Abstract:
A battery assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a battery cell, a cooling device extending at least partially through the battery cell, and a coolant manifold connected to the cooling device.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to battery assemblies for electrified vehicle battery packs. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The desire to reduce automotive fuel consumption and emissions is well documented. Therefore, vehicles are being developed that reduce or completely eliminate reliance on internal combustion engines. Electrified vehicles are one type of vehicle currently being developed for this purpose. In general, electrified vehicles differ from conventional motor vehicles because they are selectively driven by one or more battery powered electric machines. Conventional motor vehicles, by contrast, rely exclusively on the internal combustion engine to drive the vehicle. 
         [0003]    A high voltage battery pack typically powers the electric machines and other electrical loads of the electrified vehicle. The battery pack includes a plurality of battery cells that must be periodically recharged to replenish the energy necessary to power these loads. The battery cells generate heat, such as during charging and discharging operations. Relatively complex thermal cooling systems are often employed to manage the heat generated by the battery cells. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    A battery assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a battery cell, a cooling device extending at least partially through the battery cell, and a coolant manifold connected to the cooling device. 
         [0005]    In a further non-limiting embodiment of the foregoing battery assembly, the cooling device is a solid metallic rod. 
         [0006]    In a further non-limiting embodiment of either of the foregoing battery assemblies, the cooling device is a hollow metallic tube. 
         [0007]    In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing battery assemblies, the cooling device is a metallic slab. 
         [0008]    In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing battery assemblies, the cooling device extends through a void of the battery cell. 
         [0009]    In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing battery assemblies, the battery cell includes an inner wall and an outer wall, and the inner wall circumscribes the void. 
         [0010]    In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing battery assemblies, the coolant manifold includes an inlet on a first side of the cooling device and an outlet on a second side of the cooling device. 
         [0011]    In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing battery assemblies, the cooling device includes a threaded end that is received within a threaded opening of the coolant manifold. 
         [0012]    In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing battery assemblies, the cooling device is received within a fitting mounted to the coolant manifold. The cooling device and the fitting are connected using an interference fit. 
         [0013]    In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing battery assemblies, the cooling device extends through the battery cell and a second battery cell that is stacked against the battery cell. 
         [0014]    In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing battery assemblies, the battery cell is a cylindrical cell. 
         [0015]    In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing battery assemblies, the battery cell is a prismatic cell. 
         [0016]    In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing battery assemblies, the cooling device includes a plate, a first mandrel connected to a first side of the plate, and a second mandrel connected to a second side of the plate. 
         [0017]    In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing battery assemblies, the first mandrel and the second mandrel extend from a first position inside the battery cell to a second position outside of the battery cell. The first mandrel and the second mandrel contact either the coolant manifold or a thermal interface material (TIM) at the second position. 
         [0018]    In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing battery assemblies, the cooling device includes a plate disposed inside the battery cell and a thermal interface material (TIM) extension attached to the plate and extending outside of the battery cell. 
         [0019]    A battery assembly, according to another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a battery cell including a can assembly having an inner wall and an outer wall, an electrode assembly housed between the inner wall and the outer wall, and a cooling device extending through a void of the can assembly. The void is circumscribed by the inner wall. 
         [0020]    In a further non-limiting embodiment of the foregoing battery assembly, the battery cell is a cylindrical battery cell and the cooling device is a solid rod or a hollow tube. 
         [0021]    In a further non-limiting embodiment of either of the foregoing battery assemblies, the battery cell is a prismatic battery cell and the cooling device is a metallic slab. 
         [0022]    In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing battery assemblies, the cooling device extends through a second void formed through a second battery cell. 
         [0023]    In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing battery assemblies, the second battery cell is positioned adjacent to the battery cell on the cooling device such that a positive terminal of the second battery cell contacts a negative terminal of the battery cell. 
         [0024]    The embodiments, examples and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs, the claims, or the following description and drawings, including any of their various aspects or respective individual features, may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible. 
