Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001]
The present subject matter relates to a battery unit, more particularly, a design of the battery unit for ease of repair of internal battery components.
BACKGROUND
[002]
In general, a battery unit comprises a casing assembly and a plurality of 5 battery components, such as a cell module, a battery thermal management module, and plurality of interconnectors are disposed inside the casing assembly. The casing assembly secures and protects the internal components from any damage from the external environment.
[003]
In conventional design, the casing assembly comprising a plurality of side 10 covers, a bottom cover, and a top cover. However, these covers are attached to each other using one or more fasteners which in turn increases part count of the battery unit.
[004]
In general, the battery unit is provided with a coolant which is generally a phase change material (PCM). The PCM is liquified and poured inside the battery 15 unit. The PCM in turn gets solidified inside the battery unit and acts as a coolant between the cell modules. However, due to solidification of the PCM, it is difficult to access a particular cell module which is damaged.
[005]
Furthermore, in another conventional design, an integrated casing assembly is used, and the battery unit is placed inside the integrated casing assembly. 20 In this configuration, the PCM gets solidified inside the battery unit and further accessibility of the damaged cell module is very difficult. In many instances the integrated casing assembly is completed damaged or broken in order to access the cell module.
[006]
However, this above configuration increases the damage to the integrated 25 casing assembly and also causes difficulty in accessibility, replaceability and serviceability of the cell modules disposed inside the battery unit.
[007]
Hence, it is preferred to design a battery unit and a casing assembly design which provides ease of serviceability of the battery unit without damaging the casing assembly. 30
3
SUMMARY
[008]
The present subject matter provides a configuration of an integrated casing assembly provided with a drain assembly for draining one or more coolant fluid for ease of accessibility and replaceability of a cell module of a battery unit. 5
[009]
As per an aspect of the present invention, a power unit comprising a first half and a second half. The second half comprising a receiving portion and the receiving portion is configured to include a drain assembly for draining one or more coolant of the power unit.
[010]
As per an embodiment, the drain assembly is disposed on one or more 10 peripheral edges of the receiving portion.
[011]
As per another embodiment, the drain assembly comprising a drain hole and the drain hole being a protrusion provided in the receiving portion.
[012]
As per another embodiment, the drain assembly comprising a sealant and one or more fasteners. The sealant being sandwiched between the one or more 15 fastener and the drain hole.
[013]
As per another embodiment, the drain assembly being disposed on either a left side or a right side of the peripheral edges of the receiving portion.
[014]
As per another embodiment, the drain hole assembly being accessed by unfastening the one or more fastener using one or more tools. 20
[015]
As per another embodiment, the one or more coolant being one of a phase change material (PCM) and a dielectric liquid.
[016]
As per another embodiment, the one or more coolant being poured out of the drain hole of the drain assembly using gravimetric force.
[017]
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the 25 following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPT ION OF THE DRAWINGS
[018]
The present invention is described with reference to figures. This 30 invention is implementable in two-wheeled vehicles. The same numbers are used
4
throughout the drawings to reference
like features and components. Further, the inventive features of the invention are outlined in the appended claims.
[019]
Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a battery unit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[020]
Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the battery unit with a drain 5 assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[021]
Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of the drain assembly of the battery unit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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[022]
Exemplary embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherever convenient, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. While examples and features of disclosed principles are described herein, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible without departing from the scope of the disclosed 15 embodiments. It is intended that the following detailed description be considered as exemplary only, with the true scope being indicated by the following claims.
[023]
The present subject matter is further described with reference to accompanying figures. It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate the principles of the present subject matter. Various arrangements may be 20 devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, encompass the principles of the present subject matter. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and examples of the present subject matter, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[024]
The foregoing disclosure is not intended to limit the present disclosure to 25 the precise forms or particular fields of use disclosed. As such, it is contemplated that various alternate embodiments and/or modifications to the present disclosure, whether explicitly described or implied herein, are possible in light of the disclosure. Having thus described embodiments of the present disclosure, a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without 30
5
departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is
limited only by the claims.
[025]
Additionally, all numerical terms, such as, but not limited to, “first”, “second”, “third”, “primary”, “secondary”, “main” or any other ordinary and/or numerical terms, should also be taken only as identifiers, to assist the reader's 5 understanding of the various elements, embodiments, variations and/or modifications of the present disclosure, and may not create any limitations, particularly as to the order, or preference, of any element, embodiment, variation and/or modification relative to, or over, another element, embodiment, variation and/or modification. 10
[026]
Hence it is an object of the present invention to a battery unit and a casing assembly design which provides ease of serviceability of the battery unit without damaging the casing assembly and also to overcome other related problems known in the art as explained in the background problem.
[027]
It is also an object of the present invention to prevent deformity of the 15 casing assembly of the battery unit.
[028]
It is also an object of the present invention to reduce part count and damage to the battery unit.
