Abstract:
A battery pack assembly. Each assembly includes a battery cell and a cooling fin assembly positioned in thermal communication with the battery cell for thermal cooling thereof. The cooling fin assembly includes a generally planar cooling fin defining a compliant structure and at least one foot defining a flat surface along an edge of the cooling fin. A heat sink and a frame structure contain the battery cells and the cooling fin assemblies such that upon placement of the cooling fin assemblies and the battery cells in the frame structure, a substantial entirety of the flat surfaces of the feet of the cooling fin assemblies are aligned to define a generally planar surface with which to thermally engage the heat sink. A vehicle propulsion system having a battery pack assembly and methods of assembling a battery pack assembly is also described.
Abstract:
A battery pack assembly. Each assembly includes a battery cell and a cooling fin assembly positioned in thermal communication with the battery cell for thermal cooling thereof. The cooling fin assembly includes a generally planar cooling fin defining a compliant structure and at least one foot defining a flat surface along an edge of the cooling fin. A heat sink and a frame structure contain the battery cells and the cooling fin assemblies such that upon placement of the cooling fin assemblies and the battery cells in the frame structure, a substantial entirety of the flat surfaces of the feet of the cooling fin assemblies are aligned to define a generally planar surface with which to thermally engage the heat sink. A vehicle propulsion system having a battery pack assembly and methods of assembling a battery pack assembly is also described.
Abstract:
A support frame assembly for holding a plurality of battery cells includes a first end frame having a first plurality of protruding strips, a second end frame having a second plurality of protruding strips, and a structural frame having a plurality of grooves for receiving the first plurality of protruding strips and the second plurality of protruding strips. The first end frame and the second end frame attach to the structural frame to hold a first battery cell, a second battery cell and a foam pad positioned between the first battery cell and the second battery cell. The structural frame has curved features therein for receiving a cooling assembly and a chamfered slot for receiving a cooling fin from the cooling assembly. The support frame assembly also includes interlocking features that mate to another support frame with a gap defined between adjacent support frames.