Vent deflector assembly for battery cell and method of making same

Abstract

A vent deflector assembly for a prismatic cell, comprising: a base defining an opening; a hinge having a first portion and a second portion movable relative to the first portion, the first portion coupled to the base; and a cover coupled to the second portion of the hinge, the cover movable between a first position and a second position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates generally to battery cells, and more specifically to a thermal runaway propagation management system for battery cells. Background Technology

[0002] The information provided in this section is intended to provide a general overview of the background of this disclosure. To the extent described in this section, the work of the currently named inventors, and aspects of the description that may not conform to the prior art at the time of submission, are neither explicitly nor implicitly acknowledged as prior art relative to this disclosure.

[0003] Generally, electric vehicles can be equipped with battery packs comprising one or more cells. Lithium-ion batteries are commonly used in vehicles due to their high energy and power density. However, sometimes a series of uncontrolled exothermic reactions (i.e., thermal runaway) occur within lithium-ion batteries. These reactions cause the internal temperature of the battery to rise, leading to instability and degradation of the internal battery structure, and ultimately battery failure. Some batteries or battery packs include thermal runaway propagation management (TRP) systems, but they either occupy a large amount of space or are ineffective in the event of thermal runaway. The shortcomings of existing systems and methods are addressed by one or more aspects of this disclosure. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In one configuration, a vent deflector assembly for a prismatic battery cell is provided, comprising: a base defining an opening; a hinge having a first portion and a second portion movable relative to the first portion, the first portion being coupled to the base; and a cover coupled to the second portion of the hinge, the cover being movable between a first position and a second position.

[0005] The vent deflector assembly may include one or more of the following optional aspects. For example, the cover includes a bimetallic sandwich structure comprising a first cover and a second cover coupled to the first cover. The first cover may be made of a first material, and the second cover may be made of a second material. The first material may be a copper alloy, and the second material may be stainless steel.

[0006] According to at least one aspect, the opening includes a first edge connected to a first portion of the hinge and a second edge opposite to the first edge. A portion of the cover may be arranged adjacent to the base in a first position, and a gap is arranged between the cover and the base. When the cover is in the first position, the gap may be between 3.5 mm and 3.8 mm, and when the cover is in the second position, the gap may be between 13 mm and 14 mm.

[0007] According to another option, the cover includes a first size and a second size, where the first size is larger than the second size. The cover can be configured to open relative to the first size. The cover can also be configured to open relative to the second size.

[0008] In another configuration, a prismatic battery cell is provided, comprising a prismatic can. The prismatic can includes an upper surface, a lower surface, one or more walls extending between the upper and lower surfaces, and a vent opening disposed within the prismatic can. Battery internals are disposed within the prismatic can, and one or more terminals are connected to the upper surface. The prismatic battery cell also includes a vent deflector assembly disposed relative to the vent opening and connected to the prismatic can. The vent deflector assembly includes a base, a hinge connected to the base, and a cover connected to the hinge and configured to move between a first position and a second position.

[0009] Prismatic cells may include one or more of the following optional aspects. For example, the opening may include an elongated shape.

[0010] According to at least one aspect, the base includes a first end and a second end. A hinge may be connected to the base between the first end and the second end. The cover may include a bimetallic sandwich structure having a first cover made of a first material and a second cover connected to the first cover and made of a second material, the first material being different from the second material.

[0011] In another configuration, a vehicle is provided, the vehicle including a body comprising a first end, a second end spaced apart from the first end, a first side and a second side spaced apart from the first side, a motor coupled to the body, and a battery pack coupled to the body and communicatively coupled to the motor. The battery pack includes one or more modules and one or more cells disposed within the one or more modules. Each of the one or more cells includes a prismatic can having a first end, a second end, one or more sidewalls and one or more endwalls extending between the first end and the second end, and a vent deflector assembly including a base coupled to the prismatic can, a hinge coupled to the base, and a cover coupled to the hinge.

[0012] The vehicle may include one or more of the following optional aspects. For example, an vent deflector assembly may be coupled to a second end of a prismatic tank. The vent deflector assembly may be configured to deflect hot gases toward one of a first side or a second side of the vehicle body. The vent deflector assembly may be configured to deflect hot gases toward one of a first end or a second end of the vehicle body.

[0013] According to at least one aspect, the cover may include a first size and a second size, the first size being larger than the second size, and the cover is configured to open relative to either the first size or the second size. Attached Figure Description

[0014] The accompanying drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure.

