Patent ID: 8846232
Filing Date: 2014-09-30
Classification: B60K,B60L,H01M,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A battery pack comprising: a plurality of battery cells; a first cooling system to cool the battery cells during routine charging and discharging of the battery cells; and a second cooling system to cool the battery cells in response to a signal indicating detection of one or more conditions indicating possible thermal runaway within the battery cells, the second cooling system having a coolant flow tube with at least one plug-free opening, the second cooling system having a coolant release device comprising a valve coupled to the coolant flow tube, the valve configured to exclude coolant from the coolant flow tube prior to the detection of the one or more conditions, the valve configured to admit the coolant to the coolant flow tube in response to the detection of the one or more conditions; and wherein the plurality of battery cells comprises a plurality of subsets of batteries disposed in respective battery modules, and wherein each battery module includes a frame; and wherein the second cooling system comprises a plurality of coolant receptacles containing pressurized coolant, each coolant receptacle disposed to release the pressurized coolant within a respective one of the battery modules into the spaces between the battery cells.