US 12,002,975 B2
Structural battery module and battery pack
David M. Andrews, Stamford (GB); Brian R. Bell, West Lafayette, IN (US); Adam R. Rosenberger, Washington, IL (US); and David S. Moore, Oundle (GB)
Assigned to Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed on Dec. 1, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/108,490.
Prior Publication US 2022/0173367 A1, Jun. 2, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H01M 50/502 (2021.01); H01M 50/15 (2021.01); H01M 50/166 (2021.01); H01M 50/20 (2021.01); H01M 50/209 (2021.01); H01M 50/258 (2021.01); H01M 50/262 (2021.01)
CPC H01M 50/20 (2021.01) [H01M 50/15 (2021.01); H01M 50/166 (2021.01); H01M 50/209 (2021.01); H01M 50/258 (2021.01); H01M 50/262 (2021.01); H01M 50/502 (2021.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A battery module for construction of a battery pack, the battery module comprising:
a rectangular housing, the rectangular housing including a top face, a bottom face, a first side face extending between the top face and the bottom face, a second side face extending between the top face and the bottom face, a front open end and a rear open end, the rectangular housing including a plurality of housing bores extending substantially perpendicular through the top face, the bottom face, the first side face and the second side face proximal to the front open end, and a plurality of housing bores extending substantially perpendicularly through the top face, the bottom face, the first side face and the second side face proximal to the rear open end;
a battery disposed within the rectangular housing;
a rear plate, the rear plate closing the rear open end of the rectangular housing, the rear plate including a plurality of rear plate bores in axial alignment with the plurality of housing bores proximal the rear open end of the rectangular housing; and
a front plate, the front plate closing the front open end of the rectangular housing, the front plate including a positive terminal and a negative terminal electrically connected to the battery, the battery being within the rectangular housing and the positive and negative terminals each protruding from an exterior side of the front plate, the battery being sealed within the rectangular housing, the rear plate, and the front plate, the front plate including a continuous flanged surface spacing a portion of the front plate from an outer edge of the rectangular housing, and the front plate including a plurality of front plate bores on the continuous flanged surface and in axial alignment with the plurality of housing bores proximal the front open end of the rectangular housing.