[0015] Figure 1 This is a front perspective view of a vehicle according to the principles of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 This is a partial exploded view of the battery pack according to the principle of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 3A yes Figure 2 A perspective view of the battery cells of the battery pack, showing the first configuration of the vent deflector assembly;

[0018] Figure 3B yes Figure 3A Exploded view of the vent deflector assembly;

[0019] Figure 3C It is in the first position. Figure 3A Side view of the vent deflector assembly;

[0020] Figure 3D It is in the second position. Figure 3A A perspective view of the vent deflector assembly;

[0021] Figure 4A yes Figure 2 A perspective view of the battery cells of the battery pack, showing a second configuration with a vent deflector assembly;

[0022] Figure 4B It is in the first position. Figure 4A A perspective view of the vent deflector assembly;

[0023] Figure 4C It is in the second position. Figure 4A A perspective view of the vent deflector assembly;

[0024] Figure 5A yes Figure 2 A perspective view of the battery cells of the battery pack, which has a third configuration with a vent deflector assembly;

[0025] Figure 5B It is in the first position. Figure 5A A perspective view of the vent deflector assembly;

[0026] Figure 5C It is in the second position. Figure 5A A perspective view of the vent deflector assembly;

[0027] Figure 6 yes Figure 2 A bottom perspective view of the battery pack cells, showing a fourth configuration of vent deflectors arranged on the bottom of the cells; and

[0028] Figure 7 This is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a battery pack based on the principles of this disclosure.

[0029] In all the accompanying drawings, the corresponding reference numerals indicate the corresponding parts. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The example configuration will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. The example configuration is provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and will fully communicate the scope of this disclosure to those skilled in the art. Specific details, such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the configuration of this disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the specific details are not required, that the example configuration may be implemented in many different forms, and that the specific details and exemplary configuration should not be construed as limiting the scope of this disclosure.

[0031] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing specific exemplary configurations only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular articles “a,” “an,” and “the” may also be intended to include plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” and “having” are inclusive, thus specifying the presence of features, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but not excluding the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein should not be construed as requiring them to be performed in the specific order discussed or shown, unless specifically identified as such. Additional or alternative steps may be employed.

[0032] When an element or layer is referred to as “on another element or layer,” “joined to,” “connected to,” “attached to,” or “linked to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, joined to, connected to, attached to, or linked to the other element or layer, or there may be intermediate elements or layers present. Conversely, when an element is referred to as “directly on another element or layer,” “directly joined to,” “directly connected to,” “directly attached to,” or “directly linked to” another element or layer, there may be no intermediate elements or layers present. Other terms used to describe relationships between elements should be interpreted in a similar manner (e.g., “between” vs. “directly between,” “adjacent” vs. “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the related listed items.

[0033] The terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and / or parts. These elements, components, regions, layers, and / or parts should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish individual elements, components, regions, layers, or parts. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms do not imply order or sequence unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Therefore, the first element, component, region, layer, or part discussed below may be referred to as the second element, component, region, layer, or part without departing from the teachings of the example configuration.

[0034] In this application, including the following definitions, the term "module" may be replaced by the term "circuit". The term "module" may refer to or be a part of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or include ASICs; digital, analog, or mixed-signal analog / digital discrete circuits; digital, analog, or mixed-signal analog / digital integrated circuits; combinational logic circuits; field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs); processors (shared, dedicated, or grouped) that execute code; memory (shared, dedicated, or grouped) that stores code executed by the processor; other suitable hardware components that provide the functions described; or some or all of the above, such as in a system-on-a-chip.

[0035] The term "code" as used above can include software, firmware, and / or microcode, and can refer to programs, routines, functions, classes, and / or objects. The term "shared processor" includes a single processor that executes some or all of the code from multiple modules. The term "group processor" includes a processor, in conjunction with an additional processor, that executes some or all of the code from one or more modules. The term "shared memory" includes a single memory that stores some or all of the code from multiple modules. The term "group memory" includes memory, in conjunction with additional memory, that stores some or all of the code from one or more modules. The term "memory" can be a subset of the term "computer-readable medium." The term "computer-readable medium" does not include transient electrical and electromagnetic signals propagating through the medium and can therefore be considered tangible, non-transitory memory. Non-limiting examples of non-transitory memory include tangible computer-readable media, including non-volatile memory, magnetic memory, and optical memory.

