US 12,456,855 B2
Thermally conducting bracket for busbar to cold plate heat transfer
Abdullah-Al Mamun, Northville, MI (US); Chih-Cheng Hsu, Bloomfield Township, MI (US); Charles Hua, Novi, MI (US); and Igor M. Kan, Waterford, MI (US)
Assigned to GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on May 26, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/825,325.
Prior Publication US 2023/0387672 A1, Nov. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. H02G 5/10 (2006.01); H01M 10/613 (2014.01); H01M 10/6554 (2014.01); H01M 50/502 (2021.01)
CPC H02G 5/10 (2013.01) [H01M 10/613 (2015.04); H01M 10/6554 (2015.04); H01M 50/502 (2021.01); H01M 2220/20 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A thermally conductive bracket for use in a vehicle to transfer heat from a busbar to a cold plate, the cold plate acting as a heat sink for a plurality of battery cells connected to the busbar, the bracket comprising:
a thermally conductive heat transfer material shaped to receive the busbar, wherein at least a portion of the material is configured to include opposed sides and a bottom, the opposed sides transferring heat from the busbar to the bottom and the bottom transferring heat from the sides to the cold plate; and
one or more heat actuated clasps configured to actuate from a latched position to an unlatched position in response to surpassing a temperature threshold, the clasps in the latched position restraining the sides against the busbar and in the unlatched position releasing the sides to expand away from the busbar, wherein the sides and bottom are comprised at least partially of a copper layer and an aluminum layer, the copper and aluminum layers producing an expansion when heated to the temperature threshold, the expansion actuating the clasps from the latched position to the unlatched position.