1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to systems for cooling vehicle batteries and methods of installing the same.
2. Discussion
An alternatively powered vehicle, e.g., hybrid electric vehicle, may include a high voltage battery and a forced air thermal management system to cool the high voltage battery. This high voltage battery may be located, for example, under or behind a rear seat of the vehicle. Packaging constraints may limit the ways in which the high voltage battery and portions of the thermal management system are put into the vehicle.
Embodiments of the invention may take the form of a system for cooling a battery. The system includes a duct connected with the battery and moveable between decking and securing positions relative to the battery.
Embodiments of the invention may take the form of a system for cooling electrochemical cells of a power storage unit for a vehicle. The system includes a power storage unit enclosure to contain the electrochemical cells and a duct including a mounting plate connected with the power storage unit enclosure. The duct is moveable between unassembled and assembled positions relative to the power storage unit enclosure. The duct is in fluid communication with the power storage unit enclosure so as to direct a conditioning fluid for the electrochemical cells if the duct is in the assembled position.
Embodiments of the invention may take the form of a method for installing a battery assembly for a vehicle. The method includes loading the battery assembly into the vehicle when the duct is in a decking position, moving the duct from the decking position to a securing position, and securing the duct.
Some embodiments of the invention provide a duct partially secured to a battery prior to it being in a vehicle. Once in the vehicle, the duct is completely secured. When partially secured, the duct is moveable relative to the battery via a connector to facilitate loading of the battery and duct into the vehicle. When completely secured, the duct and battery establish a substantially air tight seal.
The connector may allow the duct to include, for example, two types of attachments: (i) those that are not accessible in vehicle position, e.g., those that are secured prior to vehicle installation such as those that hold the duct to the battery, and (ii) those that are accessible in vehicle position, e.g., those that are secured after vehicle installation such as those that hold the duct to the vehicle. The connector may further allow the duct to be rotated out of driver and passenger space. For example, a duct and fan may be tucked underneath a package tray to increase cargo volume of a trunk.
The duct may be designed such that when the fasteners that hold the duct to the battery are secured, the duct rests in a position that does not increase the profile of the battery relative to the final decking position. This may facilitate the insertion of the battery and duct into a vehicle. For example, the battery and duct in the decking position are inserted into an opening behind a rear seat of a vehicle. Once decked, it may be secured to the vehicle.
Some embodiments provide a lever retention feature for a seal between a duct and a battery. When secured, the duct compresses the seal relative to the battery thus forming a substantially air tight seal between the duct and battery. For example, the duct may include attachment features that mate with a back side of a package tray of a vehicle. Securing the attachment features to the package tray induces a moment about a connector of the duct that compresses the seal against the battery.
Plenum 14 includes collar 17. In the embodiment of
Fan 16 pulls air, for example, from a cabin of the vehicle (not shown) into battery box 12 to cool battery cells 18. The air passes out of battery box 12 and into plenum 14. Plenum 14 guides the air into fan 16 which then exhausts it into, for example, a trunk of the vehicle (not shown).
Plenum 14 includes hinge plate 20. Plenum 14 is attached to battery box 12 with, for example, screws at openings 22, e.g., screw holes, of hinge plate 20. In some alternative embodiments, hinge plate 20 may be attached to battery box 12 with, for example, bolts or push pins, etc. In other alternative embodiments, hinge plate 20 may be integrated with battery box 12, e.g., battery box 12, hinge 26, and plenum 14 are molded as one piece. Plenum 14 also includes a cavity 24 through which air from battery box 12 flows to fan 16. Cavity 24 is connected with hinge plate 20 via hinge 26, e.g., living hinge. As discussed below, cavity 24 may be moved, e.g., rotated, about hinge 26.
Plenum 14 is attached, e.g., bolted, screwed, pinned, etc., with a package tray of the vehicle (not shown) at attachment points 28. In alternative embodiments, plenum 14 may be attached, e.g., bolted, screwed, pinned, etc., with battery box 12 instead of with the vehicle.
Seal 30, e.g., foam, gasket, etc., provides a substantially air tight seal between battery box 12 and plenum 14. In the embodiment of
In the embodiment of
In the embodiment of
In the embodiment of
While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4312418 | Rittman | Jan 1982 | A |
5082075 | Karolek et al. | Jan 1992 | A |
5520258 | Kemshall | May 1996 | A |
5722250 | Pomme | Mar 1998 | A |
6541151 | Minamiura et al. | Apr 2003 | B2 |
6613472 | Watanabe | Sep 2003 | B1 |
6662891 | Misu et al. | Dec 2003 | B2 |
6798658 | Takedomi et al. | Sep 2004 | B2 |
7025159 | Smith et al. | Apr 2006 | B2 |
20040226765 | Mathews et al. | Nov 2004 | A1 |
20060116062 | Smith et al. | Jun 2006 | A1 |
20070091560 | Parker | Apr 2007 | A1 |
20080060860 | Murase et al. | Mar 2008 | A1 |
20090061289 | Hamada et al. | Mar 2009 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2111565 | Jul 1992 | CN |
1207581 | May 2002 | EP |
2007099149 | Apr 2007 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20090104511 A1 | Apr 2009 | US |