Vehicle battery housing including pyrotechnic fuse compartments

Abstract

An example of a vehicle battery module comprises a vehicle battery housing, wherein the battery housing includes several walls defining an interior space of the battery housing, at least one battery arranged within the interior space of the battery housing, the at least one battery configured to supply power to the vehicle, a pyrotechnic fuse electrically connected to the at least one battery, and a compartment arranged on at least one of the several walls of the battery housing, the compartment defining a space separate from the interior space of the battery housing. The space defined by the compartment is accessible from an exterior area of ​​the battery housing without accessing the interior space of the battery housing, and the pyrotechnic fuse is located within the space defined by the compartment.

Description

INTRODUCTION

[0001] The information contained in this section serves to present the general context of the disclosure. Works of the inventors mentioned herein, insofar as they are described in this section, as well as aspects of the description that may not have been prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor implicitly recognized as prior art with respect to the present disclosure.

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to vehicle battery housings including pyrotechnic fuse compartments.

[0003] Electric vehicles include battery modules that supply energy to the vehicle's electrical components, such as an electric motor. These battery modules often operate at high voltages and sometimes require maintenance by a technician. DESCRIPTION

[0004] An example of a vehicle battery module comprises a vehicle battery housing, wherein the battery housing has multiple walls defining an interior space of the battery housing; at least one battery located within the interior space of the battery housing, the at least one battery being configured to supply power to the vehicle; a pyrotechnic fuse electrically connected to the at least one battery; and a compartment arranged on at least one of the multiple walls of the battery housing, the compartment defining a space separate from the interior space of the battery housing. The space defined by the compartment is accessible from an exterior area of ​​the battery housing without accessing the interior space of the battery housing, and the pyrotechnic fuse is located within the space defined by the compartment.

[0005] In some examples, the pyrotechnic fuse is located adjacent to an outer wall of the battery housing to allow maintenance of the pyrotechnic fuse independently of any other component of the battery module and without destroying any other component of the battery module.

[0006] In some examples, the battery housing includes a battery disconnect unit (BDU) with a plastic housing, and the pyrotechnic fuse is located adjacent to an outer wall of the battery disconnect unit.

[0007] In some examples, the pyrotechnic fuse is designed to disconnect a busbar connection with at least one battery in response to a fuse tripping condition.

[0008] In some examples, the vehicle battery module also includes an access panel that is detachably coupled to the compartment. In some examples, a surface of the access panel is parallel to a plane of at least one of the several walls.

[0009] In some examples, the compartment defines an opening along a surface of at least one of the multiple walls, and the access plate is detachably coupled to the opening of the compartment via a friction fit.

[0010] In some examples, the compartment has five walls that separate the space defined by the compartment from the interior of the battery housing, and one open side that is exposed to an exterior of the battery housing.

[0011] In some examples, each wall of the compartment comprises an electrically insulating material. In some examples, the electrically insulating material is made of plastic.

[0012] In some examples, the pyrotechnic fuse includes at least one finger-safe socket with protection class IPXXB and at least one finger-safe plug with an insulated pin that has protection class IPXXB.

[0013] In some examples, the compartment is a first compartment and the pyrotechnic fuse is a first pyrotechnic fuse, and the vehicle battery module further comprises a second compartment arranged on at least one of the multiple walls of the battery housing, wherein the second compartment defines a space separate from the interior of the battery housing, wherein the space defined by the second compartment is accessible from the exterior of the battery housing without having to access the interior of the battery housing, and a second pyrotechnic fuse is arranged in the space defined by the compartment.

[0014] In some examples, the first compartment and the second compartment are arranged on one and the same of the several walls of the battery housing.

[0015] In some examples, the compartment is designed to allow replacement of the pyrolytic fuse without accessing the interior of the battery housing. In some examples, the compartment is designed to allow replacement of the pyrolytic fuse while the vehicle battery module is energized.

[0016] In some examples, the compartment is designed to allow replacement of the pyrotechnic fuse without removing the vehicle battery module. In some examples, the compartment is rectangular.

[0017] An example of a vehicle battery module comprises a vehicle battery housing, wherein the battery housing has several walls defining an interior of the battery housing, at least one battery arranged in the interior of the battery housing, wherein the at least one battery is configured to supply power to the vehicle, a pyrotechnic fuse electrically connected to the at least one battery, a compartment arranged on at least one of the several walls of the battery housing, and an access panel detachably connected to the compartment, wherein the pyrotechnic fuse is located in the compartment.

