Method and apparatus for cooling and positioning prismatic battery cells
US6821671B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 1, 2002 |
| Grant date | Nov 23, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 23, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P70/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention relates to an implementation for cooling and positioning prismatic battery cells. In one embodiment of the present invention, a cooling fin made of thermally conductive material is placed between prismatic battery cells. The cooling fin also acts as a structural component for the battery. The area of the cooling fin in contact with the cell us used to transfer the cell's heat to a second area of the cooling fin that is not in contact with the cell. The second area is in direct in a fluid stream (air, water, oil, etc.) that conducts the heat away. In one embodiment, the cooling fin is constrained with other fins where an alternating (cell, cooling fin, cell) geometry is obtained. Then components are combined into a compressed unit. The present invention results in a lighter and efficient structure than existing methods that solely rely on water or air circulation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.