Active pressure control wedge mechanism for improving liquid metal battery performance

Abstract

A vehicle includes an apparatus for performing a method of controlling pressure within a battery. The battery is disclosed between a support plate located on a first side of the battery and a pressure plate disposed on a second side of the battery opposite the first side. The pressure plate is movable relative to the support plate to control the pressure of the battery, and includes a first plate wedge. The first actuator wedge moves parallel to the platen, the first actuator wedge being in contact with the first plate wedge to control a force applied to the first plate wedge by the first actuator wedge to move the platen relative to the support plate. And the pressure in the battery is controlled by moving the pressing plate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to improving the performance of batteries, and more particularly to controlling the pressure applied to batteries operating under high voltage conditions to improve their performance. Background Art

[0002] Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) can be used to power electric vehicles. When LMBs are operated under low voltage conditions, dendrites grow between the anode and cathode of the battery. These dendrites limit the life and effectiveness of the LMBs. However, dendrite growth can be reduced by operating the LMBs under high voltage conditions. Therefore, it is desirable to provide methods and apparatus for applying high voltage to a battery during battery operation. Summary of the invention

[0003] In one exemplary embodiment, an apparatus for controlling pressure within a battery is disclosed. The apparatus includes a support plate disposed on a first side of the battery, a pressure plate disposed on a second side of the battery opposite the first side, the pressure plate movable relative to the support plate to control pressure within the battery, a first plate wedge coupled to the pressure plate, and a first actuator wedge in contact with the first plate wedge, the first actuator wedge configured to move parallel to the pressure plate to control a force applied to the first plate wedge by the first actuator wedge, thereby moving the pressure plate relative to the support plate, wherein moving the pressure plate controls pressure within the battery.

[0004] In addition to one or more features described herein, the device also includes a second plate wedge coupled to the pressure plate and a second actuator wedge for controlling a force applied to the second plate wedge, wherein the second actuator wedge moves antiparallel to the first actuator wedge. The device also includes a screw passing through the first actuator wedge and the second actuator wedge, wherein the screw has a first thread direction at the first actuator wedge and a second thread direction at the second actuator wedge. The screw is maintained in a fixed position relative to the support plate. The device also includes a motor for rotating the screw. The device according to claim 1 also includes a pressure sensor configured to detect pressure within the battery and a controller configured to control the motor based on the pressure to control the pressure within the battery. The first plate wedge includes a first inclined surface, and the first actuator wedge has a first actuator inclined surface that contacts the first inclined surface of the first plate wedge and is oriented in a direction opposite to the first inclined surface.

[0005] In another exemplary embodiment, a method for controlling pressure within a battery is disclosed. The battery is disclosed between a support plate located on a first side of the battery and a pressure plate disposed on a second side of the battery opposite the first side. The pressure plate is movable relative to the support plate to control the pressure of the battery and includes a first plate wedge. A first actuator wedge moves parallel to the pressure plate while the first actuator wedge contacts the first plate wedge to control the force applied to the first plate wedge by the first actuator wedge to move the pressure plate relative to the support plate. Moving the pressure plate can control the pressure within the battery.

[0006] In addition to one or more features described herein, the pressure plate includes a second plate wedge, and the method also includes moving a second actuator wedge to control the force applied to the second plate wedge by the second actuator wedge, wherein the second actuator wedge moves antiparallel to the first actuator wedge. The screw passes through the first actuator wedge and the second actuator wedge, wherein the screw has a first thread direction at the first actuator wedge and a second thread direction at the second actuator wedge. The method also includes maintaining the screw in a fixed position relative to the support plate. The method also includes rotating the screw by a motor. The method also includes detecting pressure within the battery and controlling the motor based on the pressure to control the pressure within the battery. The first plate wedge includes a first inclined surface, and the first actuator wedge has a first actuator inclined surface that contacts the first inclined surface of the first plate wedge and is oriented in a direction opposite to the first inclined surface.

[0007] In yet another exemplary embodiment, a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle includes a battery, a support plate located on a first side of the battery, a pressure plate disposed on a second side of the battery opposite the first side, the pressure plate movable relative to the support plate to control pressure within the battery, a first plate wedge coupled to the pressure plate, and a first actuator wedge in contact with the first plate wedge, the first actuator wedge configured to move parallel to the pressure plate to control a force applied to the first plate wedge by the first actuator wedge to move the pressure plate relative to the support plate, wherein moving the pressure plate controls pressure within the battery.

