Thermally managed battery enclosure for electric and hybrid electric vehicles

A thermally managed battery enclosure in a powered vehicle comprising:

• a) at least one cradle of thermally conductive material for containing at least one battery;
• b) said at least one cradle having a bottom wall and side walls closely fitted to and in contact with said at least one battery;
• c) the bottom wall of said at least one cradle having a passageway trough containing a tube for flowing heating or cooling fluid therethrough;
• d) said passageway trough being filled with a thermally conductive fill surrounding said tube;
• and,
• e) means for controlling the temperature of said fluid to maintain said battery at a selected temperature comprising a first heat exchanger for obtaining heat from engine coolant in said vehicle.

The method of controlling the temperature of at least one battery in a powered motor vehicle comprising the steps of:

• a) securing said battery within a cradle in said vehicle, said cradle having walls and a bottom of thermally conductive material, the bottom wall of said cradle having a passageway trough containing a tube;
• b) flowing heating or cooling fluid through said tube at a temperature to regulate the temperature of said battery;
• and,
• c) changing the temperature of said fluid in accordance with the temperature requirements of said battery by either exchanging heat with engine coolant in said vehicle or exchanging heat with refrigerant in an air conditioning system on board said vehicle.

A thermally managed enclosure for at least one battery comprising:

• a) at least one cradle of thermally conductive material for containing at least one battery ;
• b) said at least one cradle having at least one wall closely fitted to and in contact with said at least one battery;
• c) said at least one wall of said at least one cradle having a passageway trough containing a conduit for flowing heating or cooling fluid;
• and,
• d) said passageway trough being filled with a thermally conductive fill surrounding said tube.

A thermally managed enclosure for at least one battery comprising:

• a) at least one cradle of thermally conductive material for containing at least one battery
• b) said at least one cradle having at least one wall closely fitted to and in contact with said at least one battery;
• c) said at least one wall of said at least one cradle having a passageway trough containing a conduit for flowing heating or cooling fluid;
• d) said passageway trough being filled with a thermally conductive fill surrounding said tube;
• and,
• e) said cradle of thermally conductive material being a contact surface and solid transfer media transferring heating or cooling to said at least one battery.

A thermally managed enclosure for at least one battery comprising:

• a) at least one cradle of thermally conductive material for containing at least one battery
• b) said at least one cradle having at least one wall closely fitted to and in contact with said at least one battery;
• c) said at least one wall of said at least one cradle having a passageway trough containing a conduit for flowing heating or cooling liquid;
• and,
• d) said passageway trough being thermally conductive.