Volocopter has filed a patent for an adjustable structure for battery cooling. The invention involves a holding frame for battery modules, a cooling plate with a cooling surface, and a moving mechanism to adjust the position of the cooling plate relative to the holding frame and battery modules. The design allows for efficient cooling of the batteries. GlobalData’s report on Volocopter gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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Adjustable structure for battery cooling with a moving mechanism
A recently filed patent (Publication Number: US20230170543A1) describes an adjustable structure for battery cooling. The structure includes a holding frame that can hold one or more battery modules. The holding frame is arranged adjacent to a cooling plate, which has at least one cooling surface. The cooling plate is held against the holding frame or a battery module by a moving mechanism that allows for parallel or anti-parallel movement relative to the holding frame.
In one embodiment, the holding frame and cooling plate are movably arranged within an external frame assembly. The structure can also include multiple holding frames and cooling plates that are arranged parallel to each other. The moving mechanism can adjust the distance between neighboring cooling plates or holding frames by moving them parallel to the surface normal vector.
The holding frame is designed to slidably insert a battery module in a direction transverse to the plane normal vector. It has a C-shape or U-shape, allowing the battery module to be inserted between the parallel free legs of the holding frame.
The cooling plate can have an internal flow conduit or a flow conduit on the cooling surface for a fluid cooling medium. This allows for efficient cooling of the battery module.
The moving mechanism can be a screw drive or spindle drive with a driving motor and a lead screw or spindle. The holding frames are drive-coupled to the lead screw or spindle, which has a right-hand thread and a left-hand thread. A central holding frame is located between these two portions.
The cooling plate is attached to the holding frame by a spring mechanism that separates them when the moving mechanism is disengaged. This allows for easy removal of the battery module.
The structure can be part of a battery charging station, which includes one or more of these adjustable structures and battery modules. The cooling plate is held against the battery module when the moving mechanism is engaged, but can be disengaged for battery withdrawal. The cooling plate can also have an internal flow conduit or be equipped with a flow conduit for a fluid cooling medium, with a reservoir of cooling fluid in fluid connection.
Overall, this patent describes an adjustable structure for battery cooling that allows for efficient cooling and easy removal of battery modules.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
