# US 2019/0355948 A1 · Battery array retention method and assembly

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2019/0355948 A1
- Document ID: US20190355948A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/982,236
- Filed: 2018-05-17
- Published: 2019-11-21
- Earliest claimed: 2018-05-17
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Micah Smith
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190355948A1

## CPC

- H01M 10/625: Vehicles
- B60K 1/04: of the electric storage means for propulsion
- H01M 10/653: characterised by electrically insulating or thermally conductive materials
- H01M 10/6554: Rods or plates
- H01M 10/6556: Solid parts with flow channel passages or pipes for heat exchange (closed pipes H01M10/6552)
- H01M 50/262: with fastening means, e.g. locks
- H01M 50/271: Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
- B60K 2001/005: {the electric storage means}
- B60K 2001/0438: {Arrangement under the floor}
- 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
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- 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
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

An example retention method includes, among other things, resting opposing laterally outer regions of a battery array on a respective first and second rails that are disposed on an enclosure structure such that the battery array is spaced a distance from the enclosure structure. The method then includes securing, from at least one position between the laterally outer regions, the battery array relative to the enclosure structure. An example retention assembly includes, among other things, an enclosure, a first and a second rail, and a battery array having a first laterally outer region resting on the first rail and an opposing, second laterally outer region resting on the second rail. The battery array is secured relative to the enclosure at a position spaced from the first and second laterally outer regions to clamp the first and second laterally outer regions against the first and second rails.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-10. (canceled)

### Claim 11

A retention assembly, comprising:
an enclosure;
a first and a second rail; and
a battery array having a first laterally outer region resting on the first rail and an opposing, second laterally outer region resting on the second rail, the battery array secured relative to the enclosure at a position spaced from the first and second laterally outer regions to clamp the first and second laterally outer regions against the first and second rails.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The retention assembly of claim 11, wherein the first and the second rails are separate and distinct structures that are spaced a distance from one another, wherein the first and second rails are secured directly to a floor that is provided by a tray the enclosure, wherein the tray is directly secured to a lid.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The retention assembly of claim 11, wherein the battery array is vertically elevated relative to the floor to provide a space between the battery array and the floor.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The retention assembly of claim 11, further comprising an anchor plate and a mechanical fastener, the anchor plate secured directly to the enclosure between the first and the second rails at a position within the enclosure, the mechanical fastener engaging the anchor plate to secure the battery array relative to the enclosure.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The retention assembly of claim 14, wherein the mechanical fastener extends through an aperture in an endplate of the battery array to engage the anchor plate.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The retention assembly of claim 15, wherein the mechanical fastener threadably engages the anchor plate.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The retention assembly of claim 14, wherein the anchor plate and the enclosure include portions that are flexed toward the battery array when the mechanical fastener engages the anchor plate.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The retention assembly of claim 14, wherein the anchor plate is disposed vertically beneath the battery array.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The retention assembly of claim 14, wherein the mechanical fastener applies a clamp load when the mechanical fastener engages the anchor plate, a path of the clamp load extends through areas of the laterally outer regions that interface with the first and second rails.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The retention assembly of claim 11, further comprising a thermal exchange plate, wherein the first and second laterally outer regions are laterally outer regions of the thermal exchange plate such that the thermal exchange plate spans from the first rail to the second rail and directly contacts both the first rail and the second rail.

### Claim 21 (depends on 11)

The retention assembly of claim 11, wherein the enclosure includes a lid secured to a tray to enclose the battery array.

### Claim 22 (depends on 11)

The retention assembly of claim 11, wherein the first laterally outer region rests on a vertically upward facing surface of the first rail.

### Claim 23 (depends on 11)

The retention assembly of claim 11, wherein the first rail extends vertically beneath the first laterally outer region.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The retention assembly of claim 23, wherein the second rail extends vertically beneath the second laterally outer region.

### Claim 25 (depends on 14)

The retention assembly of claim 14, wherein the anchor plate is disposed within the enclosure at a position that is horizontally between the first rail and the second rail such that no portion of the anchor plate horizontally overlaps with any portion of the first rail or the second rail.

### Claim 26 (depends on 14)

The retention assembly of claim 14, wherein the mechanical fastener is horizontally spaced from all portions of the first rail and horizontally spaced from all portions of the second rail.

### Claim 27 (depends on 14)

The retention assembly of claim 14, wherein the first and second rails are secured directly to a floor of the enclosure, wherein the anchor plate is disclosed on an interior of the enclosure between the floor and the battery array.

### Claim 28 (depends on 15)

The retention assembly of claim 15, wherein the endplate directly contacts the anchor plate.

### Claim 29

-30. (canceled)

### Claim 31

A retention assembly, comprising:
a tray of an enclosure;
a lid of the enclosure, the lid secured directly to the tray to provide an interior;
a first rail secured directly to a floor of the tray within the interior;
a second rail secured directly to the floor of the tray within the interior, the first and second rail separate and distinct structures that are spaced a distance from each other;
a battery array having a first laterally outer region resting on the first rail and an opposing, second laterally outer region resting on the second rail, the battery array vertically elevated relative to the floor to provide a space between the battery array and the floor;
an anchor plate secured directly to the enclosure between the first and the second rails at a position within the interior, the anchor plate separate and distinct from both the first rail and the second rail; and
a mechanical fastener that extends through an aperture in an endplate of the battery array to engage the anchor plate to secure the battery array relative to the enclosure, wherein the mechanical fastener applies a clamp load when the mechanical fastener engages the anchor plate, wherein a path of the clamp load extends through areas of the laterally outer regions that interface with the first and second rails.