US 11,901,532 B2
Battery module and battery rack with enhanced fire safety features, and applications thereof
Virgil L. Beaston, Vestal, NY (US); Michael W. Allen, Phelps, NY (US); David Middleton, Skaneateles, NY (US); and Howard Scott Ryan, Skaneateles, NY (US)
Assigned to VLTRU SYSTEMS LLC, Vestal, NY (US)
Filed by VLTRU Systems, LLC, Vestal, NY (US)
Filed on Nov. 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/531,378.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/211,732, filed on Jun. 17, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/170,600, filed on Apr. 5, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/164,502, filed on Mar. 22, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/125,958, filed on Dec. 15, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/123,458, filed on Dec. 9, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0181713 A1, Jun. 9, 2022
Int. Cl. H01M 10/61 (2014.01); H01M 10/613 (2014.01); H01M 50/24 (2021.01)
CPC H01M 10/613 (2015.04) [H01M 50/24 (2021.01); H01M 2220/10 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A battery module, comprising:
a first plate in contact with a first battery cell from among a plurality of battery cells;
a second plate in contact with a second battery cell from among the plurality of battery cells, the second plate and the second battery cell being different from the first plate and the first battery cell, respectively; and
a sensor configured to detect movement of the first plate or movement of the second plate caused by expansion of the first battery cell or the second battery cell, respectively, the sensor comprising:
a flexible section configured to expand or to compress in response to the movement of the first plate or the movement of the second plate, and
at least one strain gauge, attached to the flexible section, configured to detect the expanding or the compressing of the flexible section caused by the movement of the first plate or the movement of the second plate.