[029]
It is also an object of the present invention to provide ease of accessibility and replaceability of a damaged cell module of the battery unit. 20
[030]
The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[031]
Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a battery unit (100), in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the battery unit (100) with a drain assembly (110), in accordance 25 with an embodiment of the present subject matter. Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of the drain assembly (110) of the battery unit (100), in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. For brevity, figures 1, 2 and 3 shall be explained together. A battery unit (100) comprising a first half (102) and a second half (104). In one embodiment, the first half (102) and the second half (104) forms 30 an integrated casing assembly. In one embodiment, the second half (104) having a
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bucket profile for receiving a plurality of cell modules (not shown). The first half
(102) is assembled on the second half (104) using a plurality of fasteners. In one embodiment, the second half (104) has a receiving portion (106) and the receiving portion (106) is disposed on a bottom portion of the second half (104) when viewed along an axis (AA’). The receiving portion (106) includes one or more support plates 5 (108a, 108b) for resting and keeping the battery unit (100) in position on a ground surface. In one embodiment, the battery unit (100) being one of a low voltage battery unit and a high voltage battery unit. In another embodiment, the receiving portion (106) includes a drain assembly (110) for discharging one or more coolants from the battery unit (100). In one embodiment, the one or more coolant being one of a 10 dielectric liquid and a phase change material.
[032]
In one embodiment, the one or more coolant is inserted into the battery unit (100) in a liquid state and thereafter the one or more coolant cools down and solidifies inside the battery unit (100). In an exemplary embodiment, the battery unit (100) is heated at a temperature of 60-70 degrees Celsius to melt the one or more 15 coolant and thereafter the coolant is drained through the drain assembly (110). In one embodiment, the drain assembly (106) is disposed on one or more peripheral edges of the receiving portion (106). In another embodiment, the drain assembly (110) comprising a drain hole (112), and the drain hole (112) being a protrusion provided in the receiving portion (106). The drain assembly (110) comprising a 20 sealant (114) and one or more fastener (116). The sealant (114) being sandwiched between the one or more fastener (116) and the drain hole (112). In one embodiment, the sealant (114) being a gasket.
[033]
In an exemplary embodiment, the drain assembly (110) being disposed on either a left side or a right side of the peripheral edges of the receiving portion (106). 25 The drain hole assembly (110) being accessed by unfastening the one or more fastener (116) using one or more tools in one embodiment. In an embodiment, the one or more tools being a screwdriver, or any other unfastening tools known in the art. In another embodiment, the one or more coolant being poured out of the drain hole (112) of the drain assembly (110) using gravimetric force. 30
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[034]
Various embodiments of the invention provides a configuration of an integrated casing assembly provided with a drain assembly for draining one or more coolant fluid for ease of accessibility and replaceability of a cell module of a battery unit.
[035]
The present invention is a power unit comprising a first half and a second 5 half. The second half comprising a receiving portion and the receiving portion is configured to include a drain assembly for draining one or more coolant of the power unit.
[036]
The present claimed invention solves the technical problem of damage and deformity of a casing assembly of a battery unit while replacing or repairing a 10 damaged cell module of a battery unit.
[037]
Specifically, the drain assembly provides ease of removal of the one or more coolant without using any complex procedure of pumping.
[038]
Additionally, the drain assembly is secured and tightened using the one or more fasteners and is accessible by only one or more specialized tools and thereby 15 prevents accidental dissipation and leakage of the one or more coolant from the battery unit.
[039]
Furthermore, the drain assembly includes a sealant and thereby prevents leakage of the one or more coolant from the battery unit.
[040]
The present invention also provides advantages of ease of assembly and 20 ease of replaceability of a damaged cell module without disassembling or causing any damage to the battery unit.
[041]
In light of the above-mentioned advantages and the technical advancements provided by the disclosed integrated casing assembly provided with a drain assembly for draining one or more coolant fluid for ease of accessibility and 25 replaceability of a cell module of a battery unit, the claimed invention as discussed above is not routine, conventional, or well understood in the art, as the claimed invention enable the following solutions to the existing problems in conventional technologies.
[042]
Furthermore, a person skilled in the art would not be motivated to design 30 integrated casing assembly provided with a drain assembly for draining one or more
8
coolant fluid for ease of accessibility and replaceability of a cell module of a battery
unit.
[043]
While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to the foregoing preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes in form, connection, and detail may be made therein without departing 5 from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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Reference Numerals:
100 battery unit
102 first half 5
104 second half
106 receiving portion
108a, 108b support plates
110 drain assembly
112 drain hole 10
114 sealant
116 one or more fastener , Claims:I/We claim:
1.
A power unit (100), said power unit (100) comprising:
a first half (102); and
a second half (104);
wherein said second half (104) comprising a receiving portion 5 (106)and said receiving portion (106) being configured to include adrain assembly (110) for draining one or more coolant of said power unit (100).
2.
The power unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drain assembly(106)being disposed on one or more peripheral edges of said receiving10 portion (106).
3.
The power unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drain assembly(110)comprising a drain hole (112), said drain hole (112) being a protrusionprovided in said receiving portion (106).
4.
The power unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drain assembly15 (110)comprising a sealant (114) and one or more fastener (116), whereinsaid sealant (114) being sandwiched between said one or more fastener (116)and said drain hole (112).
5.
The power unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drain assembly(110)being disposed on either a left side or a right side of said peripheral20 edges of said receiving portion (106).
6.
The power unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drain holeassembly (110) being accessed by unfastening said one or more fastener(116)using one or more tools.
7.
The power unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one or more25 coolant being one of a phase change material (PCM) and a dielectric liquid.
8.
The power unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one or morecoolant being poured out of said drain hole (112) of said drain assembly(110)using gravimetric force.