FIELD OF INVENTION
Embodiments of the present application relates to battery technology, specifically focusing on
5 a modular cell holder assembly for batteries. This assembly is designed to accommodate battery
cells of different sizes and can be configured in various ways to optimize spatial usage and
compatibility with multiple cell types.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
10 Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present
invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or
relevant to the presently disclosed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly
referenced is prior art.
15 In the current scenario, there are several challenges encountered in the management and
utilization of electric cells within various industrial processes. Specifically, it seeks to provide
a solution for companies seeking to transition between different types of cells or incorporate
diverse cell sizes into their operations while maintaining efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
20 One prevalent issue is the need for multiple cell holders tailored to accommodate various cell
sizes, leading to increased tooling costs and inventory burdens. Additionally, ensuring effective
venting for different types of cells presents a significant challenge, further complicating
accuracy in the assembly process and potentially compromising performance.
25 Furthermore, there is the need to streamline the assembly process by introducing a flexible cell
holder design. This intended design not only simplifies the fixation of cells, while enabling a
common fastening approach across different cell types. By addressing these challenges, the
invention aims to reduce tooling costs, minimize inventory requirements, and optimize
performance in industrial settings where diverse cell types are utilized.
30
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The following presents a simplified summary of the subject matter in order to provide a basic
understanding of some of the aspects of subject matter embodiments. This summary is not an
3
extensive overview of the subject matter. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of
the embodiments or to delineate the scope of the subject matter. Its sole purpose to present
some concepts of the subject matter in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed
description that is presented later.
5
As disclosed herein, the cell holder is designed to accommodate various types of cells and their
form factors, incorporates optimized features such as accommodating different layouts (inline,
staggered, etc.) and guiding venting from the bottom. Constructed from materials like
thermoplastics, thermosets, engineering plastics, it offers versatility and functionality for
10 diverse cell needs.
A cell holder assembly disclosed here comprises a base section and a set of first slots and
second slots. The base section has a first and a second surface, and the first slots and second
slots are positioned along a predefined orientation on at least one of the first surface and the
15 second surface of the base section. The first slots are mountable with cells of a first size and
the second slots are mountable with cells of a second size. In an embodiment, the first slots are
positioned on the first surface and the second slots are positioned on the second surface of the
base section. In an embodiment, the first slots and the second slots are both positioned on the
first surface of the base section. In an embodiment, the first slots have a larger diameter as
20 compared to the second slots. In an embodiment, when the slots are positioned on first surface
of the base section, the cells of the first size, the second size, or a combination of the first and
second sizes of the cells are mountable on the slots.
In an embodiment, when the slots are positioned on both the first and the second surface of the
25 base section, an upper set of first slots is mountable with cells of the first size and a lower set
of second slots is mountable with cells of the second size. In an embodiment, the first size of
the cells that are mountable on the upper set of the first slots is larger than the second size of
the cells that are mountable on the lower set of the second slots. In an embodiment, at least two
of the second slots are positioned below each of the first slots in a triangular orientation, inline
30 orientation, or staggered arrangement, and the second slots are smaller in comparison with the
first slots. In an embodiment, the first and the second size of the cells are arranged in an inline
series comprising cells positioned in a straight array and spaced apart from each other without
contacting.
4
In an embodiment, the first and the second size of the cells are arranged in a staggered
orientation series comprising cells positioned along a length of the base section in a zig-zag
manner, and the cells are spaced apart from each other without contacting. In an embodiment,
5 the cell holder assembly further comprises a locking assembly that locks a module of the base
section to a pack assembly. In an example, cell holder assembly can be fixed to the pack
enclosure using fasteners, glues, etc. In an embodiment, the cell holder assembly further
comprise venting holes positioned on the base section. Gases that are generated during thermal
runaway from the cells are released from the slot via mica seals positioned below each slot and
10 attached to the base section. The mica seal provides unidirectional breakage due to pressure of
the released gas, which ejects the gases below the slot into a cavity.
In an embodiment, when the slots are positioned on both the first and the second surfaces of
the base section, and where the venting holes are positioned in-between the upper set of the
15 first slots and the lower set of the second slots. In an embodiment, when the slots are positioned
on the first surface of the base section, the venting holes are placed below the first and the
second slots. In an embodiment, the cavity is formed between the base section comprising the
slots and a battery pack enclosure wall, and where the ejected gas occupied inside the cavity is
prevented from entering other slots that hold other cells via the mica seal that is positioned
20 below each of the slots.