[0018] In some examples, a surface of the access plate is parallel to a plane of at least one of the multiple walls of the battery housing.

[0019] In some examples, the compartment defines an opening along a surface of at least one of the several walls, and the access panel is detachably coupled to the opening of the compartment via a friction fit.

[0020] Further applications of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, the claims, and the drawings. The detailed description and the specific examples serve only for illustration and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The present disclosure will be better understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, whereby: Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram of an embodiment of a vehicle that includes a vehicle battery module with a pyrotechnic fuse component; Fig. 2 is a side view of a vehicle battery housing with two pyrotechnic fuse compartments; Fig. 3 a side view of the vehicle battery housing of Fig. 2 is, including two access plates covering the pyrotechnic fuse; Fig. 4 is an orthogonal view of an example pyrotechnic fuse; Fig. 5 is an orthogonal view of an open compartment containing a pyrotechnic fuse; Fig. 6 an orthogonal view of the compartment of Fig. 5 after removal of the pyrotechnic fuse; Fig. 7 is an example circuit diagram showing two pyrotechnic fuses connected to two vehicle batteries; Fig. 8 and Fig. Nine orthogonal views of a battery disconnect unit are shown, aligned with external compartments for access to pyrotechnic fuses; and Fig. 10 is a front view of a battery disconnect unit before it is inserted into a battery module.

[0022] Reference numbers can be reused in the drawings to identify similar and / or identical elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Some exemplary embodiments include exemplary methods and systems for servicing a high-voltage pyrotechnic fuse in a vehicle battery module, such as a vehicle's rechargeable high-voltage energy storage system (RESS). These design examples allow service technicians easy access to the pyrotechnic fuse while maintaining technician protection (e.g., a finger-proof IPXXB environment) throughout the service procedure. The designs can also facilitate pyrotechnic fuse maintenance without disassembling or partially dismantling the vehicle battery module.

[0024] Examples of service-friendly pyrotechnic fuses include finger-proof terminals on the pyrotechnic fuse (e.g., rated IPXXB), a dedicated pyrotechnic fuse holder on a vehicle battery module (e.g., a battery disconnect unit (BDU)), and removable access panels on the RESS support structure. In some production systems that use a high-voltage pyrotechnic fuse, the fuse is not finger-proof. The pyrotechnic fuse may be packaged internally within the BDU, with the BDU's shell / enclosure providing high-voltage protection for assembly line personnel. However, in this configuration, the pyrotechnic fuse is not easily serviceable and may require power shutdown and disassembly of the RESS before maintenance can begin.

[0025] Examples of finger-proof pyrotechnic fuses can include a combination of finger-proof IPXXB terminals and insulated fasteners. This combination allows a service technician to service / remove the pyrotechnic fuse while the vehicle battery module is still energized, without needing to de-energize the RESS. Because the pyrotechnic fuse can incorporate dedicated finger protection, it can also be mounted externally or semi-externally on the vehicle battery module, as the fuse does not rely on the vehicle battery module housing to provide IPXXB finger protection.

[0026] External or semi-external mounting of the pyrotechnic fuse allows it to be positioned in a location convenient for servicing. The use of insulated bolts enables a robust electrical connection between the pyrotechnic fuse and the RESS high-voltage system, providing superior protection and electrical reliability compared to other methods such as plug connections, which may be unacceptable for high-current applications.

[0027] In some examples, the pyrotechnic fuse is housed in a semi-automatic compartment (e.g., a box) within the vehicle battery module. This compartment is geometrically separated from other high-voltage components. For instance, the compartment may have plastic walls on five sides and the RESS tray / access panel on the remaining side. This compartment allows for maintenance of the pyrotechnic fuse without exposing the operator to unintended high-voltage components during maintenance (e.g., high-voltage components inside the vehicle battery module housing, which are separated from the pyrotechnic fuse by the walls of the fuse compartment). The compartment, in conjunction with the IPXXB pyrotechnic fuse clamps, forms a "safety zone" that protects the technician from high voltage. The compartment also facilitates easy installation of the serviceable vehicle battery module in the RESS assembly plant.