[0008] In addition to one or more features described herein, the vehicle also includes a second plate wedge coupled to the pressure plate and a second actuator wedge for controlling the force applied to the second plate wedge, wherein the second actuator wedge moves antiparallel to the first actuator wedge. The vehicle also includes a screw passing through the first actuator wedge and the second actuator wedge, wherein the screw has a first thread direction at the first actuator wedge and a second thread direction at the second actuator wedge. The screw is maintained in a fixed position relative to the support plate. The vehicle also includes a motor for rotating the screw. The vehicle also includes a pressure sensor configured to detect pressure within the battery and a controller configured to control the motor based on the pressure to control the pressure within the battery.

[0009] The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Other features, advantages and details appear, by way of example only, in the following detailed description, which refers to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011] Figure 1 An electric vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment is shown;

[0012] Figure 2 A battery system for a battery in an exemplary embodiment is shown;

[0013] Figure 3 shows a top view and a side view of a platen in an illustrative embodiment;

[0014] Figure 4 shows a side view and a top view of an actuator device in an illustrative embodiment;

[0015] Figure 5 A top view of a pressure plate in another embodiment is shown;

[0016] Figure 6 A top view of an embodiment including a first single wedge activation device and a second single wedge activation device is shown; and

[0017] Figure 7 An actuator arrangement in another embodiment is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts and features.

[0019] According to an exemplary embodiment, Figure 1 An electric vehicle 100 is shown. The electric vehicle 100 includes an electric motor 102, a battery system 104, and a controller 106. The battery system 104 includes a battery 108, such as a lithium metal battery (LMB), which includes an anode 110 and a cathode 112, which are susceptible to forming dendrites when operating at standard pressure or ambient pressure. Dendrites reduce the operating quality of the battery 108. The battery system 104 includes a device that applies pressure to the battery 108 and is capable of regulating or controlling the pressure as needed.

[0020] The controller 106 may include processing circuitry that may include an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), electronic circuitry, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that executes one or more software or firmware programs, combinatorial logic circuitry, and / or other suitable components that provide the described functionality. The controller 106 may include a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when processed by one or more processors of the controller 106, implement a method of operating the battery system 104 so as to apply pressure at the battery 108 as desired.

[0021] Figure 2 A battery system 200 for a battery 108 in an exemplary embodiment is shown. The battery system 200 includes a housing 202 that accommodates the battery 108. The housing 202 may have a bottom surface 204, a top surface 206, and a sidewall 208. A pressure control device 210 for the battery 108 is disposed within the housing 202. The pressure control device 210 includes a support plate 212 on which the battery 108 is disposed, a pressure plate 214 that is movable relative to the support plate, and a support column 216 that guides the pressure plate to move in a direction toward or away from the support plate. The support plate 212 may be the same as the bottom surface of the housing 202. The support plate 212 is placed against a first side of the battery 108, and the pressure plate 214 is placed against a second side of the battery 108 that is opposite to the first side. The pressure plate 214 may move toward the support plate 212 to increase the pressure applied to the battery 108. The pressure plate 214 may move away from the support plate 212 to reduce the pressure applied to the battery 108.

[0022] The actuator device 218 is disposed at a position above the pressure plate 214. The actuator device 218 includes a screw 220 having a first actuator wedge 222 and a second actuator wedge 224. The screw 220 is held in a fixed position relative to the support plate 212 by one or more bearing supports. For ease of illustration, a first bearing seat 230 and a second bearing seat 232 are shown. The screw 220 includes a first half 234 having a first thread direction (e.g., right-hand threads) and a second half 236 having a second thread direction (e.g., left-hand threads).

[0023] The pressure plate 214 has a flat outer surface on which plate wedges are included for producing movement of the pressure plate. The first plate wedge 226 is located at a first position along the pressure plate 214, and the second plate wedge 228 is located at a second position along the pressure plate 214. Force is applied to the pressure plate through contact between the first plate wedge 226 and the first actuator wedge 222 and contact between the second plate wedge 228 and the second actuator wedge 224, as described herein with reference to Figure 3 and Figure 4 described.