         [0025]    The various features and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a powertrain of an electrified vehicle. 
           [0027]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate a battery assembly for an electrified vehicle battery pack. 
           [0028]      FIGS. 2C and 2D  illustrate exemplary connections between a cooling device and a coolant manifold of the battery assembly of  FIGS. 2A and 2B . 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view through Section A-A of  FIG. 2B . 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  illustrates a battery assembly according to a second embodiment of this disclosure. 
           [0031]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate a battery assembly according to a third embodiment of this disclosure. 
           [0032]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view through Section B-B of  FIG. 5A . 
           [0033]      FIG. 7  illustrates a battery assembly according to a fourth embodiment of this disclosure. 
           [0034]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate a battery assembly according to another embodiment of this disclosure. 
           [0035]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate a battery assembly according to yet another embodiment of this disclosure. 
           [0036]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate a battery assembly according to yet another embodiment of this disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0037]    This disclosure describes various embodiments of a battery assembly for an electrified vehicle battery pack. The battery assemblies include one or more battery cells (e.g., cylindrical, prismatic, or pouch cells) and a cooling device extending at least partially through the battery cells. The cooling device is configured to either conductively or convectively cool the battery cells. In some embodiments, the cooling device is a solid rod, a hollow tube, a slab, or some combination of these features. In other embodiments, the cooling device connects to a coolant manifold configured to communicate coolant for convectively cooling the battery cells of the battery assembly. These and other features are discussed in greater detail in the following paragraphs of this detailed description. 
         [0038]      FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a powertrain  10  for an electrified vehicle  12 . Although depicted as a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), it should be understood that the concepts described herein are not limited to HEV&#39;s and could extend to other electrified vehicles, including, but not limited to, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV&#39;s), battery electric vehicles (BEV&#39;s) and fuel cell vehicles. 
         [0039]    In a non-limiting embodiment, the powertrain  10  is a power-split powertrain system that employs a first drive system and a second drive system. The first drive system includes a combination of an engine  14  and a generator  18  (i.e., a first electric machine). The second drive system includes at least a motor  22  (i.e., a second electric machine), the generator  18 , and a battery pack  24 . In this example, the second drive system is considered an electric drive system of the powertrain  10 . The first and second drive systems generate torque to drive one or more sets of vehicle drive wheels  28  of the electrified vehicle  12 . Although a power-split configuration is depicted in  FIG. 1 , this disclosure extends to any hybrid or electric vehicle including full hybrids, parallel hybrids, series hybrids, mild hybrids or micro hybrids. 
         [0040]    The engine  14 , which in one embodiment is an internal combustion engine, and the generator  18  may be connected through a power transfer unit  30 , such as a planetary gear set. Of course, other types of power transfer units, including other gear sets and transmissions, may be used to connect the engine  14  to the generator  18 . In one non-limiting embodiment, the power transfer unit  30  is a planetary gear set that includes a ring gear  32 , a sun gear  34 , and a carrier assembly  36 . 
         [0041]    The generator  18  can be driven by the engine  14  through the power transfer unit  30  to convert kinetic energy to electrical energy. The generator  18  can alternatively function as a motor to convert electrical energy into kinetic energy, thereby outputting torque to a shaft  38  connected to the power transfer unit  30 . Because the generator  18  is operatively connected to the engine  14 , the speed of the engine  14  can be controlled by the generator  18 . 
         [0042]    The ring gear  32  of the power transfer unit  30  may be connected to a shaft  40 , which is connected to vehicle drive wheels  28  through a second power transfer unit  44 . The second power transfer unit  44  may include a gear set having a plurality of gears  46 . Other power transfer units may also be suitable. The gears  46  transfer torque from the engine  14  to a differential  48  to ultimately provide traction to the vehicle drive wheels  28 . The differential  48  may include a plurality of gears that enable the transfer of torque to the vehicle drive wheels  28 . In one embodiment, the second power transfer unit  44  is mechanically coupled to an axle  50  through the differential  48  to distribute torque to the vehicle drive wheels  28 . 
