Ford Global Technologies

The present disclosure provides a cover element for a battery pack. The cover element is generally planar and formed from a silicate mineral. The cover element is configured to be sealed to a periphery of the battery pack and attached to a top surface of arrays which form the battery pack. The cover element includes cover apertures configured to be aligned with vent apertures in the top surface of the arrays and to form a seal around the vent apertures, providing a fluid pathway from the cover apertures. The cover element may be formed of mica and include terminal apertures aligned with array terminals. A battery pack (250) incorporating the cover element and a vehicle containing such a battery pack are also disclosed.

The present disclosure relates to an auxiliary unlocking system and method for a vehicle. The auxiliary unlocking system comprises a first operating element assembly operably connected to a closure member of the vehicle and located outside the vehicle. The first operating element assembly is configured to be actuable to perform security verification and unlock the closure member only when state of charge of a battery of the vehicle is less than a threshold value. In addition, the present disclosure also relates to a vehicle comprising the auxiliary unlocking system.

The present disclosure provides a battery pack comprising a plurality of battery arrays, each battery array having at least one terminal and a terminal cover associated with the terminal. The terminal cover comprises a mounting portion and a deflector portion. The mounting portion is configured to affix the terminal cover to the battery array such that the terminal cover is substantially aligned with the terminal. The deflector portion is positioned with respect to the terminal such that, in an event of fluid egress from a battery array via a terminal of the battery array, the fluid egress is directed away from predefined locations of the other respective battery arrays of the battery pack. The terminal cover (100) may include a sidewall (125) and a top portion (115).

The present disclosure provides a vent valve assembly (210) for a battery array (200). The vent valve assembly comprises a body which defines a fluid path (230) and a vent valve (240) arranged in the fluid path. The body is configured to be attached to an outer wall (205) of the battery array and aligned with an aperture (220) in the outer wall of the battery array. The vent valve is configured to allow passage of fluid from an interior of the battery array, by way of the aperture and the fluid path, to atmosphere. The vent valve assembly enables controlled venting of gases from the battery array while maintaining structural integrity of the battery pack.

The present disclosure provides a battery pack comprising a plurality of battery arrays arranged in first and second rows within the battery pack. Each battery array has an inside wall, an outside wall, a top surface, and first and second sidewalls. The battery arrays of the first and second rows are positioned with their inside walls facing each other. At least a portion of the inside wall and at least a portion of the top surface of an opposing pair of battery arrays from the first and second rows is covered in a silicate sheet. The silicate sheet provides thermal protection and insulation between the battery arrays.

The disclosure generally relates to a method of operating a steer-by-wire system (12) for a vehicle (10) and a steer-by-wire system (12). The steer-by-wire system (12) comprises at least a roadwheel actuator (14) and a control device (16). The roadwheel actuator (14) includes an electric motor (22) coupled to steerable roadwheels (20) of the vehicle (10). A target angle speed based on a present target angle and at least one preceding target angle is determined by the control device (16). An adapted target angle and/or at least one adapted property of the roadwheel actuator (14) is determined by the control device (16).

Provided herein is a battery array comprising a housing with a base and sidewalls shaped to receive and house battery cells. The battery cells within the battery array are organized into cell groups, with an insulating layer positioned between each group. A sheet of silicate material, which includes a frangible portion above each cell group, covers the battery cells. A vent plate, positioned on top of the sheet of silicate material, encloses the sheet substantially between the vent plate and the battery cells. The vent plate is equipped with vent channels that align with the respective frangible portions of the sheet of silicate material.

The disclosure generally relates to a method (80) and a system (10) for monitoring an assembly process of at least one component (12) to be assembled into a device (14). At least one video stream of the at least one component (12) to be assembled is recorded utilizing at least one vision sensor (20). The recorded at least one video stream is analyzed by an evaluation circuit (38) utilizing an artificial intelligence based on at least one artificial convolutional network (40) with regard to a designated mounting configuration (22) of the at least one component (12) to be assembled. A notification is output via a human machine interface (66) based on the analyzing performed by the evaluation circuit (38). The notification at least depends on an actual mounting configuration (24) of the at least one component (12) to be assembled and the designated mounting configuration (22) of the at least one component (12) to be assembled.

The present disclosure provides a tension member for a battery module including at least two battery packs. The tension member defines a length, is hollow along its length, and is formed of a single piece. The tension member is configured to divide the battery module into first and second submodules, each submodule having an end plate and comprising a battery pack. The tension member is further configured to attach to an array plate of each battery submodule. The tension member (100) includes wider portions (102) at its ends with bolt holes (108) for attachment, side walls (104) forming a hollow portion (106), and a narrow portion (110) between shoulder portions (112) to accommodate battery connections.

The present disclosure provides a retention arrangement for a battery pack, comprising a latch portion rotatably affixed to a tray portion of the battery pack and an engagement portion affixed to a battery array. The battery array is configured to be housed within the battery pack. The latch portion is rotatable with respect to the tray portion and configured to receive the engagement portion of the battery array. Relative movement of the engagement portion and the latch portion together causes rotation of the latch portion into a latched position in which the engagement portion is secured such that movement away from the battery pack is inhibited. The retention arrangement may include at least one retaining rail (120) for mounting the latch portion (150), and the engagement portion may comprise a protrusion (130) extending from the battery array (140).