Fixation of a battery module in a battery module compartment of an energy storage system

{
  "publication_number": "US10879508B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Fixation of a battery module in a battery module compartment of an energy storage system",
  "abstract": "In an embodiment, an expansion component (e.g., expanding foam element, inflatable pad, a pneumatic or hydraulic mechanism, etc.) is arranged inside of a battery module compartment (e.g., on a bottom interior surface of the battery module compartment). A battery module is inserted into the battery module component and is fixated, or secured, within the battery module compartment at least in part based upon the expanding component which starts to expand or continues to expand after the insertion. In a further embodiment, the battery module may be removed from the battery module compartment after a contraction function (e.g., collapse of the foam element, deflation of the inflatable pad, etc.) of the expansion component is initiated.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method of removing a battery module from a battery module compartment, comprising: initiating a contraction function of an expansion component while the expansion component is in an expanded state, the expansion component in the expanded state being positioned between at least a portion of at least one side of the battery module and an interior surface of the battery module compartment; and removing, after the expansion component is contracted by the contraction function, the battery module from the battery module compartment.",
    "2. The method of claim 1, wherein the expansion component includes a bag containing a foam element.",
    "3. The method of claim 2, wherein the contraction function includes causing the foam element to collapse based on injection of a foam contraction material into the bag.",
    "4. The method of claim 1, wherein the expansion component includes an inflatable pad.",
    "5. The method of claim 4, wherein the contraction function includes deflating the inflatable pad.",
    "6. The method of claim 1, wherein the expansion component includes a pneumatic or hydraulic mechanism.",
    "7. The method of claim 6, wherein the contraction function includes reducing pneumatic or hydraulic force exerted by the expansion component on the battery module.",
    "8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one side includes an underside of the battery module."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Embodiments relate to fixation of a battery module in a battery module compartment of an energy storage system.\n\nEnergy storage systems may rely upon batteries for storage of electrical power. For example, in certain conventional electric vehicle (EV) designs (e.g., fully electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, etc.), a battery housing mounted into an electric vehicle houses a plurality of battery cells (e.g., which may be individually mounted into the battery housing, or alternatively may be grouped within respective battery modules that each contain a set of battery cells, with the respective battery modules being mounted into the battery housing). The battery modules in the battery housing are connected in series via busbars to a battery junction box (BJB), and the BJB distributes electric power provided from the busbars to an electric motor that drives the electric vehicle, as well as various other electrical components of the electric vehicle (e.g., a radio, a control console, a vehicle Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, internal lights, external lights such as head lights and brake lights, etc.).",
  "cpc": [
    "H01M 10/42",
    "B60K 1/04",
    "B60K 11/02",
    "B60K 2001/005",
    "B60K 2001/0438",
    "B60K 2001/0455",
    "B60K 2001/0461",
    "B60S 5/06",
    "F16B 13/143",
    "H01M 10/052",
    "H01M 2/10",
    "H01M 2/1077",
    "H01M 2/1083",
    "H01M 2220/20",
    "H01M 50/244",
    "H01M 50/249",
    "Y02E 60/10",
    "Y02T 90/12"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B60K 1/00",
    "B60K 1/04",
    "B60K 11/02",
    "B60S 5/06",
    "F16B 13/14",
    "H01M 10/052",
    "H01M 10/42",
    "H01M 50/244"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Tiveni Mergeco Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Heiner Fees",
    "Andreas Track",
    "Alexander Eichhorn",
    "Ralf Maisch",
    "Jörg Damaske"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2019-10-30",
  "publication_date": "2020-12-29",
  "grant_date": "2020-12-29",
  "priority_date": "2016-10-28",
  "application_number": "US-201916669484-A",
  "family_id": "62021886",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
    "US5626982A",
    "US20070292723A1",
    "US20080118825A1",
    "US10205153B2"
  ]
}