Coolant Activated Rechargeable Energy Storage System Drain Plug

摘要

A battery pack with a drain plug. The drain plug includes a carrier defining a cavity internal to the carrier, an inlet disposed on a first surface of the carrier and an outlet disposed on a second surface of the carrier where the first surface and the second surface fluidly displaced from one another and coupled to the cavity. A soluble plug may be disposed within the cavity of the carrier; the soluble plug is configured to at least partially dissolve when fluidly coupled with a coolant allowing a portion of the coolant to flow between the inlet and the outlet and out of the battery pack. A first lead and a second lead are configured to signally connect an impedance element that is cooperative with the carrier, to a circuit such that when the continuity of the circuit is interrupted, the circuit provides notification of the activation of the drain plug to the on-board computer systems.

主权项

1. A liquid cooled battery pack apparatus comprising:
a plurality of batteries; a cooling circuit comprising a containment vessel coupled with a cooling inlet and a cooling outlet and enclosing a battery housing, the battery housing enclosing the plurality of batteries and comprising a drain outlet; a drain plug disposed within the drain outlet comprising:
a carrier defining a cavity therein;an inlet disposed on a first surface of the carrier,an outlet disposed on a second surface of the carrier, the first surface and the second surface fluidly displaced from one another and coupled to the cavity;a soluble plug disposed within the cavity of the carrier;an impedance element cooperative with the carrier; a circuit configured to detect a loss of continuity in the impedance element and provide an indication; a first lead and a second lead to electrically couple the impedance element to the circuit, wherein the soluble plug is configured to at least partially dissolve when fluidly coupled with a coolant allowing a portion of the coolant to flow between the battery housing and the drain outlet.