Description:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to battery packs of electric vehicles, more specifically to cooling plates of the battery packs.
DEFINITION
Knee load force: The term ‘knee load force’ herein the specification refers to forces capable of causing deformation of an object when mishandled during assembly or conveyance thereof.
BACKGROUND
The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.
A battery pack of a vehicle is protected from overheating and thermal accidents with the help of a cooling plate. Most battery packs are configured to conform to the concept of bottom plate cooling, and therefore have an extruded frame provided with a cover plate for shielding the cooling plate against any external damaging force such as stone hitting. However, battery packs that conform to the concept of top plate cooling have their cooling plates acting as the outermost part of the battery pack. These cooling plates however are quite often prone to knee loads of an operator which causes deformation of the flow channels and subsequently thermal accidents.
Conventionally, the cooling plate is provided with additional reinforcements such as brackets, reinforcing beams, and stiffener plates amongst others that are provided on the cooling plate. The use of such additional reinforcements not only add to the cost and weight of the battery pack, but also affect the cooling effect of the cooling plate.
Therefore, there is felt a need for a cooling plate that alleviates the aforementioned drawbacks.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a cooling plate for a battery pack assembly.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a cooling plate which is capable of absorbing the impact of knee load forces.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a cooling plate which is robust and has structural rigidity.
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a cooling plate which does not require additional reinforcements, and is therefore cost-effective and relatively lighter in weight.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure envisages a cooling plate for a battery pack assembly. The cooling plate comprises a plurality of operative regions defined on an operative bottom surface of the cooling plate, at a space apart distance from each other. The cooling plate further comprises an inlet port configured to receive a coolant, at least one flow channel configured on each operative region in fluid communication with the inlet port to receive the coolant therefrom to facilitate cooling of the batteries, and an outlet port configured to fluidly communicate with the flow channels. The outlet port is configured to receive the coolant from the channels, and is further configured to discharge the coolant. A plurality of channel-like embossments is configured on the operative bottom surface of the cooling plate in the space defined between the operative regions, and between the flowchannels. The embossments are configured to absorb impact of knee load forces exerted on the cooling plate.
In an embodiment, the embossments are configured to extend along the length of the operative first region, the operative second region and the operative central region.
In one embodiment, the height of the embossments is relatively more than the height of the channels by a value ranging between 1.5mm to 3mm.
In another embodiment, the height of the embossments is relatively more than the height of the channels by at least 15%.
In yet another embodiment, the height of the embossments ranges between 5mm to 9mm.
The present disclosure further envisages a vehicle provided with a battery pack, having a battery frame assembly comprising the cooling plate of the present disclosure.
In an embodiment, the vehicle is an electric vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
A cooling plate, of the present disclosure, for a battery pack assembly will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of the battery pack assembly;
Figure 2 illustrates a top view of the cooling plate of the assembly of Figure 1; and
Figure 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the cooling plate of Figure 2.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
10 battery frame assembly
100 cooling plate
102 operative first region
104 operative second region
106 operative central region
108 inlet port
110 flow channel
112 outlet port
114 channel-like embossment
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.
The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms “a”, “an” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “including”, “includes” and “having” are open-ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
A cooling plate (100), of the present disclosure, for a battery pack assembly will now be described in detail with reference to Figure 1 through Figure 3.
The cooling plate (100) comprises a plurality of operative regions (102, 104, 106) defined on an operative bottom surface of the cooling plate (100), at a space apart distance from each other. In an embodiment, the cooling plate comprises an operative first region (102), an operative second region (104) and an operative central region (106) as shown in Figure 2.