         [0043]    The motor  22  can also be employed to drive the vehicle drive wheels  28  by outputting torque to a shaft  52  that is also connected to the second power transfer unit  44 . In one embodiment, the motor  22  and the generator  18  cooperate as part of a regenerative braking system in which both the motor  22  and the generator  18  can be employed as motors to output torque. For example, the motor  22  and the generator  18  can each output electrical power to the battery pack  24 . 
         [0044]    The battery pack  24  is an exemplary electrified vehicle battery. The battery pack  24  may be a high voltage traction battery pack that includes a plurality of battery assemblies  25  (i.e., battery arrays or groupings of battery cells) capable of outputting electrical power to operate the motor  22 , the generator  18  and/or other electrical loads of the electrified vehicle  12 . Other types of energy storage devices and/or output devices could also be used to electrically power the electrified vehicle  12 . 
         [0045]    In one non-limiting embodiment, the electrified vehicle  12  has two basic operating modes. The electrified vehicle  12  may operate in an Electric Vehicle (EV) mode where the motor  22  is used (generally without assistance from the engine  14 ) for vehicle propulsion, thereby depleting the battery pack  24  state of charge up to its maximum allowable discharging rate under certain driving patterns/cycles. The EV mode is an example of a charge depleting mode of operation for the electrified vehicle  12 . During EV mode, the state of charge of the battery pack  24  may increase in some circumstances, for example due to a period of regenerative braking. The engine  14  is generally OFF under a default EV mode but could be operated as necessary based on a vehicle system state or as permitted by the operator. 
         [0046]    The electrified vehicle  12  may additionally operate in a Hybrid (HEV) mode in which the engine  14  and the motor  22  are both used for vehicle propulsion. The HEV mode is an example of a charge sustaining mode of operation for the electrified vehicle  12 . During the HEV mode, the electrified vehicle  12  may reduce the motor  22  propulsion usage in order to maintain the state of charge of the battery pack  24  at a constant or approximately constant level by increasing the engine  14  propulsion. The electrified vehicle  12  may be operated in other operating modes in addition to the EV and HEV modes within the scope of this disclosure. 
         [0047]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate an exemplary battery assembly  25  that may be employed within an electrified vehicle battery pack, such as the battery pack  24  of the electrified vehicle  12  of  FIG. 1 , for example. The battery assembly  25  includes a plurality of battery cells  56  for supplying electrical power to various electrical loads of the electrified vehicle  12 . Although two battery cells  56  are depicted in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the battery assembly  25  could employ a greater or fewer number of battery cells within the scope of this disclosure. In other words, this disclosure is not limited to the specific configuration shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . The battery cells  56  may be stacked relative to one another along a longitudinal axis A to construct a grouping of battery cells  56 , sometimes referred to as a “cell stack.” 
         [0048]    In a first non-limiting embodiment, the battery cells  56  are cylindrical, lithium-ion cells. However, this disclosure is not limited to cylindrical cells and could extend to cells having other geometries (prismatic, pouch, etc.) or other chemistries (nickel-metal hydride, lead-acid, etc.). Exemplary embodiments illustrating prismatic battery cells are shown in  FIGS. 5A, 5B, 6, 8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, 10A and 10B , and an exemplary embodiment illustrating a pouch battery cell is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0049]    During certain conditions, heat is generated by the battery cells  56 . It is desirable to manage this heat to improve capacity and life of the battery cells  56  and thereby improve the efficiency of the battery pack  24 . Various features for actively managing this heat are therefore detailed in the embodiments described below. 
         [0050]    The battery assembly  25  of  FIGS. 2A and 2B  includes a cooling device  58  disposed through voids  60  formed in the battery cells  56 . The battery cells  56  can be slid onto the cooling device  58 . The battery cells  56  and the cooling device  58  may engage one another in an interference fit. In a non-limiting embodiment, the cooling device  58  extends entirely through each battery cell  56  of the battery assembly  25 . In other words, the voids  60  extend all the way through the battery cells  56 . 