[0028] As previously mentioned, access platforms can be mounted on one side (e.g., the rear) of the vehicle battery module (e.g., on a RESS tray). These serviceable access plates can be aligned with the pyrotechnic fuse pockets on the vehicle battery module. Removing the access plates exposes the pyrotechnic fuse pocket, allowing a technician to easily remove the fuse. A press-in-place (PIP) gasket with sufficient geometry can be used on the access plates to provide a robust seal to the RESS tray and ensure that no additional electrical or other leakage paths lead into the RESS.

[0029] The design examples described here can incorporate a RESS system design that allows for easy maintenance of a high-voltage pyrotechnic fuse, such as a RESS system design where the pyrotechnic fuse is housed in finger-proof connectors for safe maintenance. For example, the system can be designed so that the pyrotechnic fuse can be serviced under voltage without posing an excessive risk to maintenance personnel.

[0030] In some examples, the RESS system includes a finger-safe pyrotechnic fuse located in a semi-external BDU pocket, which is also finger-safe. The semi-external BDU pocket can be accessed by the service technician once the outer RESS access panel has been removed. For example, the RESS access panel may be serviceable (e.g., removable or opening), with the finger-safe pyrotechnic fuse located behind the panel.

[0031] Example systems can be designed so that the BDU and RESS shells, in combination, allow maintenance of the pyrotechnic fuse when the removable access plates are detached. For example, the RESS system can be designed so that the pyrotechnic fuse is housed in tool-safe connections for safe maintenance. These example systems can enable the integration of serviceable pyrotechnic fuses into high-voltage RESS systems without requiring additional assembly steps in a RESS assembly line.

[0032] The embodiments described here can offer one or more advantages, such as the ability to easily service a pyrotechnic fuse in a vehicle battery module, the ability to seal the pyrotechnic fuse without significant disassembly of the vehicle battery module (e.g., a RESS), the ability to make the pyrotechnic fuse finger-tight for maintenance while maintaining a robust screw connection, and the ability to incorporate a serviceable pyrotechnic fuse into the RESS design without requiring additional manufacturing steps in a RESS assembly facility, as well as reduced maintenance costs for the pyrotechnic fuse.

[0033] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a vehicle 10 with front wheels 12 and rear wheels 13. Fig. 1 A drive unit 14 selectively transmits torque to the front wheels 12 and / or the rear wheels 13 via drive lines 16 and 18, respectively. The vehicle 10 can contain different types of drive units. For example, the vehicle can be an electric vehicle such as a battery electric vehicle (BEV), a hybrid vehicle or a fuel cell vehicle, an internal combustion engine vehicle (ICE), or another type of vehicle.

[0034] Some examples of the drive unit 14 can include any suitable electric motor, an inverter, and a motor controller configured to control circuit breakers within the inverter to adjust the motor speed and torque during drive and / or regeneration. A battery system supplies power to or receives power from the electric motor of the drive unit 14 via the inverter during drive or regeneration.

[0035] While the vehicle 10 in Fig. While the vehicle 10 comprises a drive unit 14, it can also have other configurations. For example, two separate drive units can power the front wheels 12 and the rear wheels 13, one or more individual drive units can power individual wheels, and so on. It is understood that other vehicle configurations and / or drive units can also be used.

[0036] The vehicle control module 20 can be configured to control the operation of one or more vehicle components, such as the drive unit 14 (e.g., by instructing the torque settings of an electric motor of the drive unit 14). The vehicle control module 20 can receive inputs for controlling vehicle components, such as signals from a steering wheel, accelerator paddles, etc. The vehicle control module 20 can monitor telematics data of the vehicle for safety purposes, such as vehicle speed, vehicle location, vehicle braking and acceleration, etc.

[0037] The vehicle control module 20 can receive signals from all suitable components to monitor one or more aspects of the vehicle, including one or more vehicle sensors (e.g., cameras, microphones, pressure sensors, wheel position sensors, position sensors such as GPS antennas, etc.). Some sensors can be configured to monitor the vehicle's current movement, acceleration, steering torque, etc.

[0038] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle 10 includes a vehicle battery module 22, which can contain any suitable batteries for powering the vehicle 10. For example, the vehicle battery module 22 can contain one or more rechargeable batteries, battery packs, etc., which can store energy to power the vehicle (e.g., lithium batteries). The batteries, battery packs, etc., can be connected to each other in any suitable arrangement, e.g., in multiple groups in parallel, in series, etc. The vehicle battery module 22 can be considered part of a battery disconnect unit (BDU) or a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS).

