Frame member, frame assembly and battery cell assembly made therefrom and methods of making the same

摘要

A frame member for housing a battery cell, frame assembly and frame/battery cell assembly made therefrom, as well as respective methods of making the same, are disclosed. A frame member for housing a battery cell includes an integral frame having a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall having an attachment face and an opposed cooling face, and an attachment feature located on the attachment face and a complementary attachment feature located on the attachment face that is symmetrically opposed to the attachment feature about a plane of symmetry of the frame, the peripheral wall defining an opening that is configured to matingly receive a battery cell therein. A pair of frame members having a cooling member placed therebetween and attached to the respective attachment faces comprises a frame assembly. A frame/battery cell assembly includes a pair of frame assemblies having at least one battery cell placed therebetween.

主权项

1. A frame member for housing a battery cell, comprising:
a frame having a plastic peripheral wall, first and second L-shaped arms, and a protrusion; the plastic peripheral wall having a first side wall, a second side wall, an upper wall, and a lower wall; the upper wall coupled to and extending between the first and second side walls, the lower wall coupled to and extending between the first and second side walls, the plastic peripheral wall further having an attachment face on a first side of the plastic peripheral wall and an opposed cooling face on a second side of the plastic peripheral wall; the first and second L-shaped arms being coupled to the upper wall and extending from the attachment face of the plastic peripheral wall; the first L-shaped arm having first and second portions, the first portion of the first L-shaped arm being coupled to and extending perpendicular to the attachment face, the second portion of the first L-shaped arm being coupled to and extending from an end of the first portion of the first L-shaped arm in a first direction perpendicular to the first portion of the first L-shaped arm and parallel to the attachment face such that a first space is defined between the first portion of the first L-shaped arm, the second portion of the first L-shaped arm, and the attachment face of the plastic peripheral wall; the first space having an open end between an end of the second portion of the first L-shaped arm and the attachment face of the plastic peripheral wall; the second L-shaped arm having first and second portions, the first portion of the second L-shaped arm being coupled to and extending perpendicular to the attachment face, the second portion of the second L-shaped arm being coupled to and extending from an end of the first portion of the second L-shaped arm in a second direction perpendicular to the first portion of the second L-shaped arm, the second direction being in an opposite direction relative to the first direction, the second portion of the second L-shaped arm further extending parallel to the attachment face such that a second space is defined between the first portion of the second L-shaped arm, the second portion of the second L-shaped arm and the attachment face of the plastic peripheral wall, the second space having an open end between an end of the second portion of the second L-shaped arm and the attachment face of the plastic peripheral wall; the second L-shaped arm being symmetrically opposed to the first L-shaped arm about a plane of symmetry that is perpendicular to the attachment face of the plastic peripheral wall; the protrusion being coupled to the upper wall and extending from the attachment face, the upper wall further having a mating recess extending therein, the first and second L-shaped arms being disposed on the upper wall between the protrusion and the mating recess; the plastic peripheral wall defining an opening that is configured to receive a battery cell therein, the upper wall of the plastic peripheral wall further having a first electrode channel configured to receive a first electrode of the battery cell therethrough such that the first electrode extends outside of the plastic peripheral wall.