The cooling plate further comprises an inlet port (108) configured to receive a coolant, at least one flow channel (110) configured on each operative region (102, 104, 106) in fluid communication with the inlet port to receive the coolant therefrom to facilitate cooling of the batteries, and an outlet port (112) configured to fluidly communicate with the flow channels (110) to receive the coolant from the channels, and further configured to discharge the coolant. A plurality of channel-like embossments (114) is configured on the operative bottom surface of the cooling plate (100) in the space defined between the operative regions (102, 104, 106), and in the space defined between the flow channels (110). Each channel-like embossment (114) is non-functional in nature which means it is neither in fluid communication with any of the channels (110) nor with any of the ports. The embossments (114) are configured to add to the structural rigidity of the cooling plate (100) and help in absorbing the impact of knee load forces exerted on the plate (100).
The embossments (114) are configured to extend along the length of the operative first region (102), the operative second region (106) and the operative central region (104).
In an embodiment, the height of the embossments (114) is relatively more than the height of the channels (110) by a value ranging between 1.5mm to 3mm.
In another embodiment, the height of the embossments (114) is relatively more than the height of the channels (110) by at least 15%.
In another embodiment, the height of the embossments (114) ranges between 5mm to 9 mm.
Since the embossments (114) are taller than the channels (110), the embossments (114) would be the first component of the cooling plate (100) that would be subjected to the impact exerted by the knee load forces or by improper handling, thus easing the impact on the flow channels (110), and preventing any functional failure of the flow channels (110) that can cause a thermal event. Further, the embossments (114) eliminate the need for additional reinforcements (as required by conventional cooling plates) for acting against the impact, thereby drastically reducing the cost of the cooling plate (100) and battery frame assembly (150). Moreover, the cooling effect and efficiency of the cooling plate (100) is unaffected.
In an embodiment, the cooling plate is manufactured by stamping process.
The present disclosure further envisages a vehicle provided with a battery pack, having a battery frame assembly (10) comprising the cooling plate (100) of the present disclosure.
In an embodiment, the vehicle is an electric vehicle.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The present disclosure described hereinabove has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a cooling plate for a battery pack assembly which:
• is capable of absorbing the impact of knee load forces;
• is robust and has structural rigidity; and
• does not require additional reinforcements, and is therefore cost-effective relatively lighter in weight.
The foregoing disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
Any discussion of materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
The numerical values mentioned for the various physical parameters, dimensions or quantities are only approximations and it is envisaged that the values higher/lower than the numerical values assigned to the parameters, dimensions or quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure, unless there is a statement in the specification specific to the contrary.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.
, C , Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A cooling plate (100) for a battery pack assembly, said cooling plate (100) comprising:
• a plurality of regions (102, 104, 106) defined on an operative bottom surface of said cooling plate (100), at a space apart distance from each other;
• an inlet port (108) configured to receive a coolant;
• at least one flow channel (110) configured on each operative region (102, 104, 106), in fluid communication with said inlet port to receive the coolant therefrom to facilitate cooling of the batteries (10);
• an outlet port (112) configured to fluidly communicate with said flow channels (110) to receive the coolant from said channels, and further configured to discharge the coolant; and
• a plurality of channel-like embossments (114) configured on the operative bottom surface of said cooling plate (100) in the space defined between said operative regions (102, 104, 106), and between said flow channels (110), said embossments (114) configured to absorb impact of knee load forces exerted on the cooling plate (100).
2. The cooling plate (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said embossments (114) are configured to extend along the length of said operative regions (102, 104, 106).
3. The cooling plate (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the height of said embossments (114) is relatively more than the height of said channels (110) by a value ranging between 1.5mm to 3mm.
4. The cooling plate (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the height of said embossments (114) is relatively more than the height of said channels (110) by at least 15%.
5. The cooling plate (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the height of said embossments (114) ranges between 5mm to 9mm.
6. A vehicle provided with a battery pack, having a battery frame assembly (10) comprising said cooling plate (100) as claimed in claims 1 to 4.
7. The vehicle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the vehicle is an electric vehicle.

Dated this 05th day of June, 2023

_______________________________
MOHAN RAJKUMAR DEWAN, IN/PA – 25
of R.K.DEWAN & CO.
Authorized Agent of Applicant

TO,
THE CONTROLLER OF PATENTS
THE PATENT OFFICE, AT MUMBAI