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US 12,738,560 B2Granted
Traction battery pack thermal management assembly and thermal management method
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsFrancisco Fernandez-Galindo, Jason Luke Sielaff, Daniel Paul Roberts, Liam E. West
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Abstract
An assembly includes a busbar of a traction battery pack, and at least one terminal of a battery cell of the traction battery pack. The at least one terminal is electrically coupled to the busbar. The assembly further includes a thermal exchange plate, and a thermal interface material that communicates thermal energy to the thermal exchange plate from the at least one terminal, from the busbar, or both.
Claims14
An assembly, comprising:
- a busbar of a traction battery pack;
- at least one terminal of a battery cell of the traction battery pack, the at least one terminal electrically coupled to the busbar;
- a thermal exchange plate;
- and
- a thermal interface material that communicates thermal energy to the thermal exchange plate from the at least one terminal, from the busbar, or both,
- wherein the thermal interface material directly contacts the at least one terminal,
- wherein the thermal interface material is an expandable foam.
4 more elements
An assembly comprising:
- a busbar of a traction battery pack;
- at least one terminal of a battery cell of the traction battery pack, the at least one terminal electrically coupled to the busbar;
- a thermal exchange plate;
- and
- a thermal interface material that communicates thermal energy to the thermal exchange plate from the at least one terminal, from the busbar, or both,
- an array side cover extending along a lateral side of the battery array, wherein the thermal interface material is sandwiched between the plurality of battery cells and the array side cover,
- wherein the thermal interface material directly contacts the at least one terminal,
- wherein the battery cell is one of a plurality of battery cells within a battery array, the plurality of battery cells disposed atop the thermal exchange plate within the battery array,
- wherein the array side cover includes at least one thermal interface material delivery aperture.
6 more elements
A thermal energy management method, comprising:
- thermally connecting a thermal exchange plate to both a busbar and at least one terminal using a thermal interface material that directly contacts the at least one terminal, wherein a battery cell of a traction battery pack includes the at least one terminal,
- wherein the battery cell is within a plurality of battery cells disposed atop the thermal exchange plate, wherein the terminal and the busbar are disposed on a lateral side of the plurality of battery cells, and further comprising sandwiching the thermal interface material between the plurality of battery cells and an array side cover;
- and
- injecting the thermal interface material through at least one aperture in the array side cover.
1 more element
A thermal energy management method, comprising:
- thermally connecting a thermal exchange plate to both a busbar and at least one terminal using a thermal interface material that directly contacts the at least one terminal, wherein a battery cell of a traction battery pack includes the at least one terminal,
- wherein the battery cell is within a plurality of battery cells, wherein the thermal exchange plate has a wrap-around configuration with a bottom portion beneath the plurality of battery cells and opposing side portions extending along respective lateral sides of the plurality of battery cells, and further comprising sandwiching the thermal interface material between the plurality of battery cells and the opposing side portions;
- and
- injecting the thermal interface material through at least one aperture in the thermal exchange plate.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.