Battery assembly having a cross-member and method of managing loads utilizing a cross-member
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsMicah Smith, Ihab Grace
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A battery assembly includes, among other things, a tray having a floor, a lid secured to the tray to provide an enclosure having an interior, and a battery module disposed within the interior. The battery module has a plurality of battery cell frames disposed along a battery module axis. The battery cell frames each include a frame toe that projects horizontally. The battery assembly further includes a cross-member disposed within the interior adjacent to the battery module. The cross-member includes a vertically extending wall having a protrusion that is vertically aligned with the frame toes of the plurality of battery cell frames.
Claims19
A battery assembly, comprising:
- a tray having a floor;
- a lid secured to the tray to provide an enclosure having an interior;
- a battery module disposed within the interior, the battery module having a plurality of battery cell frames disposed along a battery module axis, the plurality of battery cell frames each including a frame toe that projects horizontally;
- and
- a cross-member disposed within the interior adjacent to the battery module, the cross-member including a vertically extending wall having a protrusion that is vertically aligned with the frame toes of the plurality of battery cell frames.
A method of managing loads within a battery pack, comprising:
- providing a battery module within a battery pack, the battery module having a plurality of battery cell frames disposed along a battery module axis, the plurality of battery cell frames each including a frame toe that projects horizontally;
- providing a cross-member within the battery pack, the cross-member having a vertically extending wall with a protrusion that is vertically aligned with the frame toes of the plurality of battery cell frames;
- and
- when a load is applied to the battery pack that causes the plurality of battery cell frames to move horizontally relative to the cross-member such that the vertically extending wall contacts the battery cell frames, contacting the frame toes with the protrusion prior to the battery module contacting other portions of the vertically extending wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.