         [0051]    Each battery cell  56  includes a positive terminal (designated by the symbol (+)) and a negative terminal (designated by the symbol (−)). In another non-limiting embodiment, the battery cells  56  are stacked on top of one another over the cooling device  58  such that each negative terminal is positioned adjacent to and contacts a positive terminal of a neighboring battery cell  56 . Thus, in this embodiment, bus bars are not necessary to electrically connect the battery cells  56 . 
         [0052]    In a first non-limiting embodiment, the cooling device  58  is a solid rod (see  FIG. 2A ) made of a metallic material. The cooing device  58  could be covered with a thermal interface material that provides high thermal conductivity but high electrical isolation. In another non-limiting embodiment, the cooling device  58  itself is made of a TIM. In such embodiments, heat generated by the battery cells  56  is conducted from the battery cells  56  to the cooling device  58 . The heat is then released to coolant C (e.g., air, water mixed with ethylene glycol, or some other fluid) that is communicated within a coolant manifold  62  connected to the cooling device  58 . The coolant C carries the heat away from the battery assembly  25 . In an alternative embodiment, the coolant manifold  62  is a solid device that acts as a cold plate to dissipate the heat. 
         [0053]    In a second non-limiting embodiment, the cooling device  58  is a hollow tube (see  FIG. 2B ) made of a metallic material. In use, heat generated by the battery cells  56  is convectively transferred from the battery cells  56  to coolant C that is passed through a passage  64  formed through the cooling device  58 . The coolant C carries the heat away from the battery assembly  25 . The coolant C enters the passage  64  from an inlet  66  of the coolant manifold  62  and exits the passage  64  into an outlet  68  of the coolant manifold  62 . In other words, the passage  64  is fluidly connected to both the inlet  66  and the outlet  68 , which may be disposed at opposite ends of the cooling device  58 , in a non-limiting embodiment. The coolant manifold  62 , including the inlet  66  and the outlet  68 , is part of a closed-loop system for communicating the coolant C through the battery assembly  25 . Although not shown, the closed loop system may additionally include a coolant reservoir and a coolant pump. 
         [0054]    The cooling device  58  may be fluidly connected to the coolant manifold  62  of the battery assembly  25  to provide a sealed connection between these components. The battery cells  56  are removed from  FIGS. 2C and 2D  to better illustrate the connection between the cooling device  58  and the coolant manifold  62 . In a first non-limiting embodiment, shown in  FIG. 2C , the cooling device  58  includes a threaded end  70  that is inserted into a threaded opening  72  formed in the coolant manifold  62 . In a second non-limiting embodiment, shown in  FIG. 2D , the cooling device  58  is received within a fitting  74  mounted to the coolant manifold  62 . The cooling device  58  and the fitting  74  may be sized to engage one another using an interference fit. Other connections between the cooling device  58  and the coolant manifold  62  are also contemplated within the scope of this disclosure. 
         [0055]    Referring now to the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 3 , each battery cell  56  includes a can assembly  76  and an electrode assembly  78  housed inside the can assembly  76 . The can assembly  76  may include an inner wall  80 , an outer wall  82  that generally circumscribes the inner wall  80 , and a space  84  extending between the inner wall  80  and the outer wall  82  for receiving the electrode assembly  78 . In this embodiment, the inner wall  80  and the outer wall  82  are cylindrical members. The electrode assembly  78 , sometimes referred to as a jellyroll, is wound around the inner wall  80 . The cooling device  58  passes through the void  60  of each battery cell  56 . The void  60  is located through the center of the inner wall  80 , and thus the inner wall  80  circumscribes the void  60  and the cooling device  58  and separates the electrode assembly  78  from the cooling device  58  once the cooling device  58  is received through the battery cell  56 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 4  illustrates another exemplary battery assembly  25 A. In this non-limiting embodiment, the battery assembly  25 A includes multiple cell stacks  99  that each include cooling devices  58 A received through a plurality of battery cells  56 A. Each cell stack  99  is mounted to a coolant manifold  62 A. This embodiment illustrates the scalable nature of the battery assemblies of this disclosure. The battery assemblies disclosed herein may be modified to include any number of battery cells and any number of cooling devices for achieving a desired level of energy density and cooling within the battery pack  24 . 
