BATTERY PACK HEAT EXCHANGE PLATE CONNECTOR

Abstract

A traction battery pack comprises a first plate and a second plate attached adjacent to the first plate to provide at least one coolant passage extending through an interior portion of a battery pack housing. The at least one coolant passage is located between the first plate and the second plate. A connector is fluidically coupled to the at least one coolant passage. The connector is detachably connectable to a line at a location outside the battery pack housing.

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

[0001] This disclosure generally relates to connections for a heat exchange plate used in a traction battery pack. GENERAL STATE OF THE ART

[0002] A traction battery pack of an electrified vehicle may include groups of battery cells arranged in one or more cell stacks. Heat exchange plates may be integrated into the traction battery pack. A fluid, such as a liquid coolant, may be circulated through the heat exchange plate to assist in managing thermal energy. SUMMARY

[0003] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an assembly including: a first plate; a second plate mounted adjacent to the first plate to provide at least one coolant passage extending through an interior region of a battery pack enclosure, the at least one coolant passage located between the first plate and the second plate; and a connector fluidly coupled to the at least one coolant passage, the connector removably connectable to a conduit at a location external to the battery pack enclosure.

[0004] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to an assembly wherein the connector is a quick-connect connector.

[0005] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to an assembly wherein the connector is adhesively attached directly to the second plate.

[0006] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to an assembly wherein the connector extends through an opening in the battery pack housing.

[0007] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to an assembly wherein the connector extends through a panel opening of the second panel.

[0008] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to an assembly wherein the second plate provides an entire circumferential perimeter of the plate opening.

[0009] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to an assembly wherein the first plate does not provide a portion of the plate opening.

[0010] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an assembly wherein the connector is directly attached to a protruding portion of the second plate, the protruding portion extending through an opening in the battery pack housing.

[0011] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an assembly wherein the opening is provided within a wall of a housing shell, wherein the bulged portion extends from within the battery pack housing through the opening to a position outside the battery pack housing.

[0012] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an assembly, wherein the connector is a first connector and further including a second connector, the first connector providing a coolant inlet to the at least one coolant passage and the second connector providing a coolant outlet from the at least one coolant passage.

[0013] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to an assembly wherein no portion of the connector is sandwiched between both the first plate and the second plates.

[0014] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an assembly wherein the first plate and the second plate each include an upturned flange, wherein the connector is directly attached to the upturned flange of the second plate to fluidly couple the connector to the at least one coolant passage.

[0015] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to an assembly further including a gasket sandwiched between the upturned flange of the second plate and the battery pack housing.

[0016] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an assembly further including a plurality of mechanical fasteners extending through the battery pack housing to engage the first plate and the second plate.

[0017] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to an assembly wherein the connector is directly attached to a protruding portion of the second plate.

[0018] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to an assembly wherein the at least one coolant passage includes a tortuous coolant passage configured to communicate a heat exchange fluid.

[0019] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a battery assembly including: a plurality of battery cells; a housing assembly housing the plurality of battery cells; a heat exchange plate assembly in thermal communication with the plurality of battery cells, wherein a bulged portion of the heat exchange plate assembly protrudes through the housing assembly; and a connector disposed on the bulged portion.

[0020] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a battery assembly wherein the connector is a quick disconnect.

[0021] In some aspects, the techniques described in this document relate to a battery assembly, wherein the heat exchange plate assembly is part of a thermal management system of a traction battery pack. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS

[0022] The various features and advantages of the disclosed examples will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description. The figures accompanying the detailed description may be briefly described as follows: Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of an exemplary electrified vehicle. Fig. 2 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a battery pack from the electrified vehicle of Fig. 1 together with a heat exchange device of the electrified vehicle. Fig. 3 illustrates a top perspective view of a shell and a heat exchange plate assembly from the battery pack of Fig. 2. Fig. Figure 4 illustrates a front view of the shell and heat exchange plate assembly of Fig. 3. Fig. Figure 5 illustrates a sectional view taken along line 5-5 in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a connection interface portion of the heat exchange plate from the battery pack of Fig. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] This disclosure describes in detail exemplary heat exchange plate assemblies for a traction battery pack. Heat exchange plates of these assemblies may be fluidly connected to a connector, such as a quick-disconnect connector, which may be removably connected to a conduit delivering coolant to the heat exchange plate or a conduit removing coolant from the heat exchange plate. The removable connection may reduce complexity and required package space.

[0024] With reference to Fig. 1, an electrified vehicle 10 includes a battery pack 12, an electric machine 14, and wheels 16. The battery pack 12 supplies power to the electric machine 14, which can convert electrical power into mechanical power to drive the wheels 16.

[0025] In the exemplary embodiment, the battery pack 12 is attached to an underbody 18 of the electrified vehicle 10. In other examples, the battery pack 12 could be located elsewhere on the electrified vehicle 10.

