Patent ID: 11901533
Assignee: CATERPILLAR INC.
Field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H  Y | IPC H

Claim 10:
11. A battery module, comprising:
a plurality of battery cells;
a thermal interface material that is adhered to the plurality of batteries; and
a housing that includes:
a first end plate defining an opening,
a second end plate disposed opposite the first end plate,
a first side plate extending from the first end plate to the second end plate,
a second side plate disposed opposite the first side plate and extending from the first end plate to the second end plate, wherein the plurality of battery cells is disposed between the first end plate and the second end plate, and between the first side plate and the second side plate; and
a central wall extending from the first end plate to the second end plate;

a heating pad comprising a first surface in contact with the thermal interface material, a second surface, and a central slot extending from the first surface to the second surface, wherein
at least part of the central wall extends through the central slot, and
the first surface disposed adjacent to the thermal interface material and includes a heating element that provides thermal energy to the plurality of battery cells via the thermal interface material;

a cooling plate comprising:
a first cooling plate wall forming a third surface of the cooling plate in contact with the second surface, and
a second cooling plate wall separate from the first cooling plate wall and sealed to the first cooling plate wall, the second cooling plate wall forming a fourth surface of the cooling plate,
the cooling plate configured to direct coolant through a coolant channel to remove thermal energy from the plurality of battery cells via the heating pad and the thermal interface material, the first cooling plate wall forming a first portion of the coolant channel and the second cooling plate wall forming a second portion of the coolant channel;

a nozzle coupled to the first cooling plate wall and fluidly connected to the coolant channel,
a coolant connector extending from the nozzle and through the opening in the first end plate, the coolant connector being fluidly connected to the coolant channel via the nozzle,
a first seal forming a substantially fluid-tight seal between the coolant connector and the first end plate, and
a second seal forming a substantially fluid-tight seal between the coolant connector and the nozzle.