[0039] The vehicle battery module 22 can supply power to one or more components of the vehicle 10, e.g., the drive unit 14, the vehicle control module 20, other electronic components of the vehicle 10, etc. The vehicle control module 20 can be coupled to control the charging and discharging of the vehicle battery module 22.

[0040] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle battery module 22 includes a pyrotechnic fuse compartment 24. The pyrotechnic fuse compartment 24 is configured to house a pyrotechnic fuse of the vehicle battery module 22. The pyrotechnic fuse can be configured, for example, to rapidly interrupt the high voltage of the vehicle battery module 22 in response to a fuse-activating condition, such as a detected vehicle impact, airbag deployment, overcurrent condition, thermal condition, etc. The pyrotechnic fuse can interrupt the high voltage in any suitable manner, such as by disconnecting an electrical connection, cutting a busbar connection (e.g., with a knife), etc.

[0041] Although Fig. Figure 1 shows a vehicle battery module 22 and a pyrotechnic fuse compartment 24; other embodiments may have more vehicle battery modules, more pyrotechnic fuse compartments and corresponding pyrotechnic fuses, vehicle battery modules and pyrotechnic fuses in other locations in the vehicle, etc.

[0042] As described below, the pyrotechnic fuse compartment 24 can be configured to provide access to the pyrotechnic fuse for maintenance while protecting a technician from high-voltage components within an interior of the vehicle battery module housing 22. For example, the pyrotechnic fuse compartment 24 can comprise five plastic walls that separate a space within the pyrotechnic fuse compartment 24 from an interior space within the vehicle battery module housing 22. The pyrotechnic fuse compartment 24 can be located on one side of the vehicle battery module 22, with one side of the pyrotechnic fuse compartment 24 open to the exterior of the vehicle battery module 22. The pyrotechnic fuse is located within the pyrotechnic fuse compartment 24, with the opening of the pyrotechnic fuse compartment covered by an access panel so that a technician can easily remove the access panel to service the pyrotechnic fuse.

[0043] The vehicle control module 20 can communicate with another device via a wireless communication interface, which may include one or more wireless antennas for transmitting and / or receiving wireless communication signals. For example, the wireless communication interface can communicate using any suitable wireless communication protocol, including but not limited to vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, Wi-Fi communication, wireless area network (WAN) communication, cellular communication, personal area network (PAN) communication, short-range wireless communication (e.g., Bluetooth), etc. The wireless communication interface can communicate with a remote computer device over one or more wireless and / or wired networks. With regard to vehicle-to-vehicle (V2X) communication, the vehicle 10 can include one or more V2X transceivers (e.g., V2X signal transmit and / or receive antennas).

[0044] Fig. Figure 2 shows a side view of a vehicle battery module 200 with two pyrotechnic fuse compartments. The vehicle battery module 200 includes a housing 202, which can be a housing for multiple batteries, battery packs, etc. The housing 202 can be a housing for a RESS or BDU and can have multiple side walls to protect the batteries within the vehicle battery module 200. One or more rails 212 can be used to mount the vehicle battery module 200 in a vehicle, to supply power to other vehicle components, to charge batteries in the vehicle battery module 200, etc.

[0045] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, a side wall of the vehicle battery module 200 comprises a first pyrotechnic fuse compartment 204 and a second pyrotechnic fuse compartment 206. A first pyrotechnic fuse 208 is located inside the first pyrotechnic fuse compartment 204, and a second pyrotechnic fuse 210 is located inside the second pyrotechnic fuse compartment 206.

[0046] As described below, the first pyrotechnic fuse compartment 204 and the second pyrotechnic fuse compartment 206 can each define a space for their respective pyrotechnic fuse, separated from an interior space of the enclosure 202. For example, the first pyrotechnic fuse compartment 204 and the second pyrotechnic fuse compartment 206 can each have five walls (e.g., plastic walls in a rectangular configuration) that separate the space of the pyrotechnic fuse compartment from the interior space of the enclosure 202.

