Spring holder for pressure equalization device for traction battery pack
A traction battery pack may include an outer enclosure assembly. A traction battery pack may include a pressure equalization device received within a wall of the outer enclosure assembly. The pressure equalization device may include a housing and a valve configured to close a gas path through the housing during a battery thermal event of the traction battery pack. The valve may include a spring configured to urge the valve to close during the battery thermal event. The spring is held in place by a spring holder. The spring holder includes a first set of openings spaced-apart from the spring by a first distance, and a second set of openings spaced-apart from the spring by a second distance less than the first distance.
1 . A traction battery pack, comprising:
an outer enclosure assembly; and
a pressure equalization device received within a wall of the outer enclosure assembly,
wherein the pressure equalization device includes a housing and a valve configured to close a gas path through the housing during a battery thermal event of the traction battery pack, wherein the valve includes a spring configured to urge the valve to close during the battery thermal event, wherein the spring is held in place by a spring holder, wherein the spring holder includes a first set of openings spaced-apart from the spring by a first distance, and a second set of openings spaced-apart from the spring by a second distance less than the first distance.
2 . The traction battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein the spring holder includes a wall in contact with a first end of the spring.
3 . The traction battery pack as recited in claim 2 , wherein:
the spring holder includes a ring between the first set of openings and the second set of openings, and
the ring is spaced-apart axially from the wall.
4 . The traction battery pack as recited in claim 3 , wherein the ring is continuous about an entire circumference of the ring.
5 . The traction battery pack as recited in claim 3 , wherein:
the spring holder includes a plurality of first legs spaced-apart circumferentially from one another by a respective one of the openings of the first set, and
the spring holder includes a plurality of second legs spaced-apart circumferentially from one another by a respective one of the openings of the second set.
6 . The traction battery pack as recited in claim 5 , wherein:
the first legs project between the ring and an outer ring of the spring holder, and
the second legs project between the ring and the wall.
7 . The traction battery pack as recited in claim 5 , wherein the first legs exhibit a width dimension tapering moving radially inwardly.
8 . The traction battery pack as recited in claim 7 , wherein the second legs exhibit a width dimension tapering moving radially inwardly.
9 . The traction battery pack as recited in claim 5 , wherein:
the first legs lie in a plane substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the valve, and
the second legs project from the ring to the wall in both an axial direction and a radial direction.
10 . The traction battery pack as recited in claim 9 , wherein the second legs are curved such that the second legs are convex when viewed from a point adjacent a piston in contact with the spring.
11 . The traction battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first set of openings and the second set of openings are differently-shaped.
12 . The traction battery pack as recited in claim 11 , wherein the second set of openings are circular-shaped when viewed from a point adjacent a piston in contact with the spring.
13 . The traction battery pack as recited in claim 2 , wherein:
a second end of the spring is in contact with a piston,
the second end is opposite the first end, and
during the battery thermal event, the spring is configured to move the piston in a direction opposite the spring holder to close the valve.
14 . The traction battery pack as recited in claim 1 , comprising a plurality of battery arrays housed inside the outer enclosure assembly.
15 . The traction battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein the spring is made of a shape-memory alloy.
16 . A pressure equalization device for traction battery pack, comprising:
a housing; and
a valve configured to close a gas path through the housing during a battery thermal event of the traction battery pack, wherein the valve includes a spring configured to urge the valve to close during the battery thermal event, wherein the spring is held in place by a spring holder, wherein the spring holder includes a first set of openings spaced-apart from the spring by a first distance, and a second set of openings spaced-apart from the spring by a second distance less than the first distance.
17 . The pressure equalization device as recited in claim 16 , wherein:
the spring holder includes a wall in contact with a first end of the spring,
the spring holder includes a ring between the first set of openings and the second set of openings, and
the ring is spaced-apart axially from the wall.
18 . The pressure equalization device as recited in claim 17 , wherein:
the spring holder includes a plurality of first legs spaced-apart circumferentially from one another by a respective one of the openings of the first set, and
the spring holder includes a plurality of second legs spaced-apart circumferentially from one another by a respective one of the openings of the second set.
19 . The pressure equalization device as recited in claim 18 , wherein:
the first legs project between the ring and an outer ring of the spring holder, and
the second legs project between the ring and the wall.
20 . The pressure equalization device as recited in claim 18 , wherein:
the first legs lie in a plane perpendicular to a central axis of the valve,
the second legs project from the ring to the wall in both an axial direction and a radial direction, and
the second legs are curved such that the second legs are convex when viewed from a point adjacent a piston in contact with the spring.