Carriers for battery cells
A carrier may include a base with several cell bores, with each cell bore designed to carry a battery cell. The carrier may include several walls, with each wall having one or more surfaces that conform to a shape or surface of the battery cell. For example, a surface of the wall may include an arc with a shape that corresponds to that of a cylindrical battery cell. One of the walls may include opposing surfaces, each of which conform to the shape of multiple battery cells. Also, each cell bore may include a ledge to seat a battery. Additionally, a carrier may include several ribs that provide a vent or channel to direct a gas. In addition to battery cells, carriers may also carry cooling tubes designed to cool the battery cells.
1 . A carrier, comprising:
a base comprising cell bores configured to receive battery cells, the cell bores comprising a first cell bore, a second cell bore, and a third cell bore, the base further comprising:
a first base surface, and
a second base surface opposite the first base surface; and
a first wall integrally formed with and extending from the base, the first wall positioned between the first cell bore and the second cell bore, the first wall comprising:
a first wall surface configured to conform to a shape of a first battery cell in response to the first battery cell positioned in the first cell bore, the first wall surface comprising i) a first arc having a first axis aligned with the first cell bore and ii) a second arc having a second axis aligned with the second cell bore,
a top rib positioned between the first arc and the second arc,
a second wall surface configured to conform to a shape of a second battery cell in response to the second battery cell positioned in the third cell bore, and
bottom ribs extending from the second wall surface.
2 . The carrier of claim 1 , wherein:
the second wall surface comprises a third arc having a third axis aligned with the second cell bore.
3 . The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the bottom ribs comprise:
a first bottom rib; and
a second bottom rib parallel with respect to the first bottom rib, wherein the first bottom rib and the second bottom rib interweave between the cell bores.
4 . The carrier of claim 3 , wherein
the first bottom rib and the second bottom rib combine to surround a column of cell bores of the cell bores.
5 . The carrier of claim 1 , further comprising a ledge located within the first cell bore, wherein the first cell bore comprises:
a first diameter greater than a battery cell diameter of the first battery cell, and
a second diameter based on the ledge, wherein the second diameter is less than the battery cell diameter.
6 . The carrier of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second wall extending from the base; and
a third wall extending from the base, wherein the first wall is positioned between, and substantially parallel with respect to, the second wall and the third wall.
7 . The carrier of claim 6 , wherein the second wall comprises:
a first surface comprising a third arc configured to conform to a third battery cell of the battery cells, and
a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface comprising indentations.
8 . The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises:
a first side that includes a first dimension; and
a second side that includes a second dimension, wherein the second dimension is at least four times greater than the first dimension.
9 . The carrier of claim 8 , wherein the carrier is implemented in a vehicle.
10 . The carrier of claim 1 , wherein
the first wall extends from the first base surface, and
a plurality of ribs extend from the second base surface.
11 . A battery, comprising:
a carrier comprising:
a base comprising bores configured to receive a first set of battery cells and a second set of battery cells, the base comprising:
a first side that includes a first dimension,
a second side that includes a second dimension that is greater than the first dimension,
ribs,
a first surface, and
a second surface opposite the first surface;
a wall that separates the first set of battery cells from the second set of battery cells, the wall extending from the first surface;
a first I-beam;
a second I-beam, wherein the first I-beam and the second I-beam are coupled to the carrier; and
a lid structure coupled to the first I-beam and the second I-beam, wherein ribs extend from the second surface and are coupled with the lid structure.
12 . The battery of claim 11 , wherein the carrier further comprises ribs coupled to the lid structure.
13 . The battery of claim 11 , wherein the battery is implemented in a vehicle.
14 . The battery of claim 11 , wherein the wall comprises:
a first surface that includes a first set of arcs, and
a second surface that includes a second set of arcs, wherein the second surface is opposite the first surface.
15 . A battery, comprising:
a carrier comprising:
a base comprising bores configured to receive a first set of battery cells and a second set of battery cells,
a wall extending from the base, the wall separating the first set of battery cells from the second set of battery cells, the wall comprising:
a first surface,
a first rib extending from the first surface and positioned between a first battery and a second battery of the first set of battery cells, and
a second surface opposite the first surface,
a second rib extending from the second surface and positioned between a third battery and a fourth battery of the second set of battery cells, and
a groove formed in the base; and
a cooling tube interweaved between battery cells of the first set of battery cells, wherein the cooling tube is disposed in the groove.
16 . The battery of claim 15 , wherein the groove is formed at an edge of the base.
17 . The battery of claim 15 , wherein the base comprises:
a first side that includes a first dimension, and
a second side that includes a second dimension that is at least four times greater than the first dimension.
18 . The battery of claim 17 , wherein the cooling tube comprises a dimension substantially equal to the second dimension.