Battery thermal system with interlocking structure components

摘要

A battery module is described. The battery module includes a plurality of battery cells; a plurality of cooling fin assemblies, each cooling fin assembly positioned between two battery cells, the cooling fin assemblies comprising at least one cooling fin and a foot on at least one side of the cooling fin assemblies, the foot having a bottom and interlocking profiles on each end, the interlocking profiles on adjacent feet of the cooling fin assemblies interlocking the feet and forming a surface; and a heat sink contacting the surface of the interlocked feet. A method of cooling a battery module is also described.

主权项

1. A battery module comprising:
a plurality of battery cells; a plurality of cooling fin assemblies, each cooling fin assembly positioned between two battery cells, the cooling fin assemblies comprising: a foot having a top, a bottom opposite the top, and interlocking profiles along opposite ends of the foot, the top of the foot having a pair of slots defined therein; a pair of cooling fins inserted into the pair of slots in the top of the foot; wherein the foot of the cooling fin assembly is a separate piece from the pair of cooling fins of the cooling fin assembly and is attached to the cooling fin assembly by the insertion of the pair of cooling fins into the pair of slots in the top of the foot; wherein the plurality of cooling fin assemblies are stacked such that the interlocking profile on the foot of one cooling fin assembly interlocks with the interlocking profile on the foot of an adjacent cooling fin assembly to form interlocked feet, and such that the bottoms of the interlocked feet of the one cooling fin assembly and the adjacent cooling fin assembly together form an interface surface; and a heat sink in thermal contact with the interface surface of the interlocked feet.