Patent ID: 8563154

Claim:
A battery assembly comprising; a casing comprising a casing wall having inner and outer surfaces and a first opening therethrough and being shaped such that a coolant chamber is formed within the casing adjacent to the first opening; a sleeve comprising a compressible material inserted through the first opening, the sleeve being shaped such that a sealing portion thereof is positioned over the outer surface of the casing wall; a battery cell inserted into the sleeve such that at least a portion of the battery cell is positioned within the coolant chamber such that at least a portion of the coolant chamber extends between adjacent battery cells and such that a top portion of the battery cell extends out of the first opening; and a sealing member coupled to the casing such that the sealing member applies a force onto the sealing portion of the sleeve causing the sealing portion of the sleeve to at least partially compress and seal the coolant chamber, the sealing member defining a second opening generally aligned with the first opening such that, when the sealing member seals the coolant chamber, the top portion of the battery cell extends out of the second opening, wherein the sealing member has a lower surface pressing against the sealing portion of the sleeve and an upper surface opposite the lower surface such that the second opening extends between the lower surface and the upper surface, and wherein the top portion of the battery extends out of the second opening, above the upper surface of the sealing member.