[0036] The apparatus and methods described in this application may be implemented, in whole or in part, by one or more computer programs executed by one or more processors. The computer program includes processor-executable instructions stored on at least one non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium. The computer program may also include and / or depend on stored data.

[0037] A software application (i.e., a software resource) can refer to computer software that enables a computing device to perform tasks. In some examples, a software application may be referred to as an "application," "app," or "program." Example applications include, but are not limited to, system diagnostic applications, system management applications, system maintenance applications, word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, messaging applications, media streaming applications, social networking applications, and game applications.

[0038] Non-transitory memory can be a physical device used for temporary or permanent storage of programs (e.g., instruction sequences) or data (e.g., program state information) for use by a computing device. Non-transitory memory can be volatile and / or non-volatile addressable semiconductor memory. Examples of non-volatile memory include, but are not limited to, flash memory and read-only memory (ROM) / programmable read-only memory (PROM) / erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) / electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) (e.g., commonly used in firmware, such as bootloaders). Examples of volatile memory include, but are not limited to, random access memory (RAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), phase-change memory (PCM), and magnetic disks or magnetic tapes.

[0039] These computer programs (also referred to as programs, software, software applications, or code) include machine instructions for a programmable processor and can be implemented using high-level procedural and / or object-oriented programming languages ​​and / or assembly / machine languages. As used herein, the terms "machine-readable medium" and "computer-readable medium" refer to any computer program product, non-transitory computer-readable medium, apparatus, and / or device (e.g., disk, optical disk, memory, programmable logic device (PLD)) used to provide machine instructions and / or data to a programmable processor, including machine-readable media that receive machine instructions as machine-readable signals. The term "machine-readable signal" refers to any signal used to provide machine instructions and / or data to a programmable processor.

[0040] Various implementations of the systems and techniques described herein can be implemented in digital electronic and / or optical circuits, integrated circuits, specially designed ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits), computer hardware, firmware, software, and / or combinations thereof. These different implementations may include implementations in one or more computer programs executable and / or interpretable on a programmable system, the programmable system including at least one programmable processor, at least one input device, and at least one output device, the programmable processor being dedicated or general-purpose, coupled to receive data and instructions from and send data and instructions to the storage system.

[0041] The processes and logic flows described in this specification can be executed by one or more programmable processors, also known as data processing hardware, which execute one or more computer programs to perform functions by manipulating input data and generating output. These processes and logic flows can also be executed by special-purpose logic circuits, such as FPGAs (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays) or ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits). For example, processors suitable for executing computer programs include general-purpose and special-purpose microprocessors, as well as any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Typically, the processor receives instructions and data from read-only memory or random access memory, or both. The basic components of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more storage devices for storing instructions and data. Typically, a computer will also include or be operatively coupled to one or more mass storage devices for storing data, such as magnetic disks, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks, to receive data from or transfer data to, or both. However, a computer does not need to have such devices. Computer-readable media suitable for storing computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, media, and storage devices, including, for example, semiconductor storage devices such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs. Processors and memory may be supplemented or incorporated therein by dedicated logic circuitry.

[0042] To provide interaction with the user, one or more aspects of this disclosure can be implemented on a computer having a display device for displaying information to the user, such as a CRT (cathode ray tube), LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, or touchscreen, and optional keyboard and pointing device, such as a mouse or trackball, through which the user can provide input to the computer. Other types of devices can also be used to provide interaction with the user; for example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, such as visual, auditory, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, including sound, speech, or tactile input. Furthermore, the computer can interact with the user by sending documents to and receiving documents from the device used by the user; for example, by sending a webpage to a web browser on the user's client device in response to a request received from a web browser.

[0043] In the event of thermal runaway, more than one cell and sometimes more than one battery module can be affected. Without a thermal runaway propagation (TRP) management system, system failure and / or costly damage to the vehicle are possible. Cells typically include vents that open into the vehicle's passenger compartment (i.e., the interior cabin). In a thermal runaway event, these vents can direct hot gases and battery internal materials into a portion of the passenger compartment, potentially causing catastrophic damage to the vehicle and adjacent cells. Therefore, these and other disadvantages are addressed by the principles of this disclosure.