[0047] In this example, a sixth side of both the first pyrotechnic fuse compartment 204 and the second pyrotechnic fuse compartment 206 can be open so that a technician can service the respective first pyrotechnic fuse 208 or second pyrotechnic fuse 210. Fig. Figure 2, for example, shows a position in which the access panels have been removed to expose the interior of the first pyrotechnic fuse compartment 204 and the second pyrotechnic fuse compartment 206, while Fig. Figure 3 shows a position where the access panels have been reattached. Although in Fig. 2 where two pyrotechnic fuse compartments are shown, which are located on the same side of the housing 202, other embodiments may include more or fewer pyrotechnic fuse compartments and pyrotechnic fuses, pyrotechnic fuse compartments and pyrotechnic fuses which are located on other parts of the housing 202, etc.

[0048] Fig. Figure 3 is a side view of the vehicle battery module 200. Fig. 2, including two access panels covering the pyrotechnic fuse compartment. A first access panel 314 covers the first pyrotechnic fuse compartment 204, and a second access panel 316 covers the second pyrotechnic fuse compartment 206.

[0049] Each access plate can be coupled to the respective compartment in any suitable manner. For example, the first access plate 314 and the second access plate 316 can each contain one or more seals, sealing rings, etc., which protect the interiors of the first pyrotechnic safety compartment 204 and the second pyrotechnic safety compartment 206 when the first access plate 314 and the second access plate 316 are connected to the housing 202 and / or the first pyrotechnic safety compartment 204 and the second pyrotechnic safety compartment 206.

[0050] In some examples, the first access plate 314 can be coupled to the first pyrotechnic fuse compartment 204 in a push-in place (PIP) friction fit, and the second access plate 316 can be coupled to the second pyrotechnic fuse compartment 306 in a PIP friction fit. The access plates allow a technician to service and / or remove the pyrotechnic fuse while the vehicle battery module 200 is still energized, without requiring disassembly of the vehicle battery module 200, and simultaneously protect the technician from high voltages inside the housing 202. In other embodiments, there may be more or fewer access plates, access plates of different shapes or sizes, access plates located at different points on the housing 202, etc.

[0051] Fig. Figure 4 is an orthogonal view of an exemplary pyrotechnic fuse 400. The pyrotechnic fuse 400 comprises a pyrotechnic fuse component 402 configured to rapidly interrupt a high voltage from batteries within the vehicle battery module. For example, the pyrotechnic fuse component 402 can rapidly interrupt a high voltage from the vehicle battery module in response to a fuse tripping condition, such as a detected vehicle impact, airbag deployment, overcurrent condition, thermal condition, etc. The pyrotechnic fuse can interrupt the high voltage in any suitable manner, such as by disconnecting an electrical connection, cutting a busbar connection (e.g., with a knife), etc.

[0052] Pyrostatic fuses are common in battery packs for electric vehicles. These fuses can be configured for single use, meaning they are unusable after a igniter has been triggered. Pyrostatic fuses pose a risk of unintentional activation. The embodiments described here offer a solution for replacing the pyrostatic fuse without requiring disassembly of the entire battery pack.

[0053] In some cases, all relays, contactors, fuses, etc., are located in a common enclosure buried within the BDU. One embodiment described here includes a pyrotechnic fuse located in a pocket or half-pocket of the BDU. The pyrotechnic fuse compartment can facilitate providing finger-proof protection against high-voltage contact while the pyrotechnic fuse is being serviced and can restrict access to other parts of the BDU. The pyrotechnic fuse compartment can allow the technician to safely handle parts of the compartment and the pyrotechnic fuse during pyrotechnic fuse maintenance. For example, the terminals of the pyrotechnic fuse can also be finger-proof to allow contact with a bolt when a plastic cap is used.

[0054] Examples of pyrotechnic fuses include the complete severing of a busbar connection (e.g., with a knife, etc.) in response to a fuse tripping condition. The tripping condition (e.g., an event) can be triggered by a vehicle impact (e.g., airbag deployment), an overcurrent condition, a thermal condition, etc., to quickly disconnect the high voltage of the vehicle battery module.

[0055] In some examples, the pyrotechnic fuse compartment comprises five sides of a box that protrudes into the interior of a BDU, along with an access panel. This allows the pyrotechnic fuse to remain within the footprint of an exterior area of ​​the vehicle battery module while still being accessible from that exterior area. In some examples, the pyrotechnic fuse is positioned close to the outer walls of the battery structure and designed to eliminate the need for specialized tools during maintenance. The pyrotechnic fuse can be serviced independently of all other battery pack components without requiring the removal of other battery components (an advantage derived from the design of the packaging's proximity to the outer walls and the finger guard).

