithium-ion batteries. A cooling apparatus may include a heatsink. The heatsink may have a clearance portion configured to allow expansion of the lithium-ion battery. The cooling apparatus may include a metal plate coupled to the heatsink. The heatsink may be configured to contact the battery on at least three sides. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for cooling a battery, the apparatus comprising: a heatsink configured to absorb heat from the battery and contact the battery on at least three sides, the heatsink comprising a flange portion configured to hold the battery, wherein the flange portion creates an opening configured to allow expansion of the battery in a thickness direction upon heating of the battery; a thermally conductive elastomer comprising a base and a raised portion, wherein the base is in contact with the flange portion and the raised portion is configured to contact with the battery; and a metal plate coupled to the thermally conductive elastomer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive elastomer is configured to exert a force against the battery such that the battery maintains surface contact with at least three sides of the heatsink. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the raised portion of the thermally conductive elastomer is flexible and configured to allow expansion of the battery in the thickness direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive elastomer further comprises a pocket portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the pocket portion is configured to deform to allow expansion of the battery in the thickness direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the pocket portion contains an inert gas. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the pocket portion contains a compressible material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the compressible material is a liquid, a gel, or a foam material. ### Claim 9 An apparatus for cooling a battery, comprising: a heatsink configured to contact at least three sides of the battery and to dissipate heat from the battery, the heatsink comprising a flange portion that is configured to define a clearance on a free side of the battery, wherein the clearance is configured to allow the battery to expand; a thermally conductive elastomer configured to exert a force against the battery such that the heatsink maintains contact with the at least three sides of the battery, the thermally conductive elastomer comprising: a raised portion that is disposed at least partially within the clearance and is configured to contact the battery, and a base contacting the flange portion of the heatsink; and a plate contacting the base of the thermally conductive elastomer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the raised portion is flexible and configured to deform to allow the battery to expand in a thickness direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the heatsink is rigid and the plate is configured to maintain flexibility of the apparatus when deformation of the thermally conductive elastomer meets or exceeds a threshold. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the base of the thermally conductive elastomer is disposed outside of the clearance and is configured to not be in contact with the battery. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a surface area of the base of the thermally conductive elastomer is the same as a surface area of the flange portion of the heatsink that is in contact with the base. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the flange portion of the heatsink is configured define an opening between the flange portion and the battery, and the opening is configured to allow airflow therethrough. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the thermally conductive elastomer further comprises a pocket portion between the plate and the raised portion, wherein the pocket portion is configured to deform to allow the expansion of the battery. ### Claim 16 An apparatus configured to cool a battery, comprising: a heatsink configured to contact sides of the battery and absorb heat from the battery, the heatsink including a flange portion that creates an opening configured to allow expansion of the battery upon heating of the battery; and a thermally conductive elastomer configured to exert a force against the battery such that the heatsink maintains contact with the sides of the battery, the thermally conductive elastomer comprising: a raised portion that is configured to contact the battery and to deform to allow the expansion of the battery, and a base that contacts the flange portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the opening and the raised portion are configured to allow the expansion of the battery in a thickness direction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the thermally conductive elastomer further comprises a pocket portion that is configured to deform to allow the expansion of the battery in the thickness direction. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising: a plate that contacts the base of the thermally conductive elastomer, wherein the pocket portion is between the plate and the raised portion of the thermally conductive elastomer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the plate includes a cutout portion and the thermally conductive elastomer include a protrusion that is attached to the cutout portion to attach the thermally conductive elastomer to the plate.