[0044] refer to Figure 1 A vehicle 10, such as an electric vehicle, is provided. The vehicle 10 includes a body 12, one or more wheels 14 coupled to the body 12, and a motor 16 disposed in and / or coupled to the body 12. The body 12 defines a passenger compartment 17 and extends along a first or longitudinal axis (i.e., in the longitudinal direction) 18, a second or transverse axis (i.e., in the vehicle's lateral direction) 20, and a third or vertical axis 22. The body 12 may include a first or front end 24, a second or rear end 26 spaced apart from the front end 24 relative to the longitudinal axis 18, a first or left side 28, and a second or right side spaced apart from the left side 30 relative to the transverse axis 20. The electric motor 16 may be configured to drive one or more of the one or more wheels 14 to propel the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 includes a battery pack 100 which may be disposed in and / or coupled to the body 12 and communicatively coupled to the electric motor 16 via a power cable 32.

[0045] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 The battery pack 100 extends at least along a longitudinal axis 18 and a transverse axis 20. The battery pack 100 may have a first or front end 102, a second or rear end 104 spaced apart from the front end 102 relative to the longitudinal axis 18, a first or left side 106, and a second or right side 108 spaced apart from the left side 106 relative to the transverse axis 20. The battery pack 100 may include a first or upper half 110 and a second or lower half 112 coupled to the upper half 110, such as... Figure 2 As shown. The upper half 110 and the lower half 112 can be configured to receive one or more battery modules 114, each having one or more cells 116. Furthermore, the upper half 110 and the lower half 112 can be configured to protect one or more battery modules and one or more cells from factors such as water, salt, and other factors that the vehicle 10 may encounter during operation. The lower half 112 may include one or more separators 118 extending between the right side 108 and the left side 106 relative to the lateral axis 20. The one or more separators 118 define a housing 120 configured to receive and hold one or more battery modules 114. For example, in some configurations, the separators 118 may separate the modules to prevent thermal runaway events from propagating throughout the battery pack 100.

[0046] Referring to Figure 3, an illustrative example of one or more battery cells 116 is provided. In this illustrative example, the one or more battery cells 116 are prismatic cells; however, the principles of this disclosure can also be applied to other types of cells, such as cylindrical cells. The one or more battery cells 116 may each include a prismatic can 122 extending between a first or upper end 124 and a second or lower end 126. The prismatic can 122 includes one or more sidewalls, such as a first or left sidewall 128 and a second or right sidewall 130 spaced apart from the first sidewall 128. Furthermore, the prismatic can 122 includes a first or front end wall 132 and a second or rear end wall 134. In this example, the lengths of the first and second sidewalls 128, 130 are longer than the lengths of the first and second end walls 132, 134. The prismatic can 122 is configured to contain battery internal material, such as one or more electrode cores (not shown). The one or more battery cells 116 include terminals coupled to the upper end 124 and in communication with the battery internal material. For example, the terminals may include a positive terminal 136a and a negative terminal 136b. In this illustrative example, the prismatic can 122 includes a vent opening 138 extending through the upper end 124 and axially arranged between the positive terminal 136a and the negative terminal 136b. One or more cells 116 may also include a vent deflector assembly 200 disposed in the vent opening 138.

[0047] One or more battery cells 116 may include a mechanical fuse or another mechanism (not shown) configured to allow gas to be released from the prismatic canister 122, for example, during a thermal runaway event. To date, vents have typically directed hot gases and internal battery material to the upper portion 110 of the battery pack and / or the passenger compartment 17 of the vehicle 10. Reference Figure 3A and 3B The vent deflector assembly 200 can be configured to face the left and / or right sides 106, 108 of the battery pack 100. Figure 1 ) or the left and / or right sides of vehicle 10, 28, 30 ( Figure 1 Laterally deflecting gases and materials inside the battery. For example, controlling the flow of hot gases may be ideal for preventing thermal runaway events from propagating throughout the battery pack 100.

[0048] Reference Figure 3BThe vent deflector assembly 200 includes a base 210, a hinge 220, and a cover 230. The base 210 defines an opening 211, the shape of which may be the same as or similar to the shape of the vent opening 138 of the prismatic canister 122. According to one aspect, the opening 211 may be elongated; however, other shapes are also possible, such as circular or rectangular. The base 210 may include a first or front edge 212 and a second or rear edge 214 spaced apart from the front edge 212. According to another aspect, the base 210 may be made of, for example, steel, stainless steel, or another material commonly used in the construction of automotive battery cells.

