US-12620666-B2 - Battery module mid plane crossmember mount

US12620666B2US 12620666 B2US12620666 B2US 12620666B2US-12620666-B2

Abstract

An apparatus that can define at least one compartment in a battery pack to receive a battery module is disclosed. The apparatus can include a first member that extends from the first side of the battery pack to the second side of the battery pack. The apparatus can include a second member and a third member that together run cross car and extend from the first side to the second side of the battery pack, except with a gap between the second member and the third member.

Inventors

Brandon Thayer
Ryan Arens
Bruce Edwards
Kyle Butterfield
Manjot Kalkat
Mandar Vaidya
Tripur Mahajan
Alen Antony
Daniel Heibel

Assignees

RIVIAN IP HOLDINGS, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20220816

Claims (15)

1 . An apparatus, comprising: a keystone member to couple with a first side of a battery pack and with a second side of the battery pack, the keystone member to engage with a first module flange and a second module flange; a second member to couple with the keystone member and with the first side of the battery pack, the first module flange positioned between the keystone member and the second member; a third member to couple with the keystone member and with the second side of the battery pack, the second module flange positioned between the keystone member and the third member; a bottom surface of the keystone member, an end surface of the second member, and an end surface of the third member define a gap; a length of the gap along a longitudinal axis of the keystone member is less than a length of the second member along the longitudinal axis and a length of the third member along the longitudinal axis; a bracket to couple with the keystone member and the third member; a fourth member to couple with the first side of the battery pack and with the second side of the battery pack; a fifth member to couple with the first side of the battery pack, the bracket to couple with the fourth member and the fifth member; the bracket defining an opening between the keystone member and the fourth member, the opening in fluid communication with a fluid manifold; the first module flange disposed at an edge of a first battery module and including a first portion of a first thermal component with the first portion of the first thermal component positioned between the keystone member and the second member; the second module flange disposed at an edge of a second battery module and including a second portion of a second thermal component with the second portion of the second thermal component positioned between the fourth member and the fifth member; the first module flange positioned at a center of gravity of the first battery module; and the second module flange positioned at a center of gravity of the second battery module.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the keystone member comprises a first lateral cross member, the apparatus comprising: a first bracket to couple with a bottom surface of the first lateral cross member and with a top surface of the second member, the first lateral cross member and the second member to define a first compartment for the first battery module; and a second bracket to couple with the first lateral cross member and the third member, the first lateral cross member and the third member to define a second compartment for the second battery module; the second bracket to couple with a bottom surface of the fourth member and with a top surface of the fifth member with the fourth member above the second bracket and the fifth member below the second bracket; the first lateral cross member, the second member, the fourth member, and the fifth member configured to define the first compartment for the first battery module.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising: a first bracket to couple with a bottom surface of the keystone member and with a top surface of the second member with the keystone member above the second member; and a second bracket to couple with the bottom surface of the keystone member and a top surface of the third member with the keystone member above the third member; the second member and the third member are aligned along the longitudinal axis.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising: the bracket to couple with the keystone member and a bus bar.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising: the second member including a flange to engage with a battery module; the flange of the second member welded to a base of the battery pack; and the third member welded to the base of the battery pack.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising: the first module flange defining an open channel to receive the first portion of the first thermal component; and the first portion of the thermal component to expand into the open channel with the first portion of the thermal component positioned between the keystone member and the second member.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising: the keystone member including a protrusion to contact the end surface of the second member and the end surface of the third member.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising: a bracket to couple with the keystone member and the third member, the bracket including a support positioned between the second member and the third member with the end surface of the second member and the end surface of the third member in contact with the support of the bracket.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising: the second member including a locating element to locate a portion of the first module flange and couple with the portion; and the keystone member defining a clearance bolt hole with the keystone member coupled with the second member via a bolt.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising: the keystone member defining a first clearance bolt hole and a second clearance bolt hole; the second member defining a first bolt hole, the keystone member coupled with the second member via a bolt to engage with the first bolt hole and the first clearance bolt hole; and the third member defining a second bolt hole, the keystone member coupled with the third member via a second bolt to engage with the second bolt hole and the second clearance bolt hole.
11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising: the keystone member including a keystone member surface with the keystone member surface ribbed; the second member including a second member surface with the second member surface ribbed; and a battery module including a first edge, the first module flange disposed at the first edge of the battery module and the first edge ribbed to engage with the keystone member surface and the second member surface.
12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising: a bottom portion of the keystone member defines a cutout region and a top portion of the second member includes a protrusion configured to insert into the cutout region.
13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second member and the third member are separate components.
14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first module flange and the second module flange are partially hollow.
15 . An electric vehicle, comprising: a battery pack; a keystone member to couple with a first side of the battery pack and with a second side of the battery pack, the keystone member to engage with a first module flange and a second module flange; a second member to couple with the keystone member and with the first side of the battery pack, the first module flange positioned between the keystone member and the second member; a third member to couple with the keystone member and with the second side of the battery pack, the second module flange positioned between the keystone member and the third member; a bottom surface of the keystone member, an end surface of the second member, and an end surface of the third member define a gap; a length of the gap along a longitudinal axis of the keystone member is less than a length of the second member along the longitudinal axis and a length of the third member along the longitudinal axis; a bracket to couple with the keystone member and the third member; a fourth member to couple with the first side of the battery pack and with the second side of the battery pack, the fourth member parallel to the keystone member; and a fifth member to couple with the first side of the battery pack, the bracket to couple with the fourth member and the fifth member, the fifth member parallel to the second member; the bracket defining an opening between the keystone member and the fourth member, the opening in fluid communication with a fluid manifold; the first module flange disposed at an edge of a first battery module and including a first portion of a first thermal component with the first portion of the first thermal component positioned between the keystone member and the second member; the second module flange disposed at an edge of a second battery module and including a second portion of a second thermal component with the second portion of the second thermal component positioned between the fourth member and the fifth member; the first module flange positioned at a center of gravity of the first battery module; and the second module flange positioned at a center of gravity of the second battery module.

