IP Library Granted Patent US 8,934,264
Granted Patent B2
US 8,934,264 · App. 13/626,993 · Granted Jan 13, 2015

Inverted base battery disconnect unit

Inventors: Jason A. Durfee (Troy, MI); Mark A. Niedzwiecki (Troy, MI)
Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,934,264
App. No.
13/626,993
Granted
Jan 13, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A battery disconnect unit (BDU) is arranged to selectively enable current flow between a power source and a battery pack of a vehicle, and between the battery pack and the vehicle. The battery disconnect unit includes a housing having an exterior and an interior, a first exterior surface and a first interior surface, and an opening opposite the first interior surface. A plurality of BDU components are mounted within the interior of the housing. The BDU components are mounted at least one of on and adjacent to the first interior surface of the housing, and respective fasteners used to mount the BDU components to the first interior surface of the housing are not exposed on the first exterior surface of the housing. When the housing is mounted on a mounting surface associated with the battery pack, the opening is arranged adjacent to the mounting surface and the first interior surface is arranged opposite the mounting surface relative to the opening.

Claims (29)

1. A battery disconnect unit (BDU) that is arranged to selectively enable current flow between a power source and a battery pack of a vehicle, and between the battery pack and the vehicle, the battery disconnect unit comprising:

a housing having an exterior and an interior, a first exterior surface and a first interior surface, and an opening opposite the first interior surface;

a plurality of first fasteners; and

a plurality of BDU components, each of the plurality of BDU components mounted within the interior of the housing using a respective one of the plurality of first fasteners, wherein the BDU components are mounted at least one of on and adjacent to the first interior surface of the housing,

wherein none of the plurality of first fasteners extend through the first exterior surface of the housing,

wherein each of the plurality of first fasteners are positioned in the interior of the housing after the respective one of the plurality of BDU components is positioned in the interior of the cavity, and extend from the interior of the housing toward the first interior surface of the housing, and

wherein when the housing is mounted on a mounting surface associated with the battery pack, the opening is arranged adjacent to the mounting surface and the first interior surface is arranged opposite the mounting surface relative to the opening.

2. The BDU of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a rim that defines the opening, and the housing is mounted to the mounting surface using a plurality of second fasteners inserted through corresponding fastener openings in the rim.

3. The BDU of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes at least one bus bar integrally molded within the housing.

4. The BDU of claim 1 , wherein the interior of the housing includes at least one threaded boss, and wherein at least one of the BDU components is mounted within the interior of the housing via the respective one of the plurality of first fasteners and the at least one threaded boss.

5. The BDU of claim 1 , wherein the BDU components include at least one of contactors, bus bars, a high voltage connector, a low voltage connector, and a current sensor.

6. The BDU of claim 1 , wherein the housing is molded from an electrically insulative material.

7. The BDU of claim 1 , wherein the housing does not include a cover arranged between the opening and the mounting surface.

8. The BDU of claim 1 , wherein the mounting surface corresponds to a base plate, and the battery pack and the BDU are mounted on the base plate.

9. A vehicle comprising:

the BDU of claim 1 ; and

a battery pack.

10. A method of assembling a battery disconnect unit (BDU) to selectively enable current flow between a power source and a battery pack of a vehicle, and between the battery pack and the vehicle, the method comprising:

forming a housing having an exterior and an interior, a first exterior surface and a first interior surface, and an opening opposite the first interior surface;

mounting a plurality of BDU components within the interior of the housing, each of the plurality of BDU components mounted using a respective one of a plurality of first fasteners inserted through the opening, wherein the BDU components are mounted at least one of on and adjacent to the first interior surface of the housing, wherein each of the plurality of first fasteners extend from the interior of the housing toward the first interior surface of the housing,

and wherein the respective ones of the plurality of first fasteners used to mount the BDU components to the first interior surface of the housing do not extend through the first exterior surface of the housing when the plurality of BDU components are mounted within the interior of the housing; and

mounting the housing on a mounting surface associated with the battery pack, wherein the opening is arranged adjacent to the mounting surface and the first interior surface is arranged opposite the mounting surface relative to the opening.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the housing includes a rim that defines the opening, and the housing is mounted to the mounting surface using a plurality of second fasteners inserted through corresponding fastener openings in the rim.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising integrally molding at least one bus bar within the housing.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the interior of the housing includes at least one threaded boss, and wherein at least one of the BDU components is mounted within the interior of the housing via the respective one of the plurality of first fasteners and the at least one threaded boss.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the BDU components include at least one of contactors, bus bars, a high voltage connector, a low voltage connector, and a current sensor.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the housing is molded from an electrically insulative material.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising mounting the housing to the mounting surface without arranging a cover arranged between the opening and the mounting surface.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the mounting surface corresponds to a base plate, and the battery pack and the BDU are mounted on the base plate.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2013
From: COBASYS LLC
To: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.; ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
Reel/Frame 031101/0444 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 30, 2012
From: DURFEE, JASON A.; NIEDZWIECKI, MARK A.
To: COBASYS, LLC
Reel/Frame 029208/0928 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61644677 · May 9, 2012
Related Publication 20130301233A1 · Nov 14, 2013