[0024] Figure 3A top view 300 and a side view 302 of a pressure plate 214 in an illustrative embodiment are shown. For ease of illustration, the pressure plate 214 extends from a first end 304 to a second end 306. A center wedge line 308 extends along the pressure plate 214 from the first end 304 to the second end 306. A first plate wedge 226 is disposed at a first position on an outer surface of the pressure plate 214, and a second plate wedge 228 is disposed at a second position on the outer surface of the pressure plate. The first position and the second position are along the center wedge line 308. A midpoint 310 is located between the first plate wedge 226 and the second plate wedge 228. The first plate wedge 226 includes a first inclined surface 312 that is inclined toward the midpoint 310. The second plate wedge 228 includes a second inclined surface 314 that faces the midpoint 310. Thus, the first inclined surface 312 and the second inclined surface 314 are inclined toward each other.

[0025] Figure 4 A side view 400 and a top view 402 of the actuator device 218 in an illustrative embodiment are shown. The screw 220 is aligned parallel to the center wedge line 308 and can be arranged so that the intersection between the first half 234 and the second half 236 is located above the midpoint 310. The first half 234 of the screw 220 passes through a first hole (not shown) in the first actuator wedge 222, and the second half 236 of the screw passes through a second hole (not shown) in the second actuator wedge 224. The first hole has threads corresponding to the threads of the first half 234 (i.e., right-hand threads). The second hole has threads corresponding to the threads of the second half 236 (i.e., left-hand threads). Therefore, the first actuator wedge 222 and the second actuator wedge 224 are configured to move anti-parallel to each other. Rotating the screw in one direction causes the first actuator wedge 222 and the second actuator wedge 224 to move toward each other. Rotating the screw 220 in the opposite direction causes the first actuator wedge 222 and the second actuator wedge 224 to move away from each other. The motor 403 controls the speed and direction of the screw rotation.

[0026] The first actuator wedge 222 includes a first actuator inclined surface that is oriented in a direction opposite to, and in contact with, the first inclined surface 312 of the first plate wedge 226. Similarly, the second actuator wedge 224 includes a second actuator inclined surface that is oriented in a direction opposite to, and in contact with, the second inclined surface 314 of the second plate wedge 228. Thus, the first actuator inclined surface and the second actuator inclined surface are oriented away from each other.

[0027] When the screw 220 is rotated in one direction, the first actuator wedge 222 moves against the first plate wedge 226 (via their inclined surfaces) to increase the force directed toward the pressure plate 214, causing the pressure plate to move toward the support plate 212, thereby increasing the pressure within the battery 108. A similar result occurs between the second actuator wedge 224 and the second plate wedge 228.

[0028] When the screw is rotated in the opposite direction, the first actuator wedge 222 moves away from the first plate wedge 226 to reduce the force directed toward the pressure plate 214, thereby allowing the pressure plate to move away from the support plate 212 and reducing the pressure within the battery 108. A similar result occurs between the second actuator wedge 224 and the second plate wedge 228.

[0029] A pressure sensor 404 may be provided within the battery 108 to record pressure measurements. The pressure measurements may be sent to a controller (eg, controller 106), which may determine the need to increase or decrease the pressure in the battery 108 and send a signal to the motor to adjust the pressure accordingly.

[0030] Figure 5 A top view 500 of a pressure plate 214 in another embodiment is shown. The actuator device includes a first actuator device 502 placed at a first position of the pressure plate 214 and a second actuator device 504 placed at a second position of the pressure plate. The first actuator device 502 includes a first screw 506 and actuator wedges 508 and 510 corresponding to the plate wedges of the pressure plate 214. The first motor 512 controls the rotation of the first screw 506. Similarly, the second actuator device 504 includes a second screw 514 and actuator wedges 516 and 518 corresponding to the plate wedges of the pressure plate 214. The second motor 520 controls the rotation of the second screw 514. Therefore, the first actuator device 502 and the second actuator device 504 can be independently activated to provide different pressures along the surface of the pressure plate 214 and therefore at different locations within the battery 108.