[0049] Hinge 220 includes a first or lower half 221 and a second or upper half 222 hingedly connected to the first half 221. The first half 221 may have a first flange or lip 223 extending radially and configured to connect to the rear edge 214 of the base 210. The second half 222 may have a second flange or lip 224 extending radially and configured to connect to a portion of the cover 230. According to one aspect, hinge 220 is configured in a first or closed position (…). Figure 3C ) and the second or open position ( Figure 3D The hinge 220 can move between the two. Alternatively, it can be made of, for example, steel, stainless steel, or another material commonly used in the construction of automotive battery cells.

[0050] Cover 230 can be configured to selectively deflect high-temperature gases and battery internal materials away from one or more battery cells 116. (Reference) Figure 3BThe cover 230 may include a bimetallic sandwich structure 231, which includes a first or lower cover 232 and a second or upper cover 233. The first cover 232 includes a first or upper surface 232a and a second or lower surface 232b opposite to the upper surface 232a. Similarly, the second cover 233 includes a first or upper surface 233a and a second or lower surface 233b opposite to the upper surface 233a. The first cover 232 may be configured such that a majority of the upper surface 232a contacts the lower surface 233b of the second cover 233. According to one aspect, the first cover 232 and the second cover 233 may have the same or different shapes. In this illustrative example, the first cover 232 and the second cover 233 have the same shape and correspond to the shape of the opening 211 of the base 210. The cover 230 includes a first or length dimension 234 and a second or width dimension 235. Here, the length dimension 234 is longer than the width dimension 235. According to another aspect, the first cover 232 may be made of a first material 236, and the second cover 233 may be made of a second material 237. In other words, the cover 230 may be a bimetallic cover. For example, the first cover 232 may be made of a copper alloy (e.g., a copper-nickel alloy), and the second cover 233 may be made of steel or stainless steel. Depending on the materials chosen for the first cover 232 and the second cover 233, one or more joining methods may be used to join the first cover 232 to the second cover 233. For example, adhesives, thermal welding, laser welding, spot welding, TIG welding, or another welding technique commonly used in the manufacture of automotive battery cells may be used to join or otherwise attach the first cover 232 to the second cover 233. A portion of the first cover 232 and / or the second cover 233 may be joined to the upper portion 222, more specifically, to the second flange 224 of the hinge 220.

[0051] During normal operation, cover 230 can remain in the first position. Figure 3C In the first position, the cover 230 can be arranged such that a gap 238 exists between the cover 230 and the base 210. For example, the gap 238 can range from 3.5 mm to 3.8 mm. When the cell 116 experiences a thermal runaway event, high-temperature gas is released from the prismatic canister 122 and begins to escape through the gap 238. The high-temperature gas can increase the temperature of the bimetallic sandwich structure 231, causing the cover 230 to open to the second position. Figure 3D This is because the metallic material changes shape in response to applied heat. In this illustrative configuration, the cover 230 is configured to open relative to the length dimension 234. In operation, the open position of the cover 230 ( Figure 3D This causes the high-temperature gas to deflect towards the left or right sides 106, 108 of the battery pack 100 and the left or right sides 28, 30 of the vehicle 10.

[0052] Figure 4A , 4BFigures 4C and 4C show another illustrative configuration of the vent deflector assembly 300. This configuration is similar in many respects to... Figure 1 , 2 Configurations for 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D. Therefore, the descriptions of these configurations are thus combined with each other, and descriptions of common themes among these configurations generally do not repeat.

[0053] refer to Figure 4A and Figure 4B The vent deflector assembly 300 can be configured to deflect gas and battery internal materials toward the front or rear end 102, 104 of the battery pack 100 or the front and / or rear end 24, 26 of the vehicle 10. In other words, the vent deflector 300 can be configured to direct a flow of high-temperature gas toward the positive terminal 136a or the negative terminal 136b. For example, controlling the flow of high-temperature gas may be ideal for preventing a thermal runaway event in one cell from propagating throughout the battery pack 100.

[0054] Reference Figure 4B The vent deflector assembly 300 includes a base 310, a hinge 320, and a cover 330. The base 310 defines an opening 311, which may have the same or similar shape as the vent opening 138 of the prismatic can 122. According to one aspect, the opening 311 may be elongated; however, other shapes are also possible, such as circular or rectangular. The base 310 may include a first end 312 and a second end 313 spaced apart from the first end 312.