[0026] The electrified vehicle 10 is a fully electric vehicle. In other examples, the electrified vehicle 10 is a hybrid electric vehicle that selectively drives wheels using torque provided by an internal combustion engine instead of or in addition to an electric machine. In general, the electrified vehicle 10 could be any type of vehicle that includes a battery pack.

[0027] With reference now to Fig. 2-6, the battery pack 12 includes a plurality of cell stacks 20 held within a battery pack housing 22. In the exemplary embodiment, the housing 34 includes a housing cover 24 and a housing shell 26. The housing cover 24 is attached to the housing shell 26 to provide an interior area 28 in which the cell stacks 20 are housed. The housing cover 24 may be attached to the housing shell 26, for example, using mechanical fasteners (not shown).

[0028] Each of the cell stacks 20 includes a plurality of battery cells 30 arranged along a respective cell stack axis. Within each cell stack 20, the battery cells 30 are stacked adjacent to one another along the cell stack axis. The battery cells 30 store and supply electrical power. Although specific numbers of cell stacks 20 and cells 30 are illustrated in the various figures of this disclosure, the battery pack 12 could include any number of cell stacks 20 having any number of individual cells 30.

[0029] In one embodiment, the battery cells 30 are lithium-ion pouch cells. Alternatively, however, battery cells having other geometries (cylindrical, prismatic, etc.), other chemistries (nickel-metal hydride, lead-acid, etc.), or both could be utilized within the scope of this disclosure.

[0030] The battery cells 30 are arranged on a heat exchange plate assembly 40 that includes at least one coolant passage 42. The heat exchange plate assembly 40 is part of a thermal management system for the battery pack 12.

[0031] Coolant, such as a liquid coolant, may be circulated through the at least one coolant passage 42. The at least one coolant passage may be a tortuous coolant passage configured to communicate a heat exchange fluid.

[0032] In this example, coolant is moved to the battery pack 12 through an inlet line 50. The coolant can absorb thermal energy within the battery pack 12. The coolant is then moved out of the battery pack 12 through an outlet line 52. The coolant from the battery pack 12 can be moved to a heat exchange device 54, such as a liquid-to-air heat exchanger. At the heat exchange device 54, thermal energy can be dissipated to an ambient environment.

[0033] In this example, the coolant is described as being used to cool portions of the battery pack 12. In other examples, the coolant could instead be used to heat portions of the battery pack 12.

[0034] The inlet line 50 and the outlet line 52 may be coolant hoses. The inlet line 50 and the outlet line 52 are fluidly coupled to the battery pack 12 at a connection interface 56. Fig. 2 shows the inlet line 50 and the outlet line 52 coupled to the connection interface 56. Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 show the connection interface 56 without the inlet line 50 and the outlet line 52 being connected.

[0035] In particular, the inlet conduit 50 and the outlet conduit 52 may be selectively fluidically coupled to the battery pack 12 at a position P outside the battery pack housing 34. That is, the inlet conduit 50 and the outlet conduit 52 may be selectively fluidically coupled to the battery pack 12 without requiring access to the interior region 28 of the battery pack 12.

[0036] Inlet line 50 and outlet line 52 may, in some examples, be connected to connection interface 56 via quick-connect fittings that fluidly couple inlet line 50 and outlet line 52 to battery pack 12. The ability to quickly couple and decouple inlet line 50 and outlet line 52 may, among other things, facilitate maintenance of battery pack 12 and its associated assemblies.

[0037] The heat exchange plate assembly 40 includes a first plate 60 and a second plate 62. The first plate 60 is mounted adjacent to the second plate 62 to provide the coolant passage 42 therebetween.

[0038] An inlet connector 80 and an outlet connector 82 are fluidly coupled to the at least one coolant passage 42. The inlet connector 80 can be connected to and disconnected from the inlet conduit 50 at the position P outside the battery pack 12. The outlet connector 82 can be connected to and disconnected from the outlet conduit 52 at the position P outside the battery pack 12.

[0039] In this example, the inlet connector 80 and the outlet connector 82 are quick-connect fittings. Quick-connect fittings, which are typically unthreaded and moved by hand, can be connected and disconnected without breaking welds or requiring tools such as wrenches.

[0040] The first plate 60 includes an upwardly turned flange 84. The second plate 62 also includes an upwardly turned flange 86. The at least one coolant passage 42 extends between the upwardly turned flange 84 and the upwardly turned flange 86 upwardly to the connection interface 56, in particular to the inlet connector 80 and the outlet connector 82.

[0041] The inlet connector 80 and the outlet connector 82 may, for example, be adhesively attached to the heat exchange plate assembly 40. This fluidly couples the inlet connector 80 and the outlet connector 82 to the coolant passage 42 provided between the first plate 60 and the second plate 62. In this example, the inlet connector 80 and the outlet connector 82 are attached directly to the upturned flange 86 of the second plate 62. Specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, the inlet connector 80 and the outlet connector 82 are connected to the heat exchange plate assembly 40 without enclosing the inlet connector 80 and the outlet connector 82 between the first plate 60 and the second plate 62.