[0056] For example, the pyrotechnic fuse can be housed in a semi-external package on the BDU. While many pyrotechnic fuses are packaged deep inside the BDU (i.e., not easily accessible) or independently of the BDU (i.e., with more parts and assembly steps), in some of the examples described here, the pyrotechnic fuse is located in a semi-external package on top of the BDU. Additionally, the BDU's plastic housing provides some finger protection during pyrotechnic fuse maintenance.

[0057] A circuit within the vehicle battery module, including the pyrotechnic fuse, can allow maintenance of the pyrotechnic fuse while high voltage is applied to the vehicle battery module. In some examples, a plastic or nylon material (such as PA66 nylon) can be used for the sides of the compartment and / or the access panel.

[0058] A press-in-place (PIP) gasket can be used to secure the access plate. The access plate can prevent leakage into the battery pack if it is broken, for example, by a technician. Some embodiments may allow a technician to service the pyrotechnic fuse without modifying the circuitry, as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the Pyrofuse 400 includes a finger-proof plug 404 with insulated pins. For example, the finger-proof plug 404 can provide IPXXB protection to a technician servicing the Pyrofuse 400. The Pyrofuse 400 also includes a finger-proof socket 406. The finger-proof socket 406 can also provide IPXXB protection to a technician servicing the Pyrofuse 400.

[0059] Fig. Figure 5 is an orthogonal view of a vehicle battery module 500 with an open compartment 502 containing a pyrotechnic fuse 504. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 5, compartment 502 is attached to an exterior wall 508 of a housing of the vehicle battery module 500. This allows a technician to access compartment 502 from an exterior area of ​​the vehicle battery module 500 while remaining protected from high voltages within the interior of the vehicle battery module housing 500.

[0060] For example, the compartment 502 can comprise a rear wall 512 and several side walls 514, separating a space defined by the compartment 502 from the interior of the vehicle battery module 500. The walls of the compartment 502 can be made of any suitable electrically insulating material, such as plastic. In this way, a technician can service the pyrolytic fuse 504 while maintaining finger-proof protection against high voltages, also by using a finger-proof terminal 506 on the pyrolytic fuse 504.

[0061] Fig. Figure 6 is an orthogonal view of compartment 502 of the vehicle battery module 500. Fig. 5 after removal of the pyrotechnic fuse 504. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 6, after removing the pyrotechnic fuse 504, a space defined by compartment 502 may be empty. A connection 516 may extend through a wall (e.g., the rear wall 512) of compartment 502 to connect a new pyrotechnic fuse.

[0062] Fig. Figure 7 is an example circuit diagram showing two pyrotechnic fuses connected to two vehicle batteries. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 7, a circuit 700 comprises a first battery 704 and a second battery 706. A first current sensor 708 is connected to detect a current flowing through the first battery 704, and a second current sensor 710 is connected to detect a current flowing through the second battery 706. As in the example of Fig. As shown in Figure 7, the first battery 704 and the second battery 706 can be located outside the battery separation unit 701, while other components are located inside the battery separation unit 701.

[0063] The pyrotechnic fuses 702 are connected to the first battery 704 and the 706 and can be configured to quickly interrupt the high voltage of circuit 700 in response to a fuse tripping condition. Circuit 700 may include other circuit components for supplying power to electrical components of the vehicle, such as switches 712, etc. Circuit 700 can supply power from the batteries to any suitable electrical systems or components of the vehicle (or vice versa), such as a DC fast charging module (DCFC) 714, an integrated power electronics module (IPE) 716, a front-wheel drive power module 718, and a low-power integrated inverter module (LPIM) 720.

[0064] As in the example of Fig. As shown in Figure 7, each pyrotechnic fuse 702 is permanently connected to the high-voltage terminal of the battery and cannot be switched off. The finger guard and BDU outer casing of the pyrotechnic fuse, as described in the embodiments presented here, allow servicing of the pyrotechnic fuse 702 while it is still energized. Without the finger guard and BDU outer casing, a service technician would have to significantly disassemble the battery pack, use a large amount of personal protective equipment (PPE), or place the pyrotechnic fuse in a location where it could be switched off (which is not ideal for the safety performance of the battery pack).

