Abstract:
A battery module (22) and a method of manufacture are provided. The battery module (22) may include a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly (58). The PCB assembly (58) may include a PCB (136) designed to be disposed in a battery module (22) for controlling operations of the battery module (22). The PCB (136) may also include voltage sensing circuitry. In addition, the PCB (136) assembly may include a bus bar cell interconnect (222). The bus bar cell interconnect (222) may electrically couple batteries (54) of the battery module (22). The PCB assembly (58) may also include a voltage sense connection tab (226). The voltage sense connection tab (226) may carry a voltage between a bus bar cell interconnect (22) of the battery module (22) and the voltage sensing circuitry on the PCB (58).
Abstract:
A battery assembly (10) includes a plurality of modular battery cells (12). Each modular battery cell (12) of the plurality of modular battery cells (12) includes a housing (16) having a first engagement element (14A) and a second engagement element (14B). The first engagement element (14A) of each of the plurality of modular battery cells (12) is coupled to one of the first engagement element (14A) or the second engagement element (14B) of at least one adjacent modular battery cell (12).
Abstract:
A battery module includes a terminal block assembly having an electrical assembly and a plastic base. The electrical assembly includes a terminal post and a bus bar coupled with the terminal post. A portion of the electrical assembly is overmolded by the plastic base, and the portion includes at least part of a terminal post base that extends outward from a central axis of a post portion of the terminal post. The battery module also includes a plastic housing having a receptacle configured to receive the plastic base of the terminal block assembly.
Abstract:
A current collector (60) for use in a lithium ion battery cell (40) includes a first leg (70), a second leg (72), and a connecting portion (74) between the first leg (70) and the second leg (72) and configured to be secured to a terminal (42, 44) of the lithium ion battery cell (40). The first leg (70), the second leg (72), and the connecting portion (74) are all manufactured from a single continuous piece of material.
Abstract:
The present disclosure includes a battery module having a housing with a cell receptacle region defined by walls of the housing and configured to enable passage of electrochemical cells therethrough. The battery module also includes a bus bar carrier sealed in the cell receptacle region. The bus bar carrier includes a perimeter having flexible ribs extending along at least a majority of the perimeter and configured to enable intimate contact between the walls of the housing and the perimeter of the bus bar carrier.
Abstract:
A method for bonding components of a lithium ion battery module includes positioning an energy absorbing insert adjacent to a first thermoplastic layer of the lithium ion battery module and to a second thermoplastic layer of the lithium ion battery module. Energy is applied to the energy absorbing insert to melt the energy absorbing insert and thereby fuse the first thermoplastic layer to the second thermoplastic layer. The first thermoplastic layer is a transmissive or semi- transmissive layer configured to allow the energy the pass through the first thermoplastic layer for absorption by the energy absorbing insert.
Abstract:
The present disclosure relates generally to a welding process for a battery module. In an embodiment, a system for welding two components in a batter module includes a laser source (50) configured to emit a laser beam onto a workpiece (124) having a first battery module component and a second battery module component. The system also has an actuator (52) coupled to the laser source and configured to move the laser beam along a first axis and a second axis and a controller (62) electrically coupled to the laser source and the actuator. The controller (62) is configured to send a signal to the laser source (50) and the actuator (52) to form a sinusoidal lap weld (60) on a surface of the workpiece (124), such that the first battery module component is electrically coupled to the second battery module component.
Abstract:
The present disclosure relates generally to the field of batteries and battery modules, and more specifically, relates to a system and method for manufacturing terminal assemblies for lithium-ion battery modules. A disclosed battery module includes a terminal block assembly that is secured to a polymer housing of the battery module. The terminal block assembly includes a terminal post having a post portion and a base portion that extends outward from a central axis of the post portion. The terminal block assembly also includes a bus bar coupled to the base portion of the terminal post without welding, wherein the bus bar includes a trough disposed near the terminal post. The terminal block assembly further includes a polymer portion overmolding at least the trough of the bus bar to form a drainage channel near the terminal post.
Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a battery module that includes a housing having a first protruding shelf along a first perimeter of the housing, a second protruding shelf along a second perimeter of the housing, where the first and second protruding shelves each include an absorptive material configured to absorb a first laser emission. The battery module also includes an electronics compartment cover configured to be coupled to the housing via a first laser weld, and a cell receptacle region cover configured to be coupled to the housing via a second laser weld. The electronics compartment cover has a first transparent material configured to transmit the first laser emission toward the first protruding shelf and the cell receptacle region cover has a second transparent material configured to transmit the first laser emission or a second laser emission toward the second protruding shelf.