[0042] To provide clearance for connecting the inlet connector 80 and the outlet connector 82 to the second plate 62, the second plate 62 is formed to include a protruding portion 90 and a protruding portion 92.

[0043] The inlet connector 80 is attached directly to the protruding portion 90. The outlet connector 82 is attached to the protruding portion 92. In other examples, the inlet connector 80 and the outlet connector 82 could be attached to a single protruding portion.

[0044] The bulged portion 90 and the bulged portion 92 could be formed by a stamping process. In another example, the heat exchange plate assembly 40 is roll-bonded, and the bulged portions 90 and 92, along with other portions of the at least one coolant passage 42, are formed by inflation after roll-bonding.

[0045] The bulged portions 90 and 92, in this example, protrude outwardly from the battery pack housing 22 and protrude through a housing opening 94 within a wall of the housing shell 26. The upturned flanges 84 and 86 may be attached to the wall of the housing shell 26, for example, using mechanical fasteners to hold the bulged portions 90 and 92 within the housing opening 94. The mechanical fasteners may extend through the wall of the housing shell 26 to engage both the upturned flange 84 of the first plate 60 and the upturned flange 86 of the second plate 62. A gasket 96 may be included between the upturned flange 86 and the wall of the housing shell 26 to seal areas around the housing opening 94.

[0046] The bulged portion 90 includes an inlet plate opening 98 that receives the inlet connector 80. In this example, the second plate 62 provides an entire circumferential perimeter of the inlet plate opening 98. The first plate 60 does not provide any portion of the inlet plate opening 98.

[0047] The inlet connector 80, in this example, extends through the housing opening 94 and the inlet plate opening 98. In another example, the inlet connector 80 does not extend through the housing opening 94 or does not extend through both the inlet plate opening 98 and the housing opening 94.

[0048] The bulged portion 92 includes an outlet plate opening that receives the outlet connector 82. In this example, the second plate 62 provides an entire circumferential perimeter of the outlet plate opening. The first plate 60 does not provide any portion of the outlet plate opening.

[0049] In this example, the outlet connector 82 extends through the housing opening 94 and the outlet plate opening. In another example, the outlet connector 82 does not extend through the housing opening 94 or does not extend through both the outlet plate opening and the housing opening 94.

[0050] The foregoing description is exemplary and not restrictive in nature. Variations and modifications of the disclosed examples may occur to those skilled in the art without necessarily departing from the spirit of this disclosure. Thus, the scope of this disclosure can only be determined by reading the following claims.

Claims

[1] Assembly comprising: a first plate mounted adjacent to a second plate within an interior region of a traction battery pack housing to provide at least one coolant passage extending through an interior region of a battery pack housing, the at least one coolant passage being located between the first plate and the second plate; and a connector fluidly coupled to the at least one coolant passage, the connector being removably connectable to a conduit at a location external to the battery pack housing. [2] The assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector is a quick-connect connector. [3] The assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector is adhesively attached directly to the second plate. [4] The assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector extends through an opening in the battery pack housing. [5] The assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector extends through a panel opening of the second panel, and optionally wherein the second panel provides an entire circumferential perimeter of the panel opening. [6] The assembly of claim 5, wherein the first plate does not provide a portion of the plate opening. [7] The assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector is directly attached to a protruding portion of the second plate, the protruding portion extending through an opening in the battery pack housing, and optionally wherein the opening is provided within a wall of a housing shell, the protruding portion extending from within the battery pack housing through the opening to a position outside the battery pack housing. [8] The assembly of claim 7, wherein the connector is a first connector and further comprising a second connector, the first connector providing a coolant inlet to the at least one coolant passage and the second connector providing a coolant outlet from the at least one coolant passage. [9] The assembly of claim 1, wherein no portion of the connector is enclosed between both the first plate and the second plates. [10] The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first plate and the second plate each include an upturned flange, the connector being directly attached to the upturned flange of the second plate to fluidly couple the connector to the at least one coolant passage, and optionally further comprising a gasket enclosed between the upturned flange of the second plate and the battery pack housing. [11] The assembly of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of mechanical fasteners extending through the battery pack housing to engage the first plate and the second plate. [12] The assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector is directly attached to a bulged portion of the second plate, and optionally wherein the at least one coolant passage comprises a tortuous coolant passage configured to communicate a heat exchange fluid. [13] Battery assembly comprising: a variety of battery cells; a housing assembly housing the plurality of battery cells; a heat exchange plate assembly in thermal communication with the plurality of battery cells, wherein a bulged portion of the heat exchange plate assembly protrudes through the housing assembly; and a connector disposed on the bulged portion. [14] The battery assembly of claim 13, wherein the connector is a quick-connect coupling. [15] The battery assembly of claim 13, wherein the heat exchange plate assembly is part of a thermal management system of a traction battery pack.

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