[0065] Fig. 8 and Fig. Figure 9 shows orthogonal views of a battery disconnect unit 802, aligned with external compartments for accessing the pyrotechnic fuse. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 8, the cover on the driver's side has been removed to show a partial disassembly, in which compartment 804 is accessible for servicing the pyrotechnic fuse. The access cover 806 on the passenger side is still in place. Fig. 9 the access cover on the passenger side is also removed, so that compartment 808 is accessible for servicing a pyrotechnic fuse.

[0066] Fig. Figure 10 shows a front view of a battery disconnect unit 802 before insertion into a battery module. The driver-side access panel is removed from the packing structure. When loaded, the semi-external pyro pockets 810 of the BDU 802 are aligned with the access panels 804 and 806 of the battery module.

[0067] The foregoing description serves only for illustration and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or use. The comprehensive teachings of the disclosure can be implemented in a multitude of forms. Although this disclosure contains certain examples, the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited, since other modifications will become apparent upon study of the drawings, the description, and the following claims. It is understood that one or more steps within a process may be carried out in a different order (or simultaneously) without altering the principles of the present disclosure.Although each of the embodiments described above has certain features, one or more of these features, described in relation to any embodiment of the disclosure, can be implemented in any other embodiment and / or combined with features of any other embodiment, even if this combination is not expressly described. In other words, the described embodiments are not mutually exclusive, and permutations of one or more embodiments among themselves remain within the scope of this disclosure.

[0068] Spatial and functional relationships between elements (e.g., between modules, circuit elements, semiconductor layers, etc.) are described using various terms, including "connected," "interlocking," "coupled," "adjacent," "next to," "over," "above," "below," and "arranged." Unless a relationship between a first and a second element is expressly described as "direct" in the above disclosure, this relationship may be a direct relationship in which no other intervening elements exist between the first and the second element, or it may be an indirect relationship in which one or more intervening elements (either spatial or functional) exist between the first and the second element.As used herein, the phrase “at least one of A, B and C” should be understood as a logical conjunction (A OR B OR C) using a non-exclusive logical OR, and not as “at least one of A, at least one of B and at least one of C”.

[0069] In the diagrams, the direction of an arrow, as indicated by the arrowhead, generally shows the flow of information (such as data or instructions) that is relevant to the diagram. For example, if element A and element B exchange a variety of information, but the information transferred from element A to element B is relevant to the diagram, the arrow may point from element A to element B. This unidirectional arrow does not mean that no other information is transferred from element B to element A.

[0070] In this application, including the definitions below, the term "module" or "controller" may be replaced by the term "circuit." The term "module" may refer to, be part of, or include the following: an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC); a digital, analog, or mixed analog / digital discrete circuit; a digital, analog, or mixed analog / digital integrated circuit; a combinational logic circuit; a field-programmable gate array (FPGA); a (shared, dedicated, or grouped) processor circuit that executes code; a (shared, dedicated, or grouped) memory circuit that stores code executed by the processor circuit; other suitable hardware components that provide the described functionality; or a combination of some or all of the above, for example, in a system-on-a-chip.

[0071] The module may contain one or more interface circuits. In some examples, the interface circuits may include wired or wireless interfaces connected to a local area network (LAN), the internet, a wide area network (WAN), or combinations thereof. The functionality of any module disclosed herein may be distributed across multiple modules connected via interface circuits. For example, multiple modules may enable load balancing. In another example, a server module (also known as a remote or cloud module) may perform some functions on behalf of a client module.

[0072] The term "code," as used above, can include software, firmware, and / or microcode, and can refer to programs, routines, functions, classes, data structures, and / or objects. The term "shared processor circuit" refers to a single processor circuit that executes some or all of the code of multiple modules. The term "group processor circuit" refers to a processor circuit that, in combination with other processor circuits, executes some or all of the code of one or more modules. The term "multiple processor circuits" refers to multiple processor circuits on separate chips, multiple processor circuits on a single chip, multiple cores of a single processor circuit, multiple threads of a single processor circuit, or a combination of the above. The term "shared memory circuit" refers to a single memory circuit that stores some or all of the code of multiple modules.The term group memory circuit encompasses a memory circuit that, in combination with additional memory, stores part or all of the code of one or more modules.

[0073] The term "memory circuit" is a subset of the term "computer-readable medium." The term "computer-readable medium," as used here, does not include transitory electrical or electromagnetic signals propagating through a medium (e.g., on a carrier wave); the term "computer-readable medium" can therefore be considered tangible and non-transient. Non-restrictive examples of a non-transient, tangible computer-readable medium include non-volatile memory circuits (such as a flash memory circuit, an erasable programmable read-only memory circuit, or a mask read-only memory circuit), volatile memory circuits (such as a static random-access memory circuit or a dynamic random-access memory circuit), magnetic storage media (such as analog or digital magnetic tape or a hard disk drive), and optical storage media (such as a CD, a DVD, or a Blu-ray Disc).

[0074] The devices and methods described in this application can be implemented, in whole or in part, by a specialized computer created by configuring a general-purpose computer to perform one or more specific functions embodied in computer programs. The functional blocks, flowchart components, and other elements described above serve as software specifications that can be translated into computer programs through the routine work of an experienced technician or programmer.

[0075] The computer programs contain processor-executable instructions stored on at least one non-transitory, physical, machine-readable medium. The computer programs may also contain or rely on stored data. The computer programs may include a basic input / output system (BIOS) that interacts with the hardware of the specialized computer, device drivers that interact with specific devices of the specialized computer, one or more operating systems, user applications, background services, background applications, etc.

[0076] Computer programs can contain: (i) descriptive text to be parsed, such as HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), XML (Extensible Markup Language), or JSON (JavaScript Object Notation); (ii) assembly code; (iii) object code generated from source code by a compiler; (iv) source code to be executed by an interpreter; (v) source code to be compiled and executed by a just-in-time compiler; and so on. The source code can be in the syntax of languages ​​such as C, C++, C#, Objective-C, Swift, Haskell, Go, SQL, R, Lisp, Java®, Fortran, Perl, Pascal, Curl, OCaml, Javascript®, HTML5 (Hypertext Markup Language 5th revision), Ada, ASP (Active Server Pages), PHP (PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor), Scala, Eiffel, Smalltalk, Erlang, Ruby, Flash®, Visual Basic®, Lua, MATLAB, Simulink, and Python®.

Claims

[1] A vehicle battery module comprising: a battery housing of a vehicle, wherein the battery housing has several walls that define an interior of the battery housing; at least one battery located inside the battery housing, wherein the at least one battery is designed to supply power to the vehicle; a pyrotechnic fuse that is electrically connected to the at least one battery; and a compartment arranged on at least one of the multiple walls of the battery housing, wherein the compartment defines a space separate from the interior of the battery housing, wherein, the space defined by the compartment is accessible from an exterior area of ​​the battery housing without accessing the interior of the battery housing, and The pyrotechnic safety device is located within the space defined by the compartment. [2] Vehicle battery module according to claim 1, wherein the pyrotechnic fuse is arranged adjacent to an outer wall of the battery housing to allow maintenance of the pyrotechnic fuse independently of any other component of the battery module and without destroying any other component of the battery module. [3] Vehicle battery module according to claim 1, wherein: the battery housing includes a battery disconnect unit (BDU) with a plastic housing; and The pyrotechnic fuse is located adjacent to an outer wall of the battery separation unit. [4] Vehicle battery module according to claim 1, wherein the pyrotechnic fuse is configured to disconnect a busbar connection with the at least one battery in response to a fuse tripping condition. [5] Vehicle battery module according to claim 1, further comprising an access plate which is detachably coupled to the compartment. [6] Vehicle battery module according to claim 5, wherein a surface of the access plate is parallel to a plane of at least one of the multiple walls. [7] The vehicle battery module according to claim 5, wherein: the compartment defines an opening along a surface of at least one of the several walls; and The access panel is detachably coupled to the opening of the compartment via a friction fit. [8] Vehicle battery module according to claim 1, wherein the compartment has five walls separating the space defined by the compartment from the interior of the battery housing and an open side that is exposed to an exterior of the battery housing. [9] Vehicle battery module according to claim 8, wherein each wall of the compartment comprises an electrically insulating material. [10] Vehicle battery module comprising: a battery housing of a vehicle, wherein the battery housing has several walls that define an interior of the battery housing; at least one battery located inside the battery housing, wherein the at least one battery is designed to supply power to the vehicle; a pyrotechnic fuse that is electrically connected to the at least one battery; and a compartment located on at least one of the several walls of the battery casing; and an access panel that is detachably connected to the compartment, with the pyrotechnic safety device located inside the compartment.

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