[0055] refer to Figure 4CThe hinge 320 includes a first portion 321 and a second portion 322 coupled to the first portion 321. The first portion 321 is coupled to the second end 313 and may extend across or along an annular portion of the base 310. Additionally, the first portion includes a first or bottom edge 321a and a second or top edge 321b spaced apart from the bottom edge 321a. In this illustrative example, the bottom edge 321a contacts the base 310 and may be coupled to the base 310 via one or more coupling or welding techniques. According to one aspect, the first portion 321 may be made of a first material 323, such as stainless steel. The second portion 322 may include one or more foldable tabs 324a, 324b coupled to the first portion 321 and the base 310, and each extending between the first end 312 and the second end 313. In this illustrative example, the foldable tabs 324a, 324b include a first or rear edge 325a and a second or front edge 325b spaced apart from the rear edge 325a. The rear edge 325a can be attached to the first portion 321 via one or more joining or welding techniques. Additionally, the foldable pieces 324a, 324b include a first or bottom edge 326a and a second or top edge 326b spaced apart from the bottom edge 326a. The bottom edge 326a can be attached to the base 310 via one or more joining or welding techniques. According to one aspect, the second portion can be made of a second material 327, such as a copper alloy (e.g., a copper-nickel alloy). During assembly, the first portion 321 and the second portion can be configured to be in a first or folded position (…). Figure 4B ) to the second or extended position ( Figure 4C The hinge 320 can move between the first material 323 and the second material 327. Alternatively, for example, when the first material 323 and the second material 327 are different materials, the hinge 320 can also be referred to as a bimetallic hinge.

[0056] Cover 330 can be configured to selectively deflect high-temperature gases and internal battery matter away from one or more of the battery cells 116. (Reference) Figure 4CThe cover 330 can be coupled to a hinge 320, more specifically, to a first portion 321 and a second portion 322 of the hinge 320. The cover 330 includes a first or upper surface 331 and a second or lower surface 332 opposite to the upper surface 331. The bottom surface 332 can be coupled to the top edge 321b of the first portion and the top edge 326b of the foldable tabs 324a, 324b. According to one aspect, the deflector assembly may include a channel 333 disposed between the bottom surface 332 of the cover 330, the front edges 325a, 325b of the foldable tabs 324a, 324b, and the first end 312 of the base 310. According to another aspect, the cover 330 may be made of a first material 323, a second material 327, or a third material 334 different from the first material 323 and the second material 327. According to yet another aspect, the cover 330 includes a first or length dimension 335 and a second or width dimension 336, such as... Figure 4A As shown. Here, the length dimension 335 is longer than the width dimension 336.

[0057] During normal operation, cover 330 can remain in the first position. Figure 4B When cell 116 experiences a thermal runaway event, high-temperature gas is released from prismatic canister 122, increasing the temperature of foldable tabs 324a and 324b, causing cover 330 to open to the second position. Figure 4C In this illustrative configuration, cover 330 is configured to open relative to the second or width dimension 336. Depending on the orientation of cell 116, cover 330 can deflect hot gases toward the front or rear end 102, 104 of battery pack 100 or the front and / or rear end 24, 26 of vehicle 10.

[0058] Figure 5A , 5B Figures 5C and 5C show another illustrative configuration of the vent deflector assembly 400. This configuration is similar in many respects to... Figure 1 , 2 3A-3D and Figures 4A-4C The configurations. Therefore, the descriptions of these configurations are thus combined with each other, and descriptions of common themes among these configurations are generally not repeated.

[0059] refer to Figure 5A and 5B The vent deflector assembly 400 can be configured to laterally deflect gas and battery interior material toward the left and / or right sides 106, 108 of the battery pack 100 or the left and / or right sides 28, 30 of the vehicle 10. For example, controlling the flow of high-temperature gas may be ideal for preventing a thermal runaway event in one cell from propagating to the entire battery pack 100.

[0060] Reference Figure 5BThe vent deflector assembly 400 includes a base 410, a hinge 420, and a cover 430. For example... Figure 5A As shown, the vent deflector assembly 400 is arranged between the positive terminal 136a and the negative terminal 136b. The cover 430 includes a first or length dimension 434 and a second or width dimension 435. Here, the length dimension 434 is longer than the width dimension 435.

