초록 ▼

A battery pack apparatus has a plurality of battery cell units that are stacked together in generally parallel relation. The battery cell units are configured to define converging air flow spaces therebetween. An air inlet header provides a converging air inlet plenum that is situated adjacent one s

A battery pack apparatus has a plurality of battery cell units that are stacked together in generally parallel relation. The battery cell units are configured to define converging air flow spaces therebetween. An air inlet header provides a converging air inlet plenum that is situated adjacent one side of the battery cell units and an air outlet header provides a diverging air outlet plenum that is situated adjacent an opposite side of the battery cell units. A blower or fan forces air into the air inlet plenum. The air flows through the air flow spaces between the battery cell units to cool the battery cell units. The speed of the air increases as it advances through the air inlet plenum and the plurality of air flow spaces.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A battery pack apparatus comprising a plurality of generally flat battery cells, anda plurality of cell coverings, each cell covering having an internal space that receives at least two battery cells, each of the cell coverings having external first and second planar faces that face away from the

1. A battery pack apparatus comprising a plurality of generally flat battery cells, anda plurality of cell coverings, each cell covering having an internal space that receives at least two battery cells, each of the cell coverings having external first and second planar faces that face away from the at least two battery cells which are received in the respective internal space, the plurality of cell coverings being arranged such that the first planar face of each cell covering faces the second planar face of an adjacent one of the plurality of cell coverings and is spaced therefrom, each of the cell coverings being constructed such that the first and second planar faces of adjacent cell coverings define a converging air flow space between each adjacent pair of the plurality of cell coverings such that a plurality of generally parallel converging air flow spaces are defined between the cell coverings, each of the converging air flow spaces being wider at an air inlet end of the air flow space and narrower at an air outlet end of the air flow space, the at least two battery cells in the internal space abutting each other, wherein each of the cell coverings has a plurality of standoffs extending from the first and second planar faces to maintain proper spacing between adjacent pairs of cell coverings, wherein the standoffs extending from the first planar face of each cell covering comprise a plurality of pedestals and the standoffs extending from the second planar face of each cell covering comprises a plurality of pedestal receivers, and wherein the pedestals comprise cylindrical portions and the pedestal receivers comprise annular rings that receive the pedestals. 2. The battery pack apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pedestals and pedestal receivers are arranged to form a grid pattern on the respective first and second planar faces. 3. The battery pack apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the cell coverings including a tray-like first shell half and a tray-like second shell half, the first and second shell halves defining the internal space therebetween and mating together along a peripheral seam. 4. The battery pack apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the cell coverings have first and second sidewalls interconnecting the first and second planar faces, the first and second sidewalls having recesses formed therein to define a pair of upper ears situated above the recesses in the first and second sidewalls and a pair of lower ears situated below the recesses in the first and second sidewalls. 5. The battery pack apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of the upper ears and lower ears have an aperture therethrough and further comprising a set of coupling bars that extend through the apertures. 6. The battery pack apparatus of claim 5, wherein the apertures are rectangular in shape and each coupling rod has a rectangular cross section. 7. The battery pack apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a first end plate and a second end plate, each of the coupling bars having a first end fastened to the first end plate and a second end fastened to the second end plate, and wherein the plurality of cell coverings and the plurality of battery cells are sandwiched between the first and second end plates. 8. The battery pack apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of the upper and lower ears have a protrusion on one side thereof and a depression on an opposite side thereof and wherein the protrusions of the upper and lower ears of each cell covering nest within the depressions of the upper and lower ears of a next adjacent cell covering. 9. The battery pack apparatus of claim 1, wherein a top of each cell covering has a first opening and a second opening, each of the at least two battery cells received in the internal space of each cell covering have a positive terminal tab that extends through the first opening of the respective cell covering, and each of the at least two battery cells received in the internal space of each cell covering have a negative terminal tab that extends through the second opening of the respective cell covering. 10. The battery pack apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a top plate assembly situated atop all of the cell coverings, the top plate assembly having a first row of openings through which respective pairs of the positive terminal tabs extend, the top plate having a second row of openings through which respective pairs of the negative terminal tabs extend, and the top plate being configured to electrically connect all of the positive terminal tabs with a main positive stud and to electrically connect all of the negative terminal tabs with a main negative stud. 11. The battery pack apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a blower, an air inlet header situated adjacent a first side of the cell coverings, and an air outlet header situated adjacent a second side of the cell coverings, wherein the air inlet header is shaped to define a converging air inlet plenum that narrows in the direction of air flow produced by the blower, and wherein the air outlet header is shaped to define a diverging air outlet plenum that widens in the direction of air flow out of the air outlet header. 12. The battery pack apparatus of claim 11, wherein the air inlet ends of the converging air flow spaces between the cell coverings are in air flow communication with the converging air inlet plenum and the air outlet ends of the converging air flow spaces between the cell coverings are in air flow communication with the diverging air outlet plenum. 13. The battery pack apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a controller operable to adjust a speed at which the blower operates and at least one temperature sensor located on at least one of the cell coverings, wherein the speed of the blower is adjusted by the controller in response to a signal from the at least one temperature sensor. 14. The battery pack apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one temperature sensor comprises a first thermistor located on the cell covering adjacent one end of the battery pack apparatus, a second thermistor located on the cell covering adjacent an opposite end of the battery pack apparatus, and a third thermistor located on the cell covering that is situated about midway between the cell coverings adjacent the ends of the battery pack apparatus. 15. The battery pack apparatus of claim 14, wherein the speed of the blower is adjusted based on an average of the signals from the first, second, and third thermistors. 16. The battery pack apparatus of claim 1, wherein a leading edge of each of the cell coverings is covered by a respective insulator in the region of the cell coverings near the air inlet ends of the converging air flow spaces. 17. A battery pack apparatus comprising a plurality of generally flat battery cells, anda plurality of cell coverings, each cell covering having an internal space that receives at least two battery cells, each of the cell coverings having external first and second planar faces that face away from the at least two battery cells which are received in the respective internal space, the plurality of cell coverings being arranged such that the first planar face of each cell covering faces the second planar face of an adjacent one of the plurality of cell coverings and is spaced therefrom, each of the cell coverings being constructed such that the first and second planar faces of adjacent cell coverings define a converging air flow space between each adjacent pair of the plurality of cell coverings such that a plurality of generally parallel converging air flow spaces are defined between the cell coverings, each of the converging air flow spaces being wider at an air inlet end of the air flow space and narrower at an air outlet end of the air flow space, the at least two battery cells in the internal space abutting each other, wherein each of the cell coverings have first and second sidewalls interconnecting the first and second planar faces, the first and second sidewalls having recesses formed therein to define a pair of upper ears situated above the recesses in the first and second sidewalls and a pair of lower ears situated below the recesses in the first and second sidewalls, wherein each of the upper and lower ears have a protrusion on one side thereof and a depression on an opposite side thereof and wherein the protrusions of the upper and lower ears of each cell covering nest within the depressions of the upper and lower ears of a next adjacent cell covering, and wherein at least one of the depressions and at least one of the protrusions are round in cross section and wherein at least one of the depressions and a least one of the protrusions are non-round in cross section.