Description

INTRODUCTION Electric vehicles can require batteries for power. The distance the electric vehicle can travel can depend on characteristics of the batteries. SUMMARY The present disclosure is directed towards providing an apparatus that can define at least one compartment in a battery pack to receive a battery module. The apparatus can include a first member that extends from the first side of the battery pack to the second side of the battery pack. The apparatus can include a second member and a third member that together run cross car and extend from the first side to the second side of the battery pack, except with a gap between the second member and the third member. The battery pack can experience forces outside of threshold values that can result in movement of or changes to the battery pack, which can hinder optimum performance of the battery pack and electric vehicle. Providing a battery module mount that includes at least three members can help increase the threshold value of force a battery pack can withstand before battery pack movement or changes occur because it allows the load to be distributed across the first member while the second member and the third member provide space for other vehicles components. At least one aspect is directed to an apparatus. The apparatus can include a first member. The first member can couple with a first side of a battery pack and with a second side of the battery pack. The apparatus can include a second member. The second member can couple with the first member and with the first side of the battery pack. The first member and the second member can define a first compartment for a first battery module. The apparatus can include a third member. The third member can couple with the first member and with the second side of the battery pack. The first member and the third member can define a second compartment for a second battery module. At least one aspect is directed to a method. The method can include coupling a first member with a first side of a battery pack and with a second side of the battery pack. The method can include coupling a second member with the first member and with the first side of the battery pack. The method can include coupling a third member with the first member and with the second side of the battery pack. At least one aspect is directed to an electric vehicle. The electric vehicle can include a battery pack. The electric vehicle can include a first member. The first member can couple with a first side of a battery pack and with a second side of the battery pack. The electric vehicle can include a second member. The second member can couple with the first member and with the first side of the battery pack. The electric vehicle can include a third member. The third member can couple with the first member and with the second side of the battery pack. At least one aspect is directed to a battery pack. The battery pack can include a first member to couple with a first side of a battery pack and with a second side of the battery pack. The battery pack can include a second member to couple with the first member and with the first side of the battery pack. The battery pack can include a third member to couple with the first member and with the second side of the battery pack. At least one aspect is directed to a method. The method can include providing a battery pack. The battery pack can include a first member. The first member can couple with a first side of a battery pack and with a second side of the battery pack. The battery pack can include a second member. The second member can couple with the first member and with the first side of the battery pack. The battery pack can include a third member. The third member can couple with the first member and with the second side of the battery pack. These and other aspects and implementations are discussed in detail below. The foregoing information and the following detailed description include illustrative examples of various aspects and implementations, and provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the claimed aspects and implementations. The drawings provide illustration and a further understanding of the various aspects and implementations, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The foregoing information and the following detailed description and drawings include illustrative examples and should not be considered as limiting. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings: FIG. 1 depicts a side view of an electric vehicle, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2A depicts a perspective view of a battery pack, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2B depicts a perspective view of a battery modu