# US 9,437,905 B2 · Traction battery thermal plate manifold

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- Number: US 9,437,905 B2
- Document ID: US9437905B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/189,078
- Filed: 2014-02-25
- Published: 2015-08-27
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2014-02-25
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Bhaskara Boddakayala; Neil Robert Burrows; Saravanan Paramasivam
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9437905B2

## CPC

- H01M 10/6556: Solid parts with flow channel passages or pipes for heat exchange (closed pipes H01M10/6552)
- B60L 50/16: with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
- B60L 50/51: characterised by AC-motors
- B60L 50/64: Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
- B60L 58/26: by cooling
- B60L 58/27: by heating
- H01M 10/613: Cooling or keeping cold
- H01M 10/625: Vehicles
- B60L 2240/545: Temperature
- H01M 10/6566: Means within the gas flow to guide the flow around one or more cells, e.g. manifolds, baffles or other barriers (H01M10/6565 takes precedence)
- H01M 10/6568: characterised by flow circuits, e.g. loops, located externally to the cells or cell casings
- H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
- Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
- Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A traction battery system for a vehicle is provided. The system may include a plurality of battery cells, a thermal plate, and an inlet manifold. The thermal plate may support the battery cells and includes a heat exchange region and two lateral sides defining two planes. The inlet manifold may be positioned downstream of an inlet port and upstream of the heat exchange region. The inlet manifold may define distribution channels throughout the inlet manifold and includes an outlet to the heat exchange region having a cross-sectional area defining a third plane. The two planes and third plane define a region normal to the cross sectional area and the inlet manifold may be positioned such that the inlet port is located outside the region.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A traction battery comprising:
a thermal plate to direct fluid therethrough and to support battery cells;
an inlet manifold having an inlet located outside a region normal to a cross-sectional area of an outlet open to a heat exchange region of the plate defining spaced distribution channels arranged to disperse fluid across the outlet; and
a rectangular trough disposed downstream of the channels and spanning between walls of the thermal plate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The traction battery of claim 1, wherein the distribution channels are arranged in a plurality of fountain-type patterns extending from the inlet to the outlet and configured to influence fluid flow from a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the thermal plate to a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the thermal plate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The traction battery of claim 1, wherein the distribution channels are configured to redirect fluid flow from the inlet in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the thermal plate to a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the thermal plate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The traction battery of claim 1, further comprising an outlet manifold in fluid communication with the heat exchange region, wherein the inlet manifold, thermal plate, outlet manifold, and a lower portion of a battery tray are die cast or stamped as a single component.

### Claim 5

A traction battery system comprising:
a plurality of battery cells;
a thermal plate having a heat exchange region, lateral sides defining two planes, and configured to support the cells and to direct fluid through the thermal plate; and
an inlet manifold including an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with the heat exchange region and having a cross-sectional area defining a third plane, and defining spaced apart extrusions arranged in a plurality of curved fountain-type patterns extending from the manifold inlet to the outlet to disperse fluid across the outlet,
wherein the two planes and third plane define a region normal to the cross sectional area and wherein the inlet is positioned outside of the region.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the extrusions are arranged to redirect fluid flow from the manifold inlet in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the thermal plate to a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the thermal plate.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, further comprising an outlet manifold in fluid communication with the heat exchange region, wherein the inlet manifold, thermal plate, outlet manifold, and a lower portion of a battery tray are die cast or stamped as a single component.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the thermal plate further defines a trough downstream of the inlet manifold outlet and configured to receive fluid from the outlet.

### Claim 9

A traction battery system comprising:
a plurality of battery cells;
a thermal plate having a heat exchange region, lateral sides defining two planes, and configured to support the cells and to direct fluid through the thermal plate; and
an inlet manifold including an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with the heat exchange region and having a cross-sectional area defining a third plane, and fluid distribution channels defined by passageways spaced apart from one another and arranged in an arc-like pattern to continuously extend from the manifold inlet to the outlet to disperse fluid across the outlet,
wherein the two planes and third plane define a region normal to the cross sectional area and wherein the inlet is positioned outside of the region.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the passageways further define passageway outlets spaced across a width of the inlet manifold outlet.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the passageways are configured to redirect fluid flow from the manifold inlet in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the thermal plate to a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the thermal plate.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, further comprising an outlet manifold in fluid communication with the heat exchange region, wherein the inlet manifold, thermal plate, outlet manifold, and a lower portion of a battery tray are die cast or stamped as a single component.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the thermal plate further defines a trough downstream of the inlet manifold outlet and configured to receive fluid from the outlet.