[0061] During normal operation, cover 430 can remain in the first position. Figure 5B When cell 116 experiences a thermal runaway event, high-temperature gas is released from prismatic canister 122, increasing the temperature of cover 430 and causing cover 430 to open to the second position. Figure 5C In this illustrative configuration, cover 430 is configured to open relative to the second or width dimension 435. Depending on the orientation of cell 116, cover 430 can deflect hot gases toward the left or right sides 106, 108 of battery pack 100 and the left or right sides 28, 30 of vehicle 10.

[0062] Figure 6 Another illustrative configuration of the vent deflector assembly 500 is shown. This configuration is similar in many respects to... Figure 1 , 2 3A-3D Figures 4A-4C and Figures 5A-5C The configurations. Therefore, the descriptions of these configurations are thus combined with each other, and descriptions of common themes among these configurations are generally not repeated.

[0063] Reference Figure 6 Vent deflector assembly 500 is disposed at the lower end 126 of prismatic tank 122. Any vent deflector described above can be selected to be attached to the lower end of prismatic tank. For example, disposing vent deflector assembly 500 at lower end 126 may be ideal for deflecting hot gases toward the lower half 112 of battery pack 100 or toward a surface below vehicle 10 (i.e., the road).

[0064] refer to Figure 7 A method 600 for manufacturing a battery pack is provided, the battery pack comprising one or more battery cells, each battery cell having a vent deflector assembly. Method 600 will be described with reference to the battery pack 100 and the vent deflector assembly 200 described above. However, these principles are equally applicable to manufacturing battery packs with different configurations of vent deflector assemblies 300, 400, and 500.

[0065] In 610, the base 210, hinge 220, and cover 230 are stamped and / or formed from copper, steel, or another material commonly used in the manufacture of automotive battery cells.

[0066] At 620, the vent deflector assembly (i.e., base 210, hinge 220, and cover 230) is assembled using one or more joining or welding techniques. For example, as described above, adhesives, thermal welding, laser welding, spot welding, TIG welding, or another welding technique commonly used in the manufacture of automotive battery cells can be used to join or otherwise attach the base 210, hinge 220, and cover 230 (i.e., first cover 232 and second cover 233). In other words, these components can be joined or attached using durable and reliable connections capable of withstanding mechanical stresses and environmental conditions.

[0067] At 630, a vent deflector assembly 200 is arranged relative to the vent opening 138 of the prismatic tank 122. The vent deflector assembly 200 can then be coupled or otherwise attached to the prismatic tank 122 using laser or another coupling technique.

[0068] At 640, cell 116 may be arranged relative to one or more additional cells 116 within one or more modules 114 or within the housing 120 of battery pack 100.

[0069] Many embodiments have been described. However, it should be understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Therefore, other embodiments are also within the scope of the following claims.

[0070] The foregoing description has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting of this disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular configuration are generally not limited to that particular configuration, but where applicable, they are interchangeable and can be used in selected configurations, even if not specifically shown or described. This can also be varied in many ways. Such variations should not be considered as departing from this disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A vent deflector assembly for a prismatic battery cell, comprising: The base, which defines the opening; A hinge having a first part and a second part movable relative to the first part, the first part being connected to a base; as well as The cover, which is connected to the second part of the hinge, can move between a first position and a second position.

2. The vent deflector assembly according to claim 1, wherein, The cover includes a bimetallic sandwich structure comprising a first cover and a second cover connected to the first cover.

3. The vent deflector assembly according to claim 2, wherein, The first cover is made of a first material, and the second cover is made of a second material.

4. The vent deflector assembly according to claim 3, wherein, The first material is a copper alloy, and the second material is stainless steel.

5. The vent deflector assembly according to claim 1, wherein, The opening includes a first edge connected to a first portion of the hinge and a second edge opposite to the first edge.

6. The vent deflector assembly according to claim 5, wherein, A portion of the cover is arranged adjacent to the base at the first position, and a gap is provided between the cover and the base.

7. The vent deflector assembly according to claim 6, wherein, When the cover is in the first position, the gap is between 3.5 mm and 3.8 mm, and when the cover is in the second position, the gap is between 13 mm and 14 mm.

8. The vent deflector assembly according to claim 1, wherein, The cover includes a first dimension and a second dimension, wherein the first dimension is larger than the second dimension.

9. The vent deflector assembly according to claim 8, wherein, The cover is configured to open relative to the first size.

10. The vent deflector assembly according to claim 8, wherein, The cover is configured to open relative to the second size.

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