Battery module with heat transfer plate engagement section

{
  "publication_number": "US10003050B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Battery module with heat transfer plate engagement section",
  "abstract": "A battery module includes a battery cell, a heat transfer plate, and a holder. The heat transfer plate is arranged side by side with the battery cell and has an edge and is thermally coupled to the battery cell. The holder holds the battery cell and that has a cutout section to which the heat transfer plate is fitted. The edge of the heat-transmitting plate has a first engagement section that is at least one of a first recess and a first protrusion. The holder has a second engagement section that is at least one of a second protrusion, which is fitted to the first recess and a second protrusions, which is fitted to the first protrusion.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A battery module comprising: a battery cell; a heat transfer plate that is arranged side by side with the battery cell in a side by side arrangement direction, the heat transfer plate including a heat absorption section, which absorbs heat from the battery cell and extends in a longitudinal direction of the battery cell transverse to the side by side arrangement direction to thermally couple the heat transfer plate to the battery cell, the heat absorption section including an outer peripheral edge having a first engagement section that is at least one of a first recess and a first protrusion; and a holder that includes a plurality of covering sections that cover and fix the battery cell in the holder, the plurality of covering sections surrounding a cutout section that receives the at least one of the first recess and the first protrusion of the outer peripheral edge in the holder such that displacement of the heat transfer plate in the longitudinal direction is limited, wherein the holder includes a second engagement section that is at least one of a second protrusion, which is fitted to the first recess, and a second recess, which is fitted to the first protrusion, and the first engagement section and the second engagement section are fitted to each other in a fitting direction that is transverse to both the side by side arrangement direction and the longitudinal direction.",
    "2. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer plate includes a heat dissipation section, which dissipates the heat, and the heat dissipation section contacts a counterweight of a case, which accommodates the battery module.",
    "3. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer plate fitted to the cutout section is adjacent to the battery cell covered by the covering sections.",
    "4. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the cutout section is a hole in the holder.",
    "5. A battery module comprising: a plurality of battery cells that are arranged side by side; a plurality of heat transfer plates, each of the plurality of heat transfer plates being arranged between adjacent ones of the plurality of battery cells in a side by side arrangement direction, and including a heat absorption section, which absorbs heat from the corresponding battery cell and extends in a longitudinal direction of the corresponding battery cell transverse to the side by side arrangement direction to thermally couple the heat transfer plate to the corresponding battery cell, the heat absorption section including an outer peripheral edge having a first engagement section that is at least one of a first recess and a first protrusion; and a plurality of holders, each of the plurality of holders including a plurality of covering sections that cover and fix one of the plurality of battery cells in the respective holder, each of the plurality of covering sections of each of the plurality of holders surrounding a cutout section that receives the at least one of the first recess and the first protrusion of the outer peripheral edge of the heat transfer plate in the holder such that displacement of the heat transfer plate in the longitudinal direction is limited, wherein the plurality of battery cells and the plurality of heat transfer plates are held in a pressed state in the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells, each of the plurality of holders includes a second engagement section that is at least one of a second protrusion, which is fitted to the first recess, and a second recess, which is fitted to the first protrusion, and each of the first engagement sections and corresponding one of the second engagement sections are fitted to each other in a fitting direction transverse to both the side by side arrangement direction and the longitudinal direction.",
    "6. The battery module according to claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of heat transfer plates includes a heat dissipation section, which dissipates the heat, and the heat dissipation section contacts a counterweight of a case, which accommodates the battery module.",
    "7. The battery module according to claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of heat transfer plates fitted to each of the cutout sections of each of the plurality of holders is adjacent to each of the plurality of battery cell covered by the covering sections of each of the plurality of holders.",
    "8. The battery module according to claim 5, wherein the cutout section is a hole in each of the plurality of holders."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to a battery module that includes battery cells and heat transfer plates that are arranged side by side.\n\nPatent Document 1 describes a battery assembly, which is an example of a battery module that dissipates the heat of battery cells with heat transfer plates.\n\nIn the battery assembly of Patent Document 1, electric cells are arranged in series. Heat transfer plates are sandwiched between adjacent ones of the electric cells. Each heat transfer plate has the shape of the letter L as viewed from above and includes a first heat exchange surface portion, which is sandwiched between the adjacent electric cells, and a second heat exchange surface portion, which is located on the outer side of an end of the electric cell and in contact with a side surface of the electric cell.\n\nPatent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 8-148187\n\nWhen the battery assembly receives vibrations, the heat transfer plates may be displaced. For example, the second heat exchange surface portion may be displaced away from the side surface of the electric cell, and the heat transfer plate may escape from between the electric cells.\n\nIt is an objective of the present invention to provide a battery module that limits displacement of a heat transfer plate.\n\nTo achieve the foregoing objective and in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a battery module is provided that includes a battery cell, a heat transfer plate, and a holder. The heat transfer plate is arranged side by side with the battery cell and is thermally coupled to the battery cell and includes an edge.",
  "cpc": [
    "H01M 10/613",
    "H01M 10/625",
    "H01M 10/6554",
    "H01M 2/1077",
    "H01M 2220/20",
    "H01M 50/209",
    "H01M 50/289",
    "Y02E 60/10"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "H01M 10/613",
    "H01M 10/625",
    "H01M 10/6554",
    "H01M 50/209",
    "H01M 50/289"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Toyota Industries Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Naoto Morisaku",
    "Takayuki Kato",
    "Shintaro Watanabe",
    "Hidefumi Oishi",
    "Takashi Sakai",
    "Yuki CHUJO",
    "Hiromi Ueda",
    "Kazuki Maeda"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2014-01-24",
  "publication_date": "2018-06-19",
  "grant_date": "2018-06-19",
  "priority_date": "2013-01-25",
  "application_number": "US-201414760411-A",
  "family_id": "51227631",
  "cited_by_count": 3,
  "citations": [
    "JPH08148187A",
    "US5756227A",
    "US20100304203A1",
    "US20090283346A1",
    "JP2011023180A",
    "JP2011023179A",
    "JP2011049014A",
    "JP2011096478A",
    "US8507121B2",
    "US20110293982A1",
    "WO2012013789A1",
    "US20120094165A1",
    "WO2012123065A1",
    "US20140087231A1",
    "US9481556B2"
  ]
}