US 11,912,121 B2
Multi-tier traction battery array support structure
Francisco Fernandez-Galindo, Canton, MI (US); Nihar Kotak, Farmington Hills, MI (US); and Daniel Paul Roberts, Livonia, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on May 21, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/326,422.
Prior Publication US 2022/0371419 A1, Nov. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. H01M 50/536 (2021.01); B60K 1/04 (2019.01); H01M 50/249 (2021.01); H01M 10/625 (2014.01); B60L 50/64 (2019.01); H01M 50/244 (2021.01)
CPC B60K 1/04 (2013.01) [B60L 50/64 (2019.02); H01M 10/625 (2015.04); H01M 50/244 (2021.01); H01M 50/249 (2021.01); H01M 2220/20 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A traction battery assembly, comprising:
a lower tier of battery arrays, the battery arrays in the lower tier having terminals and a side that is opposite the terminals of the battery arrays in the lower tier;
an upper tier of battery arrays, the battery arrays in the upper tier having terminals and a side that is opposite the terminals of the battery arrays in the upper tier; and
a support structure disposed between the lower tier and the upper tier, the lower tier suspended from a downwardly facing side of the support structure and secured such that the side of the battery arrays in the lower tier that is opposite the terminals interfaces with the support structure, the upper tier disposed atop an upwardly facing side of the support structure and secured such that the side of the battery arrays in the upper tier that is opposite the terminals interfaces with the support structure,
wherein the side of the battery arrays in the lower tier that is opposite the terminals is opposite all the terminals in the lower tier, and the side of the battery arrays in the upper tier that is opposite the terminals is opposite all the terminals in the upper tier.
 
15. A traction battery assembly, comprising:
a lower tier of battery arrays of a battery pack;
an upper tier of battery arrays of the battery pack; and
a support structure disposed between the lower tier and the upper tier, the lower tier of battery arrays suspended from a downwardly facing side of the support structure, the upper tier of battery arrays disposed atop an upwardly facing side of the support structure,
the support structure including a thermal exchange plate, a pair of side support beams extending along outboard sides of the battery pack, a plurality of upper tier support beams extending longitudinally in a cross-vehicle direction between the side support beams, and a plurality of lower tier support beams extending longitudinally in the cross-vehicle direction between the side support beams.