         [0057]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate yet another battery assembly  25 B. The battery assembly  25 B includes a plurality of battery cells  56 B and a cooling device  58 B extending through each of the plurality of battery cell  56 B. In this non-limiting embodiment, the battery cells  56 B are prismatic, lithium-ion cells. 
         [0058]    Each battery cell  56 B includes a positive terminal (designed by the symbol (+)) and a negative terminal (designated by the symbol (−)). In a non-limiting embodiment, the battery cells  56 B are stacked alongside one another over the cooling device  58  such that each negative terminal is positioned adjacent to and in contact with the positive terminal of a neighboring battery cell  56 B. Thus, in this non-limiting embodiment, bus bars are not required to electrically connect the battery cells  56 . 
         [0059]    In a further non-limiting embodiment, the cooling device  58 B is a metallic slab or plate received through the battery cells  56 B. The cooling device  58 B may be a solid metallic slab for conductively cooling the battery cells  56 B, or could be a hollow metallic slab for convectively cooling the battery cells  56 B. 
         [0060]    Referring now to the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 6 , each battery cell  56 B includes a can assembly  76 B and an electrode assembly  78 B housed inside the can assembly  76 B. The can assembly  76 B may include an inner wall  80 B, an outer wall  82 B that generally circumscribes the inner wall  80 B, and a space  84 B extending between the inner wall  80 B and the outer wall  82 B for receiving the electrode assembly  78 B. In this embodiment, the inner wall  80 B and the outer wall  82 B are rectangular members. The electrode assembly  78 B is wound around the inner wall  80 B. The cooling device  58 B passes through a void  60 B of each battery cell  56 B. The void  60 B is located through the center of the inner wall  80 B, and thus the inner wall  80 B circumscribes the void  60 B and the cooling device  58 B and separates the electrode assembly  78 B from the cooling device  58 B once the cooling device  58 B is received through the battery cell  56 B. 
         [0061]      FIG. 7  illustrates yet another exemplary battery assembly  25 C. The battery assembly  25 C includes a battery cell  56 C and a cooling device  58 C extending at least partially through the battery cell  56 C. In this non-limiting embodiment, the battery cell  56 C is a pouch cell. The battery cell  56 C includes a can assembly  76 C and an electrode assembly  78 C housed inside the can assembly  76 C. In a further non-limiting embodiment, the electrode assembly  78 C is wrapped around the cooling device  58 C once the cooling device  58 C is received within the battery cell  56 C. Although not shown, an insulating layer could be positioned between the electrode assembly  78 C and the cooling device  58 C to electrically isolate these components from one another. 
         [0062]    Another exemplary battery assembly  25 D is illustrated in  FIGS. 8A and 8B . The battery assembly  25 D includes a plurality of battery cells  56 D, which in this embodiment are configured as prismatic battery cells, and a plurality of associated cooling devices  58 D. In this embodiment, each battery cell  56 D includes its own cooling device  58 D. In addition, unlike the prior embodiments, the cooling devices  58 D of the battery assembly  25 D only extend partially through the battery cells  56 D. 
         [0063]    The battery cells  56 D are stacked side-by-side along a longitudinal axis A to construct the battery assembly  25 D (see, for example,  FIG. 8B ). Each battery cell  56 D includes a positive terminal  90 D and a negative terminal  92 D. In a non-limiting embodiment, the battery cells  56 D are stacked side-by-side along the longitudinal axis A such that the negative terminals  92  are positioned adjacent to and in contact with positive terminals  90  of neighboring battery cells  56 D. In a further non-limiting embodiment, a thermal interface material (TIM)  94 D is positioned between adjacent battery cells  56 D of the battery assembly  25 D. 