In an embodiment, the cell holder assembly further comprises a venting path formed due to
pressure difference of the gas within the cavity, where the venting path directs the ejected gas
to flow outside the cavity of the base section. In an embodiment, the cell holder assembly
25 further comprise stiffening sections formed of cylindrical disc shaped portions that are
positioned on the base section, where the stiffening sections provide additional strength to the
base section during handling of load due to the cells and during the formation of pressure
difference within the cavity.

We claim:
1. A cell holder assembly (100) comprising:
5 a base section (102) having a first and a second surface (104a and 104b); and
a set of first slots (106a) and second slots (106b) positioned along a predefined
orientation on at least one of the first surface (104a) and the second surface (104b) of the base
section (102), wherein the first slots (106a) are mountable with cells (125) of a first size
(108a) and the second slots (106b) are mountable with cells (125) of a second size (108b).
10
2. The cell holder assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first slots (106a)
are positioned on the first surface (104a) and the second slots (106b) are positioned on the
second surface (104b) of the base section (102).
15 3. The cell holder assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first slots (106a)
and the second slots (106b) are both positioned on the first surface (104a) of the base section
(102).
4. The cell holder assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first slots (106a)
20 have a larger diameter as compared to the second slots (106b).
5. The cell holder assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the slots (106a
and 106b) are positioned on first surface (104a) of the base section (102), one of the cells
(125) of the first size (108a), the second size (108b), and a combination of the first and
25 second sizes (108a and 108b) of the cells (125) are mountable on the slots (106a and 106b).
6. The cell holder assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the slots (106a
and 106b) are positioned on both the first and the second surface (104a and 104b) of the base
section (102), an upper set of first slots (106a) is mountable with cells (125) of the first size
30 (108a) and a lower set of second slots (106b) is mountable with cells (125) of the second size
(108b).
20
7. The cell holder assembly (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first size (108a) of
the cells (125) that are mountable on the upper set of the first slots (106a) is larger than the
second size (108b) of the cells (125) that are mountable on the lower set of the second slots
(106b).
5
8. The cell holder assembly (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least two of the
second slots (106b) are positioned below each of the first slots (106a) in one of a triangular
orientation, inline orientation, and staggered arrangement, and wherein the second slots
(106b) are smaller in comparison with the first slots (106a).
10
9. The cell holder assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and the second
size (108a and 108b) of the cells (125) are arranged in an inline series comprising cells (125)
positioned in a straight array and spaced apart from each other without contacting.
15 10. The cell holder assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and the second
size (108a and 108b) of the cells (125) are arranged in a staggered orientation series
comprising cells (125) positioned along a length of the base section (102) in a zig-zag
manner, and wherein the cells (125) are spaced apart from each other without contacting.
20 11. The cell holder assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising venting
holes (110) positioned on the base section (102), wherein gases that are generated during
thermal runaway from the cells (125) are released from the slot (106a or 106b) via mica seals
(112) positioned below each slot (106a or 106b) and attached to the base section (102), and
wherein the mica seal (112) provides unidirectional breakage due to pressure of the released
25 gas, which ejects the gases below the slot (106a or 106b) into a cavity (114).
12. The cell holder assembly (100) as claimed in claim 11, wherein when the slots (106a
and 106b) are positioned on both the first and the second surfaces (104a and 104b) of the
base section (102), and wherein the venting holes (110) are positioned in-between the upper
30 set of the first slots (106a) and the lower set of the second slots (106b).
21
13. The cell holder assembly (100) as claimed in claim 11, wherein when the slots (106a
and 106b) are positioned on the first surface (104a) of the base section (102), the venting
holes (110) are placed below the first and the second slots (106a and 106b).
5 14. The cell holder assembly (100) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cavity (114) is
formed between the base section (102) comprising the slots (106a and 106b) and a battery
pack enclosure wall (116), and wherein the ejected gas occupied inside the cavity (114) is
prevented from entering other slots (106a and 106b) that hold other cells (125) via the mica
seal (112) that is positioned below each of the slots (106a and 106b).
10
15. The cell holder assembly (100) as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a venting
path (118) formed due to pressure difference of the gas within the cavity (114), wherein the
venting path (118) directs the ejected gas to flow outside the cavity (114) of the base section
(102).
15
16. The cell holder assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising stiffening
sections (120) formed of cylindrical disc shaped portions that are positioned on the base
section (102), wherein the stiffening sections (120) provide additional strength to the base
section (102) during handling of load due to the cells (125) and during the formation of
20 pressure difference within the cavity (114).