[0031] In various embodiments, the actuator arrangement may have a single actuator wedge acting against a single plate wedge. Figure 6A top view 600 of an embodiment including a first single wedge activation device 602 and a second single wedge activation device 604 is shown. The first single wedge activation device 602 includes a first screw 606, a first actuator wedge 608 corresponding to a plate wedge of the pressure plate 214, and a first motor 610 for controlling the rotation of the first screw 606 and thus the pressure applied by the first actuator wedge 608. The second single wedge activation device 604 includes a second screw 612, a second actuator wedge 614 corresponding to a plate wedge of the pressure plate 214, and a second motor 616 for controlling the rotation of the second screw and thus the pressure applied by the first actuator wedge.

[0032] Figure 7 An actuator device 700 in another embodiment is shown. The actuator device 700 includes a screw 702 having more than two actuator wedges 704a ... 704n, and the pressure plate 214 can have an equal number of plate wedges. A motor 706 can be used to rotate the screw 702 to move the more than two actuator wedges 704a ... 704n to apply pressure at multiple locations along the pressure plate 214.

[0033] The terms "one" and "an" do not indicate a limitation of quantity, but rather indicate the presence of at least one of the referenced items. The term "or" means "and / or", unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. References to "an aspect" throughout the specification mean that a particular element (e.g., feature, structure, step, or characteristic) described in conjunction with that aspect is included in at least one aspect described herein, and may or may not be present in other aspects. In addition, it should be understood that the described elements may be combined in any suitable manner in various aspects.

[0034] When an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present.

[0035] Unless otherwise indicated herein, all test standards are the most recent standards in effect as of the filing date of the present application or, if priority is claimed, the filing date of the earliest priority application in which the test standards appear.

[0036] Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

[0037] Although the above disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for its elements without departing from the scope thereof. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt specific situations or materials to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope of the disclosure. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, but will include all embodiments falling within its scope.

Claims

1. A device for controlling pressure in a battery, comprising: a support plate located on a first side of the battery; a pressure plate disposed on a second side of the battery opposite the first side, the pressure plate being movable relative to the support plate to control pressure of the battery; a first plate wedge coupled to the pressure plate; as well as A first actuator wedge in contact with the first plate wedge, the first actuator wedge configured to move parallel to the pressure plate to control a force applied to the first plate wedge by the first actuator wedge to move the pressure plate relative to the support plate, wherein moving the pressure plate controls pressure within the battery.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second plate wedge coupled to the pressure plate and a second actuator wedge for controlling a force applied to the second plate wedge, wherein the second actuator wedge moves antiparallel to the first actuator wedge.

3. The device according to claim 2 further includes a screw passing through the first actuator wedge and the second actuator wedge, wherein the screw has a first thread direction at the first actuator wedge and a second thread direction at the second actuator wedge.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein: The screw is maintained in a fixed position relative to the support plate.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The first plate wedge includes a first inclined surface, and the first actuator wedge has a first actuator inclined surface that contacts the first inclined surface of the first plate wedge and is oriented in an opposite direction to the first inclined surface.

6. A method for controlling pressure within a battery, comprising: The battery is disposed between a support plate disposed on a first side of the battery and a pressure plate disposed on a second side of the battery opposite the first side, the pressure plate being movable relative to the support plate to control pressure on the battery and including a first plate wedge; moving a first actuator wedge parallel to the pressure plate, the first actuator wedge in contact with the first plate wedge to control a force applied by the first actuator wedge to the first plate wedge to move the pressure plate relative to the support plate; as well as The pressure inside the cell is controlled by moving the pressure plate.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein: The pressure plate includes a second plate wedge and also includes moving a second actuator wedge to control a force applied by the second actuator wedge to the second plate wedge, wherein the second actuator wedge moves antiparallel to the first actuator wedge.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein: The screw passes through the first actuator wedge and the second actuator wedge, wherein the screw has a first thread direction at the first actuator wedge and a second thread direction at the second actuator wedge.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising maintaining the screw in a fixed position relative to the support plate.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein: The first plate wedge includes a first inclined surface, and the first actuator wedge has a first actuator inclined surface that contacts the first inclined surface of the first plate wedge and is oriented in an opposite direction to the first inclined surface.

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