         [0064]    Each battery cell  56 D includes a can assembly  76 D and an electrode assembly  78 D housed inside the can assembly  76 D. The electrode assembly  78 B may be wound around the cooling device  58 D (best shown in  FIG. 8B ). 
         [0065]    Each cooling device  58 D may include a plate  86 D and mandrels  88 D connected to the plate  86 D, for example at opposing ends of the plate  86 D. In a non-limiting embodiment, the electrode assembly  78 D of the battery cell  56 D is wrapped around the cooling device  58 D inside the can assembly  76 D. The mandrels  88 D, which are hollow tubes in this embodiment, extend from a first position inside the can assembly  76 D to a second position outside of the can assembly  76 D. One of the mandrels  88 D connects to a manifold inlet  66 D and the other of the mandrels  88 D connects to a manifold outlet  68 D at the second positions (see  FIG. 8A ). 
         [0066]    Together, the plate  86 D and the mandrels  88 D establish a serpentine cooling passage  96 D for directing coolant C through the cooling device  58 D in order to convectively cool the battery cells  56 D. For example, in use, coolant C is directed from the manifold inlet  66 D into a first of the mandrels  88 D (shown on left hand side of  FIG. 8A ). The coolant C is then directed through the serpentine cooling passage  96 D before exiting into the manifold outlet  68 D from the second of the mandrels  88 D (shown in right hand side of  FIG. 8A ). Heat from the battery cells  56 D is released to the coolant C as the coolant C is circulated along the pathway established by the serpentine cooling passage  96 D. 
         [0067]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate yet another exemplary battery assembly  25 E for an electrified vehicle battery pack. Like the battery assembly  25 D described above, the battery assembly  25 E includes a cooling device  58 E having a plate  86 E and mandrels  88 E for thermally managing heat expelled by a battery cell  56 E. However, in this embodiment, the cooling device  58 E conductively cools the battery cell  56 E instead of convectively cooling it. The mandrels  88 E, which are solid rods in this embodiment, extend outside of a can assembly  76 E of the battery cell  56 E and may contact a thermal interface material (TIM)  98 E. The TIM  98 E may be in contact with another structure, such as a cold plate or other heat sink. 
         [0068]    Yet another exemplary battery assembly  25 F is illustrated in  FIGS. 10A and 10B . The battery assembly  25 F includes a cooling device  58 F for cooling a battery cell  56 F. The cooling device  58 F extends at least partially through the battery cell  56 F. 
         [0069]    In a non-limiting embodiment, the cooing device  58 F includes a plate  86 F and mandrels  88 F connected near opposing ends of the plate  86 F. An electrode assembly  78 F of the battery cell  56 F is wrapped around the cooling device  58 F inside a can assembly  76 F of the battery cell  56 F (see  FIG. 10B ). In a further non-limiting embodiment, the cooling device  58 F includes a TIM extension  95 F that is connected to the plate  86 F. The TIM extension  95 F protrudes from the plate  86 F to a position outside of the can assembly  76 F and may contact a cold plate or other heat sink (not shown). 
         [0070]    Although the different non-limiting embodiments are illustrated as having specific components or steps, the embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to those particular combinations. It is possible to use some of the components or features from any of the non-limiting embodiments in combination with features or components from any of the other non-limiting embodiments. 
         [0071]    It should be understood that like reference numerals identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several drawings. It should be understood that although a particular component arrangement is disclosed and illustrated in these exemplary embodiments, other arrangements could also benefit from the teachings of this disclosure. 
         [0072]    The foregoing description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense. A worker of ordinary skill in the art would understand that certain modifications could come within the scope of this disclosure. For these reasons, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this disclosure.