Lateral Battery Array Cooling Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery systems for electric vehicles, particularly utility terrain vehicles (UTVs), face challenges in weight distribution, cooling efficiency, and structural robustness, leading to suboptimal performance and range.
Innovation Solution
A battery assembly with a housing that organizes cylindrical cells in horizontally stacked rows, utilizing cooling plates positioned perpendicular to the cells for efficient heat dissipation and bus bars for structural support, allowing for flexible capacity and weight distribution, and positioning the battery array laterally within the vehicle frame for a lower center of gravity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If battery cells are arranged in traditional vertical configurations, then structural simplicity is maintained, but weight distribution and center of gravity are suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional vertical battery cell arrangement to a horizontal configuration where cells are stacked laterally in rows. This dimensional change allows the battery array to be positioned lower in the vehicle chassis, optimizing center of gravity and weight distribution while maintaining structural integrity through the housing and cooling plate framework.
2Temperature
If cooling plates are positioned parallel to battery cell axes, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but cooling efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of positioning cooling plates parallel to the battery cell axes (conventional approach), the patent inverts the orientation by placing cooling plates perpendicular to the cell axes. This allows cooling plates to be positioned between rows of cells, maximizing thermal contact with multiple cells simultaneously and significantly improving heat dissipation efficiency.
3Stability of the object's composition
If battery array is positioned centrally in the vehicle, then structural simplicity is maintained, but driving dynamics and stability are suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric positioning of the battery array within the vehicle chassis, placing it laterally rather than centrally. This asymmetric arrangement lowers the center of gravity and optimizes weight distribution across the vehicle platform, thereby improving handling, stability, and driving dynamics while the housing provides structural containment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances driving efficiency, range, and durability by ensuring even weight distribution, improved cooling, and robust cell positioning, resulting in a more powerful and longer-lasting battery system for UTVs.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more cooling plates are oriented perpendicular to the axis of the battery cells and positioned proximal to an end of battery cells within a row of the plurality of rows
Data Source
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AI summary
A battery assembly is disclosed that includes a battery housing, a battery array, and one or more cooling plates. The battery housing forms a battery compartment having a width and length greater than a height. The battery array includes a plurality of cylindrical battery cells oriented with an axis perpendicular to the height of the battery compartment. The plurality of cells are organized into a plurality of rows within the battery compartment. The one or more cooling plates oriented perpendicular to the axis of the battery cells and positioned proximal to an end of